The Merlock's Retreat

“Crazy!”

Aldo's arrow, released with a confident aim, found its mark, burying itself deep into the Merlock's neck below the fortified wall. The armour, meant to protect, was no match for the sharp