Chapter 3 Slaying The Untameable Game!

“The Lure of Intimidation.” This was the name giving to my current predicament, the same experienced by my ancestor long ago. The scribe translation of the great Beast Tamer’s last words was to cast away the armour of struggle and embrace the silks of death. To me, this was also a vague sentiment. Am I just to allow the Wolverine-Bear to gash me from behind which could potentially lead to my death, all in the hopes of defeating it? I wasn’t ready to mimic the great Beast Tamer’s path of entering eternal sleep. I would rather be a coward and struggle than embrace a submissive death.

[ROOAAAR!] Through the thickness of darkness which engulfed me wholly, I heard the violent approach of the vicious predator coming to claim my head. But there was nothing I could do to escape my imminent demise. My body was completely paralyzed from head to toe, even the hair follicles on my skin dared not sway when impacted by the billowing wind.

[Gallop! Gallop! Gallop!] I could feel that the beast was inches away from ripping me to pieces. As the seconds ticked by I became more and more desperate. Fear hit me so badly, I felt the strong yearning to release my bladder of poignant urine but even my manhood was strongly affected by the creature’s Lure of Intimidation. In short, not a drip of salty droplet came out.

[Slash!] I heard a loud sting streaked throughout the sky and felt a rough wind bashing against my back. “AAAAAHHH!” I began screaming out internal with the baleful intensity to collapse my mind. I waited to be slashed apart by the beast’s assault. My wait lasted for 10-seconds, 13-seconds, 16-seconds, 24-seconds, 35-seconds and yet the assault never came?

Without realizing it, my body was capable of movement again. “The creature’s Lure of Intimidation has become undone?” Being able to move once more, I hurriedly spun around to validate the whereabouts of the rampaging beast.

“Huh, Tagon?” What struck me with a wave of surprise was the scenery of my trusted steed pounding into the Wolverine-Bear’s side with its robust hoofs. A breath of shock escaped my mouth as I stood there with one eye wide open. My trusted steed resembled a dashing knight who came to my rescue in that interim. The white furs across its lateral surface coupled with the train of dark tresses atop its muscular framework accentuated its medieval valour.

My impressed demeanour didn’t have time to bloom into a gallant flower because of what I witnessed next. [Boom!] The Wolverine-Bear used its hind legs to send my steed crashing into the opposite direction. “Tagon, no!” I dashed towards my horse while throwing the pointy part of my shattered spear at the menacing beast.

[Twak!] My aim was precise, for the projectile I tossed out, stabbed straight into the beast’s left eye. “That was payback for gouging out my eyeball.” [Whoosh!] I skid towards my wounded horse who was lying against fallen leaves.

I quickly realized that Tagon would survive the impact, therefore, I didn’t linger to help him to his feet. Instead, I drew out my sword that was sheathed on Tagon’s midnight saddle. [Xin!] Its sharpness echoed throughout the autumnal forestry.

“With this sword that had been passed down through generations of my Aigoo tribe, I will finally claim your life, beast!” My keen blade was pointing at the vicious predator as I assaulted its bulky hauteur complex with verbose expletives.

[ROAR!] The beast didn’t take kindly to my taunts, hence it began rushing towards me with vehement tendency. “Stay put, Tagon.” I instructed my steed to not interfere with my duel, moreover, I shifted locations so that it wouldn’t get caught up. “Over here, fat ass!”

[ROAR!] The beast took the bait and chased after me. I led it to the very summit of Mt Sakai where there was a flat open grassland most suitable for an honourable duel. “Come beast! This will be your slaughtering ground!”

The beast succumbed to its impulsive nature and rushed me head-on. Perceiving its brutal approach, I bent my knees until the tip of my rump contacted the tall grass below me then I applied the strength of 3-men. [Whoosh!] The moment the beast dashed into my proximity, moreover unleashed its dreadful claws, I vaulted over its huge framework while making the creature taste the sharpness of my blade.

