The ground trembled underneath its massive legs. Each slow stomp was followed by a moment of silence, as nature itself remained quiet, afraid of the beast. Its body massive, as it walked on all four legs to support its grit. A long neck ended in a head shaped like a lizard, adorned with massive horns. It's tail twice as long as its body with a thin bone spike at the end, the tip was hollow, as it wasn't just a deadly spear, but a needle to inject its vile toxin directly into its prey. Its entire body was covered in a dark mass with bone-like fragments as if it was armor carved from its previous fights. A white mask like a horse's skull, some along its spine and finally covering the front of its paws leaving space for the thick claws to emerge. Finally, a pair of large wings sprouted at both of its sides.
Before it stood a lone warrior with its sword and shield in its grasp, clad in mithril armor and a helmet made out of the same metal. Truly, a puny sight in size when compared to the beast, which was now eyeing its prey with its red, soulless gaze. It didn't seem to phase the warrior. The sight made him only grasp its weapon tighter. The lack of any fear was enough of a sign for the beast. There would be no chase. No, there would be a fight.
The beast roared, as its final attempt to strike fear into its prey. It didn't work. Perhaps having enough of the tough act, the warrior rushed forward, sword ready to strike the beast, which wouldn't just standstill. As soon as its prey moved, the monster flung its massive front claws at it. Once, twice, thrice. Each time the warrior swiftly avoided every attack. It was enough time to get close to the beast. While its neck or body was too far for a direct strike, he knew that the closer it was to its body, the softer the flesh on its monstrous arms was. This wasn't supposed to hurt the beast, not by a lot. Yet as the warrior's sword struck into its flesh and ripped it open, as the dark ichor spewed out of its gushing wound, the beast roared.
It wasn't out of pain, nor was it enough to strike fear into the beast's heart. No, it was out of shock. As long as the beast lived, its cancerous existence being present in the land, no other prey would manage to as much as to hurt the beast. It was even hard to land a hit on the beast, to begin with, even if massive, the monster was incredibly fast. Yet even if someone was skilled enough, it didn't matter. The hide of the beast would be impenetrable. Or so it should be.
The beast began to back off, like a kicked dog with its side open for another strike. The warrior saw it in an instant and chased the beast, swiftly cutting the distance between them. Still, the beast, while being a monstrous being, was not stupid. While it relied on fear and physical strength, underneath all that, was a cunning mind of an apex predator. Which turned this battle into a chess game, followed by the physical prowess of both competitors.
While the warrior was ready to strike the exposed side of the beast, he knew it was too easy. It was a trick, if it was as simple as that, it wouldn't be an issue. As such when the beast's long tail sprung from the side to try and stab at him, the shield was already in place to block the attack. Still, even if the warrior was prepared for it, the sheer force behind the tail swing was enough to force him to focus all its strength to stand and not fall, as they were shot off balance by the mighty blow.
The beast didn't wait for the warrior to regain its balance, as its massive claws were already moving at high speed at them. The warrior could do nothing more but to use its shield once more to avoid being directly hit. This time they were sent flying, making him hit a nearby tree, down which they slid down. The monstrous creatures charged at them to finish what it started. Perhaps if there was an ounce of empathy or perhaps a higher thought in its head, they could respect the warrior. He alone was able to hurt it. Yet, there was nothing like that inside its darkened heart. Only hatred and cunning to deceive and outsmart those it deemed weaker.
Yet as it was about to deliver its final blow, the warrior was ready. Jumping out of the way, they plunged the sword into the monster's arm. The beast once more roared in pain as it moved its claws away. This was what the warrior hoped for, as the sword remained in the wound, they used the force behind the beast's movement and flung themselves into the air, the sword remaining in the warrior's hand as if it was aware that without it, there would be no chance of defeating the monstrous being. Using the force of gravity, the warrior plunged downwards with its shield, bashing the beast in its reptilian head.
As the beast stumbled backward, this had its effect, allowing the warrior to safely land on the ground. It was once more an action that was merely a symbol, a sign. Sign that the beast should not treat the warrior lightly, as it would stand its ground against it. For the first time in its life, the beast felt frustrated. Feeling the anger fuel its heart, it roared.
oooOOOooo
The beast was bleeding, it was injured, hurt. There were plenty of seemingly small gashes all across the beast's body. It was the first time that the monster had to put effort into a fight. The first time that the beast didn't simply scare someone off. The first time where the fight wouldn't be over in a mere second.
