The monster's hand squeezed hard and fast. Atrox gasped as his bones creaked, feeling as if his ribs would be crushed and his chest burst. His mind went blank in panic, and he did the only thing that came to mind—he used his essence like a hammer, a force of pure brute power, and blasted it outward.
The hand couldn't withstand the sudden flex of energy and tore away, leaving Atrox wheezing on the ground. "Really, what is even happening?"
He glared at the monster's shredded flesh, watching it still twitching as if just a little more power would be enough to reanimate it. He looked around. 'Is that lute-playing bastard gone already?'
A sharp thud, followed by the sound of falling rocks, drew Atrox's attention to where Kade and Garran were fighting the remaining monster. They were cornered with their backs against angled stones jutting out from the wall. Kade kept the monster at bay with periodic bolts of lightning, while Garran leaned against the wall, clutching his bleeding hand.
