Last Leg

Gora:

Boom!

A colossal serpent emerged from the woods. Sending logs and branches everywhere, I had to dodge a few larger branches. (This bad!) I thought as I gazed at the being I guest was Titan. It was a fitting name for the beast. It had a head the size of a house and was at least ten feet long, but I could see the end of its body. The giant snake scales were the same color as the trucks of the trees, explaining how such a massive beast could go unnoticed.

"Shade!" The beast roared, shaking the tree branches. At his words, the female panther raced to the front of the snake. The sun had started to come up, so it was easier to see the jet black feline.

"Apologize for the noise, grandfather." Shade said. I could tell the beast was trembling. I couldn't blame her. I found it hard to get my own hands to stop shaking. The serpent before me was a layer seven beast. I wasn't confident in my victory at all. Even if Warr decided to help, which is a big if. I still don't think we could walk away unscratched. (Wait, did she say grandfather!? What the hell is going on?) I thought as I examined the creatures.

"What is the meaning of this! When the intruders enter my territory. I felt you could handle a layer three and six without much trouble." Titan exclaimed. He looked disappointed in the panther. Shade just held her head down, not daring to look the massive snake in the eyes.

"Little Shadow!" Titan called. The male panther was next to its mother seconds after getting its name called. (Shade and Shadow, huh? Fitting names for the pair.) I wondered. The male panther, known as "Little Shadow," greeted the snake the same as his mother had.

"Grandfather, these intruders have proven quite challenging to deal with. But now that you are here, they shouldn't be a problem. You can squish the human with ease." Shadow said as he looked back at me. I decided to step up after I heard them talking about me. As I came closer, the snake gestured for the panthers to leave. They both raced as far away from us as possible, but they didn't leave the area. Shadow, the male panther, watched me walk, a huge smirk on his face. (Brat!) I thought as I stuck my tongue out at the beast.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Warr creeping away. ( No, you don't!) I thought as I yanked on the tiger's guardian chain. To my surprise, Warr fought me hard. Too hard! Warr's eyes were filled with fear as she struggled to fight her chains. I let her go. I didn't feel right making her stay. Warr looked downright terrified at the massive serpent.

"This is interesting! Why let your only hope run away?" Titian asked me as I finally reached the snake. I looked up at the beast getting a better look at the creature. ( Huh? This is interesting!) I wondered as I looked at Titan. My new realization brought a smile to my face.

"I don't really need her right now! I said with a smirk. Titan looked annoyed with my answer.

"Look, Mr Titain, I didn't come here to fight... This is all just one big misunderstand...." I cut my sentence short as I heard the sound of trees cracking. ( Don't tell me theirs another one.) I thought as the sound got closer.

Boom!

Moments later, the snakes tail burst to my left. I had no time to move, so I summoned black hands to cover me. I made sure to apply the heaviest weight I could manage.

Bang!

The tail slammed against my barrier, shattering it in seconds. Bloodshot from my mouth as I flew into a group of trees. Luckily I only suffered internal damage from the tail breaking my Ki barrier. If I took the blow head-on, I'd most like be a pile of blood on the forest floor.

"I guess we're done talking! That's fine. I'm not good at chit chat anyways." I said as I rose to my feet. I released all my blood lust as my black blade appeared in my hand. My black aura surrounded me, and I prepared to strike. Before I could move, Titan's tail rose in the air above me.

Boom!

I dodged the tail and ran along the side of the snakes tail. My blade slid across the serpents scales creating only a shallow cut. (Damn, I need more power!) I cursed myself.

"Impossible! where did you get that blade!" Titan shouted before striking at me with his head. I was surprised at how fast the beast could move, considering its size. I had to push my body even harder to avoid the enormous head.

Boom!

The serpent crashed into the earth, sending large chunks of rocks and dirt all over. I was now high in the air, using all my strength and the void. I launch myself high above the creature. The only problem was I was now falling helplessly. I spun my body around so that I was now facing the beast who was recovering.

Squish!

I was able to stop my fall by plunging my blade into the side of the snake. I used void to make my blade heavier to break through the serpents tough scales. My long sword pierced the scales with an ease that surprised me. I was expecting much more resistance.

"AHHH!" Titan roared in pain as my blade slid down, cutting the as I went. Titan shook its body furiously, causing me to lose my grip on my sword. I flew through the air, crashing to the ground. My body bounced hard off the ground. I gritted my teeth to fight the pain. ( Damn, My ribs just healed!) I complained as I tried to stand. It was hard, but I managed.

"Who the hell are you? Your no ordinary human to possess such a sword!" Titan asked. I smiled up at the snake, taking note of where my sword was stuck in between its scales. ( So, he's scared of my long sword.) I thought.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gora Hydra! Princes... No Queen of the beast forest!" I said confidently.

"hahaha. What a joke! You the queen of these lands? Hahahaha. To think those words came out of the mouth of a mere layer three." Titan said as he roared in laughter. Rage took me as I tightened my leg muscle and channelled Ki in my limbs.

