The Lorder....
Even the name carried weight. It was a nightmare carved from living stone, standing three stories high with scales like obsidian plates, cracked and etched with what looked like molten lines of fire. Its maw was enormous, rows of teeth red and black with the remnants of its last meal, which Ash desperately hoped was not another group of heroes like his. Thick, muscular limbs propelled it forward, each step leaving craters in the earth. Its tail, spiked and coiled with brutality, swung with enough force to flatten small buildings. Ash had read about Lorders before. Apex predators of the Realm of Creatures. Entire cohorts of trained heroes had struggled to bring just one of them down.
And now he was alone with it. Unarmed. Unpowered. Just him and a few limp bodies he barely managed to save from whatever hell they were trapped in.
The Lorder roared, the sound more like an avalanche than a cry, shaking the brittle trees and sending flocks of twisted, malformed birds screaming into the sky.
Ash ducked behind a boulder, setting the bodies down gently before taking a breath. He peeked around the side, just enough to see the creature sniffing the air, its nostrils flaring with a sickening wetness as it hunted for him.
His speed would mean nothing if that thing caught him. And it would catch him. Lorders weren't just beasts; they were hunters. He'd read stories about how they could lock onto a target's scent for miles and never lose track.
The Lorder took another step forward, claws scraping against the rock, sending sparks flying. Ash swallowed hard, his eyes darting around. He couldn't just run. It would chase him down, tire him out, and then rip him apart with those massive jaws.
The beast moved, its clawed feet slamming into the ground, cracking stone and sending chunks of debris flying. Ash's body reacted before his mind did, springing back just as the Lorder's claws raked the space where he had been standing. Dust and gravel exploded into the air, stinging his eyes and forcing him to blink away the haze. He barely had time to recover before the creature lunged again, its maw snapping shut inches from his head, the foul stench of its breath washing over him like a wave of rot and decay.
Ash stumbled back, clutching his sword with both hands now, his mind racing. He couldn't fight this thing head-on—not with its armored hide and sheer bulk. But running wasn't an option either. He needed a plan, and he needed it fast.
The Lorder let out a thunderous roar, the sound shaking Ash to his core. He felt the vibration in his bones, like they might splinter apart if the beast screamed any louder. Ash's eyes darted around, searching for anything he could use. The Lorder wasted no time, barreling after him with shocking speed for something so large, its footsteps pounding like war drums against the earth.
Ash risked a glance over his shoulder, his heart seizing as he saw it closing the gap. Its jaws snapped open and shut, each bite shattering the air with a sickening crunch.
Ash slid under the archway, rolling to his feet just as the Lorder charged straight into it. The ancient stone cracked, splintered, but held barely. The creature shook its massive head, shards of rock falling off its back. It roared again, but Ash wasn't waiting around to see what it would do next. He darted back out, weaving through the rubble as the Lorder regained its senses. His mind was racing, calculating his odds and coming up blank each time. He couldn't outmuscle it. He couldn't outrun it. But maybe… maybe he could outmaneuver it.
Gripping his sword tighter, Ash pivoted, facing the beast head-on. He charged. His feet slapped against the ground, dust and shards of rock scattering in his wake. The Lorder's eyes flared with recognition, and it lunged to meet him, claws outstretched. Ash dropped low at the last second, sliding beneath its swipe, his sword flashing upward with a metallic hiss. It struck the creature's side, sparks flaring as the blade skidded off its armored hide, leaving nothing but a shallow scratch.
"Of course…" Ash muttered under his breath, scrambling back to his feet. He had barely scratched it. The Lorder whipped around with startling speed, its massive tail sweeping through the air. Ash leaped back, but not far enough. The tip of its tail clipped him, sending him sprawling through the dirt, his sword skittering from his hands. He hit the ground hard, the breath punched from his lungs as dust filled his mouth. Gritting his teeth, Ash forced himself back up, snatching his sword just as the Lorder bore down on him again.
He spun the blade in his hands, planting his feet and bracing himself as the creature lunged. He sidestepped, his movements sharp and fluid, slashing at its legs as it passed. This time, the blade bit deeper, slicing through the softer scales around its joints. The Lorder howled, its massive body stumbling slightly as crimson blood sprayed onto the earth. Ash didn't wait for it to recover. He charged forward, slashing again and again, each strike calculated, aimed at the soft points in its armor. But it wasn't enough.
