Like a flash of lightning, Solas moved—too fast for my eyes to follow.
By the time I turned my head in the direction he had gone, he was already there, standing calmly beside the fallen beast.
The once-fearsome bear now lay half broken, its body twitching faintly, completely pinned by a force it couldn't comprehend—let alone resist.
Solas looked down at it, almost lazily, as though inspecting a piece of ruined furniture rather than a living creature.
With deliberate ease, he reached out and wrapped his hand around the beast's massive arm.
Then—without fanfare, without effort—he pulled.
Tear
A sickening, wet rip echoed through the air as the bear's limb was torn from its body. It's blood and a shadowy mist spraying across the earth from the wound.
The monster didn't even roar. It couldn't. Its strength, its will, its very being—all of it had been crushed under Solas's presence.
"There, now it should be around your level now. Here, take this and finish it." Turning his head towards me Solas said those words.
In his hand, a long sliver sword materialized, it's metal glistening from the low orange sunlit hue of the dusk. Staggering i moved towards him, every single step felt like walking on thorns, each one making me wince more than last.
However, when I decided to be strong... stronger than an Archon, stopping and losing just because it hurts was never an option.
I will walk it, no matter how much hard or painful the path is to walk, I will take it...no I will destroy it and become stronger. For the sake of my revenge, for the sake of my parents who died for me, i...I will be the strongest.
Fuck it, if I am an extra just there to die, it doesn't matter. Nothing matters if it hinders my path. The resolve to become stronger burned in my eyes, as i moved my hand slowly and deliberately towards the sword.
"Hmm"
Seeing my eyes Solas raised his brow but said nothing and just smiled. A genuine smile of a teacher who found an outstanding student.
The cold touch of the blade ran through my hand, as my fingers grazed through the long, sharp blade. Gripping the hilt of the sword tightly, I looked at bear, who also like me was injured.
Murky blood and smoke came out from the several wounds of his body, mostly from his torn limb. However, the beast's eyes burned with desperation.
Not with the desperation of someone begging for mercy, no it was the desperation of a survivor. A survivor who had won countless battles, who even if it was at its last breaths wants to win.
The bear's and my eyes locked, as the world around me blurred and only my target remains in my vision. As for Solas, he already had teleported when I had taken the sword from his hand.
Whoosh
As we both readied our stances, a single green leaf drifted between us, as soon as it touched the ground, we moved.
Clang
The sound of the metal rang throughout the forest, as my sword met the bear's claw. Though the bear's speed had diminished to my level, it's raw strength was still way above me.
Pushing, my remaining mana in my core to its limits, i strengthen my body to survive the fatal blow, as the bear's strength seemed to crush me.
As the bear's remaining hand locked off in a battle against me, it moved it's jaw towards my head aiming to devour my whole head, jerking my head towards the left to its limit, i barely managed to dodge the attack.
Using entire strength in my body, i repelled the monster and moved again. Faster and harder than before. In a moment, I was upon it. Before the bear could gain it's balance, i striked as my sword slashed it's chest.
Growwr
The bear roared a feral cry of pain, as more of it's blood came out from the slashed wound. Looking at me with a fierce glare, it moved it's hand towards me, as a black claw materialized and moved towards me.
It was the same attack as which it did first. However, this time the difference in it's power was of sky and earth. The attack was clearly visible, less powerful and could be stopped.
A thin, cold, blue layer enveloped, my sword like a blanket, as it glowed in the surroundings. Raising my hands, i slashed it downwards as my sword met the claw.
For a moment, it looked like the claw overpowered me, however gritting my teeth I held on, as a layer of ice started forming where the claw and the sword met.
"Aaaaah"
The ice spread, as it reduced the power of the slash, less enough for me to break through it, shouting i cut through the slash, as it split in half and crumbled in air.
'Atleast, i got my favourite element.' I thought.
Though in the next moment, my instincts flared blaring and ringing like an alarm. However, this time I already know that move. It ain't gonna work on me a second time.
Smiling slightly, i raised my sword towards my throat, as it met the claw. However this time, instead of fighting it head on with brute strength.
I tiltled the blade of my sword as the claw slid down the surface of the sword to the ground, simultaneously catching the bear off guard and gaining an opening.
The opening was small, but it was enough. Enough of me use all my strength, enough for me to spin towards the beast's neck.
Enough for my journey to start.
"Just die." I spoke in low, cold voice.
As adrenaline ran through my body, I saw my blade cutting the bear's neck, I felt my blade severing the beast's neck, I hear the sound of flesh and bones spiltling.
As the bear's head hit the ground with a soft thud. Everything went quiet. My strength faded and adrenaline weared off, as my vision blurred and body gave up however the sword still held in my hand.
As I fall backwards, I felt a hand on my back supporting me, through the fading haze of my consciousness.
I saw it.
"Heh, I've gotta monster as my student."
The big wide grin on my teacher's face as he spoke something which I was unable to clearly hear much less decipher. Though from the feeling it felt like a praise.
A small smile appeared on my face, as i finally fall into the comforting darkness.