Greater Than Human

I end my forward roll and rush to my feet. Now standing at the centre of the house is the same beast that handily defeated the knight outside. It was difficult to tell before, but the beast man is tall. He towers a head over me and his large muscles cast a shadow over my comparably pitiful form.

He doesn't make any immediate moves as I grip the dagger at my back.

"Luck is certainly not on my side…"

"That is correct, human."

To my surprise, my mumble is greeted by a deep voice behind a long beard. His back is still hunched forward like a beast preparing to pounce, but he offers pleasantries all the same. You wouldn't expect such formality from someone wearing animal skin rags and bone ornaments.

"I'm impressed. You didn't immediately begin tearing me apart."

"Unlike the rest of your kind, my instincts inform me that you are not to be underestimated."

"Why thank you."

The two of us carefully circle around the dining table, our gazes never once disconnecting. My finger is placed atop the trigger of my weapon while my opponent flexes his curved fingers.

"You speak well. Is this trait shared by all of your people?"

"Does one seeking to obliterate us truly care?"

His red eyes flare with anger. I feel the air press into me further and further with each second that passes. However, I don't feel any fear. In front of me is an enemy that no human should be capable of defeating alone, but my mind is only concerned with the next step. The step I take after I kill this man.

"Admittedly, it does not change my mission. Consider it a personal curiosity and ignore it."

"Then let us end this quickly. Should you still wish to know, you may ask your creator."

From the folds of his torn tunic, the beast man equips his hands with knuckles of pointed bones. Before he can leap into the air and sink his claws into my throat, I kick the table into his body.

"I have no intention of floating in darkness a second time."

My pistol disappears and I grip a heavy chair in my right hand. The beast throws the table to the side and is met with a wooden leg in the face. Unfortunately, it seemed to have little effect.

The beast shatters the chair with one claw and swings for my neck with the second. I duck beneath the fatal blow, but that doesn't save me from the kick to my chest. Dust cakes my skin as I roll to my feet across the room.

"You speak as if you have familiarity with death."

"Perhaps…"

Words struggle to take shape as my chest gasps for air. I'm given little room to rest as the beast lunges through the light peeking from above. Instead of dodging away, I dive straight at the flying mammal.

"Tch!"

His claws strike stone and blood trickles down his legs, blood that doesn't belong to me. I finish sliding across the floor while the beast places a hand over the gash I placed in his stomach.

"To place a wound in me…who are you, human?"

"Would that change your mind on killing me?"

A smirk appears behind his long facial hair.

"I suppose not."

This time, the beast sprints towards me on the ground instead of the sky. I kick another chair at his feet and earn myself just enough time to take hold of the final piece of dining furniture. The seat of the chair meets his claws as I press forward. I receive a wound against my ribs from his other hand, but I manage to bring myself right against his chest.

"A foolish endeavour—"

He wants to say more, but his eyes suddenly widen at the state of his body. His left arm punched directly through the wood and is now at my mercy.

"Tell it to the ceiling."

Pulling my body down, I stab a knife into his exposed wound and force his entire body upward. Every muscle strains from the weight being carried into the horizontal wooden beam. A satisfying snap signals my success.

"YOU!"

He swipes at me from above and manages to scrape my armour, but that is all he can manage before I throw him into the window. Due to his large stature, he fails to fall through and instead brings the entire wall down with him.

I attempt to catch my breath, just to be met with a heavy kick at my ankle. While I fall onto a bed of splinters, dust rises and obscures my vision. This obstruction led to me reacting late to the sudden rise of the beast, his arms over his head and threatening to crush me into the ground.

"Tch!"

It's my turn to click my tongue as I draw my shortsword. A loud ring and an aching in my arms prove that I survived the attack, albeit barely. This blade saved my life, but it doesn't change the bleeding man pressing down with all his strength.

"What is this!?"

"I'm afraid I cannot provide the answer!"

I kick the knife still embedded into his gut and roll his weight to the side. Once again I try to get to my feet, but the beast refuses. He uses both his arms and legs to send his body into a tackle, which sees his shoulder impacting my chest.

"URG!"

I'm airborne for a second, flying across the room before crashing into the stone counter. It wouldn't be unusual for some of my bones to have broken, but the adrenaline prevents me from confirming.

"RAAAAH!"

I'm forced to overcome the dizziness in time to counter his charge. I twist my body to avoid one swipe and deflect the second with my sword. For the first time this entire fight, I felt like I could meet his blows. We're both finally on our feet and start trading slashes. Neither of us are able to land a decisive finish, but our dance slowly wears the bleeding beast down.

"I suppose we should finish this."

During his next attempted strike, I take a few steps backward and unwind my dirt covered mantle. I launch the blue fabric into the face of the beast, who is forced to claw his way through. As I become visible to him once more, the heel of my boot slams into his face. He barely has a moment to scream before I drive my sword into his chest.