I growled at the two zombies in front of me. Undead were one of the worst things adventurers could fight. It didn't matter that these were goblin zombies, it was the fact that even the weakest monster was harder to kill after it had already died once. Still, with goblins having been their base, these two would be easy to dispatch. Zombies generally traded speed and intelligence for strength and durabilty. Goblins generally relied on cunning and speed to overwhelm an enemy with their numbers.

I could hear Liu's breathing change, taking the form of steady, deep breaths. My sword already traced the air in front of me, almost lazily. I found it fascinating how different the two undead in front of us were. The one that had approached me watched my sword tip intently, clearing holding onto a last memory from before its eternal life began. The other, that had moved towards Liu seemed to stare vacantly in her general direction, seemingly unaware of its situation, yet reacting to her every movement fluidly. I smiled, shifting my feet to better prepare for the opening of combat.

Liu seemed to have finished her own mental preparations, her eyes snapping open. I didn't bother waiting for a command to begin the attack, my blade slashing out in a vicious decapitation attempt. I felt the adrenaline in my body begin to circulate as I moved, the zombie raising its arm to absorb the brunt of the attack. I felt its skin part and the bone give as I cut through its arm in a single powerful strike. Leaping backwards, I raised my sword in to a defensive stance, watching the zombie stagger unsteadily before it lunged forward, minus one forearm. It had reacted in time to save its own neck, but it wasn't tough enough to turn aside such lethal attacks. Still, I needed to ensure it didn't have the chance to harden up, especially not if it was able to react quickly.

Flicking my eyes over to where Liu was, I decide she's doing alright by herself as I fend off the wounded zombies swipes and bites with my blade, falling back so as to prevent any blows from coming close to me. Liu danced around the zombie that had confronted her, her steps and strikes too quick for the undead to react in time. Watching as she swept the zombies legs from underneath, following up with a brutal leg drop to the head, I decide that it's time for me to stop playing with my own prey.

The zombie telegraphs it's attacks enough that I can freely experiment my skills on it, and with a snarl, I glide past one of its claw attacks.

*Counter activated, 150% increase in power*

I'm uncertain if its my imagination, but for a moment, I can see a guiding line, connecting my blade to my opponents opening. The sword strikes with enough force to cut through its spine, severing the zombies head from its shoulders in a single moment. The body hits the ground moments before the head, my sword already sheathed. I glanced over to where Liu was already examining the room around us. The first of the new section of the dungeon, it was important we mapped it out with as much accuracy as possible, to ensure future adventurers here wouldn't be caught off-guard by something unexpected. Watching the two fallen zombies be absorbed by the dungeon, I pick up the small gems left behind, stashing both in my bag. We had agreed we would split any loot once we had left the dungeon, so I didn't waste time calling attention to them.

"I thought this dungeon was a goblinoid dungeon? I mean, those were goblins, but isn't it strange for undead and living creatures to share a dungeon?" Liu looked over from a relief she was examining on the wall, merely shrugging before returning to her inspections. Shaking my head, I took the room in. Stone bricks. Stone floor, walls and roof. A wooden door leading to the next area. Two flickering blue torches that for some arcane reason gave off normal light. Two zombies had been here. The walls were engraved with various reliefs, seemingly depicting a battle scene long past. That was interesting in that it seemed to show elves in battle with a dragon.

Liu seemed to be finished reading the walls, so I pushed the next door open. And felt my jaw hit the ground. The room we had just been in had been a small, barely bigger than a bedroom affair. This next room was massive. I couldn't see the roof. The walls were distant, and obscured by the various outcroppings of rock and trees. Stepping out onto the flowing grass, I felt a moment of nausea. Liu groaned slightly as she followed, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

"You felt that too right?"

"Teleportation magic. That door was a portal."

We both looked back at the doorway, and both of us felt panic freeze us. The door was gone. The portal back, nowhere in sight. Liu stepped to the smooth wall, solid rock where an unassuming room had been. I felt that chill run down my spine again, my eyes sweeping the area around us.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Liu... We're not alone here."

"Where is it?"

"On my right, between two trees and a shrub."

Our voices low, I revealed the location of our hidden stalker quietly. Liu made as if she was still examining the wall, before turning in apparent frustration, spotting the observer quickly. I wanted to throw a fit, complain about how unfair it was for this to happen to us, but right now, we had to be more rational than that. Unfortunately.

"This isn't good." No shit. I don't snap back at her, but I can't help but feel my frustration deeping at the obvious statement.

