The creature's red eyes brightened.
Not all at once. Like something warming up from inside, the dim flickering glow from after Damien's strike steadily rebuilding itself, growing more saturated with each passing second.
Noah watched it happen and felt his stomach tighten.
'It's recovering. And getting stronger while it does.'
The circle on the floor behind it pulsed once. Faint but present. Feeding something.
The creature rolled its shoulders. The motion was almost human in the way it looked, like a person loosening up before something. Then it straightened to its full height and the room felt smaller than before.
It took one step toward Noah.
He held his ground with Damien's sword raised, the dimming golden light still bleeding from the blade.
Then it moved fast.
Faster than before. Noticeably faster than the first charge had been.
"Dammit!!" Noah cursed.
