Abyssal

The environment was completely black and devoid of natural light. The ground was covered with thick layers of snow, which muffled footsteps and gave the area an unearthly quiet. The frozen ground was punctured by jagged, ice formations that looked like a creature's bony fingers or terrible fangs.

The bone-chilling wind tore through layers of clothing as it blasted through the barren terrain. Barren trees, stripped of their leaves, their skeletal branches reaching out into the darkened sky. Twisted vines, encrusted with ice, coiled around their trunks, as if nature itself had become entangled in a perpetual struggle against the intruding darkness.

In this desolate realm, the sounds were muffled and distorted. The howls of distant creatures echoed through the stillness, their haunting calls carrying a sense of unease. Serving as a constant reminder of their presence in this hostile and unforgiving environment.

Dionisus put his torch on his waist and unsheathed his makeshift dagger. He had no personal use for the glowing torch as he could see perfectly in the dark as if it were day.

The Abyssal charged towards the group of travelers, its massive body creating a gust of wind that nearly knocked them off their feet. Edward and Hector drew their weapons, ready to fight alongside Dionisus. The creature's eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and its jagged teeth glinted in the dim torchlight. It plunged it's club like arm in the direction of the two men in the back.

Edward and Hector quickly dodged the attack, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the Abyssal's massive arm. Dionisus took advantage of the creature's distraction and charged forward, aiming for the creature's missing arm.

Fear, in its essence, is a primal instinct that can evoke a wide range of responses in individuals facing extreme situations. In such case, fear turned into a motivating factor for Dionisus and his companions, giving them the willpower to face this challenge head-on. Fear may have been the cause for their sweat and racing hearts, but it also made them more resourceful, resilient, and adaptable. Each dangerous action served as a reminder of their fragility, inspiring them to find inner strength and keep going even in the most dire circumstances.

As Dionisus plunged his dagger into the Abyssal's missing arm, he felt a surge of adrenaline rush through his body. The creature let out an exploding growl, causing the travelers to flinch in reaction.

Edward and Hector circled around the Abyssal, ready to strike at any moment. However, their plan backfired. The creature opened its freakish mouth abruptly, revealing layers upon layers of serrated teeth, but that wasnt the main problem. The Abyssal's tongue transformed itself into four tentacles, which effortlessly closed the distance between Dionisus and it.

The Abyssals grotesque tongue gripped the young traveler tightly, squeezing his abdomen as if they were trying to rip him apart. Luckily, Dionisus could still move his left hand, he slowly reached towards the torch in his waist. The movement of his left arm was impaired by both the rising pain in Dionisus' abdomen as well as the strong unfaltering grip.

His companions were being held back from reaching him through the Abyssal's remaining arm, it was huge and armored. However, it appeared as though something had surgically severed one of its arms, cutting off exactly at its armpit, which was likely its weak point.

Dionisus seared through three of the disturbing creature's previously white fleshy tentacles. The pressure in his stomach was instantly reduced and he was finally able to breathe properly.

Spontaneously, the clubbed arm of the Abyssal swung thoughtlessly towards Dionisus, allowing both Edward and Hector to jump at it. Flames spiraled out from the carvings in Edward's hilt which quickly cloaked the entire sword.

Edward propelled himself forward, the flames in his sword dancing in a vermillion color. It struck true, hitting the foul creature in its right side, in response the creature lashed out violently swinging out his left arm from side to side. Dionisus quickly used of that opportunity to slide behind the Abyssal, he submerged his dagger deep into the back of its right leg.

Before giving the creature any chance to turn around, Dionisus twisted the dagger from within and detached the makeshift knife with a slash. An unnatural shade of reddish pink liquid exploded from the wound.

It seemed that this Abyssal's weak point was its joints. Its entire body was covered in a form of carapace that looked and acted like plated armor, except for its joints. The creature needed enough mobility to maneuver its enormous limbs properly, which meant that its armpits, kneepits, and an area of its hips were stripped of armor. These exposed areas were much more susceptible to damage.

The Abyssal swiftly turned around, swinging its club-like arm with a menacing force, poised to unleash devastation upon anything in its path. However, Dionisus had already made his way towards its other leg. Like a shadow, he darted and ducked under the massive entity's two legs, taking advantage of the momentary distraction.

Dionisus had shifted directions, launching a relentless assault on the second leg. His movements were swift and calculated, striking with precision and agility, exploiting the vulnerable joints of the creature's limb.

Hector with impressive speed and agility brought himself to the vanguard of the creature, buying time for his comrades to incapacitate the Abyssal's movement. He shot three consecutive darts from his crossbow. They landed weakly as they were only useful for distraction when facing an armored foe like this.

Edward followed quickly, plunging his flaming sword inside the Abyssal's already injured leg. With quick movements from all three travelers the colossal creature crashed in the ground. It tried using its remaining arm to push himself up but both of its legs were badly damaged.

With a sudden surge of courage, Edward leaped onto the back of the creature, his weapon held high. He delivered the final blow, searing through the flesh on the Abyssal's head. After a bit of squirmishing it finally dropped dead, the travelers celebrated softly before returning to the carriage.

For a reason unbeknownst to Dionisus, Edward lingered behind to mutilate the corpse of the demon. He came back carrying a weird heart shaped organ which glowed eerily in its center a pinkish light.

Dionisus's eyes widened in shock at the sight of the creature's "heart" as he watched an ethereal sentence appear in the air surrounding the organ. The image vanished in a flash, the only discernable word was 'Lustful'.