I took the bottomless pouch Omega had gifted me and took one of Rimbaldi's crystal b.a.l.l.s out. I pointed it at the beast, but before I could utter a spell, I felt its claws dig deep into my side. It moved faster than my eyes could register. Heda was right to fear it. 

I flew to the side. Wind howled against my ears as I made my way toward the lake. 

Icy water broke my fall. I sank deeper into the lake while blood poured out of my side. The wound was deep, but it was nothing I couldn't deal with. I searched for the bottomless pouch. Omega had gifted me a staff before. I could heal my injuries using it then resurface to face the behemoth. 

To my dismay, I couldn't find the bottomless pouch. My heart began pounding heavily against my chest. If I'd lost it in the lake, I would have lost countless important treasures. My injury wouldn't let me worry about the pouch I'd lost though.

I could feel my side pulsating with every beat. More blood poured out, painting the lake red. I willed my energy toward the injury and tried to mend it. Flesh crawled over the wound and covered it. 

It wasn't as useful as the staff, but it did the job. I managed to close the wounds, albeit in a superficial manner. Any second hit would definitely make my situation worse. I swam toward the lake bank then. I made sure I didn't surface until I reached shallow waters. 

When I did, I saw the beast's snarling face right before me. Its fangs could easily tower above me if one were to put us side by side. It hurled its big mouth my way, and I plunged back underwater, dodging by the skin of my teeth. 

I quickly resurfaced then jumped over the monster's head and got to safety, way behind it. 

The beast turned around in a flash, a move that didn't match its gigantic size. Its tail brought every tree it touched down. The beast immediately spotted me then swung with its sharp claws, targeting my injured ribs. 

I squared my shoulders and blocked the incoming swing with my sword. A loud metallic ring pierced my eardrums as my weapon collided with the beast's outstretched paw. I slid slightly to the side, but I wasn't going to give up this easily.

The beast snarled, and tried to push me away. I stood my ground however, grinding my teeth and glaring at the monster. I tried to find the bottomless pouch. I hoped I'd dropped it after the beast had hit me. If it had fallen deep down in the lake, I would be in greater danger than I antic.i.p.ated.

The beast growled once more, dug its sharp claws into the ground and tried to push me away. I held on, however. I expected another swing from the monster at any moment, so I readied myself to counter attack. 

My eye darted in all directions as I kept my senses locked on the beast. I had to find that d.a.m.ned pouch. Sweat trickled down my brow as the beast pushed even harder. If I let my guard down, I was sure I'd be flying way over the lake this time.

Something caught my eye then, and my heart leapt in joy. I spotted the bottomless pouch. It lay between the monster's legs, too tiny for its big eyes to notice. 

"I've fought worse beasts," I hissed at the thing. 

I activated my energy and projected it outwards with full force. By doing that, I created a shockwave powerful enough to push the monster away. Monsters had the upper hand when it came to physical strength. On the other hand, I outmatched it in terms of spiritual energy. 

Trees around me bent toward the ground as I released the shockwave. The beast roared. It tried to resist the pus.h.i.+ng force I applied with my energy, but it couldn't maintain its position for too long. 

Its paw detached from my sword and the beast retreated a few steps. I jumped at the occasion. I ran toward the monster at it slid on all fours. Its claws dug deep into the ground, creating wide rifts as it tried to slow its involuntary retreat. I reached it just as it managed to stop. I was under its muscular neck by then. 

The pouch was below me this time around. I quickly s.n.a.t.c.hed it then looked up at the angry beast. It heaved and wheezed. Every move the beast made convinced me it was experiencing extreme pain. I opened my third eye and took a look at the monster. 

Contrary to the other artificial creatures we had to fight before, this one actually had a soul. It was alive, and it was suffering a great deal. Death would be a mercy, even for this magnificent creature. 

It also had five cores. No wonder the cowardly champions decided to flee. This thing was way out of their league. Knowing how to manipulate some types of energy was one thing, beating extraordinary beasts that evolved over the usual limit was another. 

I projected my energy onto my sword this time and swung it with full force, targeting the monster's throat. I felt my sword cut the beast's flesh open, then a deep purple liquid, which I a.s.sumed was its blood, poured out. The beast roared and began stomping the ground around it. I only stood beneath it, dodging whenever its paws came my way.

Blood showered me while the beast flailed and tried to find the little man who caused it such a big injury. When it finally spotted me, I was already prepared to make my next move. I took one of Rimbaldi's crystal b.a.l.l.s and screamed a spell. 

"Igni!" 

The sphere shone brightly. Then fire burst out of the crystal ball. I felt like I was standing before a furnace. The deflagration whirled and shot upward, like a fire tornado. It hit the beast in the head, burning its flesh and cauterizing its wound in the process. 

I moved aside just in time to see the beast fall face first beside me. My hair flew backwards, as well as my long gambeson. I was standing near its head by then. I put the crystal ball, whose light had begun fading, on the beast's skull. I let some of my energy flow into the crystal then screamed: "Percut!" 

A bright light shot out of the crystal ball then went through the monster's ear. It pierced it, as though it was an ethereal spear. Blood splattered out as the spear pierced the beast's skull then came out the opposite side. The behemoth squirmed for a second before falling once more, immobile. 

I searched the beast with my senses for the crystal ball that powered it. Soon enough, I managed to extract Rimbaldi's biggest sphere so far. Its energy wasn't neutral however. I could sense sinister intent coming from it. It felt as though the energy wanted nothing more than to burst out of the crystal ball and devour me. 

It reminded me of my new nightmare, the Paradox. It was my creation, but my worst enemy thus far. The energy within Rimbaldi's sphere gave off the same hostile intent. Staring at it made me feel light headed. I shook my head then put the crystal ball in the bottomless pouch. 

I turned toward the beast. Its deep blue flesh started dissipating slowly.

The big monster with a lion's head and a G.o.d's chiseled body began withering. A few heartbeat's later, I was staring at a large Katoblepas. Rimbaldi could also manipulate and corrupt live beings. I felt disgusted, yet amazed at what a normal man could achieve with harnessed energy.

I didn't have much time to think of the mad scientist though. I had to chase after the champions who left me behind. I spread my senses and looked for them. They weren't too far from where I stood. I could quickly reach them if I ran fast enough.

I caught up with them in no time. Then I understood why they hadn't managed to put more distance between us. Pawel, the sweet man who tried to help us earlier, was standing before them, barring their way. They all looked tense, Heda most of all. 

Something about the way Pawel stood and the aura around him made my hair stand on end. He was wheezing heavily. He growled like a beast, and his eyes were pitch black. Pawel pointed a shaky finger at us then wailed. He sounded in pain, much like the creature I had just disposed of. 

Heda was looking at the poor man with great astonishment. She must have felt my presence since she turned to face me. Her eyes widened. She looked at me, then at Pawel, then at me again. 

"Afraid I won't help?" I asked with a wide grin. 

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