The beast loomed over us.
Then, as slowly as its steps before, it raised its right arm.
I snapped out of my trance. Mana rushed into my legs and right on cue, just as its arm was ready to strike—
"Spread out!"
Rash shouted as he stepped forward, raising his sword.
Step.
I jumped back to gain distance while the others moved to the sides.
SWOOSH.
Its long arm curved through the air like a whip and aimed straight for Rash, who had raised his sword into a block.
BWAHM!
The fist smashed into the blade.
Thud.
Unable to withstand the force behind the attack, Rash was thrown backward and rolled through the sand before stopping beside me.
My eyes widened for a moment at the Yeti's overwhelming strength. But I quickly caught myself and looked at Rash.
He was already back on his feet. Glancing at me, he spoke quickly.
"Together."
I nodded once before turning back toward the Yeti.
The beast had already pulled its arm back and was watching us again. Its head turned briefly to the sides, glancing at the other teens before returning to us.
The others had received only a glance before the beast focused entirely on us again. It felt as if Rash and I had been marked.
THMP.
The Yeti stepped forward.
I raised my sword, preparing myself for the next attack.
"Don't try to block it," Rash said quickly. "Shift it away."
I had already guessed that from the way he'd been thrown earlier, but I nodded anyway.
A quick glance to the sides confirmed the others' positions.
Luka and Ines were on the beast's right side.
Mark and Lark had taken the left.
If the Yeti continued to focus on Rash and me, the fight would be simple.
"Aim for the gaps."
I spoke and received several nods as answers.
THMP.
The Yeti was already in front of us again.
Slowly, it raised its right arm. The moment it reached its highest point—
I stepped forward.
Step.
SWOOSH.
Its arm swung down at me like a whip.
I bent my knees and lowered my body while raising my sword. Using my left hand to reinforce the grip, I positioned the blade as a block. But just before the strike landed—
I tilted my sword.
BWAHM!
Its arm crashed into my blade a breath later.
The force was so immense that I thought I would be flung away at any moment. But I lowered my stance even further, keeping my feet glued to the ground while redirecting the blow and letting its arm slide along my blade and away.
Haah.
My arms trembled as I ended the block, and I released the breath I was holding.
It was strong.
But I could hold my ground.
My eyes shifted away from the beast, glancing beside it.
After my block—
Our supporters would strike.
Slrsh.
Shuk.
An axe cut into the back of its thigh while the tip of a spear pierced its armpit.
Step.
I retreated quickly to escape its range.
The Yeti turned its head toward the attackers without letting out a sound. For a beast like that, it were just shallow wounds.
It pulled its right arm back and started to turn toward them.
Shuk.
Another stab landed.
Rash moved at once as soon as the beast's focus shifted, driving his sword into its thigh.
The Yeti reacted immediately, stopped its turn, and swung its left arm at him.
Swoosh.
But as fast as the stab landed, Rash was gone, retreating back.
Now, with its left side wide open, attacked our other supporters.
Slrrsh.
Slrrsh.
The brothers came from the side and left two cuts across its left leg before retreating.
Seeing the beast distracted again, I moved forward to strike.
Step.
But—
Swoosh.
The beast didn't fall for the same trick twice and threw its right arm at me.
Step.
I jumped back, letting its arm swing uselessly through the air.
Slrrsh.
Shuk.
The spear and sword duo struck again as the beast missed its attack.
Haah.
I took a breath and rested for a moment.
Yeah.
It was doable.
***
The Yeti was already heavily injured.
Its movements had slowed after our repeated attacks, and the long battle had already drained its stamina.
It wouldn't take long before it fell.
Step.
Thinking that, I stepped forward again to block its next attack.
The fight had become repetitive.
If we had faced this beast in our first battle, we would all have died. But after everything we had gone through—
We had become a perfect team.
One specialized in subjugating beasts.
It almost felt easy.
SWOOSH.
That was when the Yeti changed its attack.
My eyes shot upward.
Both of its massive hands were interlocked above its head, ready to strike down.
'Shit.'
There was no time to dodge.
I bent my knees and raised my sword, turning it into a horizontal block. My free hand pressed against the blade for support.
The looming shadow of its arms descended—
Thud.
"Got you!"
A shoulder bumped into mine, followed by a shout.
Rash stood now beside me, sword raised into the same blocking position.
Then its hands crashed down.
BWHAM!
It felt as if a truck had crashed into me.
My arms shook, feeling like they would snap at any moment, and my legs trembled uncontrollably, bordering on collapse beneath its weight.
I clenched my jaw and tried to hold my sword up with everything I had left.
Giving up now meant death.
If the Yeti hadn't already been injured and exhausted, we would have died instantly. It was only because it attacked now that we could at least hold our ground against it.
Then, salvation came.
"Now!"
Slrrsh.
Shuk.
"GRAAH!"
A shriek tore out of the beast.
The weight behind its attack suddenly weakened, not fully, but it was enough. Rash and I shifted our stances and rolled backward.
THUD!
A cloud of dust rose as its arms smashed into the ground right where we had been a moment before.
Through the dust, I saw the rest of our group on both sides of the beast. They had used the moment it attacked us and struck both of its legs at the same time.
Already weakened and exhausted—
THUD.
The Yeti collapsed to its knees.
I took the chance as the Yeti was down and looked toward Rash, checking if he was alright.
Rash already stood, raising his sword again.
Letting out a sigh of relief, I turned back toward the beast.
Its body had collapsed under its own weight after its legs gave in. But it was still alive. Slowly, its arms moved, trying to push itself up.
I rose at once, lifting my sword to end it.
But—
Step.
Rash was faster.
He sprinted past me and toward the beast.
"Keep it down!"
The others moved at once, stabbing and slashing wildly at its sides, but it wasn't enough. The beast, as if not caring about their attacks, already rose, pushing its chest off the ground. Just then, when it straightened itself and was about to rise to its feet, came another attack.
Shuk.
Rash came from the front and plunged his sword into the beast's arm, stopping it from standing.
"Finish it!"
His shout echoed through the arena.
I gripped my sword and poured mana into my legs as I sprinted forward. Reaching the beast, I bent my knees and jumped.
Step.
I turned my sword mid-jump, gripping it in reverse with both hands. My feet slammed into its chest as I landed, and my sword followed soon after, stabbing downward.
Shuk.
Right into its throat.
I hung there for a moment in the air, legs pressing against its chest while my sword pierced deep into its neck.
Nobody moved for a moment.
Then—
Its body tilted backward.
THUD.
I slammed to the ground with the beast while standing on top of it, sword still buried in its throat.
The Yeti was already still.
It didn't move anymore.
But I continued to push my blade deeper into its throat.
Moments passed.
Maybe longer.
"Adonis."
Haah.
Only when I heard my name did I finally stop.
Letting go of the sword, I looked around.
The others had already collapsed, lying on the ground, breathing heavily.
Rash was the same. But while the others rested with their eyes closed—he was looking straight at me.
He smiled.
"It's over."
Hearing his words made it sink in.
We had won.
Then, as if someone had pressed a button, my legs lost all strength, and I collapsed to the ground. Or in my case—beast.
Haah.
Haah.
The fight itself hadn't been difficult. But the last moments had drained everything I had left.
I closed my eyes to rest.
"Adonis."
But opened them again at Rash's voice.
My voice came out hoarse.
"Yeah?"
As if the battle had never happened, Rash chuckled.
"If we survive long enough, we might get famous."
'What the hell?'
Frowning, I asked,
"For what?"
I couldn't see it, but I knew he was smiling.
"Not dying."