Crack

The ground cracked as I pushed off the ground. I jumped onto the snake's body headed for my sword. The creature was caught off guard but recovered quickly as it twisted its body. I had to jump off the beast before I lost my balance. The second I touched the ground, the snake struck again with his head. I smiled as I formed a black blade out of thin air. Shock manifested itself on the serpent's face as he struggled to dodge the 5-foot black blade that kept growing.

Boom!

My Ki blade struck the side of the snake face causing the creatures to head to rock slightly. I made sure to add all the weight I could. The blow proved somewhat successful as I noticed some of the beast scales fall to the ground. ( Gotcha!) I thought as the beast started to move again. I was making my way to my sword. I was going to need my blade to end this thing. I couldn't use too many of my void blades. They used a hell of a lot of mana to make them.

"I grow tired of all these surprises, human! Titan said as he shook his body again. ( Damn it!) I thought as I slid down the beast. I tried my best to hold on, but I could hold for long. I was tossed to the forest floor once again.

"DIE, HUMAN! Titan screamed. His scale began to raise on his body. Then he shook again. Shield size scales rain down on me. Crashing into the ground one by one. I ran around like crazy, dodging the scales. I looked like I was doing some primitive ritualists dance as I evaded the projectiles. A few scales hit me, but they only left behind flesh wounds. I was beginning to have fun dodging when my instincts kicked in.

(Black hand!) I thought as the snakes tail headed straight for me. I was so busy avoiding his range attacks that I noticed the attack too late. A black hand made of Ki spread just before the snake could hit me.

Bang!

The tail hit my Ki hand, stopping for only a second. However, it was enough time for me to get away as I leapt in the air. I coughed up blood from the blowback of having my black hand shattered again, but I ignored the pain. Jumping onto the top of the beast tail, I began my journey for my sword once again. I ran up the snakes body again, launching black blades at its head. Titan dodged two of my attacks, but the third hit its mark. The blow caused stunned the beast enough for me to hit it with two more black blades. My barrage knocked the beast head closer to the ground, making it easier for me to climb its massive body.

I inched away from my sword when Titan decided to get up. I began to slide down the creature's body, unable to grab my sword in time. ( No!) I thought as I began to fall. I was almost out of Ki, so I wouldn't be able to use any more Ki attacks strong enough to harm the beast. I needed my sword. I commanded the void summoning a heavy hand under me. The hand quickly fell, but I only needed it as a stepping stone. I pushed off the hand as hard as I could.

"AHHHHHH!" Titan yelled in agony as I reached my longsword. I managed to slice into the creature's skin even more as I slid down hand firmly on my sword handle. It wasn't too long before the beast began to shake again, tossing me from its body yet again. This time, however, I managed to take my sword with me. I also conjured more black hands to catch my fall. I was mad at myself for not thinking of the black hands earlier. I could've saved myself from a lot of pretty nasty falls.

"Now, let us fight on equal grounds!" I said as I flicked the serpent's blood off my blade. I quickly readied myself for the next phase of this battle.

"We have never been on equal grounds! Human! Shade, Shadow, leave this place!" Titan said as its scales raised on its body. The scales on the serpents head fanned out as tiny sparks of lightning danced on them. The snake looked more like a mighty dragon than any serpent I ever saw in the wild.

"Grandfather No!" Shadow squealed. His mother quickly ushered him away from us. I looked up at the creature in shock. ( He can't be thinking?) I thought as I lowered my guard. Titan shook slightly as the lighting started to travel up and down its long body.

(If I get hit by that, I'm done for! But I wouldn't be the only one to die.) I thought as I gazed up at the layer seven beast. I had noticed it earlier when I got close to the Titan. Ironically the serpent was on its last leg. Titan, the mighty serpent, was covered in many scares that had healed long ago. He also only had one work eye. Titan's left pupil was as grey as its skin. Meaning he was partially blind. Although it was a layer seven, the snake had a shockingly small amount of Ki for such a gigantic beast. That was the only reason I felt so confident fighting such a colossal beast.

(Your soul core is too weak to perform any Ki attacks.) I thought with a sense of sadness. Giant beast-like Titan needs Ki to do everything, even move. If they run out of mana, they must go into a deep slumber to recover the Ki. Titans core was damaged, meaning he was leaking mana without any way to stop it. If he attacked me with all the mana he had left, he would no doubt perish after. It may not take a day or even a week, but Titan would no doubt die after this move.

"Stop! You Fool!" I said as I put my sword away. I was trying to show I didn't want to fight anymore. I hadn't come here to kill my mission was to gain allies. Titan ignored me as he reared his head back read to fire lighting at me. ( I have to stop him!) I thought in panic. Time slowed as I racked my brain on what to do next.

Shade: The female layer six black panther.

Shadow Aka Little shadow: A male layer five black panther and son of Shade.

Titan: A layer seven grey viper the size of a small mountain. the

Black Blade: Black blades formed from Ki.

Black Hand: A hand made from solid Ki.