She went round the corner like a ferret down a rabbit hole. Ragged hair streaming behind. Snarling curses, she charged the hulking creature, her mind delirious with a lethal mix of dread and anticipation.
Go With My Blessing flew from her fingers to punch hard into the creature's chest, left of centre.
Knew it wouldn't do much, but succeeded in getting his full and undivided attention.
The massive creature looked down at the handle jutting from his chest.
Plucked it out using two thick fingers, something which took a while as the knife seemed too small for him to grasp without fumbling.
Stared at the blade curiously before tossing it aside.
The elf skidded to a halt at his feet.
He was even taller than she'd expected, and she barely reached his waist.
Looking up into the cold blue eyes, she felt the icy ball of fear grow in her belly until there wasn't room for anything else.
He opened his mouth, chipped yellow teeth drooling black spit. Breath reeking of grave soil and rotten meat.
"You will join the souls on my wall, little elf," he asked. His cavernous voice rolled through her as it echoed in the massive chamber. "Then you will join those who came before. Die."
"Feller should be more polite to guests…" She darted away from the swinging arm which howled over her head. Had she remained where she was, there was no doubt in her mind it would have crushed her. A Flaw in the Glass flared brightly, the enchanted glow coiling around her wrist. She struck once, feeling the blade tear into his belly. Her heart raced as the satisfying impact shook her arm. "So, why don't you die first?"
Howling, he jerked backward, tearing A Flaw in the Glass from her grip.
Spinning hard on her heels, the elf didn't miss a beat as her fingers found the handles of Entrance Exam and In the Mood. The twin daggers flew like steel insects. Their sharp hiss cutting the air before they plunged through the tattered robes and between ribs.
More futile gestures.
Thin green blood ribboned from the wounds and the creature turned on her. "Foolish little thing," he grunted. "Foolish little toys. You cannot end me with these. My master made me strong!"
She could hear Chukshene's voice, chanting from inside the blackness of the tunnel. Twisting her mouth into a cruel grin, she squinted at the massive thing. "Won't stop me from trying, though."
Star Studded Cast appeared in her fist, swinging for his throat as she leapt through the air.
Sneering, the creature moved with a suddenness that surprised her.
Seized her arm with a snatch of his heavy hand. His fingers were icy cold.
He spat a word she couldn't understand, and a pulse of darkness pumped down his arm and cannoned through her body like a shock wave.
As the blast ripped through her core, she vented a scream and dropped the blade.
Releasing her with a contemptuous snarl, he watched with growing confusion as she staggered to her feet. Her legs felt too heavy to lift and it took a few panted breaths to regain her balance.
Wincing, she gave her head a shake. It'd felt like someone had hit her with a sledge.
She dropped into a fighter's crouch, still dazed, but ready for more.
Felt the icy ball begin to melt as her patience ticked down.
A flicker of flame snapped to life inside her heart.
"You resist?" His blue eyes stared down at her in puzzled disbelief. "It cannot be. You must submit. Why do you still stand?"
She spat a thin stream of blood. "It's easier than sitting…"
Then rushed in again.
I Spit on your Grave cut into the arm which he swung up defensively.
It bit into bone, but still couldn't draw more than an irritated grunt from the creature. With a frustrated jerk, the blade came free.
Pungent green blood gasped from his wound as she grabbed hold of his forearm and swung around his shoulder like a monkey on a tree limb.
He flailed wildly as she sprang over his shoulder, her sharp fingers seizing one of many chains emerging from the flesh between his shoulders and spine.
She dangled in space for a moment.
Eyes locked on him. Gleaming.
Unable to resist the meat of his back between the mass of chains.
She spun the blade into a reverse grip.
The wicked tip of the blade barely noticed flesh. It speared between ribs as though through clay before bouncing off a bunched mass of chain buried deep within.
The hulking mass roared and shook like a bucking bull. The chains whipped madly, crashing against her in waves.
One smashed into her forehead and she couldn't keep her grip on the chain any longer.
The impact sent her sprawling before she could strike again.
She landed hard.
Rolled desperately along the broken stones.
Felt her shoulder grind sharply in its socket as she hit a chunk of rock.
Didn't pause. Looked up.
Already trying to twist herself away as chains slashed into the ground where she'd been only a second before. The ground exploded with the force of his attack.
Stone tore and dust blew past, choking her lungs.
"Fuck," she growled, scrambling unsteadily. Her shoulder hurt and her arm hung limp at her side.
"You hurt me, little elf." The creature growled, hefting a fistful of chains. Links rattled against each other in a way that made her shudder. Made her remember Torak and his wretched hooks.
And the pain which had come after.
