[i]Everything happened so quickly.[/i]

Arcturus could feel his heart pounding in his chest, excitement coursing through his veins as he stared down the much larger [i]creature.[/i] Whatever it was. He could hear the voice of the man by the door calling for a weapon, could see the movement out of the corner of his eye. The knowledge that one of their number was lacking a weapon made him anxious, and so he followed its distracted gaze, laying eyes on the darker skinned man who was holding a rifle. [i]A rifle?[/i] Even without ammunition or an affixed bayonet, the experienced officer considered that a perfectly suitable armament. He had seen many a man struck dead by the stock of a rifle.

Before he could say anything, however, the man standing beside him took the initiative and struck true with his spear. An excellent strike by Arcturus' estimation. This seemingly did nothing to stop the shadowy being, however, as it almost instantly reacted by swatting the spear wielding man aside. Were adrenaline not keeping his mind sharp he surely would've been dumbstruck by the sight. As the horrifying thing seethed before him, its wounds glowing with impossible light, Arcturus let out a slow breath as he once more met its chilling gaze. Only now those nightmarish eyes had shifted to a blood curdling red. A color that he might find pleasant were it not filled with such malice.

It was reflex that drove the young man's response to the creature's vengeful attack. He almost moved before it did, anticipating that it would be too swift to react to, fearful uncertainty pushing him into an instinctive retreat. The movement he had intended to make was a leap backwards, filling the space he gave up with a powerful downwards strike from his saber. There was no way he would be able to back up quicker than it could advance, after all, so he sought to answer its reckless lunge with a punishing blow to the head as it pursued him. His intent did not survive contact with the enemy, however.

As he willed his body to move Arcturus felt something rush through his body. It was a sensation similar to the unnatural rage that lurked just beneath his thoughts, similar to the sensation he'd felt when he had driven a spear through the grotesque hand of that [i]filthy[/i] beast. It was an exhilarating sensation, and as he followed through on his movement he was surprised to find that he had moved much further than expected. When his boots touched ground again, his sword hand already raised and ready to strike, he was unexpectedly out of the creature's reach.

The stock of his comrade's rifle had claimed their quarry's knee, shattering it in an unnerving manner.
His heart was pounding in his chest, his mind was racing as it processed what had just happened, and beneath all that he felt an unfamiliar [i]urge.[/i]
[i]It[/i] was [i]crippled.[/i]
[i]Victory[/i] felt one step closer.
Arcturus didn't take the time to dwell on his situation. Instead he dashed forward again, his saber flashing in a vicious flourish as he closed the distance. This time when his boot touched the ground it was with an aggressive stomp, planting his feet as he spun his sword out of its flourish into a powerful downwards slash. An attack meant to forcefully strike the inky nightmare in the head while it was prone.