Chapter 45: Fighting a Beta

"You are insane." Vivian retorted after being silent for quite a while.

"Well we can't do nothing," Eldrian replied and pointed to the front.

Turning back to look at where he was pointing, Vivian saw one of the Beta's who had taken a git from an arrow. Enraged the beast charged forward, quickly killing two soldiers as it forced its way through the formation. Ripping a third's arm off and sending another flying back as this one used his shield to block the attack.

This soldier survived thanks to having blocked the attack, but he was coughing up blood and struggling to stand up. The Beta slowly walked to this soldier, seemingly wanting to enjoy killing him.

The soldier paled in fear as he failed to stand, coughing a new mouthful of blood as he tried.

"Let's go." Eldrian said as and he rushed forward at the beast. He wanted to try and save the soldier, but he did not believe he would make it in time. At the least he wanted to stop the Beta from rampaging throughout the melee.

While charging Eldrian glanced to the center of the formation, hoping to see proper reinforcements on their way. He did indeed see a group forming up.

'Hope those are more decent reinforcements.' Eldrian prayed, as the reinforcements they had been receiving were mostly the injured soldiers who could still fight. Some fresh soldiers would slowly move over to the melee from time to time, but only if their fellow soldiers were easily holding the beasts back.

Therefore Eldrian knew that they would not manage to fight the Betas. Heck, this one broke through the formation as if it had been nothing.

At most, they would stall for some time and then get killed. Unless they could group up against a Beta, but this was unlikely as the numbers were only favoring the human side slightly. Not nearly enough to spare more than 2 men per Beta, and from what Eldrian just saw he did not think 2 would be enough to do shit.

As soon as he was near enough Eldrian rushed in with a wide swing, hoping to save the soldier's life. In response, the Beta delivered a quick slash over the soldier's neck before dodging the sloppy attack from Eldrian.

It then looked at Eldrian with a playful gesture, teasing him for his failure.

'Fuck!' Eldrian thought, angry at his failure and surprised by how quickly it had reacted. He had been charging it at full speed, yet it had had more than enough time to kill the soldier and dodge his attack.

Granted Eldrian's charge was not very fast. But he had expected the Beta to be as fast as normal direwolves. This was because it was far bigger, reaching Eldrian's chest. From this appearance, Eldrian had assumed it would be beefy and stronger, but slower. Yet this had been proven wrong immediately.

Having had enough fun mocking the human, the beast sent a claw at Eldrian. Too fast for him to dodge, Eldrian blocked with his spear's shaft. The resulting force sent him scrambling. Almost falling over, he managed to use his spear to stabilize himself just barely. Leaving him open to a follow-up attack.

Looking at the beast anew, Eldrian realized why Vivian did not want to fight it. It was faster, stronger, and smarter than normal Direwolves.

Still, Eldrian believed they were the best option out of everyone here. Gregory had long since been injured, leaving him and Vivian as the strongest people who were still in good shape.

As the Beta charged Eldrian, Vivian arrived. Attacking from its back she aimed for one of its legs, hoping to limit its maneuverability. But as if having a sixth sense the Beta jumped forward, dodging her attack and attacking Eldrian at the same time.

'Dammit.' Eldrian dodged by jumping and falling onto his side. He had no time to try and do more, as his spear was in too awkward a position to use it in time. Eldrian really did not want to take a blow. Knowing it would bring him to the brink of death or maybe even kill him outright.

Due to Eldrian's dodge, the Beta missed its target. But as if it was planned the Beta easily brought its attacking leg back and landed gracefully. Turning around and continuing its attack immediately after.

Eldrian had just gotten back up from his messy dodge when he saw the beast charging him again. Gritting his teeth Eldrian managed to bring his spear around just in time. Forcing the beast to change direction or be impaled.

But it did not work as well as with the other beasts. The Beta simply passed his spear gracefully, as if it had avoided him. Turning its body slightly, while maintaining its direction and speed.

Cursing again Eldrian managed to bring his spear up to block the attack. Luckily for him, the Beta had dodged to the side he was holding his spear. Allowing him to use it defensively after his failed offensive use.

The impact knocked Eldrian over onto his back. Causing him to lose all his breath from the impact. Eldrian even though he felt his ribs breaking, but he was unsure due to how weird the pain felt. He was certain it would have left him unconscious in reality.