The Lorder roared in fury, swinging its massive head toward him. Ash barely had time to duck, feeling the rush of air as its jaws snapped shut just above him. He rolled to the side, heart pounding, sweat stinging his eyes. He could feel the fatigue creeping in, his muscles aching from the relentless assault. And yet, the Lorder looked barely fazed. If anything, its eyes blazed brighter, filled with the thrill of the hunt.
Ash staggered back, breath heaving, sword dripping with blood that barely seemed to matter to the beast. It growled, low and deep, its tail swaying menacingly behind it. Ash wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes narrowing. He wasn't dead yet. And if this beast wanted to take him down, it would have to do a hell of a lot more than that.
The Lorder stomped its foot, the ground splintering beneath it, dust rising like smoke. Ash raised his sword, his hands shaking but steady. This fight was far from over.
He grabbed a loose stone, smooth and heavy enough for a distraction, and threw it with all his might towards the cliff edge. The Lorder's head snapped towards the sound, eyes narrowing with predatory intent. Its muscles tensed, and it lunged forward, the ground shattering beneath its weight.
Ash took his chance, sprinting to the side, his legs burning with every step as he moved faster than any human should be able to. Dust and pebbles whipped up behind him, the Lorder's roar of frustration deafening as it realized the trick. It swung its massive tail, and Ash ducked just in time, the force of the wind behind the swing nearly throwing him off balance. He skidded to a stop near the cliff's edge, panting. His eyes locked onto the Lorder's, its nostrils flaring again as it sniffed him out.
"Guess you're not as dumb as you look," Ash spat, adrenaline flaring his senses.
The Lorder let out a growl and charged, claws tearing through the dirt, rocks splintering under its weight. Ash's mind raced. He needed a plan, something bigger than just running. His eyes flicked to the cliff edge again, then back to the Lorder, and an idea began to form. It was reckless, borderline suicidal, but it was all he had.
The Lorder thundered closer, each step shaking the ground beneath his feet. Ash clenched his fists, muscles taut with anticipation. He took a deep breath, eyes steady, waiting for the right moment. And then, just as the beast was nearly upon him, he sprinted straight towards it.
The Lorder reared back in surprise, its massive maw opening wide to catch him in its jaws. But Ash wasn't going to give it the satisfaction. At the last possible second, he dropped to the ground, sliding between its legs, the coarse dirt scraping against his back as he passed underneath its belly. The Lorder roared in rage, turning around with astonishing speed, its tail swinging wildly. Ash barely managed to roll out of the way before the ground where he lay was reduced to splinters and dust.
"Not fast enough," Ash breathed, stumbling back to his feet.
But it wasn't over. The Lorder wasn't done. It turned back towards him, growling low, and Ash realized he'd only pissed it off. Its eyes glowed brighter, its movements more erratic and aggressive, like it was done toying with him. He took a step back, calculating the distance to the cliff edge. Not far. Just enough.
The Lorder charged again, barreling forward with reckless abandon, dust and debris flying in its wake. Ash held his ground, his feet steady, his breath even. The cliff was right behind him, the drop sharp and jagged. He just needed a bit more. The Lorder lunged, jaws snapping, and Ash jumped, not back, but forward. Right at its face.
The creature, stunned by the sudden move, hesitated for just a second. That was all Ash needed. He grabbed onto one of its horns, swinging himself over its head, and landed behind it, running full tilt towards the cliff edge. The Lorder spun around, its massive form sliding slightly in the loose dirt, and charged once more.
Ash stopped right at the edge, stones crumbling beneath his heels. He stared back at the Lorder, heart hammering, hands shaking. He just needed it to take one more step.
The Lorder came barreling towards him, its eyes locked on his, and Ash took a deep breath. "Now," he whispered, stepping to the side.
The Lorder's momentum was too much, its massive frame too heavy to stop. It slid forward, front claws scraping at the ground, but it wasn't enough. With a final, ear-splitting roar, it tumbled off the edge, its tail thrashing wildly as it fell into the abyss below.
Ash dropped to his knees, panting, sweat dripping from his brow. That... that was too close. He couldn't keep doing this. Not without his powers. Not without something more.
He took a long, shaking breath and stood, wiping the dust from his hands.