Bronn was excited to see this one was different from the one he had slaughtered in the cavern.
The creature moved with unnatural speed. Its limb lashed out, meeting his punch with a force that shook him to the bone.
Before he could even react, another strike followed—quick and precise, aimed straight at his midsection.
Thwack!
The impact sent Bronn flying to the side, crashing hard against the stone wall of the chamber.
Dust and chunks of rock exploded around him, and he groaned, struggling to push himself up.
His elbow stung from a fresh cut along the arm he had raised to block the hit.
Blood trickled down to his clenched fist.
"Damn," Bronn muttered under his breath. "It's fast."
Bronn spat to the side and flexed his injured arm.
Even with the pain in his elbow, a flicker of excitement still showed on his face.
The creature moved forward, its towering figure silent as its eight limbs glided across the chamber. Every motion was smooth and agile, but the power behind them was undeniable.
Its dark, unblinking eyes locked onto Bronn, as if sizing him up.
There was no hesitation in its movements, no wasted energy. Every strike and twitch of its limbs came with an intention to kill.
Bronn charged again, this time even faster, his fists glowing with the power of his barbarian bloodline.
His body blurred as he darted around the creature, searching for an opening.
Clang!
Their blows collided once more, like a previous clash, the creature didn't even flinch.
It twisted, its limbs a blur of darkness, parrying every one of Bronn's attacks.
He struck with precision and speed, but every hit was met with a counter so powerful it sent shockwaves through his body.
Then came another flash of movement—too fast for Bronn to respond.
Thud!
The creature's leg slammed into his side, lifting him off the ground and sending him back crashing into the chamber floor.
A deep crater formed beneath him as he lay there, coughing and struggling to catch his breath.
The sharp pain in his ribs told him something had cracked.
"Get up. Or are you just enjoying the floor too much?" Spark's taunt reached Bronn's ears.
Bronn gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand. His muscles ached but there was no way he was backing down.
The ground beneath him cracked, the stone splintering from the force.
In an instant, his skin darkened, changing from its usual tan to a deep, almost black, shade. His body radiated with a different aura than before.
The creature's attack, which had seemed certain to pierce his flesh, stopped suddenly.
Its sharp limb, designed to tear through armor and flesh alike, was now stuck against his skin.
It pressed hard against Bronn's chest but couldn't break through the hardened surface.
Bronn grinned, baring his teeth.
"Now this is getting exciting," he growled, his voice deeper now, filled with satisfaction.
The creature wasn't deterred.
It unleashed a flurry of attacks, striking from different angles with deadly accuracy.
But every hit was met with the same result—its limbs clattered harmlessly against Bronn's dark, impenetrable skin.
The chamber echoed with the sound of its strikes, but none of them could find a weak spot.
Without hesitating, Bronn's hand shot out and grabbed one of its attacking limbs in mid-air. His grip tightened like a vice, locking the creature in place.
It screeched in anger, trying to pull free, but Bronn's hold was too strong.
With a savage grin, Bronn swung his fist straight at the creature's body.
It raised a limb to block.
Crack!
Bronn's punch landed hard, and dark green liquid—its blood—splattered from the broken limb.
The blow sent the creature staggering back, its massive form shaking from the force of the hit.
Bronn prepared to strike again, his fist glowing with power. But this time, the creature moved faster.
With a sharp, violent twist, it jumped back, ripping off the limb that Bronn still held.
The severed piece fell to the ground with a wet thud, twitching, while the creature tried to steady itself.
Its dark, gem-like eyes locked onto Bronn, now gleaming with something more dangerous than rage—cold calculation.
It hissed, its chest swelling, and then let out a high-pitched, earsplitting screech that echoed through the chamber as if it came from the depths of some ancient nightmare.
The piercing sound cut through the air, sending shivers down the spines of those still kneeling on the floor.
Even Bronn flinched, his body trembling for a moment from the intensity of the creature's cry.
Spark, watching from behind the ice wall, raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his otherwise calm expression.
"Oh, it's getting serious now," he muttered, turning to Amelia. "He's going to need your help."