Chương 28: Chapter 28: The Beast's Lair
The dense jungle grew quiet as Vulcan moved deeper into the heart of the island. The heavy foliage began to thin, and he could feel the tension in the air thickening with each step. His heartbeat quickened as the clearing came into view, and there, in the middle of it, was the beast.
It was everything Thorne's diary had described—and more.
The creature lay on its side, its enormous body half-covered in thick, matted fur and scales that gleamed under the faint light breaking through the canopy. Its sheer size was staggering—easily larger than any creature Vulcan had faced. Muscles rippled beneath the fur, and its limbs, powerful and long, ended in massive claws that dug into the earth even in its sleep. The beast's massive head, which rested on its paws, was wolf-like in shape, but broader and more primal, with saber-like fangs jutting from its mouth even at rest.
Every breath it took sent vibrations through the earth beneath Vulcan's feet. The air around the beast seemed heavier, charged with a predatory energy that made the very jungle feel alive. The ground felt as if it pulsed in rhythm with the creature's slow, deep breathing.
Vulcan crouched low, his eyes fixed on the beast's form. Thorne hadn't exaggerated in his diary—the beast was massive, a living force of nature. Its size alone made Vulcan hesitate. As he watched it breathe, his instincts screamed at him to turn back, to reconsider his approach. Something about the creature sent a chill down his spine, a warning that this wasn't just another beast.
Vulcan's hand gripped the shaft of his naginata tightly as he began to weigh his options. From his vantage point, the beast's defenses seemed impenetrable—its fur was thick, its scales even thicker, like natural armor. He couldn't just rush in blindly, not against something this powerful.
His mind raced through different scenarios. Could he trap it? No, it was too massive and likely too intelligent to fall for any simple tricks. Could he strike it from a distance? But the beast's thick hide looked nearly impervious. He thought about targeting its eyes, its softer underbelly, but those weak points were far too protected.
Every plan he devised seemed to crumble as soon as he imagined the creature reacting. In his mind, he saw it tearing through any trap he set or batting away his attacks with its powerful claws. His usual tactics wouldn't work here. This beast was beyond what he had faced before.
And then, just as he was about to reconsider his approach, the beast stirred.
Its massive eyelids, heavy and ridged, slowly lifted, revealing two glowing, yellow eyes. They glinted in the dim light as they scanned the clearing—and then, without hesitation, they fixed directly on Vulcan.
For a brief, terrifying moment, Vulcan felt his blood freeze. The beast's gaze pierced him, not with hostility, but with a cold, calculating awareness. It wasn't just a mindless creature—it was intelligent, and it had noticed him. Vulcan's muscles tensed, his grip on his weapon tightening as every instinct in his body screamed at him to run.
But the beast didn't move.
It stared at him for what felt like an eternity, those glowing eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and disinterest, as though Vulcan were nothing more than a passing distraction. Then, with a low rumble, the creature closed its eyes again and lay its head back down, returning to its slumber.
Vulcan exhaled, his heart pounding in his chest. He hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath. A wave of relief washed over him, followed quickly by a burning sense of humiliation. The beast had dismissed him—completely ignored him as a threat.
His teeth clenched in frustration. He had faced pirates, beasts, and stronger foes before. He had survived against impossible odds. And now this beast—this thing—had decided he wasn't worth its time?
"No," Vulcan muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing. "Not today."
His pride flared, and without a second thought, he charged out from the trees, his naginata glinting in the light as he sprinted toward the sleeping beast. He swung the weapon down with all his might, aiming for the creature's thick neck, hoping to strike while it was still unaware.
The blade came down with a solid thud, but instead of piercing flesh, it bounced off the beast's hide, barely leaving a scratch. Vulcan's eyes widened in shock as the creature didn't even flinch. Its breathing remained steady, deep, and completely unaffected by his attack.
"Impossible…" Vulcan growled under his breath. He pulled his naginata back and swung again, this time putting even more force behind the strike. But once again, the blade hit the beast's hide and bounced off, dealing no damage. The creature's scales were like iron.
Frustration boiled inside him. He gritted his teeth, gripping the naginata tighter as he unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one aimed at a different part of the beast's body. He targeted the neck, the legs, even the softer underbelly, but nothing worked. Every strike was met with the same thud of metal against an impenetrable wall.
The beast stirred again, its massive body shifting slightly as it opened its eyes once more, locking onto Vulcan with a look of mild annoyance. Slowly, it began to rise, its massive paws pressing into the earth as it stood to its full height.
Vulcan took a step back, his heart racing as the full size of the beast loomed over him. It was even larger than he had imagined, its muscles rippling beneath its fur and scales. The ground trembled beneath its weight, and for a moment, Vulcan felt a surge of doubt creep into his mind.
The beast let out a low, rumbling growl, its glowing eyes fixed on him with what almost seemed like amusement. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, it raised one massive paw and swiped at him.
Vulcan dodged, using Soru to dart out of the way just in time. The beast's paw slammed into the ground where he had been standing, sending a shockwave through the earth. But the attack hadn't been serious—it was slow, almost playful.
Vulcan gritted his teeth as the beast continued to toy with him, swiping again and again, each time moving just a bit faster, forcing him to keep dodging. He could feel the pressure mounting as the creature cornered him, backing him into a section of the clearing with no way out.
He needed to think of something—anything. His mind raced as the beast swiped again, narrowly missing his shoulder. It was toying with him, testing his limits, and that realization only fueled his frustration.
In a moment of desperation, Vulcan's eyes darted to the ground. His gaze landed on a patch of loose dirt, and an idea sparked in his mind. It was a gamble, but he had no other options.
As the beast prepared for another swipe, Vulcan grabbed a handful of dirt and spun around, hurling it directly at the creature's face. The dirt hit its mark, scattering into the beast's eyes. The creature let out a surprised roar, stumbling back as it tried to shake the dirt from its face.
Vulcan didn't waste a second. He used the momentary distraction to dart away, putting as much distance between himself and the beast as possible. His heart pounded in his chest, his muscles burning from the effort.
He hadn't hurt it. Not even close. But for the first time in the fight, he had managed to outsmart it.
As the beast rubbed at its eyes with its massive paws, Vulcan took a moment to catch his breath. His mind raced as he processed the encounter. The creature was far stronger than he had anticipated—its hide too thick, its movements too calculated.
Vulcan's usual brute strength hadn't worked. He was going to need more than raw power to bring this thing down.
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