Day 4,512

The information I’ve got turned out to be extremely accurate.

The Muulwark was a juvenile, twenty feet in length, making it an agile opponent. I had to drink one of my speed-increasing potions just to match its reflexes, and I can say it was worth it. My enhanced body moved twice faster, allowing me to avoid its scythe-like claws and fangs.

But it was also cunning, a trait that I had underestimated. I half-expected it to fall into one of my traps, but it avoided them with ease, even destroying some of them.

For the first time in my life, I was baffled.

Muulwarks are not dumb. They may not be the brightest monsters in Eloria, but they are smart. But they are not smart enough to disarm a pitfall trap. No monster could.

Wary than before, I waited until it was directly right below the tree where I hid. As soon as I saw its thick neck, I raised my axe and leaped down without a word. It was a tactic I often use while ambushing my prey, and it often proved effective in taking down large monsters.

So imagine my surprise when the Muulwark whipped out its immensely long tail and smacked me in midair like a ball.

Experience was the only thing that saved me. As soon as its thick hide touched me and I flew to a nearby tree, I curled into a ball. The impact would have probably broken my back if I hadn’t, I was lucky that I only suffered minor bruises.

But I was not out of danger yet. Muulwarks are opportunists. If they see a weakened prey, they would attack immediately. Thus, I did what I always do.

I met my enemy head-on.

Our fight was short, but no less brutal than my previous engagements. With my swoird I stabbed and slashed at the Muulwark’s vulnerable parts. With my axe I severed its tail and the vibrant red crest that was both mesmerizing and distracting. It was part of the species’ mating ritual, using the crest to attract females. But it can also be used to grab the attention of its opponents.

The battle went on throughout the area. I even had to avoid my own traps for the beast often drove me to them, a behavior I had not seen before.

But in the end, it proved to be its undoing. As I avoided another pitfall trap, the Muulwark accidentally tripped on the net, the claws snagged on a small hole, which triggered the weight and pulled it to the air, roaring and snarling.

Without hesitation, I swung my axe at its neck.