Yet the fight wasn't won yet. Far from it. It wasn't one-sided, as the warrior was panting heavily, its body bruised and hurting. The duel between them slowed down, as each understood that their opponent would not fall easily. They circled, each planning their next move, each of them predicting the next move of their opponent and creating an efficient way to counter that.
The beast broke the impasse as it rushed forward. Unlike before, it didn't strike with its claws or horns but attempted to hit the warrior with its tail, trying to pierce them with it. His opponent was ready, as they dodged once, twice, thrice. Each time barely but successfully stepping out of the range of the attack, only to have yet another thrust aimed at them. It lasted a good moment before the spike would finally rest in the ground that it pierced. It took a second for the warrior to understand that it was their time to strike. Grasping their sword they started to rush forward.
Only to fall into the beast's trap. As soon as the metal-clad individual moved forward, the tail would strike once more, but this time it wouldn't attempt to stab them, simply lashing out towards them. It was too late for a dodge, and the meek attempt to use the shield ended up only in moving the whip-like tail higher, where it hit the helmet and sent the warrior flying and later tumbling across the ground, as the helmet rolled on its own, separated from the head it previously protected.
Her white hair waved as the wind still blew after the mighty swing of the beast's tail. The girl's face belonged to one of nobility, pale and usually without any imperfections. Usually, as there was a scar adorning her eye, yet one that did not impede her sight. The same eyes that were icy blue and stern. Poets often claimed that these are the windows to one's soul, and many did whisper behind her back how that had to be true. Cold like the harshest of winters while being hard and durable unlike her posture would suggest. Just like ice, formed in the coldest of regions.
Right now though, the girl tried to maintain balance as she tried to quickly stand up, still feeling dizzy after receiving a blow to her head, her helmet saving her from ending in a much worse spot. Yet it wouldn't save her from what was about to come.
Seeing her vulnerable state, the beast did not even stop for a second at the sight that the helmet revealed. It did not care that her opponent was no other than Weiss Schnee, the heiress to the most influential trading guild, a self-made knight. No, what the monster saw, was still an opponent that was a threat.
It lashed its tail once more, this time the girl didn't have time to dodge or do anything to prevent it from hitting her. As the spike hit her armor, it saved her from being completely impaled, but sadly it was not durable enough to stop the spike completely. She felt it, the needle bury itself inside of her. The burning that the poison being injected caused to her blood. Gritting her teeth she grabbed the tail, preventing it from actually impaling her as it would do if not for her armor.
Her physical prowess, a trait so uncommon with girls of her status or even with girls of the lower class. Many men would be envious of the strength the girl possessed. Some said that it was a blessing, yet it was whispered as if she was a witch in disguise, to where the mocking title of the witch-knight was weaved. She cared little for it, as her goal in life was to fight evil. As such, whatever gods have looked upon this land or whatever devils were plotting to ruin them, she cared little which of those gave her the powers she had. Not just powers, but the blessing or curse required to wield the holy relic sword, Myrtenaster. That alone made her believe that it was the good side of that spectrum that allowed her to be here right now, fighting the menace that was oppressing these lands for so long. She wasn't a witch, she was a knight.
Right now though, even that couldn't save her. If the tales were even half right, she was already dead. She wasn't upset or angry, perhaps a little bit disappointed that she got tricked by the beast. Regardless, it became clear to her that she got a time limit on this fight. One that she had to quickly finish, and perhaps the beast gave her just the tool to do so.
Her hold on the tail changed its purpose, as now she wouldn't allow for the beast to retrieve the tail. She knew that she couldn't match the beast's strength, at best she would buy herself a second or two. Which was enough, as she raised her sword and cut into the tail. A gesture that the beast didn't foresee happening. She felt the tail being tugged as soon as her sword would cut into its gooey flesh, yet once the blade was there, it was too late. Dropping onto the ground, was the thinnest part of the beast's tail.
The monster thrashed in pain, while through the fight it was cut and bruised by the warrior's sword and shield, it was nothing compared to having its tail cut off just like that. This was what Weiss needed and this was her only shot at this. Picking the thing up, just as expected it was stiff with all the muscles and whatever was inside such a horrid beast. It would serve the perfect spear.
