Runeblade

The Champion prowled around the base of the tree that stood sentinel over the surrounding woods. Despite its thick limbs and stocky chest, it leapt from root to root with lithe agility. Kaius and Porkchop watched the lethal depths-born from behind the relative safety of a bulging root, a little ways into the edge of the treeline.

"This place is way too open," Kaius whispered. "No way we are going to get the drop on it."

"You're right. We will have to strike with fury and bravery in our hearts."

"What, just run out and charge it?" Kaius grunted, watching the way the Grimclaw moved with sleek grace. "With how bloody big the bastard is, I don't think my armour will matter all that much. One good hit and it'd just cave my chest in. I'm not so confident at dodging this one, Porkchop, it's moving around like a chase predator."

"I'll do it." Porkchop said with finality. Images flitted across the bond, filling Kaius's mind. Challenging a worthy opponent, the rare one able to match him in physicality. Winning, bloody, broken, and triumphant. A glorious final roar, shattered body of the challenger lying limp under paw. Porkchop was serious.

Kaius looked at his friend with a cocked brow, then turned back to look at the distant Grimclaw. "Porkchop, look at the claws. You'll get cut to ribbons."

"You forget," Porkchop said with a threatening rumble. "That you are not the only one with a full set of legacy skills. My hide might not be as unbreaking as your new scales, but you will find that I am hard to kill. Wounds that would end you would just slow me down."

Biting his lip, Kaius continued to watch the champion. It stalked the area of the massive tree, slinking through the shadows to patrol its demesne. Reacting to some unseen motion, the Grimclaw dug its claws into hard roots with buttery ease. Kaius's breath hitched. Wheeling around with startling ease, it blurred across the clearing. Away from them.

Gods damned it was fast.

It snapped up …something in its jaws, before slinking back to the tree trunk with easy grace.

Kaius shook his head. He needed to get a grip. It was a big bastard, but he'd managed to take out two Champions alone. He'd grown significantly since then, and he had Porkchop as well. Things would be fine.

He looked over to his friend. "You're sure?"

"Yes."

"Alright." Kaius let out a steadying breath. He drew his sword, the blade glinting softly as a beam of yellow swept over them from the hanging lanterns above. "Let's do this."

Porkchop let out a low rumbling growl, thick digging claws sinking into the ground. "After I challenge it, go offside and follow once I have it distracted. You will know when I engage."

Kaius nodded. He set off, leaving Porkchop behind to move through the trees. He leaned into the stealth aspects of Explorer's Toolkit, shadows reaching out tenderly to wrap him in their embrace. Once he had gotten far enough, he moved closer to the clearing. Pressing himself close to the trunk at the very edge of the start of the canopy far overhead.

With his path set, their approach decided, Kaius's nerves dissipated. In their place a rising anticipation grew. The slow rustle of the surrounding foliage faded. His vision sharpened, heart pumped slow and heavy as a tingle started to grow in the tips of his fingers.

The Grimclaw didn't seem so imposing now. He hoped it would put up a good fight.

A Father's Gift rested in his hands, its comfortable weight reassuring him of his success. He had armour now, had grown his skills at an unimaginable pace. The Depths had thrown its best at him, and he had come up time and time again. Using the challenges as a stepping stone to higher heights.

He was born for this. Trained for this.

He was a warrior.

A deafening roar echoed across the clearing, soft ambience of the glade shattered by the sheer rage of Porkchop's battle cry. His friend charged into the open, sprinting over loose earth and twisting roots. His hackles were raised, massive teeth bared at the Grimclaw.

**Ding! You have challenged a Champion: Grimclaw Dreadbeast **

Kaius watched the Champion turn to Porkchop in shock, whirling with a snarl of its own. It locked eyes on his friend, the very air seeming to hold its breath. Snorting its own challenge, the Grimclaw sprinted to engage.

A cold calm descended over him. Not yet. He had to wait until the Champion had fully committed. If he tore in now it would see him, ruining any advantage of surprise. His grip tightened on his blade, muscles tensing in anticipation.

The Grimclaw dropped its head at the last moment, trying to gore Porkchop in their collision. Porkchop went low. They collided with a crash, both beasts snarling as they snapped at each other. Wrapping his thick red and black arms around the Champion, Porkchop reared up.

Despite easily being thrice Kaius's size, Porkchop picked up the beast with ease, sending it sprawling backwards with a parting snap of his jaws. His friend slammed down, diving towards the Champion's undefended belly.

Porkchop had always told him that his thick dagger-like claws were for digging out burrows. They seemed to eviscerate flesh just as easily.