"Hey Felix?"

"What?"

"Do you think we can fight a demon and win?"

I shot her a scowl, processing the words quickly.

"If you tell me that's a demon, I'm never going to forgive you."

"That's a demon."

"You can consider our friendship officially over."

"I'm sorry."

My grip tightened on my swords hilt. I could see Liu slowly shifting closer to me, her gaze locked on the creature watching us. Abandoning any pretense of not being aware of the demon, I take the time to study it while the chance is there. Humanoid, standing about 7 feet tall. A lack of clothes and armour revealed it's lean, yet powerfully muscled body, the loin cloth about its waist the only protection it had. My eyes however, locked on its hands, deadly claws gripping a battleaxe. The demon licked its lips, staring eagerly at us, the pointed blue tongue running over knife like fangs. A long whip-like tail flicked behind it, revealing yet another threat.

I felt my heart racing as I sized up my soon to be opponent. It was definetly stronger than me. It would be able to use it's axe, claws, and fangs all as weapons, and if I was truly unlucky, it's tail would be dexterous and strong enough to be dangerous as well. I glanced at Liu, who had managed to get close enough to me that I could hear her short panicked breaths.

"I don't know if we can beat it." My words seem to catch her off-guard, her attention leaving the demon momentarily. The demon and I react to that lapse of attention simultaneously, my arm shooting out, pushing Liu to the side, the demons axe slamming into the wall behind where she had been standing with enough force to split the rock. I felt the demons attention turn to me, having robbed it of its prey. I released a sigh of relief, my guess that the demon was going to throw its weapon paying off. Stepping in front of its relinquished axe, my sword traced the air in front of me, the demons grin chilling me to the core.

I was still stunned at the speed and power of the thrown weapon, and even as I readied myself for the coming onslaught, I couldn't help but feel like running. The demon stepped out into the clearing with us, rising to its full height, powerful tail flicking through the undergrowth around it. It's claws seemed longer now, and the bared teeth were stained dark red. It was no fledgling looking to prove itself.

"Liu. It's coming." The words were soft, barely a whisper. My grip tightened as the demon launched itself towards me, claws extended. It was fast. But it had to come to me.

*Counter activated, 100% increase in power*

I felt my sword become alive, instinct and long hours of training taking over where my mind had stopped, fixated on the demons overwhelming presence. Barely managing to avoid the demons opening strike, I felt my sword slide through the skin on its neck, biting deep, before I pulled my blade free with a violent twist, leaping away from the falling corpse.

Except the corpse didn't fall. A terrible roar erupted from the wounded demon, its hand raised to the wound on its neck. Eyes shaking in rage, it didn't stop watching me for a second, its smile turning to a snarl, and I felt the hairs on my neck rise in fear. That blow should have decapitated it, and yet, as it's hand moved away from the wound, I could see that I hadn't even reach its throat with the slice, the wound already healing as the demons healing factor kicked in.

Taking a breath to calm myself, I barely had time to defend the demons sudden strike, the distance between us closed in an instance. My body reacting faster than I could think, I parried a claw meant for my throat, twisting violently out of the way of a tail strike, the rock where I had been standing shattering on impact. A tinge of pain on my chest drew my attention to the blood dripping off of the demons other clawed hand. I hadn't even seen that attack. It wasn't very deep, but the pain had been unexpected.

"I am impressed human. I underestimated you at first." The very air seemed to alternate between freezing and scorching as the demon spoke, its words startling us. "Tell me your name so that I might tell my clan about our battle after I feed on you. You have earned the right to be remembered as an opponent of skill after wounding me in direct combat."

I smiled. I could sense an opportunity here. Going on the attack, I launched myself at the demon, my blade dancing as the creature parried my attacks effortlessly, reveling in it's apparent dominance. I counted down my attempted attacks as I spoke to the beast. One. Two. Three.

"You would do well to remember me demon. You have the honor of facing Felix BrightStar in battle." Four. Five.

*Flurry activated, 5 hit chain*

I felt the demon stumble momentarily as he digested the words. "Oh, you know my name. How convienent." Six. Seven.

"There is only one BrightStar, and you are not her." The beast snarled in my face, deflecting yet another attack in my assault with ease. Eight. Nine.

"Are you willing to risk your life to find out if I'm telling the truth?" I saw Liu circle to the demons side, preventing it from moving freely in the clearing without exposing its back to her. Ten. I smiled.

*10 hit flurry chain*