Though the beast couldn't see her facial expression because of her helmet, it reacted to her words as if it did, coiling its leg muscles. The rubble groaned beneath it, barely able to support its weight. Then it pounced, hurling itself toward her like a cannonball wrapped in fur. A predator snarl escaped its throat as it closed the distance in a heartbeat.
Ellie threw herself to the side, narrowly dodging the beast just in time, the silver dagger still clutched in her hand.
The beast hit the ground where she stood a second ago, snow exploding outward from the impact. It barely had a chance to whip around before Ellie lunged forward, driving the dagger into the joint of its right arm. It went in surprisingly easy. The beast left out a deafening roar that rattled her bones. Then, it swung its wounded arm, trying to hurl her way. But Ellie let go of the dagger and ducked, the massive limb sweeping over her head, missing by a wide margin.
'Why is it so bad at fighting?'
The thought barely had time to register before she moved again. Her hand shot to the mace hanging by her waist. With a grunt, she swung it upward into the beast's ribs—the highest point she could reach. The blow connected with a sickening crunch, making the beast stagger.
But it didn't stagger for long.
The beast lashed out, using its wounded arm to grab her by the wrist. The dagger was still buried deep, but it didn't seem to care. It lifted her high like she weighed nothing and slammed her into the ground with bone-crushing force.
The impact knocked the breath out of her lungs. Pain exploded through her back as her armor caved inward, jagged edges piercing into her flesh. Ellie coughed, tasting blood, the smell of blood filled her helmet. Her blood worked overtime, healing her internal organs at incredible speed.
The beast wasn't done. It raised both of its massive fists high into the air before slamming them down where she was lying. Suddenly, the beast's right arm spasmed violently, jerking sideways. The sudden, uncontrollable movement crashed into its other arm, throwing its strike off balance. Both arms still came down, but the momentum was shattered. The blow landed awkwardly and instead of crushing Ellie flat, the impact was wild and clumsy. The force still hit like a war hammer but it didn't kill her.
While she was lifted into the air in the beast's grip, she had kicked the silver dagger that was still lodged in the joint of its right arm. The blade sliced through muscle and tendon before breaking free entirely, hitting the ground with a dull clang.
But her reminiscent was cut short as her mind snapped back to the fight. She focused on guiding the mace toward the right elbow of the beast. Her position wasn't ideal and the earlier slam put a great toll on her back so she wasn't able to deliver much force into the swing, but thanks to the wound caused by the silver dagger, it was enough to cause great pain to the beast, causing its to flinch and stagger a few steps back.
Gritting her teeth, she forced her battered body upright while it was still recovering. The beast stood not far away, its right arm swung loosely but the other arm was already winding up for an attack.
The claws on its left hand were coming for her head, cutting the air with a sharp hiss as it went. But just before it could hit its mark, Ellie gripped her mace with both arms and thrust as hard and fast as she could, connecting the head of the mace with the beast's wrist, shoving the incoming blow off-course. The claws grazed past her helmet but she wasn't finished. She brought her mace down, crashing it with the beast's knee, shattering its kneecap.
The beast's leg buckled, crumpling under its weight. Now that its face was closer, she could see the weird grin on it was already gone.
"Come on!" Ellie yelled, answering the creature's guttural roar with her furious scream. "Smile!"
She left one hand off the mace and smashed it into the beast's face. She heard something broke but she didn't know whether it belonged to her or the beast.
The dog beast's left arm wrapped around her waist, claws digging into her sides, clinging to her like an iron vine. Ellie raised her mace, ready to bash its skull in. But then a strangled gasp fled her throat. When she looked down, multiple black quills pierced clean through her armor, each throbbing in sync with her muscle, cumbering her movement and locking her in place.
The porcupine beast stepped closer from behind her, more quills rattling along its back, ready to fire again. The multi-eye beast wasn't controlling one body but multiples.
Blood started to seep out of the punctures where the quills pierced her, warmth trailing down her sides before her body erupted in flame.
The dog beast recoiled but Ellie didn't give it the chance to pull away. She grabbed one of the quills buried in her side, yanking it free and droving the quill into the beast's remaining eye.
A sudden, strangled screech tore from the porcupine beast. Quills fired off randomly, missing her entirely. Meanwhile, the dog beast fell down lifelessly, like a puppet with its string cut off.
Her eyes snapped to the porcupine beast. It was still writhing.
A grin tugged at her bloodied lips, flames flickering along her arms. It was painful, yes. So much so that it was unbearable. But it was still pale compared to the wrath burning within her.
Ellie took staggered steps toward the porcupine beast and knelt before it. She took off her helmet. Her fingers locked around the porcupine beast's head. In its pupils, she saw the reflection of a man clad in armor, with blood pouring from his wounds, flames born from him. Like a demon that clawed its way out of the deepest pits of hell.
