Chapter 41: Chapter 40

“Run!” Etrius yelled, throwing its kukri at the creature.

 

Making no noise, the creature recoiled as it was struck in the face, giving Etrius the time to pull its bow and let off an arrow. Two arrows were loosed before the creature recovered, with the arrows seemingly ineffective. Penetration was minimal as the arrowheads, though good quality steel, were only made of steel, not the meteoritic-iron required for magical creatures such as this. Facing Etrius, the creature leaped. Dropping to the floor, Etrius felt air rush over it. Turning, it saw the creature fell a tree as it landed. With Abby running in that direction, Etrius had no choice but to stop it.

With arrows having no effect, Etrius abandoned its bow and drew its two remaining knives. Running up to right as it was about to leap to Abby, Etrius stabbed its back close to it’s hip. Spinning around, the creature swung its claws at Etrius who once more managed to dodge under it. Stepping in, Etrius jumped up and stabbed at its throat, but the creature jumped back.

As Etrius was about to step in, a bolt of lightning flew in to hit the creature. Keith, though not fully recovered, was still able to fight. In a rage, the creature slammed the floor, shaking it. With its stance broken, Etrius was unable to completely avoid the next attack. Luckily for it, the attack didn’t immediately destroy its vessel. That being said, an arm was shattered and Etrius only had two that it was authorized to use. Though it didn’t lose any biomass, repairs would take some time, and this was time that Etrius didn’t have.

Following up on its attack, the creature once more slashed at Etrius. Instead of retreating, Etrius moved forwards and stabbed at its throat. However this only succeeded in creating a thin red line, as well as making it angrier. Tossing its head down, it tried to crush Etrius, but when that failed, it used its antlers to toss Etrius.

Winding up in the branches of the trees, Etrius was now regrettably freed of its weapons. Looking down on the creature, Etrius wondered how best to beat this thing. It’s knives, which it no longer had, were useless against it and it’s bow, which was enchanted, didn’t show promising results. To be able to take it down at this range would be a challenge with only itself and a witch hunter. Normally it would be easy since there was a witch hunter who could use powerful magic, but there was a large gap between spells. Not only that, but the creature was looking in the direction of Abby who was  watching from behind a bush.

 

“Oh fuck.” Etrius thought.

“Why didn’t she run?” It asked itselves.

“We have to save her.” It stated the obvious.

 

Running across the branches, Etrius sprinted towards Abby. The creature, for its part, didn't charge Abby, though it did approach her with caution. Given the distance, Etrius would not reach her in time, so it changed its target. Leaping from the trees, Etrius landed on its set of right antlers. It’s head violently was pulled to the side and the smaller of the two antlers broke. For the first time, the creature roared in pain.

The good thing was that it’s attention was firmly on Etrius, though given that Etrius just landed, it was unable to avoid its attack. Having just finished repairing its left arm, the creature’s claws threatened to tear Etrius into two. With it’s right arm taking much of the impact, Etrius crashed into a nearby tree with much of its base structure sustaining serious damage.

Still able to stand on its own two feet, Etrius used its once more broken left hand to keep its right arm from falling off in sight of Abby. Looking at the creature, Etrius couldn’t help but wish for that plasma launcher that it categorized earlier, though bringing that out after it supposedly destroyed itself would lead to some unwanted questions.

The creature stomped on the floor and roared at Etrius, it's two remaining antlers making an imposing shadow. Seeing this, Etrius was reminded of another creature with antlers. The wolves that it tamed on it’s way to the town were still under its care. Not only that, but given that this creature spontaneously appeared, it wouldn’t take much convincing to say the same for them. Though to keep Abby safe, it needed to draw the creature away from her. With a plan formulated, Etrius collapsed to it’s knee and coughed up blood.

 

“Dad!” Abby cried out.

 

“Shut up.” Etrius thought to itselves.

“Please just shut.” Etrius begged.

 

Seeing it’s prey weakened, the creature charged and Etrius sprung it’s trap. Having already used its blood substitute to form the black sand, Etrius opened a portal and called one of the larger wolves it had. This one, though unnamed, often accompanied Etrius during hunts and was well used to this world. Not only that, but was always ready for a fight.

As the creature drew near, a wolf faster than it could react to, appeared at the creature’s flank with its jaws wide open. Aimed at it’s throat, the wolf did not miss. Tumbling just enough to avoid colliding with Etrius, the creature let out another cry of pain as the wolf growled, tearing at its throat. With the two fighting, Etrius began repairing itself, not to the extent in which it was undamaged, but enough that survival was plausible for a lucky human.

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With it’s arm reattached, Abby recklessly ran to its side. Though moved by her concern, Etrius was in no mode to praise her.

 

“Dad!” Abby cried.

“Why didn’t you run!” Etrius said a bit more harshly than it wanted.

“A- are you okay!?” Abby cried.

 

Her face was very quickly being covered in tears and snot as all four of her arms reached out for it. Though it wanted to scold her for placing herself in danger, now was not the time. The creature was still alive and one wolf alone would not be able to bring it down sadly. As if to prove this, the creature threw off the wolf even as skin was torn from it’s throat. The wolf had been injured as Etrius could see claw marks on its side.

As the creature stood up, a crack of thunder broke the battle as a bolt of lightning struck it. Stumbling back, the creature realized that this fight was not one it could win without serious injury. Taking one more look at it’s enemies, it roared and fled into the trees. With the wolf’s role being done, and not wanting to risk Keith attacking it, Etrius sent it back to its own world, leaving it enough black sand to heal it’s injury. With the danger fleeing, Keith ran to Etrius’s side with a hand on his hat.

 

“Fuck me, are you alright?” Keith asked, looking at it’s injuries.

“I’ve been better.” Etrius admitted, ignoring the fact that he just cursed in front of it's child.

“How are you not dead?” He asked.

“I am in a lot of pain.” Etrius lied.

“Dad!” Abby cried hugging it. “Dad!”

 

Half falling, Etirus used the tree to supposed it as it sat down.

 

“Forty seconds?” Etrius asked.

“Can you make it?” He asked.

“Yeah…” It nodded weakly. “I can make it…”

 

At no risk of destruction, Etrius was simply glad that Abby was safe. Forgetting the state of it’s hand, Etrius pat her head to calm her, though this seemed to have the opposite effect as blood poured down her head. With no option but to wait for Keith’s healing magic, Etirus counted the seconds and kept a watch for the creature. With things calmed down and the wolf nowhere to be seen, there was not a small chance that it would return to finish the job.

As the forty seconds passed, Etrius closed it’s eyes as magic was cast on it’s vessel. The magic had no effect as Etrius was not a living body, but Etrius repaired itself as if it did. This did nothing to clean up the blood or repair it’s torn clothing, but it was enough. Feeling Abby hugging it, Etirus pat her back and wondered how best to explain the situation to Adriana, or rather Torie, it’s boss.

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