Suddenly, the Locus's grip loosened. Elio fell to the ground, gasping and coughing. He looked up just in time to see the enormous creature stagger.
The Locus took one faltering step, then another. Its compound eyes, once bright with murderous fury, were now dimming. With a final death rattle, the beast collapsed.
Elio found himself staring at the Locus's lifeless corpse. The lance protruded from its throat like a macabre victory standard.
Elio crawled close to the monster, each movement an agony. His body was at its limit, his resistance barely above zero. But he was alive.
With trembling hands, Elio opened his system book. The numbers he saw showed him how close he had been to failing and leaving his family and neighbors at the monster's mercy:
Elio Elian Level: 3 Resistance: 2/30 Mana: 0/30