Shadowhound!!
Unlike humans and animals that need union between opposite genders or plants through seeds, monsters cannot reproduce through natural ways. Instead, they are creatures formed directly from Mana. This is known as "Spawning".
Different regions in Sha'aya spawn different types of monsters. Some spawn more often than others, like dire wolves, slimes and giant hornets. A few spawn rarely like the Shadowhound. Consequently, they are classified into two different types - Normal and Rare.
What Eris saw was the instance a Rare type monster was being spawned. Some say that an encounter with a rare monster was a blessing from the gods as its "drops" fetch a higher price, ranging from several silvers to even golds.
However, this was not the case for Eris. She found herself in a life-or-death situation.
This is bad.
Shadowhounds are twice the size of dire wolves. They are cloaked in pitch-black fur that emanated an aura of deadening darkness. Their claws, each the size of a dagger, curled outward. And their ghastly golden eyes glowed with an eerie intensity.
Eris had to escape. She was in no condition to fight another monster, especially not one this powerful. Panic raced through her mind as she thought of ways on how to survive.
I would go up the trees and try to get out of its reach.
Or…
I can run in zigzags so I can eventually lose it.
A blink passed, and the next moment, the Shadowhound furiously charged.
Eris instinctively threw the dire wolf heads she was carrying at the raging beast, hoping it would shift its attention or at least buy her some time creating a window for escape. But, it proved ineffective. Eris was its target. With a combination of explosive speed and immense strength, the Shadowhound pounced towards the terrified adventurer, its razor-sharp claws ready to rip flesh from bone.
Just when Eris was about to jump up the trees, a volley of crescent-shaped fire slashes sliced through the air and into the left side of the beast, knocking it to the ground.
"Eris!! Run for it!!"
Her gaze shifted to her right and she saw a boy wielding a sword. A glimmer of hope, a slim chance of survival.
"Straf!?"
The two sprinted towards the town at full speed. A few seconds later, the Shadowhound got back up on its feet, shook its head and began to pursue its prey - a duo of young adventurers.
"Straf, I have a plan," Eris muttered after managing to gasp for air.
"Plan!? Is running away not the plan?" Straf didn't give his previous attack much thought. He never intended to fight. He just wanted to buy time for Eris so she can escape.
What have I gotten myself into?
"Let's get to the guild and have other adventurers deal with that thing, or better yet, maybe it will stop pursuing us before we get there," Straf argued.
"No, we can beat it. The two of us can do it," Eris answered.
The beast was already catching up to them. With each step from its massive frame, the ground shuddered, trees were knocked down and forest critters fled.
"It's going to catch up to us. We need to attack," Eris convinced Straf.
The boy turned slightly, only to be met with what seems to be gaping jaws from hell.
It's gonna devour us.
Straf thought of their demise as his stamina was slowly being drained, his breath weakening and his body getting exhausted. It's inevitable. They could not outrun it. There was no middle ground, no other choice - Kill or get killed.
"What's the plan?"
Eris let out a confident smile as if to reaasure Straf.
This is going to work. Trust me.
"I'll go up the trees. You keep running and make sure its attention is on you. When it passes by, I'll strike its back. Then, you'll deliver the final blow."
"What! Why can't I go up and you be the one to kill it?" Straf exclaimed in disagreement.
"I can't. My dagger's too small, but I believe your sword can."
Before he could get another word out, Eris jumped.
"You know what to do, Straf!"
I honestly don't!!
Straf noticed the Shadowhound looking at Eris, as if contemplating if it should stop and try to jump as well.
I need a distraction.
Without much thinking, he snatched up a fist-sized rock from the ground and hurled it at the snarling beast. The rock hit the beast at the head causing it to focus its attention back to the boy.
"Come here, you filthy, wretched beast!"
Once more, Straf dashed with all his might, despite aching heels and burning legs.
The beast resumed its pursuit and passed the tree where Eris was.
I got you!
Eris prepared to dive using the sturdy branch as her springboard. With the full impetus of her leap, she launched from the tree, crashing down on the unsuspecting monster like an Osprey plunging into water to catch fish.
Eris grabbed it by the fur on its back and with a fierce cry, she drove her blade deep into the back of the beast's neck. As metal met sinew and bones crunched with a sickening sound, the beast howled in agony, opening its gaping maw.
"Now Straf!" Eris cried at the top of her lungs.
Straf thrusted his sword straight through the monster's mouth and out its occiput. The impact of the collision was strong enough to push Straf back a few meters. The three formed a deadlock with the tip of Straf's sword barely missing Eris' head. Both adventurers were panting heavily.
That worked well.
Erin thought to herself.
But before the two could celebrate, its pupil stared down at Straf with a menacing gaze. Hot breath flowed from its lungs reaching Straf's face and swaying his bloodied crimson hair. Straf froze as fear shackled him in place.
It's still alive? My arms…
As the beast's jaw was about to snap shut, Eris shouted desperately at the paralyzed boy.
"Snap out of it! Use your fire!"
Fire?
In that moment, Straf knew what to do.
"Mana to flame, sword to fire…"
Orange light pulsated wildly from the gemstone on Straf's sword. The entirety of the sword was created through knowledge of Ore Alchemy. The crystal affixed on its guard was a basic fire generating stone. The metal used to make the blade was also not ordinary steel but a magical alloy designed to channel Mana. Furthermore, its hilt houses several mechanisms that allow for the safe use of the sword and not burn its wielder.
Flames erupted from the sword, ravaging the insides of the beast. Straf freed his scorching blade from the skull of the beast and in one clean motion, sliced the monster's left side - cleaving from mouth to ribcage. Like hot knife through extremely hard butter.
"BURNING SLAASH!!"
A spectacular burst of orange light exploded, followed by a surge of blazing fire. The forest was drenched in heat and fury.
Ash and blood gushed from its scorched flesh as wisps of steam hissed. The creature's lifeless body collapsed, finally claimed by death.
Straf fell to his knees. The subsequent feeling of fatigue after an adrenaline rush proved to be greater than he can handle. Surrendering the little control he had left over his body, he soon followed the beast and sank to the earth, laying face flat to the ground.
Eris dismounted the beast and went to check on Straf.
"Hey, are you going to be okay?"
"...…"
"You did it. You defeated the Shadowhound! That was so cool!"
"I… did it?"
"I did it."
Laying on his back, Straf inhaled air and energy into his lungs.
"I DID IT!!" he let out a triumphant shout.
Straf had been a Novice for three years, a year longer than Eris. However, he had no intention of ranking up and was perfectly content doing basic quests - gathering herbs and hunting weak monsters. As he always said, "Why take such a risk for a fancy funeral?" To him, the increased reward did not justify the increased risk of the job.
But today was different. Twice, he had put his life on the line. The first was when he saved Eris and the second was when he killed the Shadowhound.
"I knew you could do it. Well, I hoped you could." She gave him a cheeky smile, teasing glint in her eyes.
"Thanks. For saving me. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't come," Eris said with all sincerity and gratitude.
"It was nothing. You'd have done the same if I was the one who encountered the Shadowhound." he muttered, brushing off the weight of what he'd done.
"I'm not entirely sure about that," Eris laughed.
"I don't know if I could be brave enough as you," she added.
No, you're wrong. I'm a coward.
________________________________________
The two rest for a bit before heading back to the guild carrying their prize. As daylight waned with the setting Sun, cool breeze brushed against them, offering relief for their aching bodies.
"Say Straf, do you want to join my Party?"
"…"