Thornhulk

CHI.

Theron's blade rebounded off of the Thornhulk's leg. Its exoskeleton flashed, morphing into the path of his weapon and protecting its joint.

With a step into the soft soil, Theron explosively retreated, his head tilting back and out of the way of a swipe of another limb.

Sharp horns lined its legs like blades. One misstep and he would either be skewered through or severed at the waist.

'Okay.'

It was just a single exchange, but Theron understood many things. Reading about a creature was one thing, facing it was an entirely different matter. All of his reading fused into his world experience in what felt like a breath of time.

Despite its heft, the Thornhulk had hardly sunk into the ground at all when it landed, ignoring the softness of the earth. Its Mana control was immediate, and the casual movement of Wood Mana carried the strength of techniques to it.