In the brief time it took for me to descend over the beast with the Paraglider, I had remembered a very specific term that explains the churning feeling in the pit of my gut whenever I was placed in a high risk of danger. A word in a large tome. Someone glided their finger underneath the definition, careful not to smear the ink.
"L'appel du vide. Mother said this book was a gift from a foreign land so that explains the weird pronunciation. It means call of the void. Remember when we were in Goron City and you told me you felt the urge to jump into the lava? Yeah, it's that."
The corner of my lip lifted – an instinctual smile associated with such a memory.
There was a fuzzy recollection in the back of my mind of a library full of books and being nestled between their aisles, leaning against a person's arm as they held on the pages of an encyclopedia.
"It's apparently a way for your brain to take control of a situation. Whenever a chance presents to completely annihilate yourself, its always sounds strangely appealing because it's the strongest choice you can make. But you're not suicidal or impulsive. I mean…unless you act on it…Don't act on it, Zelda…Zelda, I swear to Hylia!"
Well, shit. It's too late to go back now.
Let's recap what I have in my arsenal: a sledgehammer, a claymore, one traveler's sword, two broadswords, a spear, a pot lid, a Boko shield, a traveler's shield, two traveler's bows, one soldier's bow, and a plethora of arrows (both elemental and regular). Will it be enough? I guess we'll find out.
I steered the Paraglider so that I was out of the monster's sight. Turns out that leaning was how to change directions. I had to be constantly leaning forward to advance otherwise I would be just drifting downwards. My arms were beginning to feel sore the longer I held onto the handles. I knew that eventually I would have to drop down. But before that happens, I need to use this height to my advantage.
Remember, you're doing this to prove yourself, I thought.
In one motion, I folded the Paraglider and drew my bow. The world slowed down around me as I stalled directly on top of the beast's head. I heard the string of the bow tighten as I drew it back, a fire arrow already knocked. The tip glowed a blazing red. Aiming directly at its head, I let the arrow fly free and sparks erupted upon impact. I watched in slow motion as the beast tossed its head back in pain as the residual flames burned on its mane. Then, the soft crunch of the grass met my feet, and the world resumed its pace.
I stood dumbly before the monster. The soreness of my arms began to ebb away, and I felt my stamina replenish itself. Now what?
The beast was still hunched over, effectively stunned by a single arrow to the head. I filed that information away. It took presented an opportune moment to unleash a flurry of attacks as it was completely vulnerable.
Unfortunately for me, I didn't take advantage of that.
The beast shook its head, righting itself after that brief stun. Then, it turned and red irises locked with mine. It unholstered the menacing steel weapon from behind its back and held it in one hand. The beast then roared into the sky; the cry so powerful that I felt the dust pick up just from its soundwaves. It reared up on its hind legs and brought the smasher over its head.
I needed to act and fast.
I readied the claymore – the heaviest and strongest weapon I had – and prepared to dash in for a hit. Maybe if I land it before the monster does whatever it's doing, I can momentarily stun it again?
"Slow down, hero. Think about it for a second. The one who deals the first blow is not always the one who deals the last."
That voice…It was the same one I remembered when I was avoiding a volley of arrows from the Bokoblin archers; the adage about running in chaotic patterns. The familiar moniker was evident enough. However, I don't think another person is attempting to speak to me telepathically - unlike a certain prince. Rather than a spoken sentence in response to my current actions, it was advice I was taught long ago. An old mentor's instruction drilled into me during my training as a knight.
Something in my body was screaming at me to listen. And if I have no recollection of my personal memories, the least I could do was listen to my muscle memory. I guess combat advice is instinctual in that sense as well.
I run away – far from where the beast was preparing to smash the earth.
The steel weapon was brought down, the ground vibrating even from the distance where I was standing. A quick flash of heat slightly burned my face and strands of my hair flew back from the imposing blast. Grass and trees caught in the radius were burned into blackened weeds whilst the beast stood unaffected by the flames.
In the remnants of the explosion, I saw an updraft. If I can catch one with the paraglider, I can trigger bullet time, draw my bow again, hit the beast in the head, and stun for an opening.
I run towards the airstream. The beast was still recovering from the inferno, which gave me the perfect opportunity to strike back.
The draft rustled my clothes and felt hot from the fires that spawned it. Opening the paraglider, the hot air filled the cloth and projected me into the sky. I circled the beast like a vulture, waiting to drift closer so I can better my aim.
To my surprise, the beast shouldered its smasher and pulled out its bow and bomb arrows. The fuse was already fizzling, and it ran around – turning the tables and trying to get a clear shot of me.
In a panic, I drifted back into the updraft and soared higher – leaning my body to and fro in order to steer away. Arrows whizzed passed me and exploded in the open space behind me. I was slowly gliding down and the beast saw that. It shouldered its bow and readied its smasher.
I was lucky to land back onto the ground, unharmed.
