—— ? ——

  The world slowed to a crawl as the oozing monstrosity fell towards Simon.

  His mind went into overdrive.

  Roll to the left? To the right? Forward?

  But his body moved while his mind froze. His legs bunched up before he realized what was happening, then uncoiled, his heels rocketing toward the ground.

  Simon didn’t even speak the words, but a golden glow still enveloped both legs. His heels caught, then his prone body was sent across the snow like a rocket powered sled.

  But it still wasn’t fast enough. A claw snagged his thigh and as he flew back across the snow, it dragged down his leg. Blood burst from his leg as the claw dug deep, ripping from thigh to ankle.

  Simon’s vision went white as he bounced along the ground.

  NO! He screamed internally as his vision faded… then snapped back.

  The glow on one leg had vanished, but the other spurting blood held. He scrambled to his feet, the injury added to the long list of pain he was in right now. Without even knowing where the creature was, he felt the ground with his feet. That wind up of reckless retreat showed him the way and he dashed to the side, barely escaping yet again.

  But he wasn’t going down without payback. The flute was miraculously still in his grip and he spun it.

  It was the slightest tap.

  Only a grazing touch.

  But the flute thrummed in his hand, and the creature leapt back, a howling scream splitting the air.

  That’s right asshole!

  Simon felt woozy. He downed another potion, and struggled to his feet again. He held the flute forward, the metal length bucking slightly.

  “Simon!” Kaelalin’s thought cut through the lull of the battle.

  “Litttle.” Simon backstepped as the monster engaged. “Busy!”

  “I know! The tendrils! I think they’re extremely sensitive! Hit them!”

  “Yup!” Was all Simon could get out before he had to put all attention into dodging.

  The creature was going berserk. Tactics were vanishing. Instead it just lunged over and over again. Simon stepped, then stepped, then double stepped, then dodged, then rolled.

  His breathing grew laboured as the creature's onslaught was unending.

  Simon’s eyes frantically searched through the dim light, trying to catch sight of the flexible appendages.

  They were snaking through the air, ten feet off the ground, above the fucking creature.

  It wasn’t using them to fight at all now.

  How the fuck am I supposed to hit those now?!

  The smell of blood, sweat, and something burnt filled his nostrils. A cacophony of hissing, chattering and howling filled his ears. The creature swiped left, right, up, down. Simon couldn’t pause to breathe.

  No matter how he tried to distance himself, the creature just charged forward faster. Simon was inches from death with every move.

  His dodges weren’t perfect. The creature's claws nicking him on his arms, his chest and his good leg. The golden glow of his brutalized left leg illuminated the battlefield.

  Simon didn’t dare let the skill drop. He felt the hollow feeling from its consumption, but anything that slowed him meant death.

  Simon’s wounds continued to grow.

  Each dodge brought a spray of blood that painted the snow red.

  Even worse, something within his body fought it’s own war. A strange cold emanated from where the two bone barbs had skewered him.

  Icy chill sunk into his bones, every dodge making it worse.

  Poison?

  But even that single thought, a split moment, earned Simon a new slash. He had barely raised his forearm to blunt the blow and protect his vitals.

  This wasn’t working.

  The tendrils waved hypnotically above, counterbalancing the monster.

  Simon knew what he needed to do, he needed the tendrils to come to him.

  Or he could go to them.

  Dumb.

  Reckless.

  Foolish.

  Simon’s right leg glowed, as he dodged another attack.

  Sounded like Simon.

  He tapped the flute to the ground again, the thrumming from it causing spiderweb shaped force to explode outwards.

  The snow blasted out, temporarily blinding both combatants.

  While the creature paused, Simon did not. He charged forward, then launched himself upward.

  The Aurora Stalker reflexively swept its massive hand sideways. Simon's glowing foot touched down on top of it.

  Simon shoved off, attempting to extend his leap up and over the creature.

  But it was his left leg that landed on the creature's arm, his ankle buckling under the strain.

  Simon fell to the side.

  His mind froze as he felt his death come hissing through the air, the creatures' other claw rushing towards him.

  Simon swung.

  *CRACKThrummmmmmm*

  Simon rocketed away from the collision, his flute barely making it around his body to intercept the creature's claw.

  His body skipped across the snow like a stone on water. Simon slid the last few feet.

  A garbled scream hissed from his mouth as his vision started to fade. Simon bit down, flaring his will to keep his mind awake. Through clenched teeth he screamed out defiance.

  “GAWHD DAHTM IT NO!” droplets of blood spewed alongside his words. With an effort will, he shoved through the pain and crunched to a sitting position.

  Behind his aurora tinted lenses, Simon’s eyes burned with rage.

  He was ready to meet the charge of the creature. But there was no way he was going to be able to stop it.

  This was it.

  Simon blinked.

  The creature wasn’t charging.