There was no time to form any other plan, any alternative, as she felt weaker with each second, the poison causing its damage throughout her body. Sheathing her sword, she began to run towards the beast with the tail in hand. Once she closed enough distance, she aimed for but just a second, before throwing the improvised, fleshy spear towards the beast's head.
It was just in time for the monster to look in her direction, its face contorted in anger, an expression that would once more turn into a painful one, as the needle would pierce through the eye of the beast and deeper into its skull. It trashed around, twisting in agony as the spike had to reach deep enough to pierce the brain, as its own poison seeped in, filling the creature with immense pain.
The warrior girl had to be careful not to get hit by the beast, she couldn't allow falling just yet, as she had to ensure the beast would perish after this encounter. It took a while, through which Weiss prayed to whatever gods would listen that it wouldn't take too long, as she felt her body become heavier with each breath she took. Soon her wish would be granted, as with its last whimper, the beast would fall heavily onto the ground.
Taking a deep breath, the girl began to climb on top of the beast. Under normal circumstances, it would take her a few seconds, yet it turned out to be more of a hassle in her current state. Even then, her own willpower kept her pushing forward up till she was standing on top of the beast, ready to reach for her sword and ensure the monster was dead for good.
Fate wouldn't make it any easier on her. Feeling the body of the beast suddenly rumbling underneath her, she instinctively lowered herself and grasped at the beast's back, the monster itself stood up and began to run forward, its wings sprung open as it soon started to lift itself. This was far from helpful for Weiss, yet she knew deep down she didn't have the time to wait for the beast to land. It would be too late.
Reaching for her sword, she focused all her remaining strength towards her arms. Once she'd let go of the beast, she had a moment to plunge the blade into its skull, as it wouldn't take long for her to lose balance on top of the panicked creature. Raising the blade, she quickly grabbed it with her other hand and plunged it downwards. The relic pierced through the bone-like mask, the beast's own skull, and through whatever served as its brain.
The monster roared in pain, but this time the trashing didn't last as long, as soon the wings would stop flapping and its heavy carcass would start to fall off. Weiss wouldn't allow for the blade to have its final moments within the beast's corpses, as with the rest of her strength she took the blade out of the monster's skull.
Hugging the blade to herself, she soon felt herself slide off of the beast and began to freefall towards the ground, wondering what would kill her first, the poison or the impact of her hitting the ground.
It didn't take long before she saw what she expected to see, the grim reaper heading her way. Although even in her half-conscious state she noticed how different it looked from the different tales of him. Wearing red and riding his own scythe. Although that had to be her own brain playing tricks on her, as she could swear she saw petals flying across the sky.
Red, like roses. Those were her last thoughts before her mind succumbed to darkness.
Author's note:
Ho'boy, where to start with this one. I guess the best thing to say was why I posted such a short thing as a beginning for a new short story. The reason is simple, whenever I get an idea, there are 3 phases through which the idea goes. Birth inside my head, being written down as either a plan or an actual story or part of a story and finally being posted. I had a lot of ideas in the past, where they died at one of the first two phases and I liked this particular idea so much that I wanted to post it if only to ensure that I would continue this.
This isn't much, merely me dabbling into some action stuff, which I always fail at. Fun fact, this was somehow based on a legend from around here about a similar scenario. Which isn't that original, a hero/knight fighting a dragon-like creature or a monster, but I guess the spikey tail and using it as a spear was something I don't usually find in legends. Oddly specific, but that's where I took the idea for the fight from. Of course, as per any legend, it wasn't described in details, merely claiming that there was a fight, and while poisoned the knight cut the beast's tail and used it to kill the beast itself. I had to fill in the blanks.
In the fight itself, I used monster hunter as my "role model". I think it does a good job depicting fights between humans and giant monsters and while it's ridiculous at times, I think it's somehow realistic with its ridiculousness... Or something. Or I just like monster hunter. Props if you got the first move Weiss did. Speaking of Weiss, I wanted to somehow intentionally cover who the warrior/knight was, although I'm not sure if it was worth it or not. I mean, it might just be me, but when talking whiterose, I'd think Weiss would be a witch before Ruby... Although that might just be me. Then again Ruby is often drawn as a witch for hello-win. So that might have been a fail. I dunno.
I would ask how you liked this part but there's not much to like. I guess the only thing I can ask is how I did with the little action I offered and if you, dear reader, are interested to see how this unfolds.
I'll also try to update this asap, at least to showcase the actual dynamic of the story.