Chapter 22: Champion’s Might

The Champion’s paw lashed out with a skill enhanced swipe, smashing into Kaius’s side as its claws trailed floating embers of light. Far too fast for him to react to, whatever skill the champion had used seemed to magnetise its blow to the opening in his guard.

A soft gasp left Kaius’s lips as the air was forced from his lungs, ejected in a great exhale. His elbow smashed into the side of his ribs, a shuddering crunch resonating through his bones.

Before he had time to even process the pain of the collision he was ejected, the bear launching him to send him tumbling over the cold stone. Miraculously, more through beating-enforced repetition than any intention, he maintained his grip on his sword.

He landed in a heap, head rapping painfully against the cold stone. A rapid-fire series of dings sounded in his dazed mind. He struggled to focus, a deep burning ache ratcheting through his torso as he tried and failed to get his lungs to take a breath in.

Time seemed to hang.

**Ding! Toughened Physique has reached level 4!**

**Ding! Toughened Physique has reached level 5!**

**Ding! Light Armour Mastery has reached level 2!**

**Ding! Light Armour Mastery has reached level 3!**

**Ding! Medium Armour Mastery has reached level 2!**

**Ding! General Skill Available! Would you like to learn: Rooted Iron Stance (Unusual)?**

A cold sweat broke out as he took in his final notification, adrenaline dumping to skyrocket his heart and bring him slamming straight back into the present.

“No!” He all but screamed in his mind, rejecting the offered skill.

He coughed, tasting blood. Health smouldered in his chest, the resource expending itself rapidly as it worked to heal broken ribs and bleeding organs. Kaius grit his teeth, the heat of battle and adrenaline filled veins allowing him to push the pain to the back of his mind.

He rose to his feet.

Across the cavern the Champion roared in victory, rising on its hind legs as its massive jaw hung open, a chest rattling roar pouring forth.

Kaius settled back into his stance, wincing as his ribs ground together at the movement. With his free hand he dropped to his potion pouch. They were a valuable and limited resource, but if now wasn’t an appropriate time to use one, he didn’t know when was.

The buckle opened smoothly, and in one motion he pulled free a tonic. Uncorking it with his teeth he poured it down his throat, the taste of sunshine forgotten in his locked focus on his opponent.

**Ding! You have Imbibed a Tonic: Solar Revitalisation**

Kaius discarded the bottle. The clattering sound of reinforced glass on stone drew the attention of the Champion, who tilted its great head to watch him intently. Kaius calmly rebuckled his potion pouch as the bear dropped to all fours. Dropping his hand back to his sword, he rose into a high guard.

“Not dead yet, you bastard.” He spat out, venom and aggression flowing easily into his voice.

Already he could feel the tonic working. A bolstering reserve of energy that supplemented the natural welling of regeneration from his soul, stalling out the drain to his reserves caused by his ongoing healing.

The Champion roared once more, settling into a loping gait as it charged him. Kaius held his ground, staring down the beast with a cold fury. Leaping towards him, the bear widened its arms to catch him in a fatal grab. Kaius sidestepped, ducking through his rotation to fly under its outstretched paw. He slashed, the bear’s own momentum and trajectory allowing him to deliver an agonising incision from shoulder to flank.

**Ding! Footwork has reached level 5!**

Kaius’s face whitened in agony as bracing against the collision caused his core muscles to contract around his injured ribs. He finished the cut with gritted teeth, pivoting on his front foot to face his opponent once more.

The bear landed hard, howling in fury. Kaius brought his sword back around for a crushing chop, his blade glancing off the creature’s hip bone, cutting a jagged wound. Eyes drinking in everything he could from the bear’s posture, he quickly noticed the sagging cut he had left in its side was already beginning to wriggle, flesh tightening to seal the wound.

He still hadn’t drained it’s health.

The Champion growled, pink spittle flying free from its clenched jaw. Spinning towards him, it rose up on its hind feet before slamming down with a snap of thumb sized teeth. Kaius whirled away, just quick enough to avoid its bite. Not quick enough, however, to avoid its follow up swipe.

Glowing claws cut through the air, light trails adding to the golden light emitted from the oak overhead. Its paw caught the lower lip of Kaius’s chain, catching the metal and yanking him to the side. Luck was partially on his side, the poorly wrought metal failed under the stress of the collision, the caught rings snapping free.

**Ding! Medium Armour Mastery has reached level 3!**

Landing heavily on his wounded side, Kaius cried out in agony as a lightning strike of pain coursed through his chest. With a pallid face and a sweat streaked brow he rolled to his feet, unable to take a single moment to collect himself lest the Champion capitalise on his weakness.

He leapt to the side. Just barely avoiding the bear’s charge as it rushed to finish off its downed opponent. He managed a scything cut into its flank as it passed, but he was off balance, unable to transfer his weight into the blow.

Kaius watched the bear arrest its momentum with gasping breaths. It came to a slow skidding stop, its heavy bulk having a hard time gaining traction on the hard stone floor. Its chest was heaving, every deep pant thrumming through the open expanse of the cavern.

It turned to face him. Kaius drank in the sight of his opponent even as it stared him down with violent intensity, lips retracted to show its bloodied teeth in all their glory.

Kaius took the moment to flick his awareness to his resources momentarily.

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Resources:

Health – 84/200 (2/min +15/min)

Stamina – 147/200 (2/min +15/min)

Mana – 120/120 (2/min)