Failure
Heat and smoke surrounded him, rendering it almost impossible for him to breathe. He could feel his flesh burning as his fiery foe advanced on him again. Forcing himself to ignore the pain wracking his body, he raised his sword in defiance and met the blow steadily.
He screamed as the whip curled around his legs, leaving raised welts around his knees. A blast of heat hit him and he fell to the ground as his tunic caught fire. Rolling desperately, sword in hand, he fought to keep his enemy at bay and put out the flames at the same time.
But finally, as he knew would happen, the fight ended. He found himself swept up in a burning mass of pain and fire, and felt himself falling, falling. With his last strength, he thrust his sword deep into the heart of the monster. A bellowing roar filled his ears, but all he could think of was that he had failed… yet again.