Lord Of Beasts

Hoping he could talk his way out of this, at least long enough to create an opening, Ethan slowly raised his right hand. Thanks to her, it was the only one he could lift without sending sharp waves of pain tearing through his body.

”I give up.”

Rina blinked in confusion.

”Just don’t kill me,” he continued, his voice strained yet controlled, even as blood continued to drip steadily from the hole in his shoulder. ”I won’t even take a share of the reward. Hell, I’ll even help you kill the other two.”

For a brief moment, there was silence.

But it wasn’t mercy that followed, and her fingers remained tight around the bowstring.

”And you expect me to believe that?” she asked lightly, almost amused.

Before he could even respond, she fired an arrow.

Then another.

And another.

Three in less than a second.

Ethan’s body reacted on instinct, twisting just enough to avoid anything fatal, but not enough to avoid the pain.

The first arrow scraped across his ribs, tearing through fabric and slicing skin open. The second grazed his thigh, leaving behind a burning, shallow cut. And the third clipped his side, drawing blood as it spun past and embedded itself into the stone behind him.

He staggered slightly but didn’t fall.

’I guess she really is just a sadistic bitch.’

Rina tilted her head slightly, observing him before smiling. It wasn’t a normal smile of relief or satisfaction; it was something darker.

”You’re quite interesting.”

Another arrow formed between her fingers, but she didn’t rush this time. There simply was no need to. She was savouring the moment and was in complete control of the situation.

Rina released the arrow lazily.

It flew forward, and Ethan tried his best to evade, but it sliced across his upper arm, opening another thin line of red.

Then another followed.

And another.

Each shot was deliberate, measured, and controlled.

Every time Ethan thought he had successfully dodged it, they would change trajectory. None were aimed to kill, but were designed to hurt, cut, and break him down piece by piece.

This wasn’t an execution; this was torture.

And she was enjoying it.

”See this?” she said casually, loosing another arrow that skimmed across his forearm, just shy of digging into bone. ”This is the difference between us.”

Ethan clenched his teeth as the pain and blood loss began to stack. His breathing was growing heavier and uneven, but he didn’t lower his hand or drop his act.

”I get it,” he said, forcing the words out between breaths. ”You’re stronger than me. Way stronger. That’s exactly why I’m not stupid enough to fight you.”

His words were met by another arrow.

This one nicked his cheek, a thin line of blood trailing down his face.

Rina watched it with pure, unfiltered enjoyment on her face.

”And yet you survived all that,” she mused, pacing slowly now as she fired intermittently, each arrow punctuating her words. ”You expect me to believe you’ve got nothing left?”

”I don’t,” Ethan replied immediately, letting out a weak, breathy laugh. ”You saw that fight. I barely made it out alive. If anything... I’m surprised I’m still standing.”

An arrow slammed into the ground beside his foot.

Rina could control the path of her arrows, so that was a warning shot for Ethan. She wanted him to feel despair, and she also seemed to enjoy seeing him desperately attempt to dodge.

”Then where are your beasts?” she pressed, her voice soft but sharp. ”The wolf and that bird.”

Ethan exhaled slowly, letting his shoulders sag just a little more, his posture loosening as if he were truly at his limit.

”I told you...” he murmured. ”I’ve reached my limit.”

Another arrow came, this one deeper than the rest, raking across his waist.

He flinched, for real this time, but he still didn’t break.

”Summoning them again would probably kill me,” he added, quieter now, more strained, more believable.

Rina watched him carefully.

She caught every breath, twitch, and flicker in his expression, trying to confirm the truth. This was all while maintaining a constant barrage of tormenting arrows without, still wary of the E Rank.

Her caution was impressive, and the steady pressure made it hard for Ethan to think.

”You’re either really desperate...” she said, firing another arrow that sliced across his calf, forcing him to shift slightly to keep his balance.

”...or really stupid.”

Ethan let out a dry chuckle, though it came out more like a pained exhale.

”Probably both.”

She laughed at his response, growing more relaxed and enjoying his suffering.

”Is that it?” she smirked. ”You’re not even going to try to fight back?”

Her posture loosened slightly, her stance was less based, and her shoulders dropped a fraction. These were small things, but to Ethan, they were everything.

’Just as I expected.’

The more she hurt him, the more she believed that he was a helpless weakling and that she had already won. And the more she believed that, the more her guard dropped.

Exactly as he wanted.

”You really can’t bring out those beasts of yours?” she continued, almost lazily now. ”I wanted to test my arrows on them.”

Ethan exhaled slowly, letting the silence stretch just a little longer this time, as if he truly had nothing left to say.

”I’ve reached my limit,” he repeated. ”And there’s no way I can beat a skilled C Rank like you anyway.”

Rina laughed, lowering her bow slightly as she did.

”Do you think I’m just going to spare you if you kiss my ass?” she scoffed, shaking her head slightly. ”Do you think I’m-”

She stopped mid-sentence, something suddenly feeling off.

Ethan still stood helplessly across the cavern, cut all over and not even moving. But it wasn’t him she needed to worry about; it was the giant Ulfen that had materialised beside her.

Everything happened in an instant.

Wolfy appeared instantaneously, its presence explosive and overwhelming at such close range, its jaws already opening as it acted on instinct.

Rina’s eyes widened, but she couldn’t react quickly enough.

The Ulfen lunged.

Its jaws snapped shut around her arm with brutal force, bone shattering instantly under the pressure as flesh tore apart in a spray of blood.

”AAAAAHHH!!”

Her scream ripped through the cavern, raw and uncontrollable. It only grew louder when her arm was torn, ripped off her body completely.

The sound was wet and sickening, but Ethan didn’t flinch or look away. He watched with a cold expression on his face, his earlier act of weakness disappearing just as suddenly as Wolfy’s appearance.

His summon hadn’t needed a command, but understood his intent and acted on it. It was almost as though it was still aware while still a tattoo on his chest.

Ethan didn’t dwell on it, his attention returning to Rina.

She staggered back, clutching the space where her arm had been, her entire body shaking as shock and pain overtook her.

Her composure was gone, and with it, her control.

But suddenly, she vanished, turning invisible once more; her presence disappeared completely.

Not that it mattered.

Ethan exhaled slowly, his gaze sweeping across the space, sharp and unwavering.

’Got you.’

Rina had lost the moment she had decided to play with him and make him suffer rather than end it. And as soon as she let her guard slip, it was already over.

Now it was Ethan’s turn to have some fun...