  He exerted his will on his eyes, demanding that they focus.

  The creature had stumbled to its feet, but instead of charging after him it stood still.

  The Stalker held out its clawed appendage, its orange glowing eyes intently studying it.

  Simon’s face spit with a feral grin.

  That had got its attention.

  The only problem was, Simon could barely move. His legs were still wrapped in the gold glow of his skill, but his upper body was screaming in blood, bruises and pain.

  Simon slapped the flute to the ground at his side.

  *Thrummmmm*

  The snow exploded to his right, instantly drawing the attention of the creature.

  Simon met it’s gaze, the feral look on his look drawing back even further.

  “Anima.” He hissed. “Control.”

  His left arm glowed, and he slammed it into the ground.

  The action shot him upright, his unsteady legs catching him. He swiped his free hand to his chest and quaffed another health potion. The creature stalked forward, it’s eyes wary.

  Time to go for broke. Simon fumbled into the potion pouch at his waist. As he did, he took a threatening step forward, causing the creature to pause.

  He downed another green potion. Simon’s vision accelerated even further.

  Simon’s right arm snapped up. He pointed his flute toward the monster.

  “That’s right asshole!” He screamed. “Lets fucking go!”

  Simon charged forward, recreating their first clash. This time, the monster moved in a shifting pattern towards him.

  It was taking him seriously.

  “Hahahah!” Simon spat blood as he kicked his legs into a new gear.

  His mind was focused on one goal. He was going to beat the everliving shit out of this thing.

  The hollow feeling inside grew at a rate Simon had never felt.

  “Kaelalin you better be fucking close!” He hissed over their mental connection, but didn’t hear her response as he closed the last few feet with the Stalker.

  Right before they hit, Simon tapped the flute one more time

  *Thrummmmmmmmm*

  The sound and following explosion of snow blurred the battlefield.

  But that was the thing.

  Simon didn’t need to hit perfectly.

  Hell.

  He just needed to hit in the general vicinity of the dick head.

  If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Simon swung.

  *CRACKTHRummmmmmmm*

  The blast sent a shockwave outwave, clearing the snow instantly.

  Simon was blasted back from the point of impact. He crouched and caught himself, toes digging into the snow as he slid several feet back.

  Damn! That had almost taken everything out of Simon, but he still hadn’t hurt the creature.

  Simon studied the point of impact.

  “HAHAHAHA!” His cackling, bloodfilled laugh echoed across the snow.

  Between the two fighters was a circular disc completely bare. All snow had been blasted away, leaving just dead grass visible.

  But the asshole wasn’t in the cleared section. He was on the edge of it.

  Simon had pushed it back. The monster looked unhurt, but Simon swore it’s eyes were wider than they had ever been.

  There was no way he was going to lose this momentum. Simon forced his screaming body forward.

  He had to push it.

  He had to fight it.

  He had to win.

  With a barbaric yawp, he ran forward. His steps were slower than before, but under the double potion effect it was fast enough.

  “Lets go assshole!” He roared as they clashed again.

  *Crackthrummmmm!*

  Blown back. Charge back in

  *CRACKTHRummmmmmm!*

  Again.

  *CRACKTHRUMMMMM!*

  AGAIN.

  The creature changed tactics.

  It.

  Fucking.

  Dodged.

  An insane laughter bubbled up from Simon, his mind going blank. That’s right, asshole. You feed on bunnies?!

  I’m the god damn bunny-slayer.

  Fear ME.

  This was working. Simon was doing it. Right now it was just staggering blows, but the creature only exchanged every third blow now. It dodged the rest and tried to catch Simon with it’s claws.

  Simon had fallen into the rhythm of the battle, his body flowing around each strike.

  His right arm buzzed and his fingers were numb.

  He chugged another potion. Then another.

  Every second that ticked by was one Kaelalin could use to escape.

  Cracks littered the summoned flute in his hand. Simon wouldn’t risk summoning something else.

  The universe would laugh and give him something shit.

  He willed the flute to hang out. It had asked for this hadn’t it? It was his partner. Him and It were here to deliver an asswhooping to this monster.

  That’s right.

  Him and flutey.

  Flutey tootieee…aea

  Simon shook his head, snapping back to reality. He jumped back. Holy shit.

  He had almost passed out mid swing.

  But Simon was confident. He had beaten massive creatures before. Hell, he'd stood up to gods. He could do this. The creature was swiping rarely now.

  All its only efforts focused on trying to keep up with him.

  He was the god of this valley now.

  The puny creature made a mad dash towards him. It thought it could triumph. It thought he and Flutey weren’t paying attention.

  Wrong.

  But… he could barely feel his hand.

  Simon took three quick steps back, distancing himself from the monster.

  With his Reckless Retreat skill, and Anima control this thing was never going to catch him.

