Chapter93

"Desperation truly makes humans do the strangest things," it said, the orbs firing in a chain.
One tore through Gazel's shoulder, another through his chest, and a third ripped open his side, yet he only rocked back one step before forcing himself upright again.
More blasts came and steam exploded out of each wound, but he kept moving toward it with ruined legs and a body that should have collapsed already.
'Keep moving,' he told himself, dragging one foot forward through the shaking ground, 'do not stop moving no matter what.'
The monster stopped smiling, the whole situation not looking as enjoyable, "why won't you just stay down?"
He answered by running straight at it.
He crashed into its torso with both arms, locked his grip behind its back, and dug his boots into the ground as deep cracks spread under his feet.
Before it could break free, he twisted his whole body and hurled it away from Didi.
The monster tore through the air and smashed through trees in a line of splintering cracks, while Gazel stayed standing between it and the unconscious princess.
The dust settled slowly in the distance. Gazel couldn't even see if the monster had stopped moving, his vision swimming with dark spots while the burning in his soul ate into his mind.
It felt like his skin was melting off his bones, the golden light flickering as his life force drained out of him fast.
'If this is enough to keep her safe,' he thought, forcing his ruined legs to stay locked, 'then I don't care.'
A slow, heavy chuckle rolled out of the treeline. The monster stepped back into the clearing without a single scratch on its obsidian scales, casually brushing wood chips off its shoulder.
"You pushed yourself to the absolute limit for the sake of a human," it said, its grin returning. "I have to admit I am impressed. You earned the right to see a neat trick."