The Minotaur moved first.
It didn’t charge — it loomed, hooves pressing down like it meant to crush the land itself. Its chest expanded with a grunt that smelled of rot and scorched marrow. Glyphs carved into its horns burned dark red, pulsing as its malice-fueled aura cracked the soil.
Rell stepped forward.
No plan. No weapon. Just fists. Breath. Fire in his blood.
—
The first strike was a blur — the Minotaur's axe-like arm swept sideways, wide enough to clear trees. Rell ducked, pivoted under the arc, and stepped in.
Three quick strikes:
- First, a jab to the gut — shallow impact, like hitting stone wrapped in flesh.
- Second, a rising palm to the throat — it staggered the beast back half a step.
- Third, a jump knee to the jaw — it landed, but Rell was swatted from the air like a fly.
He hit the dirt, ribs screaming. Rolled. Came up coughing blood.
The Minotaur stomped forward, laughing.
“You hit like memory,” it spat. “Fleeting. Useless.”
Rell exhaled and rushed again.
No hesitation.
A faint gleam crossed his eyes as he twisted his body — low feint, then spun mid-slide under another blow.
His elbow cracked into the creature’s knee. It buckled.
Rell grabbed the arm it swung downward and rolled over its shoulder, using momentum to slam its head into the dirt.
Dust and roots exploded upward.
—
The Minotaur roared, magic pulsing through its glyphs — a sick wave of black fire burst from its body.
Rell tried to shield himself — too slow.
The fire struck him across the back — burning into his shoulder, melting through cloth and searing flesh. He dropped, vision warping.
But something clicked.
His eyes flared white-gold again.
FLASH.
For a second, he saw the spell’s structure. Saw the way it folded energy. A corrupted glyph in motion, spiraling downward.
And then it was his.
—
Rell stood, panting. Face burned. One hand trembling.
He twisted his wrist — and the same black fire ignited from his palm, but mixed with blue-white light. A twisted spell born of mimicry and resistance.
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He hurled it.
It struck the Minotaur dead center — knocking it off balance, smoke rising from its chest.
“Clever,” the beast coughed. “But you still bleed.”
It lunged.
—
Rell met it halfway.
No spell.
Just hands.
He leapt — foot planted on the Minotaur’s arm — then spun midair to axe-kick its skull. A dull crack echoed.
As he landed, he swept low, tripping it partially.
It fell to one knee — and Rell struck with a flurry.
- Left hook to the eye.
- Right elbow under the chin.
- A rising uppercut into the jaw, lifting the beast momentarily.
Rell surged forward, wrapped both arms around its waist, and threw it overhead.
It crashed into the ground with thunder.
—
The Minotaur shrieked — but laughed through it.
It raised both hands and slammed the earth — sending dark tendrils of shadow glyphs in every direction.
One struck Rell in the chest, binding his arms.
He grunted, pushed against it — but the magic was heavy, crawling into his spine like chains made of sorrow.
“You can’t hold me,” he snarled.
“You’re already held,” the Minotaur smiled. “By doubt. By fear. That’s all I need.”
Rell growled — and then howled.
A sound not human. Not beast. A soul-rooted scream that shattered the glyphs around him in a burst of radiant white.
His eyes flared again — body glowing faintly now.
Unified.
He rushed the beast one last time.
This time — it wasn’t a fight.
It was a demolition.
- Step-in elbow — cracks the beast’s collarbone.
- Palm to the chest — discharges copied dark magic from inside the glyphs.
- He grips the horn and yanks — spinning the beast off balance.
With a final shout, Rell rises into a spinning aerial kick — heel to skull — and knocks the Minotaur off its feet.
It slams to the ground, unmoving.
—
Rell dropped to one knee, chest heaving.
Blood. Sweat. Power still crackling on his hands.
He didn’t smile.
But the jungle around him whispered…
And for once — whispered his name with pride.
—
To be continued...