  Besides that, Kaelalin had to be safe by now. She had to be practically in the damn portal after this long of a battle.

  Simon stared at the creature in front of him, but it only stalked back and forth. It didn’t dare get closer to him, recognizing how outclassed it was.

  So, Simon took a risk. His eyes drifted past the creature, his head slightly turning. Kaelalin had been slowly moving through the snow, her body down low. Every movement was intentional, every step quiet. The Frost-kin was the shining example of stealth.

  She only had about a hundred yards between her and the portal.

  Simon nodded, then turned back to the foe unworthy to face the Bunny-Slayer.

  His face twisted to horror as his eyes landed on the creature.

  The creature whose head was twisted over its shoulder, its gaze searching far behind it.

  In slow motion, the Aurora Stalker’s head twisted back, its glowing orange eyes leaving trails of light behind them.

  Simon met those eyes.

  Its face split open, a twisted smile pulling its oozing tar lips all the way to its eyes. Yellowed teeth shined back as it cocked its head.

  “No.” Simon whispered. The icy hand of dread reached from its grave and gripped Simon’s heart.

  The creature spun.

  It rocketed towards Kaelalin.

  Simon’s artificial confidence shattered like ice against his blows.

  The monster flew across the snow, heading straight towards his friend.

  “SHIT!” Simon cursed. His legs glowed brighter as he took off after it. He barely touched the ground as each step launched off with barely a touch.

  But, his speed couldn’t compare to the monster. Reckless Retreat was just that. A skill for retreating.

  His legs glowed brighter as he felt everything in him grow light. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t let that thing reach her.

  “KAELALIN FUCKING RUN!” He screamed through their connection. The Frost-kin jolted, but she didn’t even look back, trusting him. She sprinted as fast as she could, her carefully placed steps left behind.

  Simon pumped harder, his legs on fire, his lungs bursting. He had to catch it. His hand tapped flutey… FLUTEY!?

  He tapped HIS GOD DAMNED FLUTE to the ground, the thrum cracking the bare stone ground his feet stomped across. Simon didn’t look, his eyes on one thing only.

  The Monster.

  The creature bearing down on his friend.

  He HAD to stop it.

  But…. it pulled further ahead.

  His eyes snapped toward Kaelalin.

  She was less then thirty yards from the portal. Twenty.

  Simon wasn’t going to catch his foe. Kaelalin, might just make it.

  Simon put every ounce of strength into his sprint. He used every physical trick he knew. He pushed himself further then he ever had.

  …

  He wasn’t fast enough.

  Twenty yards from the portal. Fifteen.

  Simon watched, his legs moving on auto pilot.

  The world seemed to move in slow motion, Simon’s worst nightmare played out moment by moment.

  He watched as the creature descended on Kaelalin.

  He watched as the two tendrils lashed down. They whipped through the air, coming to eye level with the creature. This was the first time they had left their aerial position. The first time since Simon had nicked them with his Weaponized Repetition empowered flute.

  They snaked across the snow, contorting and stretching. The tendrils reached their fully extended length. The long tar appendages shone in glowing light of the Portal of the Adapter.

  Kaelalin was seconds from her goal, when the two tipped tentacles plunged into her.

  She screamed as they tore through her back and burst out her chest. Her legs flailed as she was lifted into the air, drops of blue tinted blood adding its hue to the battlefield.

  Then the asshole turned, the tendrils carrying their prize above him.

  Simon’s eyes were red with rage as he saw Kaelalin’s hands frantically pulling at her chest. The barbs had expanded and would not move.

  The creature held its prize over its head, gurgled wet sounds echoing into the night

  Its orange eyes met Simon and it laughed. A hissing, howling laughter that burned into Simon’s mind.

  Blood dripped down from his friend, splattering onto the monster's face. Its long dark tongue lashed from its mouth and slurped up the lifeblood of his friend.

  The screams that would never leave Simon’s memories had stopped.

  Now he only had the image of her, still frantically pulling at her chest.

  Simon didn’t think.

  He didn’t make a sound.

  He just charged.

  The creature kept laughing, continuing to lick the blood from its head.

  Simon closed on it.

  The thrum of his skill, and the laughter the only two sounds he heard.

  He ran towards it. Thirty yards. Twenty. Ten.

  “Simon.”

  As he neared, his mind unthinking, the mental word cut through him. HIs eyes went wide, and snapped up to Kaelalin.

  The Frost-kin wore a vicious smile. Her clenched fist at her chest outlined by blood.

  “Catch me.” Came Kaelalin's urgent mental plea.

  What?! Catch her? What did she...

  From above, Simon heard her yell. Her words were strained, but filled with resolve.

  “Wrong.”

  She released her clenched hand.

  “Move.”

  A string of glowing construct mines tumbled down.

  “Asshole.”

  The creature's dumb eyes looked up, then went wide as they saw the explosives clattering down.

