So I'm a Bat, Big Deal

This time was way quicker than before when my wings were weighed down by that nasty gunk. Just as we made our way to the stairs, the thunderous sound of heavy footsteps echoed behind us, sending a jolt of adrenaline through my veins.

I cast a fearful glance behind me, and there it stood—a creature born from the depths of a twisted nightmare. It was a hulking beast, reminiscent of a giant hyena, its bones starkly outlined beneath a coat of inky black fur. Its face was a horrifying amalgamation of bat-like features, complete with enormous ears, a long snout, and those eerie yellow eyes, pupils like a serpent and glowing with malice. Its mouth was a terrifying sight, filled with fangs that resembled jagged obsidian shards, while its tail—a gruesome strip of flesh—hung limply, with chunks grotesquely missing. Those long, black claws were like daggers, sinking into the wooden stairs, leaving behind deep, menacing gouges.

"CREAK!" The floorboards protested with a sinister creak as the beast lumbered forward, its bulk spanning ten steps in a grotesque display. My heart raced as I watched orange drool drip from its jagged teeth, sizzling on the wood and burning a hole that seemed to pulse with dark energy. 

 My fox stood frozen on her air platform, eyes locked onto the lumbering beast below. Each of its heavy steps threatened to tear the stairs apart, a slow-motion disaster unfolding before us. The creature moved with a chilling confidence, as if it had all the time in the world to claim its prize. The only sign of its satisfaction was a flick of its ragged tail, a sinister gesture that sent shivers down my spine. I could feel its dark energy washing over us, a presence that belonged in the darkest corners of our nightmares. It cleared its throat with a guttural sound, and a wave of dread washed over me—if we didn't act fast, we'd be nothing but a memory.

"Get a move on, Lyra!" I shouted, yanking her from her terrified trance.

"MEEEW!" She leaped in shock, snapping out of her trance and took off.

I glanced back, my heart racing, fearing that the beast would come after us with a vengeance. Sure enough, where we had just been, a torrent of orange goo that resembled molten lava erupted, covering the ground in a fiery mess. "It spits lava! Move it, now!"

[Lava?!]

She began to twist her head, but I quickly grabbed her, forcing her to face forward. "Don't look! Just keep moving!"

That dreadful gurgling noise echoed again, and I spun around to ride backward. The monstrous beast was gearing up to unleash another wave of molten rock! "Veer right! It's about to blast us with lava again!"

"MEEEW!" She leaped to the side, narrowly escaping another torrent of fiery doom.

"This isn't working you can't go fast enough, but I can!" I pushed my wing to my new fox familiar and sucked her into my space storage without warning. I'd say sorry later; right now, we needed to bolt! I blasted downwards, dodging lava with ease. In a flash, I was back on the first floor, racing toward the door that had led to the third level. I burst through, only to find myself in a hauntingly ruined city! Cracked roads flanked by crumbling buildings, abandoned carriages, and lifeless trees under a sky cloaked in dark clouds. A woman's scream pierced the air from somewhere ahead. Then, I heard it—a heavy thumping behind me, faster than before. The creature was ramping up its pursuit. No time to waste; we had to get out of here!

I blasted away from the building, casting a quick glance back at a mansion that could have been a breathtaking sight if it weren't for the massive chunk missing from one side, smothered in layers of moss and filth. The creature barreled through the door, and I took off, my little wings working overtime. I climbed higher, trying to evade its reach. When I dared to look down, I caught sight of the beast wiggling its backside before it launched into the air, its enormous paw swinging back, those terrifying black claws poised to strike.

"What in the world is this thing?!"

 I narrowly evaded its fiery strike, but it retaliated by launching a torrent of molten rock my way. "Get lost!" I shouted, unleashing a stream of venom, but it just soaked it up like a gourmet treat and countered with another wave of lava. I dodged once more, firing my finger guns at it, and this time, it actually flinched. The creature clearly despises my finger guns! If only I had a moment to infuse my knives with some healing magic. I kept blasting finger guns as I soared and weaved through the chaos. It chased me, dodging my shots until I finally landed a hit on its paw mid-leap. It howled in pain, rolling onto the ground and licking its wounded foot. I tried to unleash more finger guns, but it shielded itself with another lava blast. Seizing the moment, I propelled myself toward a nearby building, planning to strike while it was down. But with its defenses up, I knew I had to retreat and devise a strategy—one that definitely included enchanting those knives with healing magic.

I charged down the road, my curiosity ignited by the piercing scream of a woman. As I rounded the corner, I stumbled upon an unexpected scene: Misty, crouched behind a carriage, unleashing a barrage of pink, glittery spells at a horde of zombies. These weren't your average undead; they were massive, muscle-bound trolls, one missing an eye and another an ear, their grotesque forms lumbering forward. I took a moment to assess the chaos, weighing my options.

But then, with a determined sigh, I decided it was time to put my battle strategy to the test. I drew two knives from my space storage, infusing them with healing magic. Sure, it wasn't the conventional use of healing spells, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The blades shimmered with a yellow glow as I launched myself toward Misty, ready to face the undead and dive headfirst into an adventure I never saw coming.

Coming Next Time: Surprising Turn