The crew stood in the circle of fire, their breaths ragged, their swords dripping with blood. Out of the mist emerged the larger beast, its skin as black as coal, its eyes glowing like embers, and its voice a roar that shook the ground.
"This… isn't like the others," Nikos said, taking a step back. "It's something else."
"Finally, a worthy opponent for my sword," Darius replied with a defiant smile.
"Don't be foolish," Kallias said, narrowing his eyes. "This isn't an ordinary fight."
"You're both right," Linus replied sternly. "It's a worthy opponent… but it could kill us if we don't unite."
The beast suddenly lunged, slamming its claws into the ground, sending black sand flying.
"Spread out! Don't stay in one place!" Romulus shouted.
Darius leaped forward, his sword flashing. "Come at me, Shadow!"
His sword clashed with the monster's claw, sparks flying.
"Strong… stronger than anything I've faced!" Darius said, pressing with all his might.
"Then don't fight it alone!" Linus countered, attacking from the side.
The monster swooped down with its tail, knocking Callias to the ground.
"Ah!" Callias cried. "Nearly crushed me!"
"Get up!" Romulus pulled him away. "No time to rest!"
"I swear I've never seen a tail faster!" Callias gasped.
"Fire!" Nikos brandished a torch. "Try fire!"
He lunged at the monster, waving the torch in front of its face.
The monster backed away, then roared so loudly the flames trembled.
"He's not afraid… but he's hurting," Nikos said, backing away. Linus quickly said, "Then fire is our second weapon!"
The monster suddenly leaped at Romulus, but Linus blocked it.
"You will not take any of my men!" said Linus, parrying the blow.
"The debt is on my neck, Commander," replied Romulus, rising.
"Pay it with fire, not with words," said Linus.
"Take this!" cried Darius, attacking from behind.
He plunged his sword into the monster's shoulder, but the hide was thick.
"It's like striking a rock!" exclaimed Darius in surprise.
"Then let's look for its weak spot!" replied Callias, hurling his dagger.
"The eyes... are the weakest. Aim for them!" said Linus, watching.
Romulus lunged with his dagger, jumped onto the monster's back, and tried to plunge it into its eye. The monster roared and roared, then threw Romulus away.
"He nearly dislocated my ribs!" Romulus rolled on the ground.
"We won't last long," panted Nikos. "He doesn't tire!"
"Then we must finish him off quickly," replied Linus, steadying his feet.
"And I know how," said Darius with a smile.
"How?" asked Linus.
"With one blow…to the heart."
"And how will you reach his heart?" said Callias sarcastically. "He's protected like a fortress."
"You're a skilled slanderer… but I'm a fighter," replied Darius, raising his sword.
"Enough arguing! We'll attack him together. I from the front, Darius from the side, Romulus from behind, and Callias covering with arrows."
They all charged at once.
Linus slashed at the monster's chest with his sword. Darius attacked from the side. Romulus leaped onto its back, and Callias fired an arrow into its eye.
The monster screamed a deafening scream that shook the trees.
"Now! Darius!" said Linus, pressing with all his might.
Darius plunged his sword into the monster's chest with all his might.
The monster retreated, writhing, then fell to the black sand, shaking the ground with its fall.
A heavy silence fell.
"Is… it over?" gasped Nikos.
"Don't rush," replied Linus, observing the body. "Wait."
The monster remained motionless, then finally fell completely still.
Darius sat on the ground, laughing and panting. "Their leader has fallen."
"But at what cost?" said Callias, wiping the blood from his face.
"The real price… is yet to come," Linus replied, staring into the darkness.