Alright, we're not using updrafts. I can avoid an attack if I run, but in the air, I am defenseless, I noted.
The monster was across the field. At least the updraft worked in putting distance between us. Now, I was in the thickest part of the area – which isn't saying much. Still, I could use the skinny trees to my advantage. They served as obstacles that can interrupt the flow of attacks.
I prepared to unholster the claymore, but another combat tip quickly flashed in my mind.
"Always have your shield out. You can switch to two-handed weapons when the timing is right."
Instead, I brought out the pot lid and the traveler's broadsword. I could have brought out the Boko shield or the traveler's shield, but durability is at the forefront of my mind. I don't want to be left with the weakest weapons when the situation gets desperate. For now, I'll whittle away what I can. This isn't a Bokoblin fight, so I'm prepping for longevity.
The beast galloped towards me in a circle pattern. I brought the shield in front of me and prepared myself. It made one pass, racing across from where I stood and leering down at me, before running off. Using that momentum, it brought the smasher over its head.
"Striking an enemy is useless if you, yourself, are struck. Your first priority should always be to not get hit. Therefore, you need to learn how and when to dodge and parry."
I watched the smasher go in an arc – above the head and swung slow off to its side. Predicting the direction, the swing should reach its lowest right where I am standing and continue upwards. However, if I move a bit to the right, but not too far otherwise I would be trampled, I could avoid the attack entirely.
The swing came and, in a vertigo-inducing motion, I kicked my foot off the ground and forced a backflip. When the world righted itself again, I turned around and watched as the beast ran past me. However, it did not run very far and soon, I was engaged in close combat with a half-horse, half-lion wielding a metallic crusher with nothing but a pot lid to enhance my defenses.
It brought the club over its head, rearing back on its hind legs from the sheer weight of the weapon, and brought it down. I start haphazardly side dodging and the beast follows up with another smash in succession, effectively making a circle around each other.
The speed and accuracy of its hits were too quick. It brought down the smasher just as I had landed from a dodge. I brought up the pot lid in a futile attempt. Since I couldn't estimate the timing, parrying held too much of a risk. The flimsy wood bore the brunt of the attack and was reduced into chips for its effort.
I had no time to mourn the loss of a shield as another smash was winding up. Panic began to flood my entire system – my heart hammering against my chest and my respirations increasing in rate. It took the pounding of my blood to remind me to move in order to evade the oncoming attack. The brief moment of doubt and uncertainty could have been the end of my life and Hyrule as I knew it.
Even if I brought out another shield, I still couldn't estimate the timing of the beast's attacks to parry them. Side dodging wasn't enough to trigger bullet time and I doubt managing a single hit could cause the monster to stumble. Was there really no way I could counter this?
"It is never a bad idea to safely retreat and observe. Once you have enough data, you can counter accordingly."
This isn't cowardice. This is just being smart!
I ran in an L-formation – to the side of where the next smash was and outwards to put distance between us. In the brief respite I earned, I brought out the Boko shield to replace the pot lid and watched.
Every attempt to bring the club down took significant effort on the beast's part. It recovered from the series of attacks and locked onto me once again. I could definitely exploit the recovery time when I have the chance.
We were across the plain from one another. It ran in a semi-circle before suddenly stopping, parallel from where I was standing. Heaving the club over its head, the beast then began to gallop towards me. It was another smash, but this time, it had the momentum of a charge.
If I moved last minute, I could definitely dodge the direct hit. However, with a move that carried a lot of momentum, the residual shockwave is just as deadly. I could take my chances with parrying, but what are the odds of me getting the timing right without having seen this move before?
The trees!
The beast might be large and imposing, but unless it used that fancy fire move, it wouldn't be able to charge through these trees – as skinny and limb-like as they were.
As it galloped, I ran around chaotically, hoping to decrease its momentum with the constant changes in direction. And since it was so focused on tracking where I was, it didn't notice the tree right in front of it. Its hands fell from their position over the beast's head – bringing down the crusher with it. The beast then righted itself again by pivoting on its hind legs, taking a quick second to assess its surroundings.
But before I could celebrate my small victory, it then holstered the club and crouched down, digging its claws into the soft earth.
It was a move I had seen before and this one, I knew how to counter.
I brought the shield up just in case and held the broadsword steady in my other hand. For a moment, I debated wanting to run closer – in order to minimize the distance and therefore minimize its momentum.
"Bring the opponent to you instead of chasing after them, especially when parrying. You can use the time when you're standing still to focus. Always fight defensively until an opening presents itself. Then, go on the offensive."
I dug the balls of my feet into the ground and waited, standing firm and resolute.
It shot off like a rocket – residual dirt and grass from where its hind hooves were planted on flew with the starting charge. The beast tore up earth and grass as it dashed in a straight line to where I was.
Emphasis on straight line.
