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An uncanny silence gripped the cavern as the beast’s face twisted into that horrible grin. Acid dropped steadily from its maw, sizzling on the stone below. Every instinct, every fiber of Exira screamed at me to move, so I kicked back with every ounce of strength I had, throwing myself into a quick, desperate roll to put distance between us.
Boom.
The floor where I’d just been exploded, pierced by something fast–a blur of movement. I forced myself to hold steady, swallowing down the pulse of raw fear that clawed its way up my throat. My gaze shot to the point of impact, and a sickening realization dawned on me. The monster’s tongue.
That thing had just tried to impale me with its… tongue.
A few minutes ago, I’d seen it catch one of the smaller creatures the same way. That tongue was impossibly quick and coated with a deadly acid. The stone floor where it landed was now an ugly, pitted mess, the rock melting as if it were little more than wax.
Focus, I told myself, gripping my blades. The monster loomed over me, its massive, grotesque form barely shifting, as though it were just waking up to a new level of interest in me.
Its eyes narrowed, and it made a noise–something close to a growl that sent a chill down my spine. Then, the creature let out a roar that thundered through the cave, rattling the stone walls around me as it rose, its monstrous body filling the passage.
“Oh, hell no. Not here,” I muttered, watching it sluggishly lift itself up, every movement dripping with sadistic anticipation. The space was too tight. I needed room to move, to dodge, to survive.
My gaze sharpened as I focused Exira to Level 2 for a single heartbeat, just enough to give me the push I needed. I lunged forward, my body thrumming with power, blades flashing in a single quick strike as I darted away from the monster’s reach. I didn’t stay to see if it hit its mark. In the next breath, I turned and sprinted, sprinting like hell back toward the open cave and the waterfall.
For a few breaths, there was nothing but my pounding footsteps, the slap of my boots against the cold stone. Then a roar, low and furious, shook the tunnel behind me, followed by the thunderous echo of its pursuit. I poured every ounce of focus into each step, forcing myself forward as the air seemed to vibrate with its presence, a monstrous rhythm of rage closing in fast.
Just keep going, I told myself, heart hammering against my ribs. But Exira flared in warning, and I threw myself to the side, lunging right in mid-sprint. A sizzle filled the air as a bright, sickening green liquid struck the wall next to me, melting the rock on contact.
My pulse spiked. I stumbled, pushing off the wall to keep moving, barely in time to dodge another splash of acid that hit just behind me. My skin prickled with the heat, and then a sharp pain ripped through my back. I gasped, feeling drops of acid searing through my armor, biting deep into my skin.
“Aghhh!” The pain was excruciating, like someone pouring fire into my veins, burning and burrowing. Exira surged instinctively, rising to snuff out the acid’s corrosive bite. The acid hissed, neutralized by Exira, but not without a cost—my head throbbed, sharp and unrelenting. I stumbled, the mental strain forcing me to clench my teeth, barely managing to keep my balance as I pressed forward.
Keep it together, Lexi. The pain was a blaring reminder of how close I was to death, of the thin line I was running here. I bit my lip, channeling the ache into pure focus, pouring every ounce of willpower into each step.
The path ahead opened up, the faint glint of the waterfall catching in the distance. With one last burst of speed, I propelled myself forward, feeling the creature’s acidic breath right at my heels. My heart raced as I broke through the tunnel, skidding across the damp stone before launching myself into the water below, diving deep into the pond.
I let myself sink, the cold water closing in around me, muffling the sounds of pursuit. The chill spread through me, but I welcomed it, knowing it would throw off the creature’s sense of heat, mask my scent.
As I sank into the cold depths, the chill seeped through my skin, almost numbing the burning pain on my back. Exira hummed within me, each pulse drawing me deeper into focus, allowing me to push the throbbing pain in my head to a distant echo. The steady ache was there, but dulled, like a shadow in the background.
Above, the monster’s roar reverberated through the water, distorted and twisted, echoing in waves around me. Heavy thumps shook the cave, one after another, each step closer and louder, a relentless force coming straight for me. It would be here in a matter of breaths.
I could run.
The thought slipped into my mind, a fleeting option that faded as soon as it appeared. There was nowhere else to go. The path I needed lay beyond that monstrosity, beyond this impossible obstacle blocking my way. I knew that if I turned now, if I gave in to the urge to flee, it would only lead me deeper into a pit of monsters just like this one.
No, I thought, gritting my teeth. This thing wasn’t just a threat–it was a test, a brutal reminder of what lay ahead, and what would keep coming if I wanted to survive and grow stronger.
The path is littered with blood, I told myself. And if I’m to walk it, I’d better be ready to add more.
I took a deep breath instinctively, only to realize that I could actually breathe. I blinked, half-laughing.
It wasn’t just a filter–it allowed me to breathe underwater. That discovery should have filled me with relief, but all I felt was a strange calm, a sense of focus sharpening within.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
I glanced up. The creature loomed above the edge of the pond, its warped figure barely visible, a massive shadow as it stilled, sniffing the air. The sight should have sent a bolt of fear through me, but I felt nothing. Only an icy determination, a sensation that seemed to originate from the earring against my skin, a chill spreading through my blood, settling into every fiber of me.
My goals–returning home, standing beside my mother, gaining the strength to face whatever came next.
That’s what mattered.
Nothing else.
My vision sharpened, and a strange clarity settled over me, a quiet realization that thrummed through me with each surge of Exira. That creature above, with all its massive size and acid-coated strength, was just another obstacle. A barrier. And I would tear it down like any other.
I wasn’t afraid of it. I wasn’t going to run.
I focused harder, feeling Exira build within me, a force that swelled like a wave, rising and waiting. My gaze fixed on the edge of the pond, on the twisted, bloated form of the creature. It would never expect an attack from below.
