Chapter 74: Fluid Throwing
...and suddenly, there were no more trees.
Just a clearing — or at least, that’s what it looked like: a pocket carved between the tangled trunks, just enough space to turn around, regain footing, breathe for a second... if they even had that luxury.
Élisa skidded to a halt, slipping slightly on the damp moss. She turned around. The others understood without a word.
The bitter truth had hit, once again: they wouldn’t outrun it. Not on terrain this treacherous. Not with that thing chasing them.
She gripped her daggers. The metal nearly slid from her hands — her palms were slick with sweat. And yet, the familiar burn of decision surged through her.
That creature had been hunting them for a while now, relentless, giving them no opening to fight back. No way to close the distance. No chance to strike.
But Élisa... she was the one best suited to face it. Her daggers weren’t made for prolonged close combat, especially not against a beast like that. But she didn’t need to get close. She was a hunter. And among all the techniques she’d learned... throwing daggers was her specialty. Her domain.
The beast burst through the foliage, all black and violet fury. Its tail sliced through the air behind it, a whip of shimmering ink drawn across the wind.
She threw.
The first dagger cut the air with a sharp, whispering hiss — so fast even Élisa was surprised by her own speed.
But the creature snapped up its tail. It whipped the air and intercepted the blade with a clink — almost delicate. A perfect parry, fluid, like choreography practiced a thousand times.