Beast Battle

A surge of fiery energy heats up from within my soul, channeling power through me to the staff like a super conductor. The golden staff ignites entirely. At its zenith, an orb of fire is expelled!

SHOOOOSH!

The fireball flies off grazing the head of the mega bear, burning off hairs and leaving singed scars.

KABOOOM!

The fire flies off track barreling past it, exploding at the tree line, starting up a small wildfire!

KSSHH!

“AGH!”

The golden staff burns my hands. I must have overheated it upon casting the spell!

Through zero mastery of magic whatsoever I managed to cast off a powerful explosion of fire magic. But failed to defeat the beast.

GRAAA!

The mega bear snarls, hurt only slightly by the extravagant use of fire magic. It goes on its hind legs, puffs its chest out, and slams down its hammer arms upon the ground. Tearing away bits of grass and earth beneath it. The shockwave from the slam launches me backward, throwing some debris that ends up clattering into my face.

I totally broke the staff, low durability probably, or maybe it only has a single usage per long rest.

Whatever.

I got my trusty shovel, so far it’s gotten me a 100% win/loss ratio. Of course I’ve only used it once but that’s besides the point.

The fire that burned the beast blinded half of its face, I’ll use that blindspot to my advantage and my point of attack.

I grab a quick handful of the dust and rocks kicked up by the mega bear’s slam. Pocket sand, the best distraction known to man. A legendary weapon that’ll save me from all sorts of trouble.

Shovel and pocket sand at the ready I make my assault on the beast!

But the bear won’t go down without a fight, charging toward my way as well.

Using my newly found acrobatics, I weave through the uncovered obstacles. While the bear can’t follow through its blindness. I managed to reach its head, up close and personal!

Shwoooosh–

The shovel strikes! Slicing across the face of the beast, further damaging the already burnt side of its face. Leaving a pretty sizable scar.

–CRUNCH–

I feel my body breaking, as the giant arm of the bear slams into my chest throwing me from its head into the side of a nearby tree.

Somehow managing to keep a grip on the shovel through the launch it clatters to the ground as I slide down from the wooden crater formed from my slammed body.

Looking up I see the bear dragging its paw across the ground, like a bull preparing to charge. The area I hit looks almost undamaged compared to the power it's dishing out on me.

This feels really unfair.

Things really took a weird route…

Maybe I’m just a level 1 scrub, in a world full of overleveled monsters; hah sounds like some old manga title.

The bear begins its charge.

But this is the first battle after all, I have to win. For my pride and well to stay alive. For all I know dying in the game could have me dying in real life.

Using what little strength my body still holds onto, I use the shovel to hoist myself to my feet.

If my strength can’t cut the beast, then I’ll use its speed to my tactical advantage.

Positioning the shovel against the tree with its sharpened scoop pointed toward the charging beast like an upright nail.

The bear crashes into the tree.

SHPLITCH–

CRACK–

CRUNCH–

The sound of pierced flesh squelches as bear blood splatters against the tree bark. Causing the entire tree to tear from its roots and fall to the ground.

It worked! My plan worked!

But I wasn’t fast enough on coming up with an escape plan and got pinned against the tree partially. My arm’s not recovering from this, but it doesn't hurt as much as it definitely should.

Although my body is badly beaten, the damage isn't all that much of a pain, everything just feels like I’m exerting more energy. So although my arm is unusable, and I’ve probably broken a few ribs, it only really feels like my movement takes a little more effort. Or any muscle movement for that matter.

Drastic damage only leaves me tired, while minor burns still deliver a shock reaction. My pain receptors are out of whack.

But I’m starting to feel exhausted.

Low stamina probably.

The shovel did manage to get stuck in the bear's head, but even with that it's not dead yet.

Stumbling away from the beast as it thrashes in pain, I recover myself to the golden staff. It still burns to touch. But if I can somehow do it again. Cast another fireball and save myself.

I could win this fight.

The bear headbutts the tree, scratching at the shovel lodged in its head, however failing to unlodge it nor managing a good grasp at the small tool with its giant claws. Only managing to dig the shovel deeper into its scalp.

It turns its head, staring me down with the half of its face that still works.

The scariest side eye ever.

The amount of bloodlust oozing from the beast would send chills down any seasoned veteran’s back.

But I’m a true master gamer. I only get chills when the music matches the scene or when another character says something really cool.

Taking the still hot staff into my grasp, my palms toasting in the process. I attempt to fire one last fireball to hopefully end this battle once in for all.

The bear twists its whole body at me again once again, winding up its charge.

“One last shot!”

“FIREBA–”

As the mega bear nearly reaches the tip of the golden staff and the fire magic begins to blossom… The beast is simply– expelled, destroyed, gone, completely disintegrated, it's hard to say. Along with some of the ground beneath it. A clean removal. Like it never existed to begin with.

Same with the wildfire, the burning trees are entirely undamaged. Like the fires never started in the first place…

All that remains from what was the bear is the shovel completely untainted by bear blood. Looking brand new.

I hear an unfamiliar voice bark out behind…

“It's not nice to steal from people you don’t know, kiddo.”

Dropping the still heated staff and turning my head I see that foraging devil man from before. His hand rested atop a large grimoire kept at his waistband. A look of curiosity in his eyes.

I try to keep it cool.

“Oh you mean this staff… I just saw it laying on the ground, I didn’t know it was yours.”

“If it was yours you can have it back, but I think it’s out of spells”

The devil man responds with interest.

“Out of spells? Hm… Yes it appears to run its course, no more spells indeed. For you at least”

He reaches down to pick up the staff. Only to immediately drop it due to the metal still being hot

“Youch!”

Reaching down again now with his hand wrapped up in his cape, finally managing to lift the crispy staff from the ground.

“Right, young knave allow me to introduce myself to you.”

“I”

“AM–”

END CHAPTER 3