Erik's breaths came out in ragged gasps as he entered a small pocket of forest further ahead of his previous position, a narrow expanse that provided a brief reprieve from the Ursolith's pursuit. It was a tiny refuge, only ten meters wide, but it was enough for him to gather his wits and prepare for the impending confrontation. The beast had been weakened enough for him to fight one-on-one.
Erik's heart pounded in his chest, and time seemed to slow down. The air around him was tense, with a palpable sense of danger and anticipation. He braced himself, his mind racing with calculations and strategies, looking for any advantage he could gain.
The twenty seconds he had left before the Ursolith reached him felt like an eternity, each second stretching and contorting under the strain of anxiety. Erik's gaze was fixed on the small clearing's entrance, his eyes darting back and forth, his senses heightened to detect any sign of the approaching beast.