Weng swung again at the creature and watched his sword pass through it.
“You wandered down the wrong path,” the creature said. “I needed a snack.”
Weng didn’t rise to the bait. He was a good soldier and more often than not was the winner in tournaments. This creature of legend was not unbeatable, he just had to figure out how and live long enough.
The creature lunged at him and Weng dove out of the way and swung his sword at the same moment. He saw that he and the creature both would have had killing blows if the creature hadn’t become translucent again.
“It is only a matter of time,” the creature said.
From the new angle, Weng could see the vaugely human form, twisted by centuries of the evil half-life. It might once have been a woman or a young handsom man, it was no longer possible to tell.
Weng attacked, using a vicious series of blows that had felled many opponents while wielding a tournament blade. His live steel blade flashed in the moonlight, but passed right through the creature. He thought it might, but he was testing the creature’s weaknesses.
When his blade stopped for a moment, the creature was on him. He screamed as he felt its claw-like hand dig into the flesh of his neck, but his sword was not finished and flashed, dealing a blow to what should have been the creature’s spine. He felt it become translucent and slipped form its grasp.
They stood in the clearing, facing each other, both wounded.
“You have met your match,” Weng said.
“I think not, young human.”
Weng had learned how to fight from the best. His legion was known for producing more trounament champions than any other. He still had a few tricks up his sleeve.
Tricks did not help him when the creature made a surprise attack. Weng was able to bring his sword to bear and force the creature to become translucent, but he did not anticipate that the creature might also have a trick up its sleeve. It proceeded through him and he felt his energy drain away.
He faced the creature again knowing that he had to end this quickly if he was to survive. He could not withstand many more attacks like that and live.
He made a quick decision. He attacked, very similar to how he’d done moments before. As he expected, the creature attempted the same move again and lunged. This time Weng was expecting it and moved accordingly. He felt the creature pass through his leg, but his body was safe. He pivoted in an instant and swung his sword again at the creature.
This time the blade made contact and the creature howeled in pain. It was hurting and mad, but not finished by any means.
Weng prepared for the next attack. As the creature charged him a piece fell into place and he knew ho to win. He put his sword in a clumbsy position and the creature took advantage of it. It remained solid as it attacked and Weng’s sword was unable to deal a blow and was trapped between him and the creature. He felt the creature’s deadly touch for just a moment as he thrust the dagger he had secretly drawn up through the creature’s belly.
The creature’s eyes grew wide and he felt its grip loosen. Moments later it began fading into the night as it died. It howled one last time before it was nothing but a memory on the night breeze.
Weng collapsed for a moment and caught his breath. He had to get out of here. These creatures did not hunt alone. He struggled to his feet and left the clearing as qickly as he could. He was exhausted and his leg was aching like he’d run a thousand leagues. He’d been through worse and he was confident he would make it out of this cursed forest. He would definitely think twice before he volunteered to act as currier again.
Copyright 2011 Robert Courtland