Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 15]

Crocea Mors sang a song of death. A sweep severed a furred and muscular arm, a step took me beyond, a thrust pierced the ribcage of a beast and I pushed it back with a shoulder, drawing the blade out of its falling body. I stepped over it with a furious cry, blood singing and heart pounding so loud it echoed in my ears.

Blake screamed beside me – an inarticulate howl of rage as she leapt up, dodged a claw and landed on the chest of a Beowolf, crossing her blades and tearing out its throat, using its body as a springboard as it fell back to leap up and somersault away, landing on the shoulders of a bull-like Grimm and drive a dagger down into its skull.

I understood her words, even if she didn't use them. Heat rushed through me – anger and joy and even lust, every emotion raw and in my face as adrenaline bubbled and surged through me. Blake was gorgeous, covered in blood and ripping the monsters to shreds. A primal part of me wanted nothing more than to stride toward her and capture her bloodstained lips with mine.

Instead, an Ursa approached, sweeping its giant paws and tossing Grimm asunder. A monster – an Ancient Grimm – one so dangerous that it had nearly killed Ruby and wiped our entire party in our first Dungeon so long ago. Back when I'd been Level fifteen or sixteen. A far cry from what I was now.

I matched its roar and waded toward it, flanked by two Heroes I didn't recognise. I didn't need to. Their sounds, wordless screams, communicated their intent immediately. Our eyes met – the briefest of nods. An understanding. I surged in and they went left and right, flanking as I brought my sword down in a two-handed swing, lashing out at the claws cutting down toward me. A shattering crack sounded as steel met bone. Bone gave way and flipped up.

The claws missed me, paw striking down into stone. I stepped onto it and stabbed down, pinning it in place as the Heroes closed in – one spearing a lance into the monster's ankle to bring it to one knee and the other leaping up the other side, using a sword so much larger than my own to cleave off an arm at the shoulder.

A burning ball of fire rushed over our heads and struck the thing in the chest, exploding with heat that washed over me. The monster toppled back, fur on fire and blood oozing from a grievous wound. It crashed down, killing a score or more of lesser Grimm. A victorious roar came over every Hero there, echoed by me and continued by Blake.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 15]