Chapter 24: Edmund’s Battle Against the Unknown Creature

The creature advanced with surprising speed, its black claws cutting through the air toward Edmund. He barely had time to dodge, rolling to the side as the claws tore through the ground where he had been moments before. The putrid stench of the beast flooded his nostrils, bringing a wave of dizziness. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing like war drums.

Voss fired a precise arrow that struck the creature's shoulder, but it didn't even flinch. In a furious movement, it grabbed one of the soldiers and threw him against a tree, the nauseating snap of bones echoing across the battlefield. The man screamed for only a moment before his body fell lifeless to the ground.

Edmund snarled and stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the flickering firelight, his muscles tense like ropes about to snap.

The creature let out a deep roar and attacked with wild force. Edmund raised his blade, blocking a strike that could have easily split a man in half. The impact sent tremors through his arms, and the force of the blow nearly knocked him down. With effort, he stayed firm, dodging and counterattacking with a quick strike that tore through the monster's forearm. A thick, black liquid sprayed from the wound, releasing a nauseating stench that made some of the men recoil.

The soldiers watched in terror, hesitating between fighting or fleeing. Kieza, realizing she couldn't win by staying on the defensive, grabbed a torch and charged toward the creature. With a fierce scream, she threw the flames into its eyes, forcing it to retreat for a moment, roaring in fury. Taking advantage of the distraction, Edmund twisted his sword and plunged the blade deep into the creature's flank, feeling the resistance of its hard, scaly flesh.

The monster let out an agonizing howl, its bright eyes burning with primal hatred. In a desperate counterattack, it swept the ground with its scaled tail, hitting Edmund and sending him flying several meters backward. The impact was brutal, knocking the air from his lungs and clouding his vision. For a moment, everything around him seemed distant, the sounds muffled by the buzzing in his ears.

The beast staggered, its breathing irregular. The wound Edmund inflicted seemed serious, but not enough to bring it down completely. Voss shouted for the archers to fire all their arrows. A storm of projectiles flew through the air, embedding themselves in the creature's twisted flesh. Some struck its neck and chest, but it resisted, becoming even more enraged.

Edmund struggled to rise, his muscles screaming in pain. Blood dripped from a cut on his forehead, staining his vision with red streaks. Holding his sword with both hands, he gritted his teeth and charged at the creature once more. His war cry blended with the monster's roar as his blade sliced through the air in one final, decisive blow. The battle was far from over, but Edmund did not retreat. Not while he still breathed.