Hey loyal, and most likely starved for updates, readers due to a couple of complaints launched from your fellow noble penguins, I've been forced to rethink my upload speed to RoyalRoadl. Generally my rule has been that I'd upload the newest chapter, or in this case fragment of a chapter a week or two after its been added on my personal website, but its been brought to my attention that doing so makes it seem as if it takes months for short little 2kish word chapters to be released. So I'll fix that.

TL;DR - Faster releases on Royal Road, I'm a whore for comments.

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The creature smirks with its inhuman maw, still freshly baptized in blood. I have no defense against its powerful swings, but in a stroke of what could have been dedicated training or dumb luck I manage to roll backwards onto my hands and feet. The fight has begun.

The Demon roars as it stampedes towards me, barrelling with the force of a cannon. Having been bathed in the monster's killing intent, I barely manage to ease my heart as I deftly avoid the monsters large swings. The thought of its food being more agile than itself obviously angers the creature and it releases another roar powerful enough to split eardrums, as I try futilely to land blows against its near impervious hide.

My breathing becomes more haggard in comparison to the rage filled demon beast, whose lust for blood is increasing with every moment.

For the first time the demon beast lands a solid blow, tackling me into a nearby tree, with such tyrannical force that I cannot choke down the blood that erupts from my mouth due to the sheer force of impact.

Beads of sweat madly sprint down my shirt, my vision begins to flicker in and out wildly. I can hear the monster scoffing at me with confidence, from our earlier clash its recognized that I can’t do any damage to it. Its decided to play with me, stalking around the trees while plastering my body with malicious aura.

Whenever I try to catch my breath, it comes from behind and attacks, forcing me to stay on my guard. Back and forth, side to side, the monster attacks from all directions, slowly whittling away at my stamina, leaving little nicks, bruises, cuts, and splinters in my flesh with every approach. Seconds pass at a snail’s pace, dreadfully prolonging the encounter. My arms and legs have started to go numb from the pain

I can’t calm down, I don't know what to do, its every action stresses its desire to slowly brush my life away, torturously.

Fight. A voice from inside my commands, utterly uninterested in my wounds or exhaustion. With what pride do you call yourself a warrior? Its tone filled with indignation. If your legs are still attached then you can stand. “Its not that easy.” I shout mentally. If your arms have not been severed then you have no excuse not to grasp for victory. “Don’t you think I want to.” My irritation grows. If your eyes have yet to lose their light then why do you not search for a solution! “I don’t want to die, not again, staying alive even if by a hairsbreadth is worth any price. You have nothing to fear, you have more than just punches and kicks in your arsenal. I don’t care if I have to claw my way out of the pits of hell, or shuffle to keep myself together in “that void, I just have to win.”

In less than in an instant the demon returns, fully ready to end me, shooting off in a mad dash towards me.

The frantic beating of my heart is almost hypnotic, bit by bit my blood drips out onto the forest floor, giving me less and less time to react. I can’t hold on for much longer. Tera won’t save me. What can I do? What haven’t I done?

It appears in a flash, the black bear’s body slams directly into mine with the reckless abandon of a wild boar. Grip the earth. My feet dig into the ground. Not enough. Feel the heartbeat of the world. I brace myself for impact, solidifying my stance. Become one with it. The words thrum loudly in my ears, faster than my heart, which is already threatening to jettison itself from my chest. Not enough. What more can I do? Accept it. A thought flashes in my mind, a breath before the impact.

I am calm, confidently resting my eyes on the enemy. For the first time becoming one with the world. Earthen yellow streams of light traced themselves up my legs pooling just below my navel, compelling a strange feeling, like thousands of needles placed diligently atop my body and directing the flow of energy.

With a loud Boom that easily overcomes the sound barrier, the bear slams its sharp claws into me intent on splitting my body in two, but what meets it is resistance.