At the last second, I side dodged and was rewarded with the earth slowing down before me. I had a clear view of the beast's flank. Lungs, muscles, and intestines lay beneath the flesh of that area. With the traveler's sword heavy in my hand, I began to slash maniacally – taking whatever hits I can before the world caught up. Purple blood oozed from the lacerations, painting the steel blade in a crude violet.
I managed one, last diagonal cut and with a jolt, time resumed. I took a brief second to admire the damage I did. Haphazard x's were cut into the skin and sinew from the tendons beneath were hanging loosely. They obscenely pulsed with every neuron fired. More of the monstrous purple blood began to drip from the open wounds, darkening the fur pelt of the beast.
In my peripheral, the beast brought the club above its head and instead of bringing it straight down, it swung it over its mane in a circle. The spin attack came so quickly that I had no choice but rely on my instincts to get out of range.
I blinked and suddenly I was out of the hit box radius. Before I had even registered it, I had managed two backflips in succession.
Here's my sage advice: when in doubt, backflip away.
Again, with a move that holds a lot of momentum, the beast took a moment to right itself. What I saw was an opportunity to stun it with an arrow. I filed that observation away for future counters.
We were once again at a distance from each other. So far, I've only managed six hits via a flurry rush. However…
I kept an eye on the flank that I assaulted during the flurry rush. The flesh had begun to slowly close up and the blood had clotted. It was regenerating its health like the Bokoblins. I needed to counter without long droughts in between otherwise, I'd be fighting a war of attrition. With weak weapons and low durability, that would be near impossible to achieve. I doubt there would be another claymore and more broadswords lying around. I'd have to resort to retreating.
I promised myself that I'd descend the plateau today. I can't leave until I've proven my worth to myself.
We stay and we fight or we die trying. If I can't do this, I am not the hero Hyrule deserves and all that talk of being the prince's Chosen Knight is fool's-talk.
I mean, surely, my 100-year slumber didn't make me less worthy in the Goddess' eyes…right?
A burning heat drew near, heating up my skin and growing hotter by the second.
Right, no time for an existential crisis, I chastise myself.
The beast had begun spouting flames from its mouth, firing stream after stream of fireballs. Like its charge, the flames moved in straight lines therefore, I simply had to step to the side. However, the problem is that these fireballs were coming in quick succession and the beast only had to pivot to change direction.
Still, it gave me an opening in more ways than one. If I was able to have a whole monologue before I noticed the fireball, that meant it took some time to ready the attack. And since pivoting was the directional input, I could run in circles and move closer for a more accurate hit.
Three fireballs also seemed to be the limit. After the third inferno blazed past me, the monster righted itself again and began to gallop in a circle once more.
The pattern had revealed itself. Familiar preparations were beginning to be associated with predicted attacks. Soon enough, I had a good read on what the beast was planning to do next. I knew the faults of each attack, the risks involved, and what I can and cannot dodge and parry. I finally had enough information to successfully counter back.
The beast had three charges. When the beast charges and swings the club downwards (charged swing), I could either backflip or parry. When it charges with the club raised over its head (charged smash), I could either run and counter with a headshot or take a risk and parry it. Finally, when it mounts itself on its hands (full charge), I simply side dodge for a flurry rush opportunity.
As a rule of thumb, close combat is to be avoided. The aftershocks and just the general strength of the weapon can kill me if I'm not too careful. There are too many risks involved with close combat that are not worth the miniscule chance I have of triggering a flurry rush. I can never counter the spin attack. Backflipping or running away is the only solution to that. However, due to the recovery time, I have an opportunity to stun the beast with a headshot. As for the smash attacks, I could play it safe and run away – then moving close to stun it with an arrow – or take the riskier route and parry the attacks.
The fire attacks seem to take time to charge up. Therefore, I can risk it and try to manage a headshot before the fireball or the explosion could happen. Better yet simply run out the attacks, move in close when the beast is recharging, and stun with another arrow.
Taking a second to just observe was well worth the plethora of information I just gathered. The speed at which I just processed everything was something to brag about as well. It all made sense now: how can I counter something I've never encountered before?
"Every creature is one of habit. You need to learn your opponent's tendencies and keep trends of yours. It's then your job to exploit their predictabilities and minimize your own."
Whomever was my mentor in the past was insanely smart and even more effective if I am able to remember their teachings but not my own personal life.
Enough running away. It's time for me to counterattack.
The beast began to gallop around the field. Alright, if it makes a pass at me, that means that a charged swing is coming. If it brings the club over its head, a charged smash will take place instead. Either way, both can be countered with a parry.
It galloped close before shooting off again. I smirked, knowing exactly what was to come.
The club was brought over and down in an arc. Instead of the parry I initially planned on, I directly lined up with the thickest part of the club and waited. I watched as the tip came down, almost touching the grass. The second before it did, I propelled myself backwards and managed a backflip. And unlike last time, I felt the world slow down around me.
Righting myself, I came face to face with the legs. Unsheathing the broadsword, I began hacking away. Since it wasn't a vascular part of the monster, there was not much purple blood spraying out. Instead, bone and cartilage were slowly exposed.
