Chapter Eighty-Five

For the first time since Edward began playing Avalon Online, he felt hopeless. Sweat dripped from his brow as his shoulders shook in terror. As the giant gorilla began to step forward, Edward felt his entire body shudder in response. He knew that the monster before him had a very real chance of killing him. Despite knowing that his death wouldn't be permanent, Edward felt like he was in real danger. Was it perhaps some intimidation skill? Edward didn't care as he focused on the gorilla. 

As the gorilla slowly came closer, the smile on its face grew even wider. The beast was experiencing pure ecstasy as it gazed at Edward's reaction. The monster made sure to walk slowly, but Edward didn't feel like the monster was going easy on him. In his imagination, an invasive image of the gorilla's first attack piercing through his body with ease appeared, causing him to nearly puke in response. However, a thought appeared in his mind only a moment later.

'I wonder how strong he is, now that he's been upgraded?' A small part of Edward's mind wondered. As if given the cure to fear itself, Edward's thought process took a complete turn. Edward's body was shaking, and his confusion rattled his mind. Yet even now, Edward had a massive smile on his face.

The gorilla froze, confused, as Edward's body slowly adjusted to resist the gorilla's intimidation. A smile began to spread from one side of Edward's face to the other as a red ember appeared in his draconic eyes. The effects of the gorilla's intimation lessened as if cured by the heavens themselves.

Edward's body shook once more, but not out of fear. Edward's fists clenched in anticipation. Seeing this, the gorilla roared, enraged that the 'puny prey' in front of him had the balls to resist his intimidation skill. No longer did the gorilla take the time to experience Edward's fear. Now, it was truly angry.

"Bring it on!" Edward shouted as two thrusters appeared beneath his feet. He was lifted in the air, but the gorilla didn't wait until he was out of range. The gorilla quickly charged forward as its enraged roar bounced around the room. The monster struck forward with each fist, attacking twice in quick succession. Its hands moved faster than Edward could track, but his body moved faster than his mind did. Two quick bursts of flames appeared out of his palms and forced him to the left or the right, each helping Edward dodge in time to avoid the monster's attacks.

Then, just as the beast retracted each fist to strike again, Edward roared. A powerful column of flames erupted from Edward's mouth before spreading all over the gorilla's body. The gorilla roared once more before quickly stepping to the left to dodge the later half of Edward's attack.

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The Ice around the Frozen Skeleton Gorilla's body has partially negated your attack!

82 Damage Dealt!

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Edward's smile widened even more as he gazed upon the damage dealt by his attack. His heart began pumping blood through his body like a powerful engine, causing a sharp rise in excitement once more.

"Good!" Edward smiled. He dodged another attack, then boosted himself high in the air. As his body rotated in the air, he looked at the gorilla below him and smiled, "Very good! Show me a good fight!"

Edward shot his fist forward and summoned an arrow of flames, but his position in the air made the attack slower than he preferred. The large gorilla dodged it easily, but Edward wasn't done just yet. He rotated himself again, then used all his momentum to attack once more.

A column of flames shot from his knuckles to the gorilla below. His attack took advantage of the gorilla's brief distraction to land a strike on its shoulders. The gorilla screamed in rage and pain, then turned to look up at Edward before leaping into the air. The gorilla's massive frame was like a jet as it rose to Edward's position. Edward tried to dodge by summoning a thruster underneath his feet, but the gorilla seemed to consider that. As Edward's body moved, the gorilla's fist quickly changed course. Edward only had enough time to throw his hands in front of his chest as he saw the gorilla's eyes turn to Edward. The gorilla's fist swung down as if trying to hammer in a nail.

Edward watched as the gorilla's fist slammed into his body and choked as if an entire dinner was stuck in his throat once it hit him. A wave of pain passed through his body as his arms and legs were forced to swing in front of his chest with the change in momentum. The pain from the impact made him feel like he was hit by a truck. He probably broke several of his bones in the process, but his mind was too excited to notice.

All of the air in his lungs was forced out of his body as he was thrown to the ground with enough force to triple the earth's gravity. Though the moment was brief, Edward felt like a meteor crashing into the ground. As his frame slammed onto the stone floor below him, Edward gasped and watched as his HP quickly ticked down.

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-206 HP

HP: 369/575

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-10 HP (Impact Damage)

HP: 359/575

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'Holy shit!' Edward thought to himself as he quickly gathered his composure. His chest ached from his cracked ribs, but he didn't let that distract him. He quickly summoned another set of thrusters and shot himself away from the ground. He moved just in time, too, as the gorilla immediately landed on the ground just where Edward was only a moment before with a strong slam attack. As he centered himself in the air, Edward looked back at the gorilla with gaping eyes, 'I'll be dead if it hits me two more times— not to mention the injuries I'll sustain with even a single hit!'

Edward's body shook, but the smile on his face stayed as strong as ever.

'How exciting!'