She had no doubt, though, that these chains would feel worse.
Her eyes caught a fetid yellow glow emanating from the tunnel.
The smell was suddenly intense. A river of energy carrying a raw and bitter stench.
She edged away from the creature, unable to decide what scared her most.
His intent on tearing her to pieces with his chains. Or the magic Chukshene was about to unleash.
"Hurt you?" She rubbed her shoulder, feeling the tingle of nerves as her body tried to recover. "You ain't felt nothing yet, feller."
He paused.
Then spun toward where Chukshene emerged, surrounded by a sickly nimbus of light.
The warlock's face was a mix of excitement and fear. But layered over that was a mask of manic glee as he anticipated the destruction his spell was about to cause.
The spellslinger snapped one last word of power and a terrible roar of magic screamed through the room.
It swirled around him like a tornado before condensing into a thick beam of ghostly light. A beam which looked to be made of demonic clawed hands. Each ethereal hand punched through skin and deep into the massive creature's broad chest with incredible force, tossing him backward like a ragdoll.
He landed on his back, sliding along the uneven ground before jarring to a halt against one of the pillars with a sickening crunch.
Where he lay, curled in a ball of crackling energy.
The elf swallowed hard as the crackling energy snapped and fizzled.
Silence.
Dust sparkled as it floated down to settle on the chains draping the creature's unmoving form.
The warlock blinked, limping into the chamber. Wiping sweat from his face with his sleeve, he looked more shocked than she was. "Did I kill him?"
Opening her mouth to answer, the elf's words were cut off by a jagged sound emanating from the creature's hunched body and, with a shiver, the elf recognised the sound.
The thing was laughing.
"Oh, shit." The warlock rushed forward to help her to her feet. She didn't fight him.
Her eyes watered as the overwhelming stink of magic soured the air around her. Pushing herself loose, she staggered toward the creature trying to get to his knees.
By the time she reached him, her gait was steady and sure. She took hold of the jutting handle of A Flaw in the Glass still buried in his belly. Jerked it free with a spiteful grunt.
His massive head slumped, though he kept laughing wetly as she rammed the blade into his chest. A clinically impassive strike.
Again.
And again.
The blade flared hatefully with each stab. Green blood gushed down his chest. But the creature only laughed harder.
"The master made me strong, little elf. And I will return him."
"Chukshene!" She shot a desperate glance at the warlock. "Do something. Now."
He trembled, holding out the grimoire uselessly. "Do what? Nysta, that was the most fucking powerful shit I had. It's strong enough to kill frost giants. Fucking frost giants! If that won't kill him, then I don't know what will!"
The flame inside her guts flickered as she backed away from the creature.
He climbed slowly to his feet.
Swayed awkwardly, chains clinking cruelly behind his back.
Slowly, turned his head toward her.
Cold eyes burned.
"Little elf," he said. "Your Mistress was ever weak. Her weakness drove her into the arms of the invaders. Shall you inherit her weakness, and doom us all? Aid me. And I will return my master. Endless reward awaits those who serve him. Eternal suffering for those who defy. Submit, little elf. Submit, and we shall drive those upstart gods back to the world from which they came!"
"Nysta?" Chukshene called nervously. "Why are you so popular?"
"Fucked if I know, 'lock." She rolled her shoulder, flexing the aching muscle. "Could be they've all got an idea what role they want me to play. But my method ain't an act. Means they picked me for the wrong type. Reckon the best thing for all of us right now is to get out of these parts."
The creature took a lumbering step toward her, thrust his head forward and growled; "Submit, little elf! Do not resist again. I do not wish to fight you."
"Could be your lucky day, then," she said through her teeth. "On account of I ain't keen on fighting you, either. But I will if I have to. Kill you, too. May take a bit of time to figure out how you die, but you'll die."
He trembled with every word she spat at him.
But not with fear.
Rage bubbled in his eyes and hatred made the chains twitch.
"You dare to threaten me as though I am weak? My master made me strong! He gave me these chains. Bound them to my bones. I see your fear, little elf. In your eyes. You are afraid of them. Good. You should be."
"Chukshene?"
"Yeah?"
She spat to the stones, tasting blood. "Shoot him."
"Huh? What with?"
"I don't reckon I give a shit," she said. "Just keep shooting until he stops moving."
"But-"
"Less talk, 'lock! More action!"
"Why do you fight?" the creature roared. "Let fear drive you to your knees. Submit!"
She felt light. A thrilling sensation shot through her shoulder and she no longer felt pain knotting the muscle. The ball of ice inside cracked.
Split.
And exploded into flame as rage burst through every fibre of her being.
"Don't act so surprised, feller. Submitting really ain't my scene."