Another six hits before the world caught up. The beast let out a grunt of pain before looking down at me. It gathered the smasher in its arms and brought it around its mane in a large circle.
Since flurry rushes mean getting close, I had anticipated a close combat move to go into effect. It just so happened that the spin attack was the beast's preferred spacer.
I quickly ran out of the radius to avoid getting walloped. However, I didn't stray too far. The beast was now locked in its dynamic momentum. It would need a second to regain equilibrium and that's enough time for me to line up a shot.
I brought the traveler's bow from around me and knocked an arrow. Usually after spinning, the beast would always be facing me. I lined the shot up with where the head would be after the spin attack stopped. And when the beast came to a stop, I let the arrow fly. Similar to when I was gliding down, the headshot was effective in stunning the beast. It tossed its head in agony before slumping down, taking a brief respite on its front legs.
I sprinted closer and began hacking away at its flank once more, reopening the wounds that had closed during my drought of attacks. However, I noticed that since the beast was kneeled over, I could easily mount it…
And I did just that.
I climbed onto its back and the beast was aware of what I was doing. In a panic, it began to try and buck me off, flailing wildly. Through the sheer strength of my thighs, I tried my best to stay upright. A broadsword wouldn't be strong enough to cut through the flesh of its back and so, I brought out the toughest and strongest weapon I had: the claymore.
One. Two. Three. Four hits were the best I could manage before it bucked me clean off. I managed a backflip and landed upright on the grass – out of breath but victorious for the moment.
The beast had shot forward in an effort to put distance between us. It was now running in a circle formation around the trees. However, it didn't make a pass at me, which means…
The club was brought over its head and the beast came barreling towards me.
I was still out of breath from the mount attack and my stamina had not been replenished. Moving out of the way was impossible; the soreness in my legs and the wheezing in my lungs protested against it. There was no other option than for me to stand my ground and bear the force of impact.
I held up the Boko shield and waited. I only had one opportunity to get this right and if I don't, it's game over for everyone.
The beast drew closer and time seemed to slow down as the crusher was brought down from above. I clenched my teeth, steeled myself, and prepared to swing my shield arm forwards to meet the attack.
Steel clashed against wood and blue sparks flew from the union of between the weapons. The resulting ping sharply pierced through both of our ears. Just like bullet time, I was reward with the world slowing down for the briefest moments.
The beast and its club flew backwards from the shield deflect and that, in and of itself, served to amaze me. This monstrosity – that was more than triple my height, created out of solid muscle and mass, and holding a steel crusher that was larger than my entire stature – was stopped completely by a quick swing of my arm. How much force did I generate within my arm to completely stop a charged smash? Moreover, how did I survive such a task without breaking my arm?
The complexities of physics and why they apparently didn't apply to me could be saved for another time.
In the brief moment that the monster was stunned, I managed to slash into its flesh. The lacerations continued to grow in number and I could see that the beast was slowly getting worn.
A powerful feeling bolstered from within me. The culmination of overcoming fear and the sheer amazement at the fact that I was winning came in waves that washed over my chest. It was something akin to bravery; dare I say it might have been the rawness of courage itself.
Stuck in such close proximities with one another, the beast began to bring the club in an arc over its mane, eventually bringing it down and out. The familiar spin attack was unstoppable and that was fine. I simply ran away and waited for the opening.
I already had an arrow nocked and drawn by the time the beast stopped spinning. It was an accurate shot to the head which rewarded me with a brief stun. I took the opportunity to mount it and begin another barrage of attacks with the claymore, deepening the same wounds that were present.
The only problem with these mount attacks were that I was severely out of breath afterwards. And the usual follow-up assaults the monster would do is one of its charges. It was forcing me to parry. Therefore, timing and focus were crucial. Also, I just want to stop the beast again with my arm. The amount of power I hold is terrifying yet exciting.
I was catching my breath and the monster was galloping around the plains once more. The entire area was almost entirely destroyed. Grass was uprooted and the soil was riddled with hoof marks. Charred remains of foliage were from the fire attacks the beast had left – a clear map of what had transpired thus far.
The beast had made one pass at me, which means that a swing was coming. And for this one, parrying is not the only option I can do. I am slightly out of breath, but a backflip won't cost me any stamina since it's in place.
I waited for the club to reach its trough and kicked off the earth. As expected, the world had entered bullet time and I had clear view of the beast's legs. I began lacerating the flesh there. However, part way through the flurry rush, the steel blade in my hand shattered into pieces. I had only managed only three of the intended six hits. The shock was effective in bringing me out of the focus. Before I knew it, the world was back to normal.
The durability had shattered with the traveler's sword. After getting over the initial shock, I wasn't worried in the slightest. Panic should really only set in once my bows, arrows, and shields are gone. If anything, this only forced me to bring out one of my stronger and more durable weapons: the soldier's broadsword.