[Cut! Cut! Cut!] Due to the vicious impetus in which it rushed at me, I managed to score deep cuts all over its robust posterior. The beast’s bristled furs were now dishevelled; uprooted by my sharp blade. [Thud!] I didn’t halt my momentum there, the moment my feet caressed the soft verdant grass below me, I dashed at the beast's rear with my steel thrusting forwards.

[ROAR!] To avoid getting penetrated by my trusting steel, the beast made an abrupt U-turn facing towards me. It wasted no time at all brandishing its malefic teeth. It was aiming to consume my head, however, I would not allow such travesty to occur. [Swoosh!] I avoided its chomping mouth by sliding underneath its fat underbelly. The strength of 5-men was applied to my blade which I used skilfully to slash through the thick viscera of my indomitable opponent!

[Boom!] After sliding free from the beast’s underbelly, I glanced backwards to caught it stumbling on the ground, the grass it slid across was replete with bloody entrails. A smirked formed my lips while witnessing this bloody scenery. I was excited that victory was within my reach. All that was left was to deliver the finishing blow.

[Thud! Thud!] I grazed the tip of my ancestral blade against the swooshing grass at my feet as I furthered my advance towards the crippled beast. “You put up a good fight, beast. But in the end, you were destined to succumb to my blade.” I felt as if I was the great Beast Tamer within that sweet moment of victory, albeit, I didn’t triumph with my bare hands as he did.

As I stood over the dying beast with my blade raised to glory, I stared into its remaining vision centre. I was taken aback by what I discovered. Though the beast was nearing its last breath, it didn’t show any signs of offering me victory. I pointed the keen tip of my blade towards its furry neck then spoke.

“You are a very brave beast, nobler than any warrior that I’ve cut down. With your death, I shall inherit your indomitable will. I promise that your last moments shall not be forgotten by me. Now accept my last offering.” [Stab!] I thrust my blade deep into the Wolverine-Bear’s throat. As I withdrew my sharpness, blood spewed out of the punctured aperture along with the beast’s dying breath or so I had thought.

[Gallop! Gallop!] My victory over the gallant beast compelled me to lower my sword arm and take a breather. While gasping for fresh air, my ear interpreted the sonic vibrations of my steed approaching. I began walking by the lifeless corpse to meet my steed halfway. [Gallop! Gallop!] Finally my steed came into view. “Oi, Tagon!” I waved to attract its attention and my steed responded with elated neighs.

While sauntering towards Tagon’s proximity, I felt a familiar chill crept into my spine and my mobility reducing. The first thing that came to my mind was: “The Lure of Intimidation? But How? I already slew the beast???”

I thought that my visual acuity must be betraying me on some silly pretence of a jest. Because lo and behold, when I glanced below me there it was gradually stretching across the fluttering high grass. A shadow of malignant quality with arms outstretched. From that gruesome shade cast over me, I knew what was lurking at my posterior.

[Neighs! Neighs!] My horse perceived the dangers as well and tried to warn me by galloping in a roundabout. Yes, I was aware that the beast had temporarily resurrected as its last attempt to drag me into the afterlife. I desperately tried to lift my blade in retaliation to defend myself, however, I found my actions being bound by the creature’s Lure of Intimidation.

[Whoosh!] I noticed the shadow cast on the grass shrinking behind me with a devious strike. [Ba-dump! Ba-dump!] My heart sounded loudly the trepidation I was feeling. I was sure that this was the end of my legend. But as I was entertaining the thought of my imminent downfall, I felt a strong wind blew against my neck which gave me the resolve to bite down on my tongue.

[Chomp!] The intense pain of having my tongue slit roused me from my paralyzed state just in time to counteract the beast’s deadly strike. My fingers tightened around the hilt of my sword, with my regained strength I spun around as swiftly as I could while aiming my blade to intercept the sweeping shadow.

[Boom!] I ducked underneath the beast’s vicious strike, moreover, I utilized that opportunity to cut off one of its forelegs. [Slash!] A fountain of blood sprayed from the severed limb, the beast did not cry either, due to its neck being punctured by me. I continued my momentum and severed its hind legs also. With this, the indomitable beast fell to its doom, no longer being able to draw breath. I double-checked to be certain of its death because I didn’t think my heart could bare another intimidating surprise.