With no time left for hesitation, I swung without thinking. A flash of light glinted off the metallic blade as it slashed through the air. Please work. A roar erupted from the lizard as the tip of the sword pierced its side, sinking in a full foot with the ease of cutting through hot butter. The beast recoiled, its massive body jerking away from the sword.
New Skill Unlocked: Grim Resolve
New Skill Unlocked: Puncturing Strike
I blinked the screen away. Not now! Seizing the opportunity, I rolled out from beneath the lizard, dragging the weapon free as green blood dripped like sickly ink from the blade. The lizard locked its reptilian eyes onto me, fury igniting within them. I could almost hear the muscles tensing beneath its scaly skin as it prepared to leap again.
Drawing strength from deep within, I gripped the sword with both hands. The thunderous blast of a shotgun rang out to my right making my head ring, causing the dizziness to worsen. Kira must have gotten the shotgun. The shot ricocheted harmlessly off the lizardâs armored back, but it was enough to catch its attention.
As it turned toward the new threat, I seized my chance. I leapt forward, the sword raised high above my head. With all my remaining strength, I swung down with everything I had. The blade cleaved effortlessly through the lizardâs thick scales, then neck tissue, muscles, trachea, before continuing out the other side, burying deep into the ground beneath it. The creature staggered, taking a few uncertain steps before toppling over, its head rolling a couple of feet away from the body. I cant believe that fucking worked.
As the severed neck spurted green blood in rhythmic bursts, a blue screen obscured my view.
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New Skill Unlocked: Cleaving Arc
Lesser Lizard Killed - 25 XP.
Congratulations on leveling up! Accept rewards? YES/NO.
I collapsed to the ground, my knees hitting the ground with a thud that I barely registered. Exhaustion crashed over me like a tidal wave. The pain in my side, which had been a distant, adrenaline-muted signal, now screamed for attention. My vision swirled with stars. I could feel the warmth of blood oozing from the deep wounds. I clamped a hand on my side in a futile effort to stop the bleeding but I can feel the hot sticky liquid continue flowing freely from the giant gashes.
Kira came sliding into my tilted view at a sprint, her presence a comforting anchor as she gently pressed her hand over my own, applying her weight to stem the flow of blood. A groan of pain escaped my lips as the agony worsened. Fuck I was thirsty. My memory of my First Aid training reminding me that it was not a good sign. I was bleeding out. Through the hazy, blue screen, I saw her digging into a med pack with her teeth. As I felt myself swaying, the edges of my world blurring like a watercolor painting, I braced for impact, the ground rising to greet me in a merciful embrace.
This is it. The thought echoed solemnly in my mind. This is how I die, to a fucking monster. My vision clouded further until I could just discern the words YES/NO on the screen. A surge of defiance hit me. Fuck. Fine. Yes! I thought, unsure of what I was agreeing to, but if it meant closing this window, I was all in.
The screen flashed, Congrats on your level up., and in that shimmering moment, the darkness finally took over, stealing away my consciousness.