The monstrous scorpion looms before us, its massive body casting a dark shadow over the battlefield. My throat tightens as I swallow my nerves.
"I hope it's not poisonous," Han hisses through gritted teeth.
"Just... try not to get stung," I mutter, barely able to tear my eyes away from the beast. It's exactly like the one from my dream—the Deathstalker. Thief's analysis had been spot on. One of the most venomous scorpions in existence.
Han chuckles dryly. "I'll keep that in mi—WATCH OUT!"
He doesn't even get to finish before the scorpion's enormous tail comes whipping toward us at terrifying speed.
We launch ourselves in opposite directions, narrowly avoiding a lethal strike. I hit the ground in a crouch, stabilizing myself as dust swirls around me. But before I can even take a breath, a flicker of movement in my peripheral vision makes my gut clench. The tail is already flying toward me again. Shit!
Despite its sheer size, the scorpion is fast—unnaturally fast. It doesn't hesitate, doesn't relent. It keeps coming at us with relentless, merciless strikes. Han and I are left scrambling, dodging, rolling, leaping—anything to stay ahead of the next deadly attack.
"We can't keep this up forever!" I shout, barely twisting my body to evade another vicious thrust.
"Tell me something I don't know!" Han barks back, panting heavily as he barely avoids being impaled. "I've been trying to get behind it to climb its tail—"
"Same here!" I cut in, dodging low as the scorpion's tail slams into the wall beside me, sending chunks of debris flying. "We need to slow it down!"
"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?" Han demands, breathless as he narrowly evades another attack.
I watch the scorpion closely, noting its movements. "It stops moving when it strikes."
"So?"
"So we use that to our advantage."
Han skids to a halt, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "What are you suggesting?"
"One of us keeps it occupied, draws its attacks. The other takes out its legs."
Han doesn't need any more explanation. He nods once.
"And don't make a sound," I add, leaping left to lure the scorpion's attention. "It tracks by sound, too."
"You could've told me that sooner!" Han grumbles, but he's already moving, slinking toward the scorpion's right legs.
The moment the scorpion starts turning toward him, I let out a sharp, mocking "Come on, bitch!"
Its focus snaps back to me. With a terrifying shriek, the tail lashes toward my chest. I barely manage to vault backward, landing just as Han silently inches closer to its massive legs. I keep my movements erratic, forcing the scorpion to focus on me while Han creeps into position.
The plan works—until Han makes his move.
The scorpion screeches, its inhuman cry piercing the air as one of its legs suddenly snaps under Han's attack. It whirls in rage, tail swinging wildly toward him.
"Your turn!" Han shouts, grinning despite the scorpion's frenzied retaliation. He's clutching a massive, jagged piece of the creature's shattered leg.
While it focuses on him, I make my move. Silent as a ghost, I weave between the towering pillars of its remaining legs. Up close, the sheer size of the creature is overwhelming. Every step of mine is calculated—I can't afford a single mistake.
Han managed to take down one leg. But that won't be enough. This thing is still too fast. If I want to cripple it, I need to take out more than one—in a single strike.
My fingers clench into fists. Focus.
I inhale deeply, channeling every ounce of my energy. The power within me surges, coiling like a viper ready to strike. The moment I sense it's reached its peak, I explode into action.
With a roar, I slam my fist into the nearest leg.
CRACK!
The scorpion screams, its entire body trembling as the leg snaps like dry wood.
I don't stop.
Ignoring the pain that shoots up my arm, I pivot and strike another leg with equal force. Another crack—another agonized screech.
My bones ache. My shoulder burns. But there's still one more.
"Watch out!!" Han's warning barely registers before a shadow falls over me.
I glance up—just in time to see the scorpion's tail hurtling straight toward me.
Instinct kicks in. I throw myself backward, barely dodging the deadly strike. But I'm not fast enough. The tail catches my back, sending me flying.
Air whooshes from my lungs as I slam into the ground, hard. Blood spills from my mouth, the metallic tang sharp against my tongue.
Before I can even breathe, the tail rears back, poised for another strike. I force my body to move—rolling, rolling, rolling—desperate to escape.
My body collides with something solid. A wall.
Shit.
I'm trapped.
The scorpion's tail plunges toward me—
But—
It stops.
I blink, my breath ragged.
The tail can't reach me.
I'm wedged into a low, narrow crevice—too confined for the scorpion to maneuver its deadly weapon.
It shrieks in frustration, unable to land a final blow.
Instead, it redirects its fury—toward Han.
"No—!"
But Han's already moving, dodging and weaving as he steadily inches closer to my position. He's luring it toward the crevice, just as I did.
At the last second, he dives—rolling into the gap beside me, narrowly escaping death.
Panting, he scrambles to his feet. "You okay?"
I nod, forcing myself upright. Every inch of me screams in protest, but I can't afford to rest.
"Did it work?" I ask between heavy breaths.
Han grins, despite the chaos. "Yeah. You slowed it down. A little."
Not enough.
It's still dangerous. Still lethal.
Han hands me two jagged sticks.
I frown, inspecting them. They're long, sharp—pieces of the scorpion's own leg bristles.
"At least now we're not completely weaponless," Han says.
I grip them tighter. They're brittle, but they're better than nothing.
"We need to take out its tail," I murmur. "It's the only way."
Han nods, eyes gleaming. "I have a plan."