Yeet

I crouched low in the smooth, curved dome, adrenaline surging through my veins like fire. Golbin lay nearby, perfectly still—playing dead for the moment.

 The Goliath, massive and towering over us, stood in the center of the dome, its thick limbs moving slowly, but with a crushing power. The smooth floor gave no advantages, no places to hide, no terrain to use. Just the curve of the circular room itself.

Perfect. I made that curve my weapon.

My mind sharpened like a knife. 

'Keep moving. Don't fucking stop'

 I jumped, springing into a wide circle around the Goliath, my legs straining with each leap.

I kept my distance, moving just fast enough to stay ahead of it, just slow enough to keep it turning. The dome's curve gave me what little advantage there was, allowing my movements to be unpredictable, forcing the Goliath to keep spinning, trying to track me. Seven, maybe eight meters of space—close enough to keep it interested, far enough to avoid being caught...hopefully.

The giant's massive hand shot out, sweeping through the air where I'd been only moments before. I barely had time to react, throwing myself to the side, my legs burning from the effort of keeping pace. Its fist crashed into the ground, cracking the dome's floor. If that had hit me, armor or not, thickened skin or not, I'd have been a bloody smear. 

The Goliath roared, a deep sound that vibrated through the ground beneath my feet. It stomped toward me, each step like a small earthquake. My body reacted on instinct, veering more, jumping higher, pushing harder. My muscles screamed in protest, but I ignored them. Pain was nothing. Only survival mattered.

I raised my hand, a quick flick of my wrist sending arcs of white fire into the air, aimed at its eyes. It wouldn't burn the beast—not truly—but it was enough to create a visual barrier, a distraction. The flames danced between us, flickering wildly as I pushed mana into the fire. Just a little. I couldn't waste too much, even with the boost I gained from Draconic Blood. 

I watched as the Goliath ignored the fire, its massive, pupil-less eyes not even flinching. It moved right through the flames, uncaring of the burns that would sear any lesser creature's flesh.

I grinned. This was going to be fun.

The Goliath's eyes gleamed white as it bore down on me, seemingly growing faster with each moment.

I threw more fire into the space between us, cutting off its line of sight. But the Goliath charged through, a massive fist swinging down. I barely dodged, feeling the gust of air as the blow slammed into the ground where I had been a second ago. The floor cracked under its force.

I veered left again, barely keeping out of its range as it swung its arm in a wide arc, trying to catch me mid-jump. This time, I was slower. The air rushed past my face as I threw myself to the side, my body skidding across the floor, my armor scraping loudly against the stone. My heart lurched, but I laughed. Close. Real close.

I pushed myself up, sprinting into another wide circle. My legs screamed in protest, but they obeyed my will all the same. 

The Goliath roared again, a guttural, deafening sound that shook the dome. It pivoted to follow me, its massive body turning faster now, more calculated. Its steps thundered, the ground trembling beneath its weight. I threw another thin wall of fire up, but it barreled through, ignoring the burns as its thick skin crackled in the heat. 

My heart pounded, but my mind stayed cold. Precise. I adjusted, leaped back into the dome's curve, forcing the Goliath to turn again, keeping it off balance. I could feel its frustration mounting.

And then Golbin struck.

It was subtle at first. A flicker of movement near the giant's ankle as it lifted its foot to step forward. Then, with a high-pitched cackle, Golbin sank his daggers into the back of the Goliath's ankle, just as it shifted its weight mid-step. The timing was perfect. The beast faltered, a low growl rumbling through its chest.

I didn't wait. This was my opening.

I rushed in, claws ready, aiming for the Goliath's legs. Golbin's attack had given me the chance I needed. My claws slashed deep into the thick muscle, and I sent a blinding flash of fire directly into its face.

The flames exploded in front of its eyes, and the giant reeled back, blinded, disoriented. I jumped back just in time as its hand slammed down where I'd been, the ground splintering beneath its weight.

It was unsteady now. I could see it in the way its massive form wavered, knees buckling slightly under its weight.

 I pushed harder, striking again at its legs, feeling the flesh tear beneath my claws. I was close now—too close—but I didn't care. I had to keep the pressure on. I could hear Golbin's laughter as he cleared out, staying just outside of the giant's thrashing range.

The Goliath roared, louder than before, and I could feel the vibration in my bones. But it was faltering. Its massive hands swung wildly, trying to find something to crush. It was fast, far faster than any being of such humongous size had any right to be...

But it was still too slow to catch me.

 I jumped, pushing off the dome's smooth surface to gain height, it to my advantage. Another fire burst, this one aimed directly at its hands. The flames licked at its skin, forcing it to jerk in pain.

It was losing balance. I could see it now—the way its knees wobbled, the way it struggled to keep upright. My heart raced, but my grin widened.

 This was it.

I leaped again, higher this time, aiming for its face. Its pupil-less white eyes widened as I sent a blast of fire directly into them, the heat scorching the air between us. The Goliath recoiled, its hands flailing as it tried to protect its face, but it was too late. The damage was done. Its legs gave out beneath it, and with a deafening crash, the giant fell to its knees.

For a moment, everything slowed. The massive creature, once so powerful, was now on its knees, struggling to get back up. I could hear Golbin laughing, staying clear of its flailing arms. Smart. No point getting squashed now.

I didn't waste time. A fire ring erupted around the giant's hands, forcing it to hesitate, just long enough for me to strike again. I leaped forward, claws extended, aiming for its face. The Goliath's roar turned into a guttural scream as it tried to protect its face, its massive form swaying, and I could see the moment it lost control—the moment it began to topple.

I jumped back, watching as the giant's massive form arched, its back slamming into the smooth dome floor, roaring all the while.

I was on it in an instant, my claws digging into its thick skin as I climbed onto its chest. Golbin was already in position, his daggers slashing at its face, keeping it distracted.

I climbed onto its chest, like a spider. My breath came in ragged gasps, but my mind stayed focused, cold.

I channeled the last of my fire into my hands, concentrating the flames into a searing point. With a grin, I slammed my claws into its throat, digging deep into the thick muscle, and I sent a blast of fire directly into the wound.

The giant gurgled, its hands flailing as it tried to grab me, but like a scarab, I was already within its flesh.

I dug deeper, my claws ripping through muscle and arteries as I channeled the last of my fire magic into the wound. The heat was so much that it burned my hands as well, but I didn't care.

The Goliath's body convulsed beneath me, its hands weakly trying and failing to stop me.

White Fire and a waterfall of blood mixed as I tore through its trachea, its movements slowing, until finally, with one last detonation of mana, I ripped through the last of its resistance.

The Goliath's head slumped back, its massive form finally still.

I stood there for a moment, panting, blood dripping from my claws, the stench of burnt flesh filling the air. And then, I laughed—loud, unhinged, a wild, triumphant sound that echoed through the room. 

The Goliath was dead. And I was still alive.