Damn it, why did I have to reincarnate into such a weak body! I thought in frustration as I booked it down the mountain. As I sprinted down the mountain, I took note of exactly where were where on it. After all, remembering this place would help later in solving the draught problem when we came to clear out the beasts. I took one look to the sky catching the setting sun as orange light began to paint the horizon. It had taken half a day to climb to this point. We hadn’t even made it halfway up the mountain. That was both good and bad.

These beasts are getting closer to the village. I thought as he jumped down from a bolder skidding down the slope of the mountain letting my momentum carry me so I could catch my breath. I really was too weak. It was a good thing Bartak order me to leave. Had I stayed I would likely have died. A crack echoed behind me, and I barely had time to dodge as collection of clacks range in my ear as a barbed sword like arm sailed over head with the body of one of the weed beasts. I cursed myself. Of course, one of the stupid things would chase after me. they spent so long trying to kill me back there it was obvious they would still try and chase me. I was the calf who got separated from the herd. Thankfully it seemed only one of the things had come after me. I quickly weaved in and out of the trees hoping to confuse the thing, but that didn’t seem to work.

With a desperate roar I spun on my heels ready to face the thing. As I did though it vanished as it tucked behind a tree. My eyes shot up ready for it to leap from the treetop only for a sharp pain to split my shin. I howled in pain as I tried pulled my leg back only to look down and see that the beast had somehow slithered through the brush and bite down on my leg when I looked up.

The damn thing was smarted than I thought, but as its long snout tried to tighten on my leg drawing out another pain growl from me, I let myself fall backwards and used my full weight to lift the thing off the ground. It wasn’t that heavy thankfully and easily sent it flying with my impromptu roll. But my leg was injured now. Not good and judging from how much my leg tingled I was certain something had been torn in my calf. I forced myself to stand, the pain was excruciating. Without my magic to numb my senses I had to feel ever bit of the pain from the bite as I watched the beast. It let its snout clack together in what sounded like a taunting laugh.

That pissed me off. My eyes danced across my surrounding as my vision zeroed in on a branch just the right size to make use of. The beasts clacked one more time at me before charging. I ducked its barbed weapon and fell forward on my busted left leg letting my weight carry me into a roll under and past the beast’s side.

With a pained grunt I let my shoulder bounce off the stones as I skid to a stop and shot to my feet using a tree to brace myself, so I didn’t stumble when I put weight on my busted leg. The beast spun around, and I was certain I could see anger in its orange eyes. Seems dodging it like I did pissed it off. I chuckled at that as I reached to the side and snapped the branch, I spotted earlier free. I didn’t need an all-powerful weapon, I just needed something to use to knock this thing down. Judging from how Bartak and the others only chopped or crushed these things heads made me wonder if that was its weak spot or if it wouldn’t die if something happened to his body.

Whatever the case I was soon going to find out. the beast’s snout opened, and I was prepared for its clacks, instead I hear a long hiss like a snake before a viscous blue liquid seemed to build at the end of its lower jaw. With a quick snap of its head the blue liquid shot out towards me like an arrow. I ducked and moved forward as its splattered against the tree behind me. I watched in horror as the tree rotted and died from the liquid.

If these things had an attack like that, then Bartek and the others were in trouble. Were these things holding back the whole time. I thought wondering if these creatures were smarter than I first thought. I moved as fast as I could as the beast shot forward and began to slash at me with its weird, barbed sword arm. Its moved were pathetic seeing as even in this weakened body I could dodge its attacks but considering the glow in its eyes I wondered if this thing was trying to tire me out. I ducked a swing only for the beast to jab out with its opposite arm. A clawed hand shot for my face. I forced the sacrifice a chunk out of my branch turned club as its claws ripped into the wood with ease. I saw as it started to wither at the end where it was grabbed.

I clicked my teeth in frustration as I quickly scrapped the withering part away across the stones before swinging up into what would have been a human’s sternum. I easily lifted it up, only I couldn’t throw it away as roots tied the thing to the ground. I cursed as the beast reached down and dug its claws into my shoulder. I bight back a pained scream as I tried to back away. I didn’t know how the things rot ability worked and I hoped it hadn’t settled into my shoulder or I was going to lose my arm.

I fell back onto my ass the full weight of the beast coming down onto my chest as it now tried to bite at my face. I shoved my branch between us braced against its neck. I shifted and pulled trying to get the thing off me doing everything I could to keep my face intact. The beast thrust it barbed sword arm down past my head burying it in the stone. I grunted and spared a glance to my ruined shoulder which still had the things claws lodged in it. my coat was rotting but considering I could still move my arm some the rot wasn’t able to reach past all the layers of clothes I had on. A small blessing as I heard a hissing.

My eyes snapped to the end of its snout as the blue acid began to pool again. my eyes widened at the sight, and I thought I was going to die, till I saw something. A glow, a small mote of orange light dancing past my vision. It reminded me of the motes I saw when I reincarnated. I don’t know what came over me, the small orange mote that floated down before me shouldn’t have mattered, yet I reached for it as fast as I could my ruined shoulder sending screams of pain through my nerves. I took the mote in my hand gripping it. I half expected it to pass through my hand. Instead, I felt a warmth flow up my arm from my palm as an oh so familiar push and pull came from within me.

my eyes flashed a purple glow, and I growled my furry out as I brought palm into the thing’s chest pushing its whole body over me with an explosion of purple energy finally ripping its rooted feet from the ground and sending it flying overhead. Its acid spit shot off to the side doing no harm as I flipped the thing over me. I had to continue the assault as I shot up before the thing could finish its tumble. I grabbed at its head discarding my impromptu weapon as I dragged the thing forward and swung it at the nearest boulder. It smashed into the rock with a sickening thump, like the sound or rotting fruit being smashed. But that did not damage as the thing easily contorted its body to push itself back up. I needed this to end, I was losing blood and the pain I felt had white flashing threw my vision with each movement.

I reached out and took hold of its barbed sword letting the thorns sink into my hands. My shoulder burned and for a second, I lost sight of everything in a flash of white-hot pain. I didn’t let it stop me as I pulled the creature back and swung it again this time aimed at the nearest tree. As my vision cleared, I made sure to get the angle just right with the swing as the beast head came crashing down into trunk and popped like a grape.

I panted as I stared down at the corpse. My body screamed in protest as I stood there looking over my work. I need to rest, but my mind was reeling as I slowly brought my hand up towards my face. A purple glow emanated from my eyes against my palm. My breathing slowed and I closed my eyes as I reached into myself with my mind. Deep inside I felt it. The push and pull of something swirling inside me. I had my magic back. I am still a Mage. I thought as I fell back onto the ground.