The dagger glinted with ferocity as it passed through the giant's light-made body, leaving no visible damage. Yet, as the blade traced its path, a subtle but distinct burning sensation emanated from the point of contact, like the irritating sting of a relentless insect's bite.
Annoyed, the giant swung its colossal arms to catch the annoying bug. But Adam moved like an eel, slippery and swift. He dodged left and right, showcasing the progress made after learning under Sir Max's tutelage.
Wielding his dagger with finesse, he slashed and lacerated the giant as soon as he recovered his balance in a mesmerising, but dangerous dance.
"Hahaha, let's see who ends up burned, fucker."
His provocative laughter reverberated as a crazy smile stretched on his lips, and his eyes glinted with amusement despite the precarious situation.
As his words lingered, the giant changed his attack pattern. Maybe he felt provoked by Adam or just annoyed by the accumulation of searing sensations.
His arms remained motionless momentarily as blinding light condensed into his palms. Shimmering arcs of energy danced on them, prompting Adam to hasten his onslaught and his heart to hammer against his chest.
Then, the giant moved his massive hands deliberately, causing the energy to stir and morph into human-sized light spears around the insolent human. With each passing second, they multiplied until dozens of luminescent projectiles surrounded Adam.
"Hum... Is it too late to apologise and discuss things like civilised individuals, Mr Giant?" Adam asked, his eyes widening and dread wrapping around his heart. His legs shook and clattered. This time, he was terrified by the menacing spells capable of ending his life in a split second.
Alas, would the giant agree? Somehow, he didn't need to wait to know the answer.
'Think fast! What can I do to survive?' He thought, regretting his boastful provocations as his mind raced for a solution.
However, the first spears were already closing in, ready to impale and scorch him to ashes.
"STATUS!" He roared, moving like a ghost to dodge as his ethereal interface popped before his eyes. Then, he smashed his finger five times in the air.
After adding five free attribute points to agility, he felt his body become more responsive, his reaction time reduced, and the spears travelled slower in his eyes. With this upgrade, he felt more confident about surviving the deadly spells... relatively. There still were too many of them, and the slightest mistake would result in his death.
He evaded the first spears, causing a sensation of relief to wash over him. His white T-shirt fluttered with his ample movements as his lips curled into a smile.
However, as more spears closed in, he noticed he had less and less space to move. If nothing changed, they would pierce him in the next few seconds. His evasive manoeuvres had to become faster, waste less space and use fewer movements.
He focused on improving, refining his technique with each passing second. Alas, an icy shiver ran down his spine. The sheer number of projectiles overwhelmed him again.
Faced with the lethal barrage, he gritted his teeth and clenched his dagger tightly. A mad light flashed in the depth of his eyes as he stopped thinking. Despite the risks, his brain couldn't predict their trajectories anymore. He would be hit. It was a fact.
'Don't let me down!' He thought, remembering his dagger's abilities.
Beastbane Dagger's Abilities:
Ferocity Enhancement: Infused with the raw power of the bear and alpha wolf, the dagger deals extra damage against supernatural or monstrous adversaries.
Animal Instinct: Wielders may experience heightened instincts, gaining subtle awareness of their surroundings when the dagger is unsheathed.
If prediction wouldn't do, he would rely on instinct! That was his plan!
He dodged again, and again, and again. His breath grew ragged and muscles sore under the strain of the rapid movements. His space to manoeuvre shrank by the second as scorching projectiles grazed his skin and burned his hair. Time seemingly extended, giving him the feeling he had been dancing madly for an eternity.
His T-shirt stuck to his skin, drenched by his abundant sweat, as he stopped moving a moment later. Exhausted and on the verge of fainting, his smile broadened to reach his ears. He had dodged the last spear!
Meanwhile, the giant's light dimmed noticeably, and his movements became sluggish.
He noticed those details, causing the madness hiding in his eyes to surge.
"Huf-Huf... Are you tired? You should have accepted my offer earlier!" He screamed, charging at the giant like a wild beast out for blood.
His arms came to life as he hacked and slashed at his adversary's huge body despite his exhaustion. For him, the giant was his ultimate enemy, the source of future nightmares disturbing his peace. They couldn't live in the same world. He had to kill him... or die trying.
"You think you are something? You think you can burn me? See who burns! Hahaha."
His maniacal laughter reverberated in the cave. His earlier terror vanished, replaced by the feeling he had experienced years ago... a liberating yet dangerous one.
Cornered by the vicious human, the giant counter-attacked. Dust billowed in an ominous dance as palms and fists shot to the ground, cracking the once glorious stone slabs.
However, exhausted by his earlier spell, he failed to land any hit. After all, what compelled him to rely on magic was Adam's agility in the first place. And now that his dodging skills had improved by leaps and bounds, he had even less of a chance to emerge victorious from this deadly battle.
After a few minutes and hundreds of lacerations, the giant's frame shook like a candle in the wind. Its once glorious light dimmed so much that he was nothing more than a shadow of his former self.
Feeling death approaching, calling him into its cold yet merciful embrace, he cast a hate-filled gaze at his insidious adversary.
"I hate you even more! Who asked you to burn me as soon as you appeared? Die!" Adam roared, his arms blurring and primitive dagger glinting violence as he delivered the killing blows.
Unable to endure further, the giant's body exploded into a rain of light, his heart filled with unwillingness and indignation.
Finally safe, the accumulated tension and adrenaline keeping him standing vanished. His legs buckled, and he collapsed weakly to the ground, utterly spent by the harrowing experience.
Yet, a smile stretched his lips, and his eyes glinted.
[Tier 2 Boss Light Guardian defeated, You have gained 500 experience points.]