Chapter 33: Brute Force and Broken Ribs

Drake, cloaked in shadows, stalked the Void Brute. The creature lumbered across the desolate landscape, its massive club dragging along the cracked earth, leaving a deep furrow in its wake. It grunted occasionally, a low, guttural sound that echoed across the barren plains.

"Okay, Mr. Brute," Drake whispered to himself, "let's see if you can handle a little… shadow boxing."

He used Void Step to teleport behind the brute, reappearing silently just a few feet away. The creature remained oblivious, its attention still focused on the distant horizon.

"Psst," Drake whispered, tapping the brute on the shoulder. "Excuse me, sir? Do you have a moment to talk about our Lord and Savior… chaos? He's got some great deals on existential dread this week."

The Void Brute turned, its large, grey face contorting into a snarl that revealed rows of jagged teeth. Its small, beady eyes fixed on Drake, and it let out a deafening roar that shook the very ground he stood on.

"Well, that's not a very polite response," Drake muttered, taking a hasty step back. "Guess you're not a fan of door-to-door sales. Shame. I had a great offer on chaos subscriptions this month. Buy one get one free on apocalyptic events. Limited time only!"

The brute swung its massive club, the blow whistling through the air with terrifying speed. Drake barely had time to react. He used Shadow Cloak, vanishing just as the club connected with the spot where he had been standing. The impact sent tremors through the ground, cracking the earth beneath his feet. The force of the blow was so powerful that Drake felt the air rush past him even in his shadowy form.

"Whoa, easy there, big fella," Drake quipped, reappearing a short distance away, his heart pounding in his chest. "You almost gave me whiplash. And I just got this neck, you know? It's a limited edition, one-of-a-kind model. Very delicate."

He knew he couldn't afford to get hit by that club. One solid blow would likely be fatal. He needed to be quick, precise, and avoid direct confrontation as much as possible.

He used Shadow Strike, channeling the darkness into his short sword and striking the brute in the back of the leg.

*Notification: "Skill Activated: Shadow Strike (Level 1). Cost: 20 Mana. Damage Dealt: 35."*

The brute roared in pain, stumbling forward. It turned to face Drake again, its eyes burning with rage. It swung its club again, this time with even more force.

Drake dodged, but not quite fast enough. The club grazed his side, sending a sharp pain through his ribs.

*Notification: "Damage Received: 20. Drake Health: 65/100."*

Drake gasped, clutching his side. He felt a searing pain, and he knew that at least one of his ribs was cracked, if not broken.

"Okay," he muttered, his voice strained. "Note to self: avoid getting hit by giant clubs. It's not as fun as it sounds. Unless you're into that sort of thing. In which case… you do you, I guess. But I'm going to have to respectfully decline."

The brute charged again, its roars echoing across the wasteland. Drake used Void Step to teleport behind the brute, but the creature seemed to anticipate his move. It spun around quickly, swinging its club in a wide arc.

Drake barely managed to dodge the blow, but he felt the wind from the club buffet his face. He realized that the brute was adapting to his tactics. He couldn't rely on the same tricks anymore.

He needed to change his strategy. He needed to be more aggressive, more unpredictable. He needed to push himself to his limits.

He channeled a large amount of mana into Shadow Strike, enhancing its power significantly. He then used Void Step to teleport above the brute, dropping down on it from above.

*Notification: "Skill Activated: Shadow Strike (Level 2). Cost: 30 Mana. Damage Dealt: 50."*

The brute roared as the enhanced Shadow Strike connected, the dark energy tearing through its thick hide. It staggered, but it didn't fall. It turned to face Drake, its eyes filled with a primal fury.

The brute swung its club again, this time aiming directly at Drake's head. Drake barely managed to raise his short sword in time to block the blow. The impact sent a shockwave of pain through his arm, nearly disarming him.

*Notification: "Damage Received: 30. Drake Health: 35/100."*

Drake staggered back, his vision blurring. He was seriously injured, his health dangerously low. He knew that one more hit could be fatal.

He had to end this fight now.

He focused all his remaining mana, channeling it into one final, desperate attack. He used Void Step to teleport directly in front of the brute, then unleashed a full-powered Shadow Strike.

*Notification: "Skill Activated: Shadow Strike (Level 3). Cost: 40 Mana. Damage Dealt: 70. Critical Hit!"*

The brute roared one last time before collapsing to the ground, its body finally giving way under the combined force of Drake's attacks.

*Notification: "Enemy Defeated: Void Brute (+500 XP)."*

*Notification: "Stat Points Available: 5"*

Drake stood over the fallen brute, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He was exhausted, injured, and his mana reserves were completely depleted. But he had won. He had faced a powerful enemy and survived. Barely.