Ellie pulled it into an embrace. Its quills buried deep into her flesh, coating the beast in her blood. A second later, flame burst all over its body followed by an agonized scream. It thrashed about, trying to break out of her hold but Ellie gripped it tighter.
"You probably won't understand what I am saying but—"
The porcupine beast let out another ear-splitting screech, cutting her off.
Ellie's expression darkened. She shoved the head of her mace into the beast's mouth, muffling its cries. "Be quiet when others talk."
A chuckle escaped her.
"Smart of you to pick something faster this time. You did well, really, for controlling such an unfamiliar body. The fact that you went this far for me makes me feel somewhat honored."
Then she stood up in silence. "What did you do to them?"
After the group of exiles had left her behind, the multi-eye beast hadn't attacked her then, despite how vulnerable she had been. That was because it was busy getting the other's beasts under its control. The damage she inflicted on it not long before must have slowed the process. While it was doing so, it met them—the exiles.
She gritted her teeth.
It took their eyes to regain some of its strength and speed up the process. She exhaled sharply, watching the fire eat away at the porcupine beast's flesh, before continuing.
"You and I… we're not so different, are we? Right now, I want you to suffer just as much as you want me to. And just like you, I will go to great extent to do so."
"I don't know where you are yet." She twisted the mace, feeling bone crack as she took it out of the porcupine beast's jaw.
She lined her mace on the porcupine beast's remaining eye before lifting it high above her head. "But I'll find you."
The fire reflected in her narrowed eyes.
"And when I do?" She smiled. "I'll make sure it's hurt."
She brought her mace down, sending the head flying toward the porcupine beast's eye. But she stopped just before the hit connected.
"Just kidding. I know how your little trick works now. As long as you didn't gaze at someone, no one could perceive you. As if you don't even exist."
She understood now.
That was why she hadn't felt its presence before its strike, despite how massive it was during their first encounter. That was also why, despite constantly checking the sky, she never saw it. And how she could only see its reflection briefly in the silver dagger.
She laughed bitterly in her heart.
By destroying so many of its eyes, she had unknowingly helped it. With fewer eyes left, it had been able to sneak into the forest even more easily.
"I wonder what would happen if you don't have any eyes left."
Ellie grabbed a handful of quills and stabbed them through the porcupine beast's legs. Its cry was muffled against her mace. She needed to keep it alive and connected to the multi-eye beast if she wanted to find where the bastard was hiding.
Once she made sure it was bound in place and couldn't move, she put the fire on its back out by putting snow over it. The freezing layer hissed as it met scorched flesh.
This layer of snow would also act as simple camouflage. It wasn't perfect but she didn't have the time to linger on. As soon as she hid the porcupine beast's remaining eye, she yanked her mace free, causing the beast to let out a painful cry, before rushing back toward the rubble of the shattered stable.
She didn't even spare a glance at the battle raging nearby, to the thunderous roar of flying bullets.
She skidded to a stop before the wreckage, her breath coming in sharp gasps. The fire that was feasting on her fresh had already died out, and the wounds had already closed up. Standing before the devastation, she closed her eyes, cupping her hands around her ears then she listened.
'Speak to me. Please, speak to me.'
Ellie prayed silently. She held her breath.
'Oh wind, please help carry Ray's voice so that I can hear him.'
Then, she heard it. Ray's cries.
Her eyes snapped open.
"I'm coming."
Her hand grasped at the wreckage with urgency, ripping away broken wood and tossing it away. Every second felt like a blade pressing against her throat.
Her fingers curled around a chunk that was too big and heavy. No matter how much weight she put on, it won't budge. Ray's voice still pierced through the rubble.
"Just hold on," she murmured, more to herself than to him.
Ellie felt her muscle tearing, healing, and then tearing again, each cycle leaving her stronger than before. And she was now three times stronger. With determination, she pushed through the sharp, unforgiving ache coursing her arms, back, and abdomen before removing the large chunk. Her body screamed in protest, but she kept going, clearing debris, one after the other. Then, finally, the cries grew clearer.
Beneath the wreckage, she could make out a large, unmoving figure. It was the brute who worked the stable. His large frame was curling over something, protecting it.
Ellie shoved aside the last obstruction. The brute's body was still warm, his arms wrapped protectively around a small, trembling baby who was clutching at the brute's torn clothing.
"Ray," she whispered.
Her hand held out, picking him up and pulling him close. She rocked him back and forth, pressing her forehead against Ray's until he quieted down.
"There. There. I am here now."
"You sure took your damn time."
Suddenly, a low, ragged voice came from the brute's battered form.
"I told you not to leave your kid here." Every rise and fall of his chest came with a wheezing rasp.
"You stubborn old bastard," she muttered. "Thank you so much."