4. Cassius

4

CASSIUS

I pull out the tablet fragment, its weight oddly comforting in my hand. The symbols etched into its surface pulse with an eerie light, growing brighter by the second. Something's not right.

A low, guttural growl reverberates through the forest, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Fuck. Just as I feared, I've triggered something, and whatever it is, it's big.

The tablet's glow intensifies, reacting to... whatever's out there. I quickly stash it away in my pack, my eyes scanning the shadows between the trees. That's when I see it.

A massive thlii emerges from the darkness, its bloated form easily the size of a small house. Its mottled, warty skin glistens with a sickly sheen, and I can see the pulsing of internal organs beneath its translucent hide. The creature's eyes, bulbous and unblinking, fix on me with predatory intent.

"Well, aren't you a beauty," I mutter, dropping my pack and reaching for the blade on my back.

The thlii's mouth gapes open, revealing rows of needle-like teeth. A foul stench washes over me, a mix of rotting vegetation and something far worse. Its throat bulges ominously, and I know what's coming next.

I dive to the side just as a gout of flame erupts from the creature's maw, scorching the spot where I'd been standing. The heat sears my skin even from a distance, and I can hear the sizzle of burning foliage.

"Fuck me, you're a big bastard," I growl, brandishing my blade.

The thlii turns its massive bulk towards me, surprisingly agile for something so grotesque. Its webbed feet leave deep impressions in the forest floor as it advances, each step sending tremors through the ground.

I spread my wings, ready to take to the air if needed. But in this dense forest, my aerial advantage is limited. I'll have to be smart about this.

The thlii lunges forward, its massive jaws snapping shut inches from my face. I roll to the side, feeling the rush of displaced air as it misses me by a hair's breadth. Something's off about this creature's behavior, but I can't put my finger on it just yet.

I take to the air, my wings straining against the dense canopy. The thlii's bulbous eyes follow my every move, its neck craning unnaturally to keep me in sight. That's when it hits me - this thing isn't acting on instinct alone.

"You're not just hungry, are you?" I mutter, dodging another burst of flame.

The thlii's movements are precise but jerky, its eyes unfocused. It's as if it's being guided by an unseen hand, not watching me. My mind races back to the tablet, still safely tucked away in my pack on the ground. Could it be...?

I dive down, snatching my pack just as the thlii's webbed foot comes crashing down where it lay. The creature lets out a frustrated bellow, its entire body quivering with rage. But it's not rage directed at me - it's fixated on the pack.

"It's the tablet, isn't it?" I say, more to myself than the beast. "You're after the damn tablet."

The thlii's eyes flash with an unnatural light, confirming my suspicions. This isn't a random encounter - it's a guardian, enchanted to protect the artifact I've just pilfered.

I weigh my options quickly. I could try to outrun it, but in this dense forest, that's a risky gamble. Fighting it head-on is a pain in my ass but doable. But if it's enchanted...

An idea forms in my mind, dangerous and potentially stupid, but it might just work. I reach into my pack, feeling the smooth surface of the tablet fragment. The symbols pulse against my fingers, reacting to my touch.

"Alright, you ugly bastard," I growl, pulling out the tablet. "Let's see how you handle this."

I hold the tablet fragment aloft, its symbols pulsing with an otherworldly light. The thlii's eyes lock onto it, a mixture of hunger and fury evident in its grotesque features. For a moment, we're locked in a standoff, neither of us moving.

Then everything descends into chaos.

The thlii charges, its massive bulk defying physics as it barrels towards me with alarming speed. I leap to the side, my wings unfurling instinctively to carry me further from danger. The beast's momentum carries it past me, its bloated body slamming into a thick tree trunk. The impact shakes the forest, sending a shower of leaves raining down around us.

"Come on, you overgrown brox," I taunt, brandishing the tablet. "Is that the best you've got?"

The thlii whirls around, its throat bulging ominously. I barely have time to duck behind a large boulder before a stream of fire erupts from its maw, the heat so intense it singes my hair. The acrid smell of burning vegetation fills the air, smoke curling around me in thick tendrils.