The beast howled as Porkchop ripped open its midsection. It kicked out, using its powerful legs to rake Porkchop with its claws. He was forced back, thick lacerations on his chest weeping blood.

Porkchop only seemed to grow more enraged. He moved. Jaws snapped shut around the Grimclaw's shoulder. With a contemptuous heave, Porkchop tossed the champion in Kaius's direction. It flailed through the air, a steady stream of blood from the gaping wound in its stomach splattering against the earth below.

"That's my cue," he thought.

Kaius vaulted over the high tree root he was hiding behind, sprinting out into the open field with his sword held ready.

The Grimclaw was still entirely focused on Porkchop, scrambling to its feet with a lash of its tail as it howled in fury. Porkchop returned the call with a roar of his own, charging forwards.

Kaius grit his teeth and sprinted as hard as he could, legs burning as he kicked up loose dirt.

He was almost there.

Porkchop reared up, drawing back a paw to deliver a crushing strike. Kaius saw the Grimclaw tense. It lowered his head. Kaius's eyes widened, knowing what it was about to do. Porkchop was still in the throes of his fury, unknowing or uncaring about the threat of the Champions horns. His friend's claws descended, ripping a furrow through its front shoulder. Its leg buckled slightly.

The wound stopped nothing.

Driving its back legs forcefully into the ground, The Grimclaw launched itself forwards. Burying its stride long horns into Porkchop's chest. The world hung still. Time pausing for one moment of terrible realisation.

Kaius watched in mute horror as his friend let out a gurgling whine of surprise and pain. The haze of fury left Porkchop's face. Fear and confusion were left in their wake.

The Champion tossed its head, savaging the wound. The beast pulled back and Porkchop dropped to all fours. He watched the blood gush from Porkchop's wound, watering the earth with rich red. Kaius's heart leapt into his throat. Porkchop cringed, shying away as the champion lashed at him with his claws. Leaving weeping rips across his friends face.

Rage roared through Kaius. He had to do something. Take the pressure off his friend.

His world collapsed, narrowing to just the dripping of Porkchops blood and the last few steps he had to make to help.

The final strides between him and his target vanished in an instant. Kaius brought his sword up high. A roar slipped from his lips, every muscle in his back and arms contracting to bring his blade to bear with as much force as possible. Reacting to the sound the Grimclaw whirled towards him. Even with all its agility it wasn't fast enough.

Enchanted steel parted flesh like muslin. Kaius dove to the side, narrowly slipping under a hastily delivered swipe of the Champions claws. Watching Porkchop back up on quivering legs Kaius pressed the beast. He stepped forwards, cutting it across its long snout. It snapped back, trying and failing to catch him with a bite as he danced backwards.

Kaius's mind raced. An injury like Porkchop had just received was dire. He'd be out of commission for some time. If he didn't keep the Champion occupied, it was all too likely that the beast would turn its attention back to his injured friend.

The Grimclaw lunged forwards, trying to swat him with one claw lined paw. He snapped his blade up with preternatural agility, Adamant Body diffusing the force of the swing enough for him to parry. The razor edge of A Father's Gift cut deep into the bones of the Champion's forearms, drawing a hiss of frustration from the beast.

**Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 9!**

He stared at the Champion's wounds. The ones on its flank were already healing, and Kaius could no longer see the rip Porkchop had left in its stomach bleeding. It still had Health.

Kaius lunged forwards, burying his sword deep into the beast's clavicle. Claws skittered across his scalemail in response. He ripped his sword free, turning to parry another follow up claw swipe. The Grimclaw dropped its head, lunging towards him with the same move that had just grievously wounded his friend. Dancing to the side, fast steps let Kaius slip away. The Grimclaw's charge sent it sailing past him.

A draw cut left a weeping slice down the length of the beast's side.

The Champion hissed in agony, keeping its distance as it stalked around him. Trying to get an angle. Watching him with black, hateful eyes. Kaius kept his sword point trained on the beast. Slow steps keeping pace with its circling. He made no move to break the stalemate.

Every moment he allowed it to continue was another that Porkchop healed. They never should have separated. Their strength was in the pressure they could lay down together.

Keeping his eyes locked on the Grimclaw's own, Kaius watched his friend out of the corner of his eye. Porkchop's slow wheezing breaths had faded. Hunkered down against the ground, Porkchop was watching him with a burning intensity, rhythmically raking his claws through the earth with anxious tension.

He was alert. Watching. That was good. He should heal.

The Grimclaw pounced, leaping forwards with claws outstretched. Kaius spun to the side, stepping backwards to avoid the sudden strike. He cut down with his blade, punishing the attempt and tearing open the beast's side once more.