As the Beta wanted to follow up and kill Eldrian, Vivian arrived and forced it to dodge again. The Beta turned to Vivian and growled in annoyance. Eldrian felt like the beast was trying to say, "Can you leave me alone? I almost had him!"

Amused by his thoughts Eldrian clambered back onto his feet. Breathing heavily, feeling a stinging pain every time he did. Every breath would leave him feeling needles piercing his lungs. He tried to ease his breathing to shallower breaths, hoping to limit the painful experience.

Even with the lower pain from reality, it was nowhere near a comfortable feeling.

Luckily the beast was glaring at Vivian, seemingly having forgotten about Eldrian.

'Man I'm glad it isn't too smart.' Eldrian thought as he started moving to the beast's side. Vivian went to the other.

Seeing the humans moving and trying to surround it, the Beta became outraged. Deciding to go for the woman who had been causing it so many problems.

As such it suddenly charged at Vivian. Seeing this Eldrian cursed and hoped she could dodge or block, while he rushed after it. Hearing a sound similar to metal hitting metal Eldrian felt great relief. He also did not slack down and delivered a wide swinging attack aimed at both beast's legs.

But it again jumped away, not even needed to look at Eldrian to dodge his attack.

'How the hell?' Eldrian asked himself as he continued rushing the beast. Offering Vivian some relief.

The attack had sent her stumbling back a few steps, and the Beta was now at her side. Just as it wanted to strike at her ribs a spear came thrusting at its chest. Irritated the beast stopped its attack. Saving Vivian from having her side ripped over.

After dodging the thrust it turned its glared at Eldrian, feeling extremely pissed that the humans would not allow it to kill them. They were far weaker than it, yet they were forcing it to dance around for them.

This enraged the beast, its eyes became bloodshot.

"Fuck, don't block or get hit!" Vivian screamed as she saw the beast's red eyes.

At the same time the Beta charged at Eldrian, so fast he could barely even connect its movements to what he was seeing.

It covered the 3 meters in less than the blink of the eye, sending its claws after Eldrian. Who had only managed to fall onto his back as a way of dodging. Causing the attack to fly over his head. His hair following along with the attack, carried by the wind it generated.

Having survived Eldrian found himself completely defenseless. His spear was under the beast, with too little space to bring it up. Leaving it useless.

Eldrian's thoughts sped up again, turning everything else slower. This allowed him enough time to turn his head, find a shortsword lying next to him, bring it up over his chest and push it upwards.

Successfully piercing the Beta's chest.

The beast promptly retreated, taking the sword with it. Eldrian failed in holding onto once the beast started moving. It seemingly complexly stuck inside its chest.

'That was close.' Eldrian thought in relief. Grasping his spear again and looking at the Beta observantly as he slowly stood up. Everything was already back to normal, Eldrian unaware of how fast he had reacted.

For him, it had just been a blur of action to save his life.

The beast observed them with hate. Feeling the sting in its lungs, it felt infuriated. Yet it could not do much. Every time it moved the pain would worsen.

In the respite, Eldrian took a glance at his stats, certain he would have lost a bunch of health from blocking those two attacks. Wanting to curse Eldrian looked at the fatigue level which had grown.

[HP: 62/105] - from 70

[Stamina: 42/74] [3 regen per 6 seconds]

[Mana 80/95] [3 regen per 5 seconds]

[Fatigue: Level 4

[Mental Fatigue: Level 2]

He had no time to wonder how he had used mana again, nor what mental fatigue was. The beast had stopped waiting, having realized that the pain would not settle down. Entering a complete rage it just wanted to kill the pest who had hurt it.

The tips of its fur turned red as it blindly charged at Eldrian. Eldrian was forced to constantly dance around. He had seen from the way it charged that it no longer cared for getting hurt in the process. It just wanted to kill him.

Eldrian was forced to expend a great deal of effort to not get hit. Often jumping onto the ground or rolling around on it. Just to not take a claw to the face.

Luckily it ignored Vivian, allowing her to get a hit in every now and then. Even so, it was over a minute before it finally collapsed.

Eldrian followed the action, not having the strength to move. He had focused the entire time on not getting hit. Realizing that it was easier said than done.

He had been forced to block a single strike, which had cost him 10 health, leaving his HP pool at only a pitiful 52. Less than half his max.

Looking at his HP Eldrian felt like crying. Even when not receiving a direct hit, he had received around the same damage from when a beast had landed a direct one.

The only thing making it slightly less was that it did not cause him to bleed.