My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 81: The Back Foot

The clouds darkened and gathered above their heads. Yul could not help but turn his attention to the sky above. Even though his skin was made of rock, he could still feel the static electricity in the air.

As a thunderous boom resounded through the air, Yul realised too late what his enemy was aiming for. With the black clouds as a backdrop, a flash of lightning lit up the sky. Erik used his free hand to direct the bolt towards the giant.

Yul knew that with his large frame, he would never be able to dodge the incoming attack. He could only grit his teeth and brace for the impact. As the bolt struck a puff of black smoke erupted, followed by the smell of something burning.

Erik immediately began to prepare for his next move. He was not some random greenhorn that would believe that he had dealt a deathblow. He felt time tick by slowly as beads of sweat slowly trickled down from his forehead. His eyes flickered left and right as they attempted to notice even the slightest disturbance in the smoke.

Several tentacles suddenly burst through the black cloud surrounding Yul. Wildly striking out at Erik while sweeping away the smoke covering Yul from sight. His rocky skin was badly blackened around his chest. A look of insane fury mixed with pain distorted his face. The ancient being could not remember how long it had been since he had been forced to feel that way.

Erik swiftly dodged the lethal blows and not a moment too soon. Even the slightest graze would set his rhythm off and once again hand the initiative to Yul. Erik briefly turned himself into lightning to rapidly avoid the most recent assault and close the distance at the same time.

"Take this you fucking fossil!" Erik roared as he forcefully thrust his spear towards Yul's foot.

An explosion took place, as pieces of rocky flesh scattered throughout the air. Yul roared in agony. The sound could be heard all throughout the island. For all its many dangerous inhabitants, not a single one of them mistook the anguished cry for one of injured prey. Instead, each of these predators quickly sought out a safe haven until the danger would pass.

Erik had a vicious grin plastered on his face as he witnessed the destruction his attack had caused to his foe. Yul's front left foot was now missing its heel. Throwing the giant off balance. Erik was not going to let the opportunity pass, though.

He withdrew his weapon from the shattered flesh and began a rapid assault. Each thrust of his weapon shattered even more Yul's foot. In his fury, Yul began to stamp around. Hoping to crush the despicable ant beneath him.

Although none of his blows connected the wind pressure from the force caused Erik to fall back to a more stable position. His eyes gleamed as he believed that he had dealt a severe blow to this old enemy of his. Yul however, was completely unaware that they had crossed paths before.

'How can a mere human predict my attacks?' Yul's mind kicked into overdrive as he sought the answer to his own question. 

Erik did not like the nasty look that was spreading across Yul's face. It could only mean that something he would not like was about to happen. The look within the ancient being's eyes only held the promise of a painful death for him.

"Futile! You scum should know your place!" Yul bellowed in his ancient eerie tone. Giving the impression that he was as old as the mountains themselves.

Mana flushed throughout the giant's body as it coursed towards his maimed limb. When it reached the tender flesh, as it felt to Yul, the earth beneath it began to writhe and wriggle. Slowly gathering and creeping to fill the new gaps.

Erik grimaced as he realised what was happening before his eyes. Yul was gathering the earth and using it to replace his lost tissue. 'The question is, does that become real flesh or is it just like a prothetic?' This was the important question that Erik found himself asking within his mind.

If, when it joined Yul's foot, it became his own flesh, then he could always target it again to cause more pain. However, if it was just a prosthetic type of magic, then he would waste precious energy by attacking the same spot again. In turn, this would mean that he would need to keep track of all the areas he had previously damaged.

Either way, an opponent who could regenerate in the heat of battle would not be an easy target. It definitely threw a wrench into his plans. The sounds of panting entered into his ears originating from behind him. 'I guess the cavalry has arrived...'

From the corner of his eye, he spotted his disciples and Sarah leading a large group of heroes towards the jungle. A quick estimate of the headcount revealed to his trained eyes that not everyone had made it to the shore alive.

It filled his heart with regret for their loss. They were good people that he had been through thick and thin with. Many of them were veterans that had followed him into the dragon's lair more than a decade ago. For them to survive that but then fall before getting to join the battle here was almost an insult to the perseverance they had shown in life.

Yul took the opportunity that presented itself. As his target's attention was divided, he sent a barrage of tentacles against him. Erik had never liked being caught off guard and cursed himself for making such a rookie mistake. Unfortunately, he would be able to manoeuvre in time to avoid Yul's well-timed attack.

The temperature in the air dropped by several degrees, causing Erik's breath to become visible before his eyes. A large wall of ice blockaded his position. Protecting him from the sure-fire strike. Erik glanced over his shoulder to give his gratitude to his men for saving his skin. Only to be met with the sight of Yul's rocky tentacles emerging from the sand.

The baby hands on their tips grabbed hold of several heroes' heads. Twisting them violently and killing them outright. As their bodies hit the sand, causing it to scatter beneath the dead weight, Erik turned his hate-filled gaze back upon Yul.

"Shall we begin round two?" the ancient being sneered at the insignificant lifeforms lining up against him.

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