ROAARRR!!
Is this... the result of using my power? Is this the result of the curse? After its roar ended, I snapped out of that terrifying vision.
And that Soul Either... I could sense it had gotten slightly stronger. My arms shook, eyes wide with fear.
"Get it together!" I slapped myself hard across the face to snap back to reality, immediately assessing the situation in front of me. There were still plenty of big trees around to use as cover. And if I dragged this out long enough, maybe I could get to an area where Uncle Vex might be able to help... or I'd just die somewhere around here.
I started running in zigzags around it. The Soul Either that had seemed mindless before was now standing still. Its blood-red eyes swept after me periodically, but its body remained planted in the same spot. It looked like a predator waiting for the right moment to pounce on its prey.
"This is crazy... is this a high-level Soul Either or what?" I muttered to myself. "If it was really low-level, it would've charged in for random attacks by now."
Should I use this moment to run away? Yeah! Running away would be better! With that thought, I turned around, ready to shift into high gear and bolt toward Rusty city.
But before I could even take a step, that Soul Either leaped in a single bound and blocked my path! So fast I could barely see it! It raised its remaining good arm and chopped down in a straight line, trying to split me in half!
I barely managed to throw myself to the side and immediately turned back to grab the shovel stuck in a nearby tree. That was the only weapon I had right now!
"Almost there!" I was almost at the shovel, but I could feel dangerous energy rushing at me from behind. My body instinctively moved to dodge. I ducked as low as humanly possible! Sharp energy waves from its thorns sliced right over my head, then smashed into the shovel stuck in the tree, cutting it clean in two!
"Shit! I'm dead! I'm definitely dead this time!"
At first I'd planned to try dragging it out, hoping someone might pass by and help like before. But deep in an empty forest like this... no way the same miracle would happen twice!
It lunged at me again! The Soul Either threw a right punch with its newly grown arm (damn it, it can regrow limbs?!) at my left side. But I managed to get my good left arm up to block it just in time. Honestly, my arm almost snapped right there. Its strength was massive!
My body rolled and tumbled from the impact until I stopped near the arm it had lost earlier. I glanced at its severed arm... it still had those sharp thorns attached!
"Alright... this is it... let's give this a shot!" A crazy idea flashed through my head. I quickly sprang up and grabbed its severed arm to use as a makeshift weapon!
"Hey you..." I shouted out in desperate madness. "Ever been killed by your own weapon before?!" What the hell am I even saying?! If it had been, it wouldn't be standing here grinning at me!
Suddenly that Soul Either's grin grew even wider, like it was mocking my naive attempt.
Then it used both arms (the original and the newly grown one) to swing out rapidly, releasing a shower of sharp thorn energy waves! Those energy waves shot at me from every direction without any pattern!
"It's gone crazy! It's completely lost it!!" I yelled as I had to roll, duck, and dive to avoid the endless barrage of energy waves. The ground around me got torn up into holes and craters!
If I slash using its own arm... would the same kind of sword waves come out? A desperate thought popped up. I decided to risk it and try. I swung the Soul Either's arm with all my strength... but nothing happened. No energy waves, nothing at all...
"Figured that wouldn't work!" It finally stopped its wild attacks. I spotted a massive tree that looked sturdy enough to climb. I made my decision instantly... I need to get up high!
Smoke and dust were still scattered everywhere from its insane attacks. I tried to spot it through the haze... there it is! It was still standing in the same place, but I wasn't sure if it could see me. And finally... in the middle of all that chaos... I saw it! Its weak spot! A faint red glow at the back of its neck!
"I've got you now!!" A final spark of hope ignited in my heart. I decided to jump down from the treetop I'd climbed up, positioning the direction of the thorns on the Soul Either's arm I was still gripping tight!
I raised my arm, ready to slash down at the kill spot on the back of its neck!
And just as I was about to reach it... it whipped around! Its blood-red eyes stared right at me!
Slice...!!