Third Floor [part 4]

This chapter is only for readers 18+ and contains disturbing scenes. Please read it at your own risk.

The creature in front of me was a Vrasgar, a race that developed following the Ascension Era and is known for being deadly.

They are known for their black flames, an infernal fire that consumed everything it touched and could not be extinguished by normal means, which made them extremely lethal at lower power levels, as their weakness was not yet known.

In fact, although Vrasgars are physically imposing, standing over two meters tall, with black, leathery skin that reflected the light of their own flames, and claws sharp as blades that could tear through even the toughest armor, they had a weak point.

Indeed, Vrasgars had a weakness hidden behind their formidable appearance.

Their black flames, while being a powerful weapon, were also their greatest vulnerability.

Vrasgars depended on the flames to maintain their invulnerability and their superhuman strength.

Without them, they became much more vulnerable to physical attacks.

The heart of the Vrasgar was the center of their power: a crystalline organ that emitted the black flames.

This heart was located in the center of the chest, protected by a layer of leathery skin.

If the heart was damaged, the flames would extinguish, leaving the creature exposed and weakened.

However, getting close enough to strike the heart was an extremely dangerous feat, as it required facing the flames and the fury of the Vrasgar directly.

***

The Vrasgar stood before me, black flames licking its imposing figure.

The air was saturated with the acrid smell of fire and burning flesh, and my eyes watered from the unbearable heat.

I was armed only with a sword, and every fiber of my being screamed to run from that entity of mana, but I knew there was no escape, and even if there was, it was impossible for me to use it.

I had to face it; I had to find a way to extinguish those damned flames.

The beast advanced, its heavy footsteps echoing on the stone floor.

It raised an arm, the sharp claws gleaming in the glow of the flames.

I threw myself to the side just in time, feeling the air whistle where my head had been a moment before.

I rolled, getting to my feet with difficulty, sweat blurring my vision.

With a roar, the Vrasgar launched a burst of flames in my direction.

I couldn't completely avoid it: the fire enveloped my left arm, the pain was excruciating.

I screamed, my cry of agony mingling with the creature's roar.

I could feel my flesh burning, the nauseating smell of my own body consumed by the infernal flames.

Despite the pain, I knew I had to continue.

Gripping the sword with my right hand, I launched myself at the Vrasgar.

Every step was torture, every breath a struggle against the pain.

I raised the sword and struck the creature with all my might. The blade hit the leathery skin but bounced off without causing any damage.

The Vrasgar roared again, its fury palpable.

It raised both fists and brought them down on me with brutal force.

I felt the bones in my chest crack, the air torn from my lungs.

I fell to the ground, the world spinning around me in a spiral of pain and despair.

With superhuman effort, I got up.

I knew I couldn't last much longer.

The Vrasgar, with an expression of pure ferocity, advanced towards me as I struggled to rise.

My armor was now reduced to shreds, and my left arm was a blackened shadow, paralyzed by pain.

Every fiber of my body begged for mercy, but my determination was unwavering.

I had to finish what I had started.

The creature launched another attack, its deadly claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed.

I used the sword as a shield, blocking the blow only partially.

The claws dug into the metal, breaking it like paper.

The recoil made me stagger, but I used the momentum to spin around and strike its leg.

The blade managed to penetrate, albeit slightly, the leathery skin, causing a black, viscous liquid to gush out.

The Vrasgar roared in pain, a sound so powerful it made the walls around us tremble.

"How dare you!" it said.

With a desperate move, I raised the sword above my head, aimed at the crystalline heart, and struck with all my strength.

The sword sank in, but not enough to reach the target.

I felt the leathery skin resist and then the blade bounced away.

The creature grabbed me with one hand, lifting me off the ground like I was a feather.

I felt its fingers tighten around my waist, breathless from the pain.

With a titanic effort, I lifted the sword with my only functioning arm and stabbed it into the Vrasgar's arm.

It screamed, letting me fall to the ground. I rolled away, panting and coughing.

I had to find a way to hit the heart.

I couldn't afford another mistake.

Staggering, I got to my feet, the sword still clutched in my trembling hand.

The Vrasgar, though wounded, was still a lethal threat.

The black flames crackled around it, and I knew that getting close meant risking being consumed by them.

With a scream of rage and desperation, I launched myself one last time at the creature.

The Vrasgar raised both arms, ready to destroy me with a single blow.

But this time, I was ready.

I used my momentum to slide under it, narrowly avoiding the black flames.

I found myself face to face with its chest, the crystalline heart pulsing with dark light right in front of me.

I raised the sword and plunged it in with all the remaining strength I had.

I felt the blade pierce the leathery skin and then the crystal.

A wave of black energy exploded from the heart, enveloping me completely.

The pain was unbearable, the black flames engulfing me, burning every inch of my body.

I screamed, a cry of pure agony, but I didn't let go of the sword.

The Vrasgar let out one last, terrifying roar before collapsing to the ground, the flames slowly extinguishing.

I was on my knees, my body reduced to a mass of burnt flesh and broken bones.

The pain was so intense that the world around me became a blurred shadow.

I felt my heart slow down, each beat an agony.

But I had won. The Vrasgar was dead, its crystalline heart shattered, with its black flames extinguished forever.

I let myself fall to the ground, my breath growing weaker.

The darkness enveloped me, taking me away from the pain and suffering.

I was on the verge of death, but I was still alive.

And with that last thought, I succumbed to the darkness.