They went back to circling.

Blood now thoroughly marred their arena. The whole glade silent except for the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze, and the sounds of boots and paws taking step after steady step. Kaius wracked his brain for a way to approach. At some point the beast was going to realise just how much mass it had on him. If it was willing to accept the threat of his sword, it would be able to bowl him over with ease. Armour or no, he didn't like his chances if it managed to get him grounded.

Growling low, the Grimclaw rushed him once again. It committed to its assault, harrying him with a flurry of swiping claws. Kaius parried what he could, each one leaving deep cuts on the beast's claws and arms. Others got through his defence. His Serellian armour protected him from the worst of the wounds, sharpened claws screeching as they skittered over the polished surface of enchanted heliomite alloy.

It didn't stop everything, even with the padding of his armoured jacket underneath the scalemail. The Champion's blows were heavy, backed by enhanced strength and sheer weight.

Kaius felt his bones creak under the assault. Each impact leaving sharp aches in their wake, his shoulders and chest bruising under the claws.

**Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 10!**

He had to do something. If he let the rain of slashes continue he would eventually collapse under the Champions fury. Behind the beast Kaius watched Porkchop surge to his feet with a slight stumble.

"No!" He called, pivoting to deflect another claw. "I've got this! Keep healing."

Porkchop growled in frustration before settling back down. That caught the Champion's attention, its head snapping backwards to assess the potential threat of the opponent it had already wounded.

Kaius's eyes widened. Now was his chance. He stepped in. Aiming for the beast's neck, he brought his sword down in a cleave. Flesh parted. His blade sank deep, cutting through the thick muscle that supported the Champion's oversized head. Blood geysered from the wound, coating Kaius from head to toe in a sticky hot spray of vital fluid.

A panicked gurgle left its throat. Snapping its head back to him, the beast hastily swatted him in the side. Kaius's elbow dug painfully into his ribs as he was forced back.

Rumbling a threat, the Champion crouched low, even as bright arterial blood continued to spurt from the wound on its neck with each beat of its heart. Watching him. Waiting. The spray slowed, eventually becoming a trickle.

Kaius gasped, his chest heaving with the excretion of meeting a high levelled beast toe to toe in physical combat.

The bleeding stopped.

Drawing in a deep breath, the Grimclaw let out a soul rending cry. Mouth hanging open with finger length fangs on display.

Kaius adjusted his grip on his blade, bringing it over his head into a high-guard. Behind the beast Porkchop surged to his feet, chest whole and hale once more. He met the Champions roar with one of his own, voices mingling in an ear ringing cacophony.

The Grimclaw's jaw snapped shut, quickly looking over its shoulder at Porkchop before flicking back towards Kaius. It growled in frustration, tail flicking.

It was going to move now. It had to. Too much risk of being caught between them. A sharp breath stoked Kaius's Bloodsong, battle fervour keeping him steady in the face of the Champion.

Tensing, the Grimclaw made its decision. Scrabbling legs drove it towards Kaius, evidently taking him as the lesser threat. Porkchop surged forwards, chasing to take advantage of the Champions opening.

Kaius charged forwards with a harsh cry.

It threw itself to the side, digging claws in to spin its whole body away from him. Turning to face the approaching Porkchop. The Grimclaw's large whip like tail snapped through the air. He shifted his blade, bringing it down to block the incoming blow.

Instincts flared. He activated Mana Sense. The clearing was instantly enveloped in a billowing multi-hued fog of mana, obscuring his surroundings. But not the tail. That burned with inner light.

"Fuck! It's a skill!"

Kaius tried to throw himself back. Out of range from the empowering ability. His insight into the attack may have only taken a moment. It was a moment too late. He didn't have the time.

The thick bony tail of the Grimclaw hit him with the force of a boulder in freefall. His arm cracked, blade swatted aside with contemptuous ease. The tail hit him in the chest. Without a rigid backing, his scale did nothing. Ribs collapsed inwards. Bones crunching like glass.

Before he could even process the agony, the power of the tail whip lifted him off the ground., flinging him away.

Hitting the ground with a thud, pain snapped into focus with a flash. Agony coursed through him, every finger span of his chest screaming for release. Rapid Adaptation compartmentalised the pain, shoving it into a corner of his mind.

Scrambling backwards he pulled himself away from battling giants. Barely aware of the thundering cracks of Porkchop raging against the Champion.

He had to breathe.

He sucked in, getting nothing but a wet rattle for his efforts. Lungs filled with blood.

Burning claws set into his chest. He needed air.

As if from a distance, he heard something start to roar.