The Ethereal night : Feather's Curse

Arin scrambled to his feet, adrenaline coursing through his veins. His eyes darted around for any kind of weapon, any advantage he could gain against this colossal beast. His pulse hammered in his ears, drowning out the noise of the game world around him. He was just a regular guy-he had no experience with combat. He wasn't prepared for this.

But there, lying amidst the rubble of the ruins, was a glint of metal. A rusted sword, half-buried in the earth. It wasn't much, but it was something. He sprinted toward it, his legs pumping as fast as they could, feeling the heavy weight of his fear bearing down on him.

As he reached for the hilt, the Guardian let out a deafening roar and charged once more. The creature's massive fists slammed into the ground, sending vibrations that nearly knocked Arin off his feet. But he gritted his teeth, ignoring the fear gnawing at his insides, and grasped the sword. The cold steel was reassuring in his hand, but he could feel the rusted edges-this was no finely crafted weapon. It would be hard to rely on it for anything more than a few desperate swings.

The Guardian was close now. Arin's heart pounded in his chest as he raised the sword, just in time to block a crushing blow. The impact sent a shockwave through his body, and he staggered back, his arms numb from the force of the collision. His knees buckled under him, and he barely managed to stay upright.The Guardian grinned, showing sharp, jagged teeth. It swung again, this time aiming for Arin's head. There was no way he could dodge it. The only option was to block.

With a grunt, Arin lifted the sword in a desperate attempt to deflect the blow. The sword met the Guardian's fist with a deafening clang, the force nearly knocking it out of his hands. He felt the jolt travel up his arms, threatening to dislocate his shoulder. But somehow, he held on. He staggered back, panting, sweat dripping down his face.

The Guardian's next strike was faster.

The beast moved with surprising agility for its size, swinging its other fist toward Arin's midsection. Arin had no time to react. He ducked instinctively, but the blow caught him across the side, slamming him into the stone column nearby. Pain exploded through his ribs, and for a moment, he thought he might lose consciousness.His vision blurred, but he fought to stay focused. He couldn't die here-not like this.

"Focus, Arin," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. He gripped the sword tighter, his knuckles turning white.

The Guardian roared in frustration, its massive body moving like a juggernaut, each step causing the earth beneath them to tremble. Arin pushed himself off the column, blood staining his shirt, and steadied himself. The pain was intense, but he couldn't afford to be distracted. He needed to find a way to win.

His eyes flicked to the sword again. It was dull and rusted, but it was the only thing he had. And the Guardian was still attacking. If he didn't act fast, he'd be the one to perish.The Guardian lunged, swinging its arm in a wide arc, aiming to crush Arin. In that split second, Arin's instincts kicked in. He sidestepped, using the momentum of the Guardian's swing to duck under its massive arm. His body screamed in protest, but he forced himself to move, to act.

As the Guardian's arm passed over him, Arin seized the moment. He swung the sword upward, aiming for the beast's exposed side. The blade scraped against the creature's bark-like skin, but it wasn't enough to pierce it.

The Guardian turned on him with a snarl, furious. It brought both fists down at once, aiming to crush Arin beneath them.

Arin's heart skipped a beat. There was no time to dodge.With a cry, he threw himself to the side, but the edge of one fist caught him across the shoulder. Pain exploded through him, and he was thrown several feet away, landing hard on his back. His vision blurred again, and his chest heaved with labored breaths.

But something inside him snapped. He couldn't die here. Not like this. He refused.

His hand clutched the sword once more, and as he struggled to rise, he noticed something in the Guardian's movements. A slight hesitation in its attack. The sword had barely scratched its skin, but there was something more-something about the way the Guardian's body shifted that made Arin realize it wasn't invulnerable.

The Guardian's weakness was in its joints-its movements were powerful, but slow. If Arin could exploit that, he might have a chance.Arin pushed through the pain, ignoring the blood dripping from his wounds. He steadied himself, waiting for the next attack. When the Guardian lunged again, Arin ducked and rolled to the side, using his agility to avoid the crushing blow.

In one fluid motion, he raised the sword, aiming for the creature's knee. He swung with all his remaining strength.

The sword met the Guardian's leg with a sickening crunch. The blade sank into the bark-like flesh, and the Guardian let out an ear-piercing scream. The creature stumbled, its massive body faltering as it tried to regain its balance.Arin didn't hesitate. He surged forward, using the momentum of his previous strike to propel himself up, his sword now aimed directly at the Guardian's chest. With one final, desperate strike, he drove the blade into the beast's heart.

The Guardian let out a strangled roar as it collapsed, its massive body crumbling to the ground. Arin stood panting, covered in blood and sweat, the sword trembling in his hands.

He had done it. He had survived.

But the victory felt hollow. The game was far from over. And with every moment, the stakes grew higher.

To Be Continued...

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