CHAPTER 11

The beast brought down its axe much faster than last time. Sapphire was still smaller and much faster, and so she managed to dodge without much trouble. Clicking its tongue the beast continued to swing its axe rapidly, which was close to flailing after a minute.

Sapphire easily dodged the attacks with minimum movement. While it seemed like she had the upper hand, it was more of a stalemate. The beast's attacks weren't fast enough to land a hit on her, and she wasn't strong enough to get too close and risk taking a hit. She wondered how much her attacks will be capable of doing as well as the beast's hide seemed thick.

We are not going to be getting anywhere like this. Sapphire clicked her tongue as her patience started to run out.

She couldn't risk it, but the beast was also cautious and was simply testing her currently, easy to tell due to its swings always being a bit off, just enough to give Sapphire room for dodging. If she kept this up there was a chance it would simply turn back and go away, but she can't do that, not anymore. For her the only way now was up, to reach the top if she hoped to survive by the time she reached her destination, and for that, she needed to win every fight possible. She can't run away or let the other run away like she used to, it just won't do as much good for her anymore.

She bolted forward in an instant, ducking under a horizontal swing. Startled, the beast took a step back and retrieved its axe, preparing to swing it again. He swung it right at his feet as Sapphire reached there. She jumped up and landed briefly on his arm mid-swing before jumping up to its face and stepping on its shoulder.

She slashed at its neck with her katana, but it didn't go through. It collided with the hide on its neck and stopped, not even making a mark. Sapphire stared in wide-eyed horror as the beast smirked and reached for her with his free hand. Snapping back to attention Sapphire jumped back and landed back on the ground.

What is the point in this, I can't even damage him, and his attacks can kill me in one hit, this is not fair. Sapphire complained in her mind.

The beast swung its axe once again, but much faster than before. It went a hairsbreadth away from her face as she tried to dodge and blew her hat off. The more terrifying fact the strike was again, aimed slightly off.

The beast stared at her in shock. "A Midnight?" He exclaimed, "What are you even doing in these parts, your species has been long trapped in the mana forest for millennia."

Sapphire was too shocked to even hear the question, let alone answer it. That was a close call, a millisecond delay would have been the end of her as her arm would have been sliced off. She stood no chance, it was far too strong for her. She thought as she let her katana hang loosely in her hand, barely even gripping it.

The beast noticed her condition and lifted his axe for the finishing blow with a sigh. "This was your own choice." The beast swung its axe again, this time aimed directly at her to chop her in half.

Yes, so now I need to make it count, Sapphire thought with a smile.

As the horizontal swing headed for her head she ducked underneath it and then sprung back to her feet. "There is no way I am going to lose to an overgrown bull," Sapphire mocked. Not like I have a way to win either. My options are limited, and harming him doesn't appears to be one of them, not with my strength at the least.

The beast fumed at Sapphire's comment and glared at her. Sapphire ran towards the beast's legs. It swung its axe again, but slightly higher so she can't jump over it, which just made her work easier.

Sliding on the ground Sapphire dodged the axe and skid all the way behind the beast and quickly got back on her feet, charging towards towards the surrounding forest cover as soon as she did. The beast followed hefting his axe in its arms, intent on not letting her get away.

Sapphire knew she shouldn't run too far away, lest the beast decides return to his business and let her get away. Still, she needed to find a dense enough area if she wanted to win. The footsteps of the beast were loud as it chased her, scaring all life away and even uprooting or breaking many trees as it gave chase. Sapphire was barely ahead of it, and mostly because of the head start she received. She ducked, jumped and swerved through the woods that got denser steadily, slowing the beast's movements due to his giant size and covering her from its view.

The beast sliced through the trees to hasten its pace, many of the pieces being thrown ahead towards Sapphire to stop her. She dodged them with ease, but the beast was steadily getting closer as the pieces blocked the narrow paths. It swung its axe in a wide arc as Sapphire got in its striking range.

This will have to do.

Sapphire dived behind a thick tree as the beast swung its axe, hoping to dodge it. Noticing this, the beast kneeled, swinging lower and targeting he thick tree. His axe sliced through the tree, and many others near it, but there was no blood, only chunks of woods and soil as the trees were ripped apart.

The beast looked around the cleared area but Sapphire was nowhere to be found, it lifted its axe and prepared to swing it again. At that very moment, it felt the weight of something on its shoulder and turned to see.

It glimpsed black hair flowing in the air as Sapphire landed on its shoulder and delivered a slash on its neck at lightning speed. The beast smiled as the slash failed to cause any damage and reached for Sapphire with his free arm.

Just as he did, Sapphire jumped down and landed back on the ground. Just as she landed on the ground the beast swung its axe at her with one hand. The axe sliced through the ground and trees as it arced towards Sapphire and threw many things into the air as the beast completed the arc and lifted it into the air to kill the momentum.

It glanced at the ground where Sapphire was and saw no sign of her or any blood. Startled, it failed to notice Sapphire on a large chunk of wood that got thrown into the air by the axe swing.

Sapphire launched herself off the wood chunk towards the beast's neck. Noticing the sudden movement he swung his axe towards her, not fast or accurate enough to hit her, but luck was on his side as the axe headed right for her.

Angling her katana between herself and the axe, Sapphire allowed the axe to collide with it. Just as the two collided, using the extra force, Sapphire spun her body in the air with her katana in her arms, prepared to land a blow. Using all her strength and the extra force Sapphire slashed at the beast's neck.

The blade contacted with the neck and threw Sapphire completely off balance. She crashed onto the ground on her side and bounced onto her legs which she used to skid to a stop, her katana still in her hands, though her grip was now loose and her palm was bleeding.

The beast glanced at its neck wide eyed as blood trickled down from where Sapphire's blade made contact. She smirked at her progress as the beast fumed, before disappearing back into the woods.

While during the day it won't be too hard to spot her through the trees, the dark night made Sapphire nearly invisible. Any sound of her running was also covered by the numerous birds and animals that were terrified of the giant beast's presence.

Getting desperate as Sapphire didn't show herself for a few moments the swung its axe on the densely packed group of trees. Taking the little opportunity she received when the beast was defenseless she jumped onto a large tree and launched herself into the air.

She landed on a piece of wood that was flung into the air, causing it to spin around, almost making her nauseous. From there she launched herself right towards the beast's neck, spinning in the air to land a hit with more power.

The beast failed to notice her as she flew towards it neck and Sapphire successfully landed a hit at the shallow wound, deepening it. The beast roared in anger and clasped its hand around the injury. Jumping backwards Sapphire quickly retreated into the trees as the beast wildly looked around for her.

"You have no clue who you are making an enemy of, I will destroy you and everything you love," The beast snarled.

Sapphire stopped at her spot and turned towards the beast, slowly walking out into the open after a moment. The beast smiled on seeing her accepting her defeat.

The dark clouds that covered the moon were starting to clear and the full moon shone brightly on the open area. A cold stormy wind sweeping the area.

The beast lifted its axe into the air with both its hands. "Seems like you have finally given up. You shouldn't have left your safe little forest in the first place." The beast laughed as he prepared to bring his axe down.

"Destroy everything I love?" Sapphire echoed, just loud enough for the beast to hear as it brought its axe down.

Sapphire slightly stepped to the side and the axe smashed into the ground where she stood a moment ago, embedding itself into the ground where it collided.

"You will need to live to be able to do that," Sapphire said in an ice cold voice.

The beast quickly retrieved its axe, confused as to why Sapphire didn't take the opportunity while he was unable to attack.

"I don't want you to cry about not getting a fair chance now," Sapphire mocked.

The beast growled and swung its axe horizontally, having been angered by Sapphire's constant mocking. Sapphire brought her katana in line with its sheath before arcing it into the air with all her strength, holding it with both hands. Her katana collided at the side of the axe and knocked it upwards, causing it to safely sail over her ears.

The beast jerked back on seeing that. "H-h-how d-did you?" The beast stuttered.

"Why bother knowing, you won't live to tell the tale anyways," Sapphire hissed.

She launched herself forwards towards the beast at full speed. It hurriedly swung its axe by its leg to intercept her, but she jumped into the air. The beast used all his strength to arc the axe into a horizontal swing headed straight for Sapphire's body.

She tilted her body to the side, causing her to float upside down in the air. The axe passed from right past her ears, barely missing them. She landed back on her feet on the ground, having missed her opportunity to strike because of the axe.

The beast spun on its heels and swung its axe in a wide circular arc. Sapphire jumped into the air as the axe sliced through many trees and even the ground at some points. The beast staggered a step backwards as it lost control over its movements.

Colliding with a small of chunk of wood and turning her body Sapphire placed her feet on it. She launched herself off the chunk towards a bigger chunk. The beast noticed this and swung its axe towards it, slicing it as Sapphire launched herself off onto an another piece of wood.

The beast glanced helplessly between her and its axe, knowing Sapphire will be quicker regardless of how much strength he uses to swing it's axe. Sapphire launched herself off the wood and aimed straight for its neck, hoping to finish this with this slash.

The beast let go off its axe, turning Sapphire's attention to it. In the moment her attention was on the axe as it floated in the air, the beast brought its body slightly backwards, causing Sapphire to miss its neck slightly just because of her lack of focus in that moment. Right after Sapphire missed and realised it, the beast smashed its head into her, sending her crashing through multiple trees.

"I am far from finished." The beast snarled, picking its axe back up from the ground.

Sapphire got back up on unsteady feet. She bled from the top of her head and her mouth. Her entire body ached from the blow and her katana slipped from her hand when she was hit, worsening the injury on her palm as well. Unaware of her katana's whereabouts she frantically looked around from her spot, knowing she stood no chance without a weapon.

Sapphire looked in horror as the beast approached, her blood still visible on its horns, it's axe hanging in its hands, prepared to finish her off.