TWENTY-FIVE

As the human boy clashed with the creature, two other creatures were involved in combat, except that it was a one-sided fight with one of the creatures hell-bent on stopping the other one from passing through.

The second cave paver had been attracted by the noise from the intense battle between Hassan and the other cave paver. When it spotted Hassan, Sky, and my unconscious body it went berserk.

One of those had never passed through the cave entrance conscious so it had never been faced with an option to hunt like the hunters of the Blizzardkin clan.

Seeing live prey for the first time must have awakened something innate and dormant within it; something akin to an affinity toward predation.

Sooner or later the cave path was bound to be filled with more of the cave pavers so we all had to act fast.

Snowstorm had one job to do and it was to keep the new creature from adding to Hassan's enemies. He had his hands full with facing that one creature. Although he would've handled an extra creature it was too early to be worn down, when the main enemy was somewhere deep in the cave.

With a ground-shaking growl, the cave paver lunged forward, laser-focused on the little human that somehow managed to stand his ground against the first cave paver. It thrashed its claws into the air as if it could somehow make it extend beyond the second creature that blocked its path. These creatures could make the edges of their bodies phase through anything but another creature like them so it was easy for Snowstorm to block its path.

Blinded by lust for blood this creature did not attack Snowstorm but moved towards the side away from the hurdle that blocked its access to his new set of prey. But each time it moved Snowstorm moved with it.

'Look at me, idiot!' I thought from within Snowstorm's consciousness.

'You're not getting to them except through me!'

Gaining control of a physically superior creature felt incredible. It gave me an extra feeling of confidence that I had power within my reach.

Folding its hands into a fist Snowstorm sent a rain of blows toward the cave pavers skull sending it backward.

Without waiting for it to charge toward the humans again Snowstorm lunged toward it and dug its claws into the weak point making sure to tear through it and disable the creature.

The massive creature let out a growl as the searing pain radiated through its body. Its enormous form crashed to the ground with a resounding thud.

Its tapered end was a few meters away from its body, with fluid quickly dripping out its upper end.

The abdominal part attached to the tapered end had fluid coming out of it too; a black fluid that was as dark as the dark hollow within its thorax.

The disabled creature's breaths came in ragged, labored gasps as it struggled to make sense of the misery that now consumed it.

Its eyes were still filled with fierce determination fuelled by its predatorial instinct. The creature's enormous frame quivered as it attempted to rise, only to fall again.

Only then did it recognize Snowstorm as the enemy it had to get rid of but it was a second too late.

Snowstorm dug its claws into the creature's neck penetrating through the muscles in its way ... As it felt the hot essence within its grasp it held it and dug its claws into it. For something so important as the soul core it was easy to destroy.

Snowstorm watched as the life was sucked out of the creature's eyes and its upper limbs that once reached for its attacker fell limp on the ground.

Congratulations you have defeated one of the cave pavers of the Blizzardkin clan.

Reward: Knowledge about mind transfer

It was certain at that point that the instructor had a twisted way of giving rewards.

The quiet after the fight was palpable, a tense stillness that hung in the frigid air. Hassan stood at the spot where he had just defeated a colossal creature. It wasn't a blank expression on his face, but a dark grin that was so unlike him. It was as though something had taken over him; Something dark and evil.