The forest pressed in like a living thing, its ancient trees clawing at the sky with twisted branches. Liam wiped sweat from his brow, his breath ragged as another wave of frost slammed into his side. The cryo-beast—a hulking thing of jagged ice and glowing blue veins—lunged again, its claws raking the air inches from his chest.
'Damn it, why does it have to be cryo?' he thought, teeth clenched against the bone-deep chill that seeped through his low resistance. Every strike from the creature sent needles of cold racing along his nerves, slowing his movements just enough to make him feel like a clumsy amateur again. He dodged left, barely, and swung his weapon in a desperate arc. The impact jarred his arms, but the beast only roared and doubled down.