I peek out from behind my cover, assessing the situation. The thlii's eyes are still fixed on the tablet, its entire body quivering with barely contained rage. It's clear now that this thing isn't just some mindless beast - it's got a purpose, and that purpose is getting this damn tablet back.

"Alright, let's dance," I mutter, darting out from behind the boulder.

The thlii's reaction is immediate. It lunges forward, jaws snapping shut where I'd been standing a split second before. I roll to the side, feeling the rush of air as its massive bulk passes over me. As I come up to my feet, I slash out with my blade, aiming for its soft underbelly.

My weapon connects, but it's like trying to cut through thick leather. The thlii lets out a bellow of pain and fury, its body twisting unnaturally to face me again.

The stench of its putrid breath washes over me, nearly making me gag. Before I can react, its massive webbed foot comes crashing down, narrowly missing my head but catching my wing.

Pain explodes through me as I hear the sickening crunch of bone. "Fuck!" I snarl, stumbling back. My left wing hangs uselessly at my side, effectively grounding me. This just got a whole lot more complicated.

I grit my teeth, trying to push past the agony radiating from my broken wing. The thlii's beady eyes lock onto me, filled with malice and hunger. I can practically see the wheels turning in its warped mind as it reassesses me as wounded prey.

"Come on, you ugly bastard," I growl, tightening my grip on my blade. "I'm not finished yet." This just got a lot fucking harder, but I'll be damned if I let this overgrown toad get the better of me. I've survived worse, and I'm not about to let some deformed monstrosity take me down now.

The thlii seems to sense my vulnerability, its bulbous eyes gleaming with what I swear is satisfaction. It advances slowly, savoring the moment. I back away, my mind racing. I need a plan, and I need it fast.

But I can't catch a break before the thlii attacks again. Its jaws open wide, revealing rows of needle-like teeth. I raise my blade, ready to fight to the bitter end if I have to. Vrakken can't die unless a god chooses to make it so, but I can be ripped apart, scorched by the sun, and adrift in an agonizing existence that is not quite living.

And this creature can definitely put me in such a state.

The thlii's jaws snap shut inches from my face, its fetid breath washing over me. I stumble back, my injured wing throwing me off balance. Fuck, this is not how I imagined my day going.

"Come on, you ugly sack of shit," I growl, brandishing my blade. "Let's see what you're really made of."

The beast's eyes flicker with an unnatural intelligence, tracking my every move. It's not just some mindless guardian - there's something more at play here. I feint left, then dart right, my blade slashing across its flank. The thlii bellows in pain, its massive bulk twisting unnaturally fast.

Its tail whips around, catching me square in the chest. The impact sends me flying, my back slamming against a tree trunk. Pain explodes through my body, but I force myself to roll away as the thlii's foot comes crashing down where I'd been.

"Fuck," I mutter, spitting blood. "You're a tough bastard, aren't you?"

The thlii's throat bulges, and I know what's coming. I dive behind a boulder just as a stream of fire erupts from its maw. The heat is intense, scorching the air around me. I can smell my hair singeing.

As the flames die down, I peek out from my cover. The thlii's watching me, its bulbous eyes unblinking. It's waiting for me to make a move. Fine, let's give it something to look at.

I dash out, zigzagging between the trees. The thlii gives chase, its massive bulk surprisingly agile as it weaves through the forest. I need to find a weak spot, something I can exploit.

That's when I notice it - a patch of softer skin just behind its left eye. It's subtle, but in the shifting light of the forest, I can see it pulsing slightly. Could that be it?

I change direction abruptly, heading straight for the thlii. It rears back, surprised by my sudden charge. I leap, my good wing propelling me upwards. My blade flashes out, aiming for that soft spot-

The thlii's head whips around faster than I anticipated. Its jaws open wide, ready to snap shut around me. I'm committed to the attack, and I can't change course now. As those rows of needle-like teeth rush towards me, I realize I might have just made a fatal mistake.