But Maggie wasn't easy prey.
Her body twisted, fluid like water. She rolled beneath the beast, her axe slicing through the air to slash at a scaly leg as she passed.
Truth was, the creature's reptilian scales looked so tough that no ordinary axe should have been able to cut through.
But this time… strength, speed, angle — everything aligned perfectly.
A sharp clang rang out — metal grazing something too hard.
Then, a beastly howl erupted.
The creature spun wildly, sweeping trees aside with its massive tail. Trunks shattered on impact, sending shards of wood flying in every direction.
Maggie sprang to her feet, panting, a thin line of blood running down her shoulder — a claw had grazed her.
She stood firm between the tree and the creature, axe raised, legs braced despite the blow.
Dylan, dazed, crawled to a fallen trunk. His skull throbbed, his vision blurred. But he could still make out the titanic silhouette… the beast's blazing eyes… and Maggie, tiny before the horror.
