Chapter 48: Chapter 48 – Victory Lap

I used the sword to scout out the rest of the area surrounding me. Now that I knew what the ‘doorways’ looked like, I found myself finding them all over the place. Most of those rooms were empty. Aside from one that was large and nearly as featureless as the rest, except for a large hole in the floor. The hole was filled in by a stone tub – which had been filled by water leaking through the ceiling.

The other thing I learned fairly quickly was that the doors came down hard and made a lot of noise. I’d set off a timer by opening and closing them, the monster would use it’s hearing to try and track me down. That was just fine by me. I also realized that there was little chance of me finding Cali and Tahar again in this maze-like complex. I needed to rely on myself to get rid of the thing and deal the finishing blow.

I plotted my route carefully. I had a rough idea of where it would be coming from. I needed to get its attention and draw it to my ambush location.

“Do you need me to use my power, Master?”

I wanted to save that for if my second plan failed.

“No. I’ve got this.”

I held up the precursor blade to one of the doors and opened it before backing away again. I repeated this process several times, standing on the very edge of its detection range. After each round, I would stop for a second and listen out for any noises. About half of the time I could hear the monster skittering closer. Even with a split face it was capable of moving around on some level.

Again. And Again. And Again. Each time I felt that nervous energy growing stronger and stronger. This was what it was like to fight a life or death battle, wits and strength were everything. My body was a live wire. I could feel the adrenaline flowing through my body all over again. In the darkness just beyond the grasp of my lantern’s light, I saw a shifting form approaching.

“Come on you fucking bastard, your meal’s over here,” I whispered. It didn’t move.

I stepped back into the doorway and allowed it to open one last time. It saw me, because in that moment it burst back into action and started charging at me, full speed. I turned tail and ran as fast as my stubby human legs could carry me. Down the winding halls of the Tall School we went once more. But I’d already memorized my way – this wasn’t a chase.

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I found the room was I looking for. I slid under the still-opening panel and prepared myself. I had already drawn a line in the sand just beyond the entrance, a line that measured the exact distance that the door could be opened and closed using the sword.

I stood guard and waited, another agonizing wait on top of the others. I knew that at any moment it’s ugly mug would peer through and greet me. I’d be shocked and scared, no doubt, and that scare would make me take one, fatal step backward.

Just as I expected, the bleeding, gaping hole that it once called a face stared dead at me. And then it moved to enter the chamber and finish me off.

“Got you.”

I stepped back, having teased the edge of the sword’s activation range. The glowing symbols around the doorway faded, and the mechanism released the heavy stone block, allowing gravity to pull it back down to the ground. The monster was totally ignorant to my plan, and continued to walk towards me – placing its neck and back firmly within the remit of the falling hammer.

On the point of impact, there was a tremendous bang and snap as the door slid down the grooves and crushed the monster’s neck. The force of the stone slab was such that it was slammed down to the ground, crunching the bone and spinal column of the already injured foe. The gaping wound left on it’s face spurted a fresh flow of blood into the dirt.

It struggled, trying desperately to release the pressure from its back, but it was futile. The last ebbs of life left its eyes, clouding them over once and for all. I drew Stigma and approached the fallen beast.

“[Consume.]”

I’d been waiting a long time for this feeling. Stigma lit up in an insidious red as the life and spirit was drained from the monster. I immediately opened my menu to check what I had gained. To say I was happy with the result was an understatement. Killing such a high-level beast, combined with taking its experience as my own had rocketed me up the level tree and nearly doubled my power.

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