I brought out the blade and held the Boko shield in front of be just in time for the beast to begin a series of smash attacks. I backed up slightly so that the widest part of my shield could meet the blunt end of the steel crusher. Bracing my heels of my feet against the soil, I parried the oncoming smash. It stunned the beast enough for me to manage four slashes along its breast.
It galloped away in order to bring distance between us. However, that distance was eventually closed as it shouldered the steel club and crouched down on all of its limbs. It crossed the distance between us in less than a second, but I was ready to sidestep. Rewarded with another flurry rush opportunity, I unleashed all my strength in that brief burst – slicing away at flesh and sinew of the flank.
I could sense the desperation in the beast's movements as it began to conjure up flames within its mouth. Pulling the bow and aiming for a headshot was too risky – the time it took to draw my bow and aim an arrow exceeded the time it took the beast to prepare the fireball. So instead, I ran away. I had to be careful not to sprint as I would be running in circles anyways.
It pivoted on its hind legs as the first burst of flames spilled forward. I ran more in a hexagonal shape rather than a circle, moving closer with each fireball. The last flame had shot off into the distance as I strafed backwards. I unholstered the bow and nocked an arrow, close enough to aim for that desired headshot.
The arrow flew and the beast slumped down to its knees. I ran the edge of my blade along its side as I moved to mount it. Quickly unsheathing the claymore, I began making the same slashes along its back and spine – deepening the previous wounds that were there.
It finally bucked me off, sending my body in a somersault through the air before I manipulated my momentum to land on my feet. Instead of galloping away, however, the beast merely stayed where it was. It roared to the world – desperation, anger, and guttural frustration echoing over the empty plateau fields – before bringing the club over its head.
The explosion was coming and I had to run from the blast zone as fast as I can. I pumped my legs, ignoring the soreness and the burning pressure within my lungs. Suddenly, I flew forward, rolling like a ragdoll until I faceplanted into the soil. I spat out grass as I pushed myself up with my arms. There was a distinct burning sensation on my back. I quickly got up and assessed the damage.
I had barely made it out of the blast zone in time. The remaining foliage of the area was burned to a crisp. Blackened weeds surrounded the beast and the updraft was beginning to form above the residue flames.
The sun had risen in the sky at this point. With it came the wet heat of the early morning, causing me to remove off the old man's doublet and gloves, tossing it somewhere off to the side. The horizon was a baby blue with clouds; it was beautiful and contrasted against the absolute destruction of our battle. Everything that had been dreary, concealed, and grey during the night was illuminated. Vibrant colors sprawled along the grassland: white, brown, and bright green. There was a strong breeze coming from the southeast, tousling my locks and stirring up the loose dirt and grass. It felt nice on the exposed skin of my lower back where the fabric had been burned off.
I stood – alive – and soiled with dirt and blood; some of it was my own and some of it was not. I hadn't slept in 24 hours and my endurance and strength had been pushed to the limit in between. I was exhausted, I was nearing the brink, and I am going to win this.
The beast stood. It had sensed the change in atmosphere as well. Its eyes were steel and flinty. The beast's fangs were bared so hard that I feared its jaw would break. The next few moments would decide the fate for all of Hyrule; whether I walked away victorious or die by this beast's hand.
It moved first, running away and bringing the club over its head. I heaved a sigh and brought the Boko shield in front of me. The clopping of its hooves grew closer and I prepared to swing my arm out to parry the attack. However, it had swung earlier – already anticipating my counter – and with a devastating crack, my shield was reduced to the tree bark it was made out of.
I quickly brought out the traveler's shield to parry the oncoming smashes. I backed up and parried those perfectly, gaining brief moments of attack before the beast could regenerate its old wounds.
The desperation was evident in the monster's attacks. It wanted to kill me and fast. Not hard considering I just needed to be hit once, but my evasiveness was top tier. Other than that explosion, I hadn't been touched yet.
A charged smash was coming and I effectively feinted to the right. However, in the brief flurry rush opportunity, my broadsword had shattered once again. I was now left with one last broadsword and a spear. I still had the claymore and the sledgehammer, but they were so heavy and required a lot of momentum. They were only to be used during mounted attacks. Since the spear was two-handed and I would have to manage between carrying that or the shield, my odds of dying are greater. This needed to end quick.
The beast had roared into the sky and the beginnings of an explosion were evident. Rather than letting it finish, I took the risk of running up close – drawing up the bow as I did – and aiming for the headshot. The risk had paid off and the beast had slumped over enough for me to mount it.
I grabbed its mane to hoist myself up and over. Unsheathing the claymore, I cut up the flesh of its back and trunk. Monster blood sprayed from the open wounds with every flail, the pulses from the muscles contracting around the open blood vessels. It sprayed onto my lap and the white of my shirt, resulting in an oddly pleasing lilac color when the liquid was saturated in the fabric.
