The creature’s forehead caved in for a moment and began to heal. While it was in the middle of healing Asval landed another solid hit to the creature’s face. While it was still defenseless he landed a second hit on its face. He grabbed its neck and pulled it down to hit the monster’s head with his knee.

He felt a stinging pain in his knee and blood ran down his leg. Thorns were sticking out of his leg as the creature grew them out of its face to defend itself from the attack. 

Having its opponent close, the monster sunk its fingers into the Asvals leg and slowly spread its roots through his body.

“Not that shit again!” The man shouted as he raised both of his fists and brought them down to crush the back of the monster’s head.

Having some time till the creature could move he ripped the hands with roots out of his leg, tearing most of the skin away from his body. Holding the creature’s arm he spun around and threw the beast away. Asval kneeled down, cruising as he grabbed his wounded leg. 

“Heal… Fucking heal! Agh!” Shouted Asval, focusing all his senses to regenerate the painful wound. He thought he would try it like the tree creature did.

His wounded leg slowly healed and he stopped once it stopped bleeding. He no longer felt pulsating pain but constant itching. It took a lot of focus and strength from him, he was trying to grasp as much air as he could after using it all while concentrating.

“Even an old dog can learn a new trick. Looks like we are both ready to continue…” Said Asval looking at the creature that didn't have any wounds and was raising itself from the ground.

“Too bad I didn't have time to regenerate my hand…”

Because of the wide distance between them, Asval had time to react to the creature's dash toward him. The monster threw a punch which he decided to stop with a punch of his own. His wrist cracked but he held strong. Next, he used his left arm to push the fist away, and with a spin he kicked the monster's head. Using his second leg he pushed the creature to the ground and pressed his knee against the monster’s chest.

“Time to finish this game.” Asval raised his fist and made it fall at the creature’s heart.

The body that looked like Asval turned back into the vines and branches. They moved behind him and as he turned around there was an arm going through his body.

“I was supposed to do that…” He whispered as the creature pulled out his heart.

His vision slowly blurred and the colors began disappearing. His body felt cold. He was going to die again and spend more time in this hell. Even though his heart was ripped out his spirit didn't leave him. Screaming with the strength he had left he also punched through the creature’s body and grabbed the source of purple light. The creature’s core was in his hand.

He pulled it out and crushed it in his fist. The body made of vines and branches fell apart. His heart was hanging out of the hole left in his body.

Gently pushing it back inside he said “Better that than dying…”

The ground began to shake violently, making Asval fall. The walls, the ceiling, and the giant body made of trees were crumbling after the core was destroyed.

“Shit!” Asval shouted, running toward the first gap he saw.

The giant branches fell, raining down on the man. The ground beneath him was cracking, unstable. His leg fell into the hole he made by stepping onto the cracking branches. He tried to pull it out but the branches were stuck deep in his leg.

“Fuck!” Asval tried to free his leg but each attempt ended in shredding his skin and muscles even more, experiencing more and more pain.

Looking up he saw more branches falling right at his face. “Fuck my li-” Before he could finish his words one of the branches went down his through and impaled his body, killing him in the process.

A day later he woke up fully healed, spitting dirt out of his mouth. Once he looked around he no longer saw a white forest but an empty cave with only soil on the ground.

By destroying the core he destroyed the whole forest. It was a forest that could live without water or sun. All it needed to survive was its core. 

Asval didn’t notice a change within him but he changed. He still was immortal but as the forest was leaching of his sustenance as he was ‘dead’ he- in a way- became part of this forest. 

He did destroyer the core but he took part of its power. His regenerative power got stronger and he only needed a day to fully recover which is much faster than the last few times.