Strength of the Beast

"Critical, one. I missed the heart…"

It wasn't perfect, but that wound should be impossible to stand back up from. Assuming his organs are lined up similarly to mine, he should die shortly.

I draw my blade from the beast man and quickly retreat away from another potential attack. My concern is apparently unwarranted as he collapses onto the counter, struggling to keep himself from reaching the ground. I return the reddened shortsword to its sheath.

"You are not my target, so I shall be taking my leave."

"Wait…human…"

I pay no mind to the dying creature as I walk towards the door on the opposite side of the room. Fortunately, this part of the house wasn't destroyed during the battle.

"I SAID WAIT!"

My body moves on its own and takes a wide step to the side. The location I was just standing on is cut by a red gemstone, its ominous red light flashing before my eyes briefly. The gem shatters into many small pieces and spreads across the floor, suddenly assaulting me with a searing heat. Within seconds, the door and its entire wall is covered in flames.

Turning back, I see the beast man standing on his unsteady feet.

"Don't think you can simply walk away while I still draw breath…"

Flames cast my shadow over his form, but the darkness fails to hide the strength still running through his veins. Sharp claws turn inwards and flex with a hunger for flesh.

"Should you walk away here…I fear my kind is finished…"

I draw my blade once more and step away from the spreading fire. My tongue tastes smoke and my skin is soaked with sweat, but I won't be relieved of these inconveniences just yet.

"I must kill you here…and allow my brethren to escape!"

The beast leaps and reaches for my throat, but his strikes lack the strength they held before. Were I not also losing blood, I could evade with a single step. I have no choice but to draw my blade and block.

"Your will is commendable."

I send the bone knuckle to the side and slice his arm.

"May you find peace in death."

This is the most respect I can show the man. Our paths forced us to clash in a fight where only one can survive, so there is no future where we can shake hands. All I can do is show him my strength and end his life with dignity.

My blade reaches for his neck, going for the kill.

"I shall save you a special place on the other side, but first…"

The metal drips with blood while fastened within his hand. Fire burns in his red eyes, seemingly brighter than the flames threatening to bring down this entire house.

"Allow me to struggle until the end!"

I barely react to the claws reaching for my eyes, earning my opponent a scratch on my cheek.

The two of us are locked in combat while wood turns black around us. I can barely see, barely breathe from the dark clouds circling around our fight. The flames close in around us while we trade blows, almost as if eagerly waiting to see who falls first.

"RAAA!"

The beast charges with tears in his eyes. His lungs are likely black with smoke, yet he screams from the heart in one final push.

"This is…"

I jump in place and grab the wooden beam across the roof. One end was shattered by the beast's body and the other is sloppily held by singed wood. The blackened end snaps and the bar crashes onto the skull of my enemy.

"…Farewell."

My body spins and my boot sends the stunned beast into the wall of flames. In our parting, his unyielding claw tears a cut into the side of my neck.

"AHHHHH!"

I wait with held breath for my opponent to finally fall silent. My eyes can barely see at this point, but that pain is proof that I'm the one who survived. The one who fell is now laying flat on the ground at my feet, flames extinguished seemingly once its magic power expired.

"I need to get out of here…"

Just as I try to open myself a way through the debris, I hear someone rapidly approaching. The lack of metal in their sprint prompts me to summon my pistol. At this point, I don't have the strength to take another fight head on.

"RAAH!"

The scream wasn't at the door, it was right beside me. The foe I had considered vanquished makes one final lunge from his bed of ash. My body operates on its own, protecting me in the only way it knows how.

BANG

Once and for all, the beast man lands on the dirt with his blackened skin. His will of steel pushed mortal limbs beyond their limit, but that matters not once the red pillar pierced his brain. Sweat runs through the hand still pressing the trigger.

"Old man, what happened!"

The door crumbles into dust and reveals another beast, a child. He would be around 12 years old for a human, but I'm not sure how quickly these creatures age. Regardless, the boy is covered in blood belonging to both himself and his enemies. He holds tightly onto a wounded arm as he stumbles inside.

"Huh?"

The barrel is still pointed at the dead beast man, the house is destroyed, and the perpetrator is still present.

"O-Old…man…"

The beast child flinches as I point my gun at him.

"What…how did…"

His body trembles from fear, but that soon changes to unbridled rage.

"HOW DARE YOU!"

The charge is mindless. It doesn't take more than a punch with my gun to send the boy flying.

"If you value your life, run."

"Never! You killed him!"

"And I shall kill you as well if you wish."

There is no power behind his claws. I take only a single step to the side and drive my knee into his cheek. Groans of pain are met with a cloud of ash.

"You are no hero, kid. Your old man was, and he spent his last moments buying you time."

For a third time, the boy rises to his feet and reaches for my face. I grip his wrist before it can make contact.

"Wake from your fantasy, kid. You can't hope to beat me just by yelling for revenge. If you truly wish to win…"

I pull the boy and throw him to a hole in the wall formed by this house's imminent collapse.

"Live. Become strong enough to kill me and take your revenge. There is no shame in fleeing, as long as our next encounter is the last."

He wants to scream, but he lacks the strength. He wants to kill me, but he lacks the means. He wants revenge, but he cannot obtain it. Taking his life would be easy, but the mercy I show him now is out of respect for his father. The boy cannot be considered a threat to my current mission, so there is no reason to kill him needlessly. I only seek one head.

There is a shuffling on my way to the door. When I turn around, the boy is gone.

"These aren't just mindless monsters, it would seem…"