I flipped back onto the ground and the beast prepared another fire attack. Forcing my legs to work and pushing my endurance past its limit, I ran in a circle around it. When the final fireball whizzed past me, I nocked an arrow and prepared for a headshot. However, the beast was already preparing to do a full charge, digging its hooves and claws into the dirt.
Remembering how it managed to cross an entire acre within one second, I knew I couldn't run away. Not to mention, my bow was equipped and so I wasn't prepared for the close combat follow-up. Flurry rush wouldn't trigger either; I was too unfocused and my head was swimming with these turn of events.
In a blind panic, I did the only I could do which was to drop the bow and open up the paraglider for a quick escape. I ran towards the residual fires from the previous flame attack and opened the cloth. The wind from the updraft filled the empty space underneath and propelled me upwards and away from the charging monster.
Wait! Wasn't there a reason I avoided using updrafts?!
I heard the fizzling fuses of a bomb arrow and the distinct sound of an organ for my funeral.
I started contorting my body in the air, attempting to steer as haphazardly as possible. The beast began to gallop around the area directly below me. Its bow was drawn with three bomb arrows nocked. Once the arrows were released, I dropped the paraglider and held it in one hand, falling fast and just narrowly missing the bombs. Heat exploded in the sky and my heart hammered stronger against my ribcage. I opened the paraglider and was propelled into the air via another updraft. However, it just repeated the cycle. The beast had another barrage of bomb arrows lined up.
After all this, there's no way I can be taken down by bomb arrows.
The fires were beginning to die out. As a result, there would be no updraft to lift up the paraglider. I was already drifting downwards and within open range of arrow fire. It looked like the beast wasn't going to put away the bomb arrows either. Even if I managed to land, it would still be shooting at me. A shield can't deflect exploding arrows, and this was my last one.
This is where my story ends? Well, if it isn't the consequences of my reckless decisions…
I was suspended in air, hanging onto the wooden handles of the paraglider. In a futile attempt to brace for impact, I curled up so that I was in a protective fetal position. I braced for the inevitable explosion and a painful death.
Instead, there was a gust of wind associated with the cooling sensation of rain droplets. The soft pelts of rain on stretched fabric were music to my ears. When I opened my eyes, a sunshower had graced the fields of the plateau. There were no clouds from which water could fall from, but I was still gradually getting drenched. The sun was bright and its rays were further reflected off of the wet grass. A strong gust of wind accelerated the rainfall.
The beast paid no mind to the weather phenomenon and fired the three bomb arrows. However, rather than exploding on impact, the wet sacs of gunpowder merely smacked against my thigh and stomach. It still hurt – very likely to bruise or form a welt – but I was alive. I wasn't burned to a crisp or exploded out of the sky.
Bomb arrows are useless when wet!
I quickly landed, safe and unharmed. The beast let out a roar that was laced with frustration and anger.
I cautioned a glance behind the monster's head, where the Temple of Time stood. The Goddess Statue stood behind the integral wall of the temple, but due to the broken glass of the tall windows, I could still see her. The same ethereal light descended from the heavens, gentle yet imposing. Her face flashed in my mind. Instead of her eyes radiating gentleness and mercy, they were creased in displeasure.
That close call was a warning. "Don't make me doubt choosing you," is what I'd imagine Hylia to be saying.
I was bewildered by the turn of events but quickly narrowed my eyes in determination. I doubt the gods would be so graceful to grant me another save. The sunshower was divine intervention and I couldn't waste this literal god-given opportunity.
The beast crouched low, preparing to do a final charge, and I readied my sword and shield. It propelled forward with unfathomable speeds. Regardless of its prowess in acceleration, I merely sidestepped to avoid the head on collision.
The world slowed down and there was the golden flurry rush opportunity. A mere six hits at the flank won't stop this. However, four hits at a very specific place will.
I reached out and gripped the coarse hair of its mane, my knuckles turning white from the sheer force of the grip. I allowed myself to get carried away from the beast and used the momentum to swing my legs over its sides. Landing on its trunk, I observed the lacerations from the claymore. They were deep, so deep to the point that the white bone of the beast's ribcage and spine were exposed.
Time resumed as normal. The monster began flailing once it registered that I was on its back again. I fought to stabilize myself against the jarring motions. My thighs were getting sore with the constant strain to stay upright.
Please, just a little bit more endurance! I begged to the heavenly powers.
I unsheathed the soldier's broadsword from behind my back and raised it skyward. An awfully mighty spirit bolstered within the deep recesses of my soul. My heart pounded in my ears as my breathing stalled for a moment. I was gasping in breaths but never exhaling. Tears pricked the corners of my eye, further obscuring my vision with the rain. But I didn't need to see in order to do this. This move has been ingrained; it was instinctual. It felt so right.
I brought the sword down, making a deep gash from the beast's scapula across its spine and to the opposite side. Muscles, sinew, and tendons were exposed; they pulsed grotesquely with every neuron fired. The blood vessels flooded and the purple liquid bled with the rain, staining my clothes even further.
