Ashes in the Wind

The monster, having regenerated from the point of death numerous times, gained a tremendous boost in stats. As it grew stronger, its size decreased; now, it is only a few centimeters taller than the mysterious man.

Its shape also changed drastically. Its current appearance resembles a bipedal creature, while two scythe-like appendages formed on each of its arms/paws.

The man kept quiet.

Perhaps devising an escape route? Planning his next set of actions?

Just when Fei thought that the man would make its move, the newly-improved creature suddenly vanished, appearing within arms reach of the man.

(Too fast!)

The speed was even faster than what the man was exhibiting before. The creature is leagues above what it used to be a few moments ago.

The man was now the one sent flying. Twisting his body mid-air, he was able to reposition himself to land on his feet.

But the moment the man's feet touched the ground, he was sent flying again. In his place was the creature, its scythe fully extended after delivering a powerful swing.

The monster's sluggishness completely disappeared with its new appearance.

Seeing her savior being overwhelmed, Fei poured even more magic into Dos Ciura to hasten her recovery for even just a second sooner.

(I have to help him!)

The monster, perhaps delighted by the sudden increase in its combat abilities, as well as having the perfect practice target to test its newfound strength, lept to the man as he was recovering himself from the earlier strike.

As if copying the man earlier, the creature unleashed one, two, three ... multitude of slashes from its twin scythes. Dust builds up as the creature rampages.

"Krrrryyyyaahhhh!"

The monster, as if enjoying his one-sided massacre, let out a shriek. What used to be a forested area is now converted into a wasteland, with several cracks and uprooted trees lying around.

Despite being a monster, the creature showed an expression that can only be described as a smirk.

It is proud of the destruction it caused, proud of its newfound strength, and proud to have triumphed over its adversary. Despite that, it has to be sure that the battle is over so it waits for the dust to clear up.

However, amidst the swirling dust, it suddenly felt IT.

Not much of a feeling, but more of a foreboding, a fearful apprehension.

An ominous foreboding.

A sixth sense, you could say.

The inscrutable feeling you get when you are afraid of the dark as a kid.

The helplessness, the desperation, the fear.

All of these emotions that the creature never knew it had in the first place crawled up from the bottom of its primordial instincts, screaming, telling every cell on its body to flee right away!

But it was too late.

The moment it saw the jet-black eyes of the man peeking from within the miniature dust storm, it knew what awaits at the end of this battle.

DEATH.

"Kkkkkkrrrrruuuaagh!!!"

Instead of waiting for the inevitable, the creature decided how it would end.

To die fighting. Despite its appearance, it chose to die an honorable death.

It knew that no magic nor tricks would work on this man.

An extremely strong attack is what it needs.

Gathering all of its strength into a singular point, the creature decided to bet its life on this final attack.

The ground shattered as the air vibrates. Every sinew in its body was drawn to its utmost limits, every muscle fiber torn apart. Truly fitting to be called a final attack.

All of its senses focused on the man.

But as soon as the dust cleared up, he was gone.

Using four of its eyes, it searched frantically for the man's figure but was nowhere to be found. A look of disbelief is splattered on its face.

"You did great."

Only upon hearing those words did it realize where the man was.

He was there, standing directly behind it.

How he got there doesn't matter, it thought. The battle will be over as long as he hit him with this attack.

In just milliseconds, it turned itself around, making a 180-degree turn.

It was probably thinking of how foolish he was, placing himself within his range. Victory is now within its grasp ...

"Now rest."

... or so it thought.

As soon as it heard those words, the world was split in half, no, four different parts.

What is happening? Why is the world falling apart? Perhaps this is what the creature was thinking as darkness slowly consumes its consciousness.

From the corner of its eyes, the last he saw was the figure of the man, with his back turned, slowly walking away.

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From the sidelines, Fei saw it all.

Now with her legs fully healed, she is standing still, looking at the figure of the beast as it slowly turns into ashes and the man slowly walks away.

"What in the world was that?", she asked no one in particular.

She recounted what she just witnessed.

She saw him being cornered and the beast having a clear advantage.

But as soon as she saw his eyes, she felt it.

(Cant breathe)

She felt herself gasping for air. The feeling is similar to falling into a very deep ravine with no end in sight. A very deep, unfathomable chasm. That's what it felt like.

Time seems to have stood still, except for the man.

He was walking towards the creature. Its scythes are ready to unleash what looks like its final attack.

Right before he passed by the monster, she saw the man draw his sword and sheathe it back to its scabbard in one fluid motion.

*Thonk*, the sound the sword made as it fitted perfectly in its container.

Only then, did time start to move again. The oppressive aura moments before was now gone.

As soon as the creature turned towards the man, it suddenly stopped moving, only to be split into four equal parts.

The man simply walks away as if nothing eventful happened.

Fei looked at the monster, now a pile of ash being swept away by the wind.

"He defeated it .. in an instant", she spoke.

She looked towards the man, his back barely visible from the distance.

(Where is he going?)

"Hey, wait up!"