The fog cleared as the massive creature came into view. It seemed to stand double my height on limbs that looked too thin to hold a body up. It’s pale flesh looked to be made of long white worms that looked to make muscle. Long arms nearly reach the ground as it approximated a humanoid form. The arms ended in several writhing worms. Neither the arms nor legs seemed to have joints, and instead the worms bunched and relaxed as it moved. There was no head atop the creatures shoulders. The worms on the thin body began to vibrate, the clicks started slow but rose until it formed a voice.

“Huuuummmman, oooour partrrrron haaaas oooordeeeered Usssss to thiiiis looower reaaaaalmmm fooor yoooour deeeeeath!” It rumbled in its clicking imitation of a voice.

I didn't hesitate to launch one of the plates. I watched as it struck the creature center mass and it didn't budge. One arm curled up bonelessly as it grabbed the plate, the worms wrapped around and squeezed. I could hear as the plate shattered. The arm snapped back throwing the pieces back at me as jagged shrapnel. I instinctively changed the poles of all the plates throwing myself to the side as my former tool passed through the space I had just occupied. I rolled as I struck the ground. I turned my intent to my coat bending my will to bring me to my feet. The creature had twisted its body to follow me. The boneless movement set my teeth on edge.

It clicked again forming a high pitched, angry scream. It charged using all four limbs to close on me. I leaped away launching my body into the air. As I looked back to see the arm as it arced through the air. Its length had stretched far beyond what I had guessed, so I pushed my staff away. The arm passed through the space I had been. The crack like a whip reached my ears before I touched the ground. I managed to keep my feet below me as I slid to a halt. I gathered power, tired to let this thing keep me on the run. The power gathered and shaped i let it loose with a roared word, “Achrann!”

The bolt of lightning crashed into it center mass with the boom of thunder. The light blinded me for a moment but I still heard something part the air as it came at me. Power flooded the runes in my left gauntlet as I spoke the word to give form to the gathered mana, “Skeltos!” A translucent purple dome flared to life. The impact threw me back. I flew threw the air blindly before smashing through an old headstone. My wards had done their job and absorbed the blow. My body still snapped painfully around as I came to a rest. My vision cleared as i looked up to the creature still standing where I struck it. The flesh was blackened where i had struck it but if it was hurt or just inconvenienced I couldn't tell. The wards pulled power automatically from my grimoire to charge themselves but if I didn't kill this thing or get away I’d still be drained and defenseless despite the larger pool of power.

I called my staff back to my hand as I stood. The satisfying smack of my tool; no, my weapon, gave me courage. It extended to its full length as lightning flowed down its length. It lit the night like the sun. I lifted it like a javelin. My grimoire did the heavy lifting holding the power in the pattern as I needed. I threw not just with my arm but with my power and my soul. As soon as the missile left my hand the crack of displaced air reached my ear. It would have blown out my ear if had not built that protection into my wards. I stumbled as the power I had worked left my body. I looked up as I breathed heavily. I had blasted a hole in the torso of the creature that had nearly cut it in two. It still stood upright a thin strip of flesh held up the legs, if you could call them that.

Then i saw the worms that made its flesh tense. The burnt hole was pushed together from either side. Bits of charred flesh fell as its flesh knit itself together in front of my eyes. And I did what I knew I had to…

I turned and ran. If I was lucky this would buy me precious seconds to get away. I had never experienced something just shrug off my best spell and pull itself together like that. So I let terror take me and fled. I should only be a few hundred meters from Kyra’s motorcycle. Surely it could get me away from this thing. Right?