  *KABOOOOOOOOOM!*

  A body with two tentacles attached was blasted away from the creature.

  Simon’s entire body glowed, he changed his forward momentum to vertical as he launched himself towards the limp form of his friend.

  The world had been lit with a blue flash, and Simon went blind.

  COME ON. PLEASE. MAKE IT. BE ENOUGH

  His body collided with another and he was thrown back.

  But not before, his arms enveloped the unmoving form.

  He hit the ground hard, his back slamming into the snow covered ground.

  The still unmoving form bounced in his arms and his numb fingers threatened to fail him.

  NO!

  Screams filled the dark night. The smell of blood, iron, and the arcane permeating his nose.

  The pair skidded across the ground.

  Simon blinked rapidly, his vision clearing. He looked down and saw his blood covered friend. How much of it was hers? Was it all hers?

  Simon grunted as he leaned forward to a sitting position, carefully laying her body down. The tar-like appendages were still lodged through her back and out her chest.

  “Kaelalin” He wheezed, tears streaming to his eyes. “Kaelalin!”

  He reached down, frantically searching for a potion. His bandolier was empty. Simon dug through his bags, his vision blurry with tears.

  There had to be one.

  There had to be.

  Where was it?!

  “Simon.” A weak thought permeated his mind.

  He froze, then turned to face her. Kaelalin’s blue tinted face was slick with blood, but her eyes held fire.

  “Simon. Go Kill it!”

  He paused, then glanced to the bags about to dig for another person.

  “Simon.” Kaelalin spat through gritted teeth. “Go finish that fucking asshole. I’m fine.”

  “But… a potion. You need a..”

  “Simon! Kill it!” It was a weak shout, but it contained untold rage.

  *smack!* Simon slapped his face. He met Kaelalin’s eyes.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  She grinned, blood dripping down across her lips. “Better be.”

  Simon willed his body up. Every muscle said no. Every part of him wanted to just fall over.

  He stood.

  Simon looked down at his hands, both visibly shaking.

  They were empty.

  *pop!*

  A new instrument slapped into his bruised and bloody fingers.

  A kazoo.

  Simon turned to face the screaming monster. The creature writhed on the ground, its mouth open wide and wails of agony escaping it.

  Simon took a step.

  Then another.

  Then another.

  As soon as he was far enough away from Kaelalin, he leaned over and tapped the kazoo to the ground.

  *Thrummmmmmmmmmmm*

  His knuckles split from the blow back, blood gushing to the ground. But Simon’s gaze was locked on the screaming Stalker.

  Step. By step. He picked up speed. He bent and tapped again.

  *Thrummmmmmmmmmmmmm*

  The kazoo made the dumbest sound as he whipped it through the air.

  Good.

  This fucker got to die by Kazoo.

  He sprinted towards it, the monster still incapacitated by agony.

  Each step he built up speed. Every step he covered more ground.

  The last few he leapt.

  For the second time that night, Simon’s jump took him exactly where he wanted to go.

  His free hand snaked out and grabbed the stump of the monster's tendril. Its wails grew to a new octave.

  Simon drew his right hand back, then plunged it down in between the creature's shoulder blades.

  *Thrummmmmmmmmmmmmm*

  The sound was followed by a squelching sound as vicera shot outwards.

  Beneath him, the Aurora Stalker bucked. It was returning to it’s senses.

  Memory of Kaelalin lifted into the air by this monster flashed in Simon’s mind.

  Rage filled him and his vision went red. His left hand twisted the stub he gripped, and the creature went back to uncontrolled convulsing.

  Simon plunged the kazoo in again.

  *Thrummmmmmmmmmmmmm*

  His now glowing hand vibrated, splitting open more cuts. Blood flowed.

  He didn’t care.

  Up went the kazoo. Down it came.

  Up. Down. Up. down.

  Simon’s hand was a purple mess. He kept going. With each blow the creature’s wailing quieted. Its thrashing stilled.

  Simon pulled his hand back and slammed it down.

  With that hit, something inside of the creature exploded. Blood splattering out in all directions around him.

  *DING*

  —- SYSTEM NOTICE—-

  > You have slain a Aurora Stalker

  > Experience has been ea–

  Simon cut off the prompt and stumbled off the corpse. Cold blood and chunks poured off him as he staggered back to the body of his friend.

  He bent down beside her.

  “Kaelalin?” His horse voice whispered. Fear gripped at him.

  There was no response.

  “No… Kaelalin!” Tears came to his eyes and streamed down his face, taking blood with them.

  Then the Frost-kin beneath him coughed blood. She turned her head and spat. Blue tinged red covered the snow.

  She turned her face back to him

  “Did you kill it?”

  Simon laughed in relief, a smile on his face.

  “Yeah.” He wheezed.

  “We got it.”

  —— ? ——