"You should never mess with me! I carry the power of a demon beast!"
The bronze knight was sent flying by Daylor's punch, crashing hard into the bushes. Daylor laughed as he strode toward the knight. The knight struggled to rise, but Daylor knocked him back down with ease.
The bronze knight swung his sword desperately, but Daylor swatted it aside like nothing. Again, the knight was smashed to the ground. This time Daylor pinned him, claws pressing into his arms, jaws snapping toward the knight's armor.
He bit down hard, but the bronze armor held. He tried again, but still failed. Even after another attempt, his fangs could not pierce it. The knight was stuck, unable to break free, trapped beneath Daylor's monstrous strength.
Frustrated, Daylor roared and pummeled the knight with rapid punches. Blood spattered from the helm as cracks spread across the bronze plates. A cruel grin stretched across Daylor's face as his blows wore the armor thin.
Then he bit again, and this time he broke through. His fangs pierced the knight's arm. With savage strength, he tore into it, gnawing until he ripped the limb free. The knight's arm dangled from Daylor's mouth as he shook him violently.
The bronze knight struck back with his remaining fist, but the blows barely slowed Daylor. Like a beast, he swung his head, thrashing the knight around.
Yet even in such a hopeless position, the knight didn't give up. His punches kept coming, one finally smashing into Daylor's eye. Daylor howled in pain, flailing wildly until at last he dropped the knight.
The knight snatched his sword and hacked at Daylor's neck with desperate swings. Stroke after stroke until finally, the blade sliced clean through. Daylor's head rolled, his monstrous body collapsing.
But to my shock, the corpse shifted back into a human shape… and staggered back up. He had regenerated.
"I will never die, not as—"
The knight cut him off with relentless slashes. This time his sword carved into flesh, striking deep. A final swing severed part of Daylor's head. The body fell, motionless at last.
The knight knelt, checking the corpse. On Daylor's left hand, he found me. Sliding me free, he placed me onto his own finger before searching the rest of the body for stolen goods.
But then, I noticed it first. A hole gaped in Daylor's chest, and something crawled out. The knight spotted it too, raising his blade, but the creature was too quick. It scuttled away, vanished into invisibility, and fled.
"What was that thing?" I spoke without thinking.
The knight froze, eyes darting around. That's when I realized—he was searching for me. Because he had heard my voice.