CHAPTER 48: IF I DIE (2).

Death stared Nero in the face.

It’s hot breath cut through the humid air, wafting into his lungs like pungent steam.

The beast before him seemed to possess the essence of fear itself.

The shadows around it bent unnaturally.

His face oaled as he realized something.

’This thing has been tracking me all this time!’

Its gaze had never left him at all, even while all the other Abominations were embroiled in their battle.

It was solely after him.

The mud beneath his feet shifted.

He was also not under any delusions that he could successfully defeat this thing. Especially since it didn’t have any injuries of any sorts.

But between that and death, it seemed like he didn’t have any options. In the meantime, the abominable creature just seemed content with quietly stalking and observing him, so he allowed himself to think. If course, without taking his eyes off of it.

’I doubt I can make a run for it. This thing is simply too fast. I’d be dead before I even know it.’

His expression darkened, ’If I decide to fight it... What weaknesses can it possibly have?’

His mind churned as he thought back to its slaughtering of the Scavengers.

’It’s fast, that’s for sure. It’s attacks are also very lethal.’

He grilled his sword tightly,

’Dsmn it! It doesn’t have any obvious weaknesses!’

Its defenses were also significant due to the chitinous plates of armor covering its vital spots.

The only thing Nero could think of was using the poisonous tree sap.

But for that to work, he had to get close enough.

He envisioned his runes.

***

Seals of Sin (107/1000).

***

Throughout his journey here, he has amassed a significant portion of Seals of Sin with every kill. That had been enough to propel him beyond the hundred he had initially desired.

And so, compared to the first time he had encountered this thing, he was much stronger.

Besides the {Black Body Transformation}, each Seal of Sin he acquired granted him an increase in his physical attributes such as speed, strength and stamina.

However, the increase was arbitrary and not one he could properly calibrate.

Even then, he could tell.

Compared to the Abomination he had encountered earlier, this thing, which he had decided to call the Shadow Stalker, was a fair bit weaker from what he could tell.

While that one had newly become a grade D Abomination, this one was more on the precipice of grade E.

What that meant, was that while his chances against the enormous corrupted Abomination that had chased him was infinitely close to zero, his chances against this one was much closer to one.

And that wasn’t saying a lot.

The Shadow Stalker suddenly moved, appeared in front of him before he could even move.

’Fast!

The creature’s tail smashed into him. He reflexively brought his sword up.

The force of the hit was so great, the Silver Blade was nearly launched out of his grip..

Nero took a step backwards to try and find his balance once again.

However the next moment, his eyes widened as the Abomination laughed at him again.

Nero quick dodged.

’Its heading for the ravine!’

Just when he thought the creature would fall over the edge, with an incredible display of dexterity, it turned about and shit at him again.

Nero went temporarily blind from the searing hot pain.

Three deep grooves were dug into his chest by the beast’s claws.

Nero grimaced as he stumbled back.

The beast struck again, but he blocked it successfully this time.

However the next time, he was not so lucky.

A gash appeared on his arm, severing a tendon. It instantly went limp.

He cursed mentally as he swung his sword. The Abomination hopped back, completely avoiding the blade.

Covered in injuries before the battle had even begun, Nero felt a torrent of negative emotions wash over him.

This thing was just toying with him.

He was too slow. Too weak, to do anything about it.

Even his Silver Blade was useless as it could not even touch his enemy.

All the skills he had learned back in Gor were based on the rudimentary sword stances and techniques practiced by the Templar order of the Crimson Crucible.

They were meant for sharp and direct warfare.

The greatest weakness of the sword style, was consequently its straightforwardness. It also wasn’t particularly focused on speed.

Against an Abomination with superior agility, there was little to nothing he could do.

The Shadow Stalker was a wicked hunter indeed.

Despite supposedly being a mindless, death-seeking, mad abomination, it seemed to have completely grasped the concept of toying with food, making Nero believe even for a moment, that all the things he knew about Abominations could very well be a lie.

His clothes were soaked in his own blood, and the exhaustion he had been feeling was finally catching up to him.

Still, his legs refused to go out.

Even when a small pool of his own blood rapidly gathered beneath him.

Even when his flesh was torn over and over again.

Again and again, he brought his sword up.

For the simple reason of he didn’t want to die.

Dying was painful.

Dying meant he betrayed Declan.

Dying meant he was a failure. His light would fizzle out, and in the end everything would be meaningless.

Those realizations struck a chord in him.

The Shadow Stalker finally seemed to have had enough.

Its speed suddenly tripled as it shit at Nero, knocking him over.

Its powerful jaw, with dozens of grinding rows of teeth but down on his shoulder with a sickening crunch.

Nero shrieked out as his flesh was forged upon.

He was being eaten alive. No matter how many times he called his true name in this case, nothing would be done for him.

The light from his eyes was slowly fading away...

His greying eyes stared into the depths of the grey clouds.

It was all the same. Same as it had always been. With no changes whatsoever.

With teeth gritting violently, the life slowly returned to his eyes.

Nero let out a furious bellow as he held his blade with a reverse grip and stabbed at the Abomination’s forelimb.