Against The Eternity Chapter 68: [67] Chapter - 43: Not yet!

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[67] Chapter - 43: Not yet! He stood firmly upon the uneven riverbed, his feet pressing into the silt and stone as the enormous centipede-like beast loomed before him. Its massive body stretched across the water like a living fortress, countless legs anchored against the river floor while its armoured back rose and fell with a slow, hostile rhythm. Eklavya felt a genuine, instinctive fear coil tightly around his heart as the creature fixed its attention upon him with unmistakable rage. Raising his hands slightly in a reflexive gesture of surrender, his voice escaped him despite knowing how futile it was. “Mr… or Mrs… Beast, please continue whatever it is you were doing. I am leaving right now,” Eklavya spoke hurriedly, forcing politeness into his tone. He carefully stepped one foot backwards, swallowing hard as if prayer alone might convince fate to look away. “I swear I am not here to disturb you.” With that, he eased another step back, every muscle in his body coiled and ready to flee at the slightest provocation. Magha’s voice echoed sharply inside his mind, edged with irritation rather than fear. ‘What in the world are you spouting about? Do you really think it understands your words, or that it will buy you even a second?’ Although Eklavya knew that truth perfectly well, he had still tried—if only because instinct sometimes overpowered logic when death stared this close. He swallowed once more—harder this time—and in the very next instant abandoned all pretence of negotiation. Turning sharply, he launched himself forward with every ounce of speed his body could muster, water tearing past him as he sprinted across the riverbed. Before he could even put meaningful distance between himself and the beast, the centipede surged with terrifying speed and appeared directly in front of him. Its massive body cut off his escape as it screeched violently, the sound vibrating through water and bone alike. The creature attacked without hesitation, hurling itself toward him with a powerful thrust of its many legs. Eklavya gritted his teeth and drew his sword from the storage ring in a single fluid motion. Fear crystallised into resolve as he shouted, “Fine—then I’ll fight you!” He hurled himself forward to meet the charge head-on. Five massive chakra rings erupted into existence around each of his arms, rotating rapidly like enormous luminous formations carved from pure energy. As he collided with the centipede’s assault, his sword struck against the hardened scales along its back with a thunderous impact. The force rippled through his arms as he twisted his body mid-motion, narrowly dodging the beast’s frontal attack and reappearing behind it in a blur of speed that would have left most warriors unable to track his movement. Driving his blade downward with full intent to pierce, Eklavya aimed directly for the creature’s back. The moment steel met scale, his heart sank. The sword failed to bite even slightly, the centipede’s armour so dense and ancient that not even a scratch appeared upon its surface. It was as though he had struck an immovable mountain rather than living flesh. Before he could retreat, the beast reacted with shocking agility. Its massive body twisted through the water as it spun violently, generating a crushing force that slammed into Eklavya and sent him crashing back onto the riverbed with a heavy thud. The impact drove the breath from his lungs before he could even recover his footing. The centipede did not relent. It launched itself forward again, and before Eklavya could properly rise, its body struck him with overwhelming momentum. He was hurled into the river wall with bone-rattling force, pain erupting through his body from head to toe as his muscles screamed in protest. The sheer speed of the beast rendered his reactions useless against its relentless assault. “Aah—damn it, that hurts,” he groaned aloud, forcing himself upright despite the burning ache coursing through him. Magha let out a tired sigh within h