The sword was brought adjacently, creating an X on the beast's back. More blood sprayed out from the open wound, misting against my face. I tasted the distinct metallic flavor against my lips and immediately spat out. The purple tinged spittle landed on the coarse hair of the mane. Out of all things, that served to disgust me.
Where I was sitting, I have clear access to the beast's spinal cord. Besides the heart, the lungs, the liver, and the brain, the spinal cord is one of the most lethal places to get stabbed at. Regardless of where one stabs alone the spine, the resulting damage is enough to end the battle completely. At worse, the opponent is paralyzed. At best, they are paralyzed, all bodily function is lost, and if an artery is punctured, exsanguination. Therefore, the best place to stab is in the neck; it'll sever the carotid arteries as well as sever the connection between the head and the rest of the body.
I inverted my grip on the sword, holding it parallel along the beast's body and poising the tip of my blade towards the neck. My thumbs were facing upwards instead of down, which braced the force of the stab against my wrist. It had to be a powerful – to cut clean through the vertebrae and thick mane shielding the nape of the neck.
The cry spilled forth from my mouth, originating from the depths of my gut. "HYAH!"
I stabbed the broadsword to the very hilt, driving it forwards into the neck with all of my body mass. Blood sprayed out violently from the open wound in copious amounts – bathing in me in a dark violet – and that was all the evidence I needed.
I had hit the arteries. The battle was over.
The beast slumped forward, dead. I rested myself on its back, still clutching onto the sword with every inch of my life. Just as a fail-safe, I drove the blade inches further – hearing the sickening crunch of the bones I had just pierced through.
I groaned and rolled off the beast and onto the soft, ruined earth of the prairie. I stole quick breaths and drank whatever rainwater fell into my mouth. The sun was still shining and the droplets had finally begun to stall. The glare was stinging my eyes, but I could've sworn I saw something green gleaming from my periphery.
Turning my head to where I saw the gleam, I saw the great stone bridge and the lake in the distance. The clouds above it were spiraling dark in a vortex-like pattern.
The sunshower must have come from there, I thought. The wind must have blown it this way.
I laid out bare and vulnerable. My arms were spread open to the sky as the adrenaline disappeared from my veins. I was exhausted, pushed beyond my limits, and unbelievably proud of myself. I felt tears slip at the corners of my eyes, trailing down my cheek and towards the back of my neck.
There was a plume of smoke. The beast had disappeared, leaving behind its steel crusher, the bow, a quiver of bomb arrows, horns, orange guts, hooves, and gemstones.
I laughed. I laughed and laughed until my stomach began to ache from all the spasms. Then, I took a measured breath - my lungs overfilling with air - and screamed to the world. It echoed throughout the isolated plateau and maybe spilled past the borders, to the rest of Hyrule. It felt good.
"You did good, hero." Someone used to say. Whoever they were, I don't recall. "We'll make you a worthy wielder of that sword."
I don't remember how long I laid there, staring up at the sky and recounting the events that just transpired. The rain had stopped and it was all bright with clear skies again. However, my clothes were still wet, clinging loosely to my body.
I scrunched up my face and felt a tightness along my skin. The monster blood had crusted over. I needed a shower bad.
I scrounged up my spoils from the battlefield, retrieving the doublet and discarded bow along the way. I tied the sweater over my waist and holstered the bow. While I did that, a gleaming light caught my eye.
In the distance, where the old man's cabin was, a familiar blue-green glow was radiating from within.
After gathering up all my materials, I jogged over the abandoned log cabin. Passing through the entryway, the empty chairs and empty bed greeted me. I was once again reminded of the loneliness I was subjected to. No one lived in this house. No one tended to the cooking fire sitting outside. The plateau had been isolated and for 100 years - including the past two days, I was the only one here.
The spectral beam had been radiating from the old man's journal, specifically the last pages. I opened the notebook and perused its contents.
Zelda...Bit by bit, you may come to realize who I am. I am sorry for not revealing my true identity to you sooner. The truth is, after you awoke from your long Slumber of Restoration, I did not know how to tell you all there was to say.
Perhaps deceiving you was not the right thing to do. Still...you must admit I put on a great performance! But all joking aside...what I ask of you is of the utmost importance, dear heroine. I implore you, with all my heart...defeat Calamity Ganon and save my dearest son, Link. I understand this is no simple task I am asking of you, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can do it. I do not doubt it for a moment. I see courage in your eyes, just as I did 100 years ago. I believe in you, Zelda.
This had been the apology I needed in the steeple.
My throat tightened and I was unable to stop the flood of tears streaming down my face. They fell in little puddles over the ghostly ink written on the page. I had bottled up so much anger at the old man, pushed my lethargy aside for the sake of focusing on the battle, diminished my feelings of failure upon learning the truth. Now, I was free to actually feel my emotions. It felt so cathartic to just unleash it all. With every tear and sob, my soul felt infinitely lighter.