Noticing the monster's hulking figure from beneath the water, I let Exira guide my senses, its energy mapping the creature's every grotesque detail. Eyes closed, I steeled my mind, feeling the world around me fade into a void where only the beast and I existed.
Colors dulled, sounds muted, and all that remained was the pulsating presence of the monstrosity above.
Now.
I slammed all my Exira at Level 3, unleashing its full force upon the creature. A searing pain sliced through my mind, but I embraced it, channeling the agony into raw power. In that heartbeat, I propelled myself upward, bursting from the water with a surge of energy. My swords ignited with purple flames, casting an eerie glow that danced across the cavern walls.
"Fuuu..." I exhaled sharply, drawing in a breath as I swung both blades in a wide arc.
They sliced through the monster's legs, carving deep into the thick, rubbery flesh. Dark ichor spurted from the wounds, the stench of its blood mingling with the acidic fumes in the air.
Blood trickled from the corners of my eyes, my vision blurring as the strain of Exira gnawed at my sanity. Biting down hard on my lip, the metallic taste grounding me, I drove both swords into the beast's back. With a fierce twist, I tore them free, ripping open a gaping wound.
The monster let out a deafening roar, a sound that reverberated through my bones. Its massive form teetered before crashing into the water, sending waves crashing against the cavern walls. I landed unsteadily on the slick rocks, knees threatening to buckle beneath me.
Coughing, I struggled to steady my breath. Each inhale was a fire in my lungs, the air thick with the acrid smell of acid and decay. Something's wrong. Exira pulsed erratically within me, and a cold dread settled in my gut. My instincts screamed–a piercing alarm that cut through the haze of pain.
Before I could react, a sudden whoosh sliced through the air. From the churning waters, the monster's tongue whipped forth–a slick, barbed appendage moving faster than thought. It coiled around my ankle with a wet slap, the acidic slime searing through armor and flesh alike.
"Ahhh!" I gasped, a jolt of agony shooting up my leg. The world tilted as I was yanked off my feet, crashing hard onto the unforgiving stone. Desperation clawed at me as I dug my fingers into the rocky ground, nails scraping uselessly against the slick surface.
No, no, no!
The tongue pulled taut, dragging me toward the edge of the pool. My fingers scrambled for a hold, catching briefly on a jagged edge before slipping free. The monster's grotesque face broke the water's surface–eyes filled with a malevolent hunger, its grin wider than should be possible.
Panic surged, cold and suffocating. I swung my free leg, striking at the tongue, but it only tightened its grip, the acid burning deeper into my skin. The scent of charred flesh filled my nostrils, bile rising in my throat.
"Let... go!" I snarled, raising one sword and hacking at the vile appendage. The blade bit deep, dark fluid spraying forth, but the monster didn't relent. Instead, it gave a violent tug, pulling me into the icy depths.
Water engulfed me, the shock stealing the breath from my lungs. The world became a distorted blur of shadows and swirling currents. Bubbles streamed from my mouth as I fought against the pull, muscles screaming in protest.
Focus, damn it!
I forced myself to calm, the mask filtering air even here, beneath the surface. With a surge of defiance, I summoned what remained of my Exira, channeling it into my arms. The pain in my head was a hammer, each pulse threatening to shatter my concentration.
Through the murky water, the monster's silhouette loomed closer, a dark mass of writhing limbs and gnashing teeth. Its wounds leaked clouds of inky blackness, tainting the water around us.
I gripped my sword tighter, the purple flames flickering weakly in the crushing depths. With a silent snarl, I slashed again at the tongue, severing a chunk of the fleshy tether. The beast recoiled, a muffled roar vibrating through the water.
But its grip remained.
My lungs burned, the mask's filtration struggling against the sheer depth and pressure. Spots danced at the edges of my vision, each movement sluggish, like wading through tar.
This can't be it.
A fierce determination ignited within me. I wouldn't die here—not dragged into the abyss by this abomination.
Seizing the moment, I kicked free, pain lancing up my leg as torn muscles protested. I propelled myself upward, each stroke a battle against the weight of the water and the dragging pull of exhaustion.
Above me, the surface shimmered–a distorted window to safety. I reached for it, lungs screaming, the world narrowing to that single point of light.
Then, a shadow eclipsed the glow. The monster surged upward, its jaws snapping inches from my foot. I twisted, narrowly avoiding the razor-sharp teeth, but the motion sent me spiraling off course.
No!
Desperation fueled my limbs. I swung my sword in a wide arc, the blade connecting with one of the creature's eyes. A burst of dark fluid clouded the water, the monster's roar a muted thunder.
Using the recoil, I pushed off its massive head, forcing myself upward one last time. My hand broke the surface, followed by my body as I gasped in a ragged breath. The air was a knife in my chest, but I couldn't stop.
Behind me, the water erupted as the beast breached, its gaping maw snapping shut where I'd been moments before. I stumbled onto the rocky ledge, collapsing to my knees. Pain radiated from my leg, the acid's burn relentless.
A low growl rumbled from the pool. I looked back, meeting the monster's one remaining eye. It glared with hatred so intense it felt like a physical blow.
"You're not... getting me... that easily," I panted, pushing myself to stand.
But before I could move, the tongue lashed out once more, snaring my wrist. The slick, burning grip pulled tight, dragging me back toward the edge.
Not again!
I fought against it, heels digging into the stone. The beast's strength was overwhelming, each pull relentless. My sword slipped from my grasp, clattering uselessly behind me.
As I was pulled closer to the darkness below, a cold realization settled in.
This was a battle I might not win.
With one final yank, I was pulled back into the icy embrace of the water.
Darkness enveloped me, the frigid depths swallowing my scream.
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