Two Hours Earlier...

I noticed the three anomalies approaching me. ‘I wonder...will I ever need to put up an effort?’ I frown with disdain as I notice their predatory smirks. “If you believe me to be an easy meal, you are sorely mistaken...” I quickly jump to my feet, my armored boots kicking up dust.

The manticores take a step back, startled by my sudden movements. It was only for a second, but it was all I needed. I zip forward and thrust my saber forward, it’s razor-sharp blade flying straight through the first creature’s eyeball. It gives a pained yowl. Chunky blood and vitreous fluid spew from it’s ruined eye as I drive it through it’s eye socket and into it’s brain. The beast goes limp. Noticing the other two beats charging, I quickly flick my wrist and unevenly bisect the animal’s head as blood and brain matter fall onto the cobblestones with a satisfying squelch.

The next one approaches cautiously, as if sizing me up. I take an easy stance and relax my muscles. The manticore sees this as an easy kill and charges full speed. At the last second I sidestep and bring my sword to bear. It falls into my trap, my honed blade easily cutting from mouth, slicing down the throat, smoothly cutting through the ribs, eviscerating his heart, lungs and internal organs, and finally following through. The beast topples over lifeless, as the two halves separate along the horizontal slice and smack onto the stone splattering blood across the cobblestones and my face.

The last opponent looks at me in fear as I casually approach it, my saber dripping blood and plastered with flesh and my manic smile dripping with malice. I had it backed into a corner, my prey quivering in fear. As a last ditch effort it attempted to sting me, only to have it caught by my hand. “Hmm...You won’t be needing this where you’re going...” I reply before tearing the stinger from the remaining tail. It howls in extreme pain. “Aww...It’s not hurting...yet.” I slam the stinger into the manticore’s chest over and over as small fountains of blood spew into the air. Stab. Stab. Stab. Stab. The stab wounds are getting closer and closer together, and finally the small strings of flesh keeping it’s abdomen intact split and tear with a wet rip, as steaming mangled intestines and other internal organs plop out onto the cobblestones, smoking and melting from the corrosive venom in it’s stinger. The manticore looked at me pitifully as I noticed the light leaving his eyes. “Oh don’t you go dying on me yet!” I scream as I ram the stinger right under his chin and into it’s brain. I squeeze the stinger, forcing corrosive venom into it’s skull. His eyeballs began to swell obscenely before popping sending eye pieces splattering onto the floor. rivulets of blood and venom course down it’s face, burning away the skin as more venom goes from the skull to the nasal passage and down the throat. It’s entire head was burned inside-out as the cheeks begin to disintegrate causing tongue to loll out before melting off completely and hitting the cobblestone with a bloody slap.

A distant roar brings me from my daze as I giant three headed lizard comes crashing through the treeline...

Author's Note

Just a preview for those of you who wanted to see it.