I would be okay.
And with that…it was time to leave the familiar place of the plateau and begin my journey to be the heroine Hyrule deserves.
It was noon when I gathered myself together. I composed myself in the privacy of the old man's cabin and paid one last visit to the Goddess statue, thanking her profusely for the intervention. Her smile - forced and creased in a vision during my battle - was once again merciful and gentle. I would never doubt in her again.
Now, I stood upon the stone entrance of the Great Plateau, the great stone birds flanking me on either side. Hyrule Field looked beautiful from a distance and its vast borders – that once served to overwhelm me – beckoned adventure and freedom. The world was beautiful. It would be worth everything to save it.
I must look absolutely deranged: my hair a mess, half drenched with rainwater, half soaked in monster blood, eyes baggy from the lack of sleep, and wearing clothes a size too small. And yet, I felt the glory of a hero pulsing through my very core. I'll work on looking like the part after a well-deserved shower.
I had my backpack. I had my weapons. Most of all, I had the Sheikah Slate.
I held it in front of me, the map interface activated, and surveyed the blankness beyond the plateau. There was the glowing circle that supposedly marked where Kakariko Village was. Looking up from the map, the Dueling Peaks greeted me.
What was it that the king advised? Head east, past the twin mountains, and head north? That sounded about right.
To the left of the Sheikah Slate, there was the icon of an app I hadn't recognized. It was a stylized notebook. I tapped on it and the screen changed to a blank black one with a keyboard feature covering the bottom half. 'Adventure Log' was written at the very top.
Ah, so I don't have to make a mental itinerary. I could just write it down.
I started typing whatever I remembered from the king's instructions.
Seek Out Impa
King Rhoam advised me to travel to Kakariko Village in order to speak with the elder Impa. She will give me more details on my quest. His instructions are as followed: Descend from the Great Plateau and head east beyond the Dueling Peaks, then follow the road north. The blinking dot on the Sheikah Slate's map will guide the way
I also wrote down the main quest that I had set out to do.
Destroy Ganon
The ghost of King Rhoam had told me that Hyrule is on the brink of annihilation. Prince Link is currently fighting to contain Calamity Ganon inside Hyrule Castle, but his power cannot keep the Calamity at bay forever. Eventually, Ganon will regain his full strength and destroy the world. My ultimate task is to aid Prince Link in defeating Ganon before that can happen.
I was about to close out of the feature, pocketing the slate and begin my descend from the Great Plateau. However, I entertained one last idea.
These next couple of days are expected to be quite lonely. In fact, I don't doubt that there would be frequent periods on my journey where I am isolated from civilization. I'm still grappling with loneliness and survivor's guilt after learning about my failure from 100 years ago. I can imagine those feelings will get worse as I encounter those who were affected. A diary or journal can serve to soothe those intrusive judgements, right? It might even offer me some solace or introspective, help me organize my thoughts.
The best time to start would be right now, before I leave the plateau.
I opened a new entry and began writing. When I finished, the entry resembled more of a correspondence than an account of how I felt. What I had written was a letter – a letter that would never get sent – to Link.
I closed the feature and hung the Sheikah Slate on my hip once more. I took a deep breath and stared at the abysmal drop in front of me. The churning feeling in my gut never came. The void had silenced its call for now.
Leaping forward, I welcomed the experiences and self-discovery I will soon face. And as the paraglider opened and caught the wind, I felt the grace of the goddess watching over me.
Dear Link, I woke up to the sound of your voice…but I have no memory of you. I wonder…who you are.
A/N: Whew! That was my first time writing an action scene. Please let me know how I did. There's definitely room for improvement. I felt like I drabbled on for too long, but I planned out three phases for the fight. Phase 1 was observation, phase 2 was the counterattacks, and phase 3 was the finishing. I also wonder if I did a good job describing everything that was happening. It was definitely challenging in that I couldn't make it sound so poetic, but action scenes aren't the time to be poetic, right?
I introduced Zelda's mentor when she was knight in training! They will definitely reappear in the future in a flashback or backstory arc. Hopefully the guiding quotes weren't annoying. I don't know; I just feel like this chapter was longer than it should have been.
Zelda has made it down from the Great Plateau! Next chapter, Kakariko Village and meeting Impa and Paya! I wanna have it out before school starts back up so look out for an update before Tuesday hits.
Thank you for reading and please leave review if you enjoyed. I wanted to churn out one more chapter before the year ends and kinda hit a writing slump. Can you believe I wrote this chapter in 2 days?! I worked really hard on this one (the amount of Lynels I fought for research) and so praises / criticisms / questions are welcome! I always love to interact with my readers.
Inspiration:
"Dear Link" - I've tried to find the artist for this comic strip. I've used reverse google image, TinEye, and even Yandex. All that comes up is the pinterest page where I found the art in the first place. I can't upload the image because it literally does not exist anywhere else except pinterest. If you know which comic I'm talking about please help me credit the artist!