Alex gasped for air as the creature swept its fangs on his body.
For one second, he thought that this was it. He was dead once again. After being reborn, fighting monsters and orcs, he would die in the dark alone and let down a friend, just like he had done in his previous life.
Except that Alex's plan worked. Inside the monster's shadow, Alex's body became ethereal. He wasn't hurt by the creature's claws in any fashion. The swing hit the air as it tried to grasp the elf's heart.
The creature was once again in shock when Alex swung his sword. The creature doubled over its long torso to avoid the hit but still got a gash on its belly. Not enough for a deep wound, but the creature whimpered in the air with pain.
The beast flinched to the back, getting on all fours but failing because of its lost hand. Alex's dagger was still carved in the Shadow Hound's shoulder. The creature was creating another portal below it, but Alex wouldn't allow it to escape again.