His blade flashes. Another deep slash, this time across the monster’s shoulder.
The ice spreads, slowing the healing, but only for a moment.
“Although I have to admit,” he adds, sidestepping another brutal swipe, ice magic twisting around him like a storm, “this is a new one, even for me.”
His form blurs as he circles behind the monster, his sword flashing in a precise, lethal arc before slicing its neck.
The wound should be fatal.
Instead, the monster jerks back, jaw gaping wide, revealing rows of needle-sharp teeth.
Pulling from the ocean below, I shape a fresh round of water bullets and launch them into the creature’s mouth.
They strike deep in its throat, and it reels back with an ungodly shriek. But even as blood and seawater spray from its skin, the wounds are already closing.
“That’s getting annoying,” I growl, gathering more water from the ocean.
“I’m all for annoying it to death,” Riven says in dry amusement, his blade flashing as he strikes again, ice spreading from each cut. “But let’s find a smarter way to end this.”
“Always logic over emotions.” I roll my eyes as the monster whirls with impossible speed.
Its tail sweeps across the pier, and I jump. But the blow still catches my legs, sending me crashing onto the pier, my head slamming against the wood.
Pain explodes in my skull.
Everything blurs.
A massive, clawed hand pins me down, crushing the air from my lungs.
And then the monster’s face is looming over me, jaws unhinging to reveal rows of needle-sharp teeth that are coming closer, threatening to shred me into more pieces than Eros’s arrow when he shot my heart.
