บท 65: Venomous Defeat

"Alright," I muttered, raising my sword again. "Let's try this one more time."

The Venomfang Reaper hissed, its serrated pincers snapping with renewed vigor despite its injuries. Its glowing green eyes narrowed, as if it recognized my determination or my desperation.

[You're outmatched, you know. Maybe you should run. Oh wait, you can't.]

"Not helping!" I growled, circling the beast cautiously. My grip on my sword was firm, but the weight of exhaustion was beginning to creep into my arms.

"I'm just saying," Ananara chimed in. "When the odds are this bad, sometimes surrender is the smart choice. Not that you'd know anything about being smart."

"Shut it, pineapple," I snapped, lunging forward.

The Reaper anticipated the move, swiping with its massive claw. I ducked under it, narrowly avoiding a venomous spray that splattered the stone wall behind me, sizzling as it corroded the surface.