A sickening crunch echoed through the marsh as the pickaxe buried deep into the creature's skull.
The beast screamed.
Its entire body convulsed, tail whipping through the air and slamming into a nearby tree with a force that sent splinters flying.
Kael barely had time to react before it lurched forward, its massive body tearing through the mud and reeds with reckless abandon.
Kael clenched his fists around the embedded pickaxe as the beast thrashed beneath him, its muscles spasming, legs kicking wildly.
For a moment, he thought it might collapse, that his attack had been enough.
Then, it ran.
Kael's stomach lurched as he was carried with it, still gripping his weapon for dear life. The world blurred around him.
Mud, reeds, and broken tree limbs flying past as the creature careened through the swamp.
"Kael!" He heard Elysia shout behind him. But her voice was growing distant.
This creature was fast.
After a few more moments, his grip began to loosen on the pickaxe.
