Azhriel's head throbbed, a low, piercing whistle ringing in his ears as he tasted the sharp tang of blood on his tongue. He staggered, his body screaming in protest as he struggled to stand.
But in the battlefield, time was a luxury.
One that he didn't have.
Through his blurred vision, he saw it—the bear's massive long and razor sharp claw, now wreathed in crackling black energy, arcing toward him with devastating force. Stronger. Faster. Deadlier than before.
His instincts roared louder than his pain.
Without thinking, he threw himself to the right, rolling across the dirt just as the attack came crashing down.
SHRACK!
The monstrous claws tore through the tree he had just been against, sinking into the bark before bursting out the other side like a spear through flesh. The entire trunk groaned under the force, splinters flying in every direction.
"Grrrrr."
The bear rumbled in frustration, its deep growl vibrating through the air, as Its crimson gaze seething with primal rage locked onto Azhriel once more.
It didn't like the it's prey's, desperate attempt to escape with his pathetic little strength.
Azhriel, panted heavily, his vision still unfocused, but he somehow forced himself upright. His entire body trembled under the weight of the injuries, he had taken till now from his awakening.
Yes, the potion had its effect, however with the number of hits he had taken from that time till now, it's just doesn't work.
Several ribs were fractured, if not outright broken. His arms ached, his legs felt like they would give out any moment, and a thin trail of blood dripped down from his forehead, staining his once snow-white hair a deep crimson.
Both the prey and the predator locked their eyes at each other in silence, planning to move.
"Hmmm."
However before either of them could make a move—before the bear could launch another attack or Azhriel could brace himself—a low, almost imperceptible hum rippled through the air.
It wasn't that loud, nor it was particularly far away from them.
Yet, with that single sound, the very air around them shifted. As a tremendous pressure crashed down over the battlefield, like an unseen force pressing against the world itself.
"Gue-"
The bear, despite its monstrous strength, let out a strangled growl as its legs buckled beneath it. The earth under the beast caving in, forming a crater as its massive body was forced flat against the ground.
"Grrr—!".
The monster struggled, its muscles bulging as it tried to resist. But the force was just too great to comprehend. It couldn't move—it was being crushed.
Azhriel's breath hitched. Though the pressure around him seemed less dense. His already weakened body felt heavier, as if invisible chains had wrapped around him.
This presence, this overwhelming pressure, it... it was familiar. Belonging to someone, he had just met.
Both Azhriel and the bear snapped their heads upwards to look at the reason for this presence.
There, standing tall in the sky, was Solas. He stood in the air, as if it was on the ground, a thoughtful expression etched on his face, as he rubbed his chin. His eyes carried a certain glint as they flickered between Azhriel and the bear.
Both the bear and Azhriel had no idea, that he had been here and was silently, watching the battle from the very beginning.
"It seems that fighting a beast two ranks above you was too much, huh" he spoke, nodding to himself as if confirming a personal observation.
"..."
Azhriel was left speechless. His mouth opened, then closed. He wanted to say something—anything—but no words came, he just couldn't find them.
Even a child knew the stark reality of rank differences. A single person who was just one rank higher than their opponents could take down a dozen weaker foes in mere minutes.
Yet this guy—this insane man—who was standing there, is casually remarking that Azhriel had been getting one-sided beat—uhm, was fighting a beast two ranks above his own. Sure, the bear hadn't been going all out, but that hardly made it any less ridiculous.
'Is he nuts or something.' He thought almost starting to become tense about his incoming training with his new teacher.
Though, as he wrestled with the absurdity of it all, Azhriel momentarily forgot about the bear—who was still pinned to the ground, muscles bulging in futile resistance.
With a furious, guttural growl, the beast opened its maw, mana surging within its throat. A moment later, a searing beam of energy shot forth, aimed directly at Solas.
From Azhriel's perspective, the attack was blisteringly fast, a strike that could obliterate anything caught in its path.
Though for Solas?
He didn't even blink.
He didn't dodge. He didn't deflect. He didn't even raise a finger.
The moment the beam had reached him—it vanished, it dispersed from the surroundings, as if it had never existed.
Azhriel's breath caught in his throat.
Solas sneered down at the beast, his voice now carrying an air of cold amusement and irritation. He doesn't like when someone interrupts him.
"A mere beast."
In a flash, he moved.
In an instant, he was no longer a distant figure in the sky—he was right in front of the bear.
There was no dramatic stance, no weapons were drawn not even mana was used. Just a casual movement of his arm.
Slap
And then—he slapped it.
Yes, slapped the monstrous bear.
The sound cracked through the air like thunder.
The massive beast, who moments ago had dwarfed Azhriel with its sheer presence, was sent hurtling through the air like a ragdoll. Its enormous body twisted mid-flight, limbs flailing helplessly as it was launched towards the right with brutal force.
The ground quaked as it crashed into the earth, carving a trench like passage through trees and stone, debris scattering in all directions.
Azhriel blinked, stunned into silence. Once again seeing the despairty of being powerless. No matter how Solas does things, it doesn't change the fact that he was an Archon. He was a God.
Solas stood there, hand still raised from the motion, his face carrying a serious expression that made shivers ran through his spine. Solas spoke, his voice flat.
"A lesson for you to my dear student, Don't Interrupt When I Am Speaking, understand."
Listening to him, Azhriel hurriedly nodded several times. Satisfied from Azhriel's response, he nodded and moved again.