2

The dagger had sunk in too deep. The flames died out with the last of my mana, and I could see the dagger imbedded deep in the jaws of a monstrosity that was shaped an awful lot like a dog if it wasn't for it's head. It's jaws were more like that of a snake. Fully unhinged, and spread wide. The one eye I could see focused on me suddenly. 

I yanked the dagger as hard as I could severing what little flesh was holding this half of it's jaw in place. Jamming the dagger into this things mouth wasn't my plan, but it had achieved some of the desired result. The beast flinched back, and clicked at me angrily. Seeing it's dead companion, and the fact that it could no longer properly close it's mouth had seemed to make this thing think twice. A monster who could think was a problem. 

I stood my ground refusing to show just how spent I was. These creatures were stronger then I was so I'd probably die the moment I turned my back on this thing anyways. I switched my grip on unicorn horn, and grabbed an arrow from my quiver for the other hand. I didn't understand why they weren't still firing on this thing, but I didn't have time to think about that right now. I didn't know how long we stared at each other before he decided to move. 

I ducked under his charge, and slammed the arrowhead into his body as he flew past me. I felt pressure on my leg, and felt it being drug out from under me. I leaned into it instead of trying to escape. Slamming into it's body, and using that moment to bury the unicorn horn deep in it's flesh. It cried out, and danced away from me. 

It hadn't expected me to let it drag me in or strike when I did. Most living things wanted to preserve their life. No one wanted to die, but in this moment I wasn't thinking about any of that. I was stuck in a state of vicious carnal joy. My mind was completely focused on the openings this creature was giving me each time it struck. 

Sure it was smarter then the monsters I'd met so far, but that didn't make it intelligent by any stretch. It's strategy was something a five year old child might come up with. It wasn't distracting me, and with my full focus on the creature it didn't stand much of a chance. Sure it had made me bleed, but I could tell those cuts weren't deep. I'd gotten hundreds of cuts similar to them before. 

His claws had gotten some purchase, and the cuts would be a problem if I didn't get them cared for fairly soon, but right now I was in the moment. Those cuts were a problem for after this thing was dead. It was my turn to move first. I'd let it make the first move every single time from the beginning so it wasn't expecting the sudden forward rush. I poured on all the speed I could managed. Making a straight dash for the monster in front of me. 

Then at the last second as the beast braced to take my attack head on I slid. Like a professional baseball player wanting to snag that base. The creature expected a head on attack like it had been launching at me this whole time. From his perspective my sudden drop would make it seem as if I'd vanished. His belly was softer then his flanks. 

I drug my dagger through the soft flesh of his under belly. Nearly losing grip of the blade as I did. My momentum was stopped by me dragging my blade through the monster's flesh so now I was under a very angry monster. I gripped the blade, and a handful of hair. Lifting my whole body off the cement as it stomped, and hissed. 

Between the blood, and the fact that I was fairly beat up I wouldn't last long in this position. I didn't need to. I freed my hand from the monster's hair as it jumped, and bucked. Shoving my hand deep into it's body, and letting off a single weak burst of fire from the palm of my hand inside the creature. I knew it wasn't enough to kill it, but I didn't care. I was just inflicting as much damage as possible, and enjoying most of it. 

The monster reared up. Grabbing me, and throwing me clear of it. I rolled, and skittered along the ground. Somehow ending up on my feet at the end of it about fifteen feet away. It chittered at me before giving me another one of those clicking roars before running away.

I stared the direction it had run for a few seconds before scoffing in disappointment, and lowering my blade. I looked over my shoulder to the wall, and there were several people there. Staring at me. My expression soured slightly. I locked eyes with the man in charge. 

I knew without a doubt he was the one that had given the order to stop firing. He'd probably spouted some bullshit about wasting the ammo. Maybe something about me knowing the risks when I stepped outside of the wall. This tight little community of his didn't have enough to last through the winter as it was. Sending people out was going to become a requirement eventually. 

The sooner we got started the better. Sure some folks would die, but raising the overall level of everyone within the wall would increase their chances of surviving long term. I was clearly strong so why was he risking my death for a few bullets. He clearly didn't like me for some reason. I just wasn't sure why. 

The system dinged, and a bit of information popped up in front of my eyes.

As a Monarch class this man has realized he has no control over you. There is a high probability that he doesn't like you simply because of this fact. Monarch classes have certain rights, and control over lower star classes. The fact that you are a five star class means he has little to no power to manipulate or control you.