Galen and Thorne stood side by side, as they watched in the side line the intense battle unfolding right in front of them. The cold wind stinging their faces, their eyes gluing towards the boy with the scar over his left eye.
Thorne, still reeling from the spectacle, whispered, "So, what do you think is going to happen?"
Galen, keeping his gaze locked on the boy, replied, "I don't know… but something tells me it's going to one hell of a showdown."
In front of them, the wounded Nightmaw released a thunderous roar, its fury shaking the ground beneath their feet. It then lunged at the boy, launching a relentless waves of devastating attacks with its remaining paw.
However the boy moved with precision, effortlessly dodging each of the beast's strikes, anticipating it's every move.
Both Galen and Thorne stood in awe as they watched form the side lines, unable to comprehend the boy's skill.
"That guys… insane," Thorne muttered, his eyes widening. "Just look at him, who are these guys, anyway?"
"I have no idea," Galen admitted. But something was stirring in the back of his mind, a memory. He recalled a conversation he had with one of the guild receptionist just before they had set off on their journey into the mountains.
"I'd like to take on this job if you don't mind," Galen had said. The receptionist hesitated. "Are you sure? Another party had already taken a similar request.", "Really?" Galen said. "I'll keep an eye out for them then."
Now, watching this mysterious boy, Galen wondered, 'Is this the party she was taken about? If so, then they're from the guild… but I've never seen them before.
Thorne broke the silence again. "Do you think we should help him? I mean, there's no way he can fight that thing all on his own."
Galen shook his head. "He told us to stay back. The least we can do is respect his wishes."
"THAT'S CRAZY!" Thorne shot back. "HE'S JUST ONE GUY AGAINST ONE HELL OF A BEAST!"
"Besides," Galen added, his eyes narrowing at the Nightmaw, "Are you really willing to fight that thing yourself?"
Thorne looked down, rubbing the back of his neck. "Are you kidding me? I'd get myself killed in an instant."
Galen nodded his head, turning his attention back at the boy as the battle raged on. The Nightmaw launched blow after blow, its claws slashing through the air, but the boy dodged every attack with perfect precision.
However, something was off, but Galen could not quite put his finger on. 'Who is he?' he wondered. 'And why do I get the feeling his hiding something?'
Suddenly, the Nightmaw once again roared, its fury intensifying. It raised its massive paw in the air, ready to unleash its most devastating attack yet.
"HEY! LOOK OUT!" Galen shouted.
With a mighty swing, the Nightmaw launched its special attack, Claw of the Forsaken, a shockwave of raw power that tore through the ground, scattering the snow in all directions, shortly blinding Galen and Thorne.
Moreover, as the dust began to settle, Thorne squinted into the haze. "What happened? Where did that guy go? You think he got hit?" He wounded aloud.
"I'm not sure…" Galen replied, his voice tense.
The Nightmaw itself seemed confused, scanning the ground for its opponent. Then, in a flash, the boy reappeared—this time above the beast's head, bow drawn and aimed directly for its head.
Thorne's jaw dropped. "When did he get up there?"
Hovering above the creatures head, the boy muttered. "You're strong… but that oversized body of yours makes you an easy target."
Moreover, just as he was about to fire the arrow, the Nightmaw, sensing the danger, activated its deadly ability, Gasp of the Abyss. A chilling mist erupted from the creature's mouth, freezing the boy in mid-air.
"NO!" Galen and Thorne both shouted in unison, horror in their voices.
With the boy immobilized, the Nightmaw swung its massive paw, striking the boy and sending him crashing into the frozen ground below. The force of the impact shook the earth, and for a moment, the battlefield fell silent.
Thorne's voice cracked with disbelief. "He got hit... don't tell me he's—"
But then, from beneath the snow, an arrow shot upward, striking the Nightmaw in the shoulder. The beast howled in pain, and as the snow and dust cleared, the boy emerged, form it unharmed, his eyes burning with a fierce determination.
Galen's eyes widened in disbelief. "How's he still standing after a hit like that.?"
The boy, unfazed from the beasts attack, drew another arrow, as the fierce expression on his face signalled his preparation to finish the fight between him and the beast.
End of Chapter 7.