Fucking Hurt

Irene stared in disbelief as the gash she'd carved into the Mimic's stomach sealed itself in seconds, leaving the creature completely unharmed again. Her breath caught in her throat as the reality sank in."What the hell is this thing?" she whispered anxiously.John and Amel weren't faring any better. Both were frozen for a moment with their eyes wide with shock. The sheer resilience of the Mimic was just too terrifying!But the Mimic wasn't about to give them time to process. It let out another haunting cackle, the sound echoing off the chamber walls that sound like it mocking them. Then its grotesque arm shot out toward Irene.She barely had time to raise her sword in defense. The Mimic's strike collided with her blade and though she managed to block the blow, the force behind it was overwhelming her.The impact sent her flying backward, her body tumbling across the stone floor before she came to a stop. She groaned in pain, clutching her side as she struggled to rise.The Mimic turned its attention toward John and Amel, its jagged teeth gleaming in the faint light as it began to advance. Its movements were unnervingly fast and that sent shivers down their spines."Get to Irene!" John said to Amel."What about you?" Amel asked with worried tone as her hand tightened her side."I'll handle this thing," John said. "Just go. If you stay here, you'll only get hurt. Help Irene."Amel hesitated, doubt flickering across her face, but she knew John was right. If she stayed she would only be a liability.With a reluctant nod, she turned and sprinted toward Irene, her heart heavy with the knowledge that John was facing the beast.John exhaled slowly, forcing his mind to focus. Panic wasn't going to help anyone here. He closed his eyes for a split second and immediately sending out a mental call to his Beasts."Inky, Miki. We're going in together. No holding back."He felt their acknowledgment and saw their forms shift in the shadows.Inky with his body cloaked in darkness begin darted silently, his glowing eyes locked onto the Mimic's back. Miki, still bruised but ready, sprang to his feet and followed Inky.The Mimic paused for a moment, its grotesque head swiveling as if sensing their movements. But it couldn't anticipate the coordinated attack John had planned."Now!"From behind, Inky and Miki pounced at once, their claws slashing at the Mimic's exposed back. The creature let out a shriek of rage, twisting its body unnaturally to swat at them but it was too late. Inky's claws raked through its flesh, while Miki's powerful jaws clamped down hard on its shoulder.Meanwhile, John charged from the front, his eyes sharp and focused. The Mimic lashed out with its long arm, but John's unique ability allowed him to anticipate the attack. He dodged the creature's grotesque hand by mere inches.John didn't stop. He ducked, rolled, and weaved, avoiding every strike as best as he could. The Mimic grew more aggressive, its movements faster and more erratic as it attempted to land a blow."Keep going!" John shouted to his Beasts as he continued to evade the onslaught.Inky and Miki pressed their assault, their combined attacks keeping the Mimic occupied. Inky's pressing forward witth claws and teeth while Miki's claws tore into its sides. Yet, the Mimic keep regenerating.The Mimic's wounds began to heal and its grotesque and annoying laughter echoing once more.And then, John's stamina had finally hit its limit. His body refused to obey his commands. He could still see the Mimic's attacks coming and his instincts screamed at him to dodge but his legs felt like lead, his movements sluggish and unresponsive.Then it happened.A brutal strike from the Mimic's grotesque arm connected squarely with his chest, the impact sending a shockwave of pain through his entire body.He staggered as the air was driven from his lungs. His ribs ached and a searing pain burned across his chest where the blow had landed. John had never experiencing something like this before.Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, staining his lips crimson.The Mimic pressed its advantage ignoring the attacks from Inky and Miki. No matter how fiercely his Beasts clawed and bit the creature's unnatural regeneration make their efforts futile.The Abomination's attention was singularly fixed on John and it keep attacking him who can no longer dodge.John's body was a mess of bruises, cuts, and deep gashes. Every inch of him throbbed with agony. His vision blurred and for a moment, the edges of his consciousness darkened. Blood poured freely from his wounds. His old leather armor can't do anything againts the attack of the ferocious Beast.But even as his body screamed for rest, a strange clarity settled over his mind. In the midst of what felt like death's door, a singular thought happened, a stubborn and unyielding resolve to fight."Not yet!"He forced himself to wait, his grip tightening around the hilt of his broken sword. The Mimic loomed closer and it let out a guttural growl. Its chest-head split open with a sickening crack, revealing its gaping maw lined with serrated fangs.John could hear someone scream his name from behind — Amel, maybe Irene — but the sound barely registered.He was calm now, eerily so, his thoughts sharp and focused.The Mimic's core.He could see it, glowing faintly in the depths of the monster's chest cavity. Time seemed to slow as the Mimic lunged, its jagged teeth snapping shut toward his head. The stench of decay and sulfur filled his nostril and the oppressive heat of the creature's breath washed over him.A second before the maw could close around him, John moved."HYAAAA!!!"He thrust his broken sword forward, aiming directly for the core. His arm burned with exertion and every muscle screaming in protest.The blade pierced through the glowing core with a sickening crunch, sinking deep into the creature's flesh and it stopped moving.For a heartbeat, everything was still.Then the Mimic let out a deafening screech, its body convulsing violently. The light in its core flickered and pulsed erratically, cracks spreading across its grotesque body like a spiderweb.John held his ground as the Mimic thrashed and writhed in agony.The creature's screeches grew louder, reverberating through the chamber as its body began to disintegrate, chunks of its flesh falling away in grotesque heaps.The core pulsed one last time before it shattered, unleashing a blinding burst of energy that sent John hurtling backward.He hit the ground hard, his vision swimming as the world around him dimmed. The last thing he saw was the Mimic collapsing into a pile of ash and sinew."That's fucking hurt..." he muttered.---