Courage comes from within

"You insect, you microscopic insignificant insect, dares to hinder me! A descendent of the noble wolf! You must be tired from living!"

"Shut up you beast! I will beat you into submission like a dog you are!"

James taunted the beast.

"You dare call me A DOG!!!" Athalwearth roar was maddening and making the underground tremble.

He exhaled a dark matter, coating himself, then he vanished in the shadows.

'Be calm, be steady, breath, focus, hold it'

James was terrified, in these times, heros emerge and shine, like an ember in the night showing the way, James angst helped him overcome himself. He took a battle stance, opened hands, steady feet, high guard, it mirrored ancient martial arts, he stood on one leg, drew his leg in, his focus was immense.

He was sweating, anticipation for what was to come.

'THERE'

He opened his eyes wide and in front of him was a jaw, so beastical, malevolent, rotten, fangs trying to snap at him coming from the ground!

"URGH!"

The beast it flew against the wall, it shook in disbelief, shaking its head, Staring at the insignificant lifeform which just kicked his jaw, it made him only angrier, it howled it grievance as it told the world how absurd that reality was.

The howl woke dan and pete up, still feeling the impact and stupor they could only watch.

James picked a spear and threw it like a javelin at the beast, not wasting a single moment.

The beast threw it head to side and caught it, between these malevolent fangs it crushed the spear looking in the eyes at James, as to say you are next.

James heart was beating and beating, like wardrums it screamed, the more it drums, the calmer he was, his eyes began to change, from a prey to prey-hunting eyes, it observed the beast and in return the beast did same.

James inhaled "Beast be prepared, as it may be your last time to draw breath"

James vanished into thin air, the beast stunned, looked around trying to find him, with his eyes, not realizing he was already near.

"He, clench your teeth, this is gonna hurt"

Athalwearth looked up, only to be greeted by fist in silvery red gauntlet.

Its head pushed into the ground, its legs flailing, creating dust everywhere and a small crater where the head landed.

James not giving the beast a moment to recollect it thoughts, pushed on and smashed the head again and again into ground, pummeling it bloody, puffing and huffing, exhausted and out of breath he kept going.

'Not yet, i still feel resistance, i can't let this chance slip away...'

He pummeled and pummeled, left fist, right fist, holding his head and swinging fist and on in its bashed face.

He kept going until he couldn't anymore, he plummeted down on the ground, seeing the beast twitching and not moving.

He felt relieved...

"Huhuhuhu, did you have fun?" Laughter came from the void echoing through the underground.

James shocked, saw how the beast it just pummeled turned into a dark shadowy cloud, sinking into the ground, from behind he felt a Miasmatic, rotten breath on his neck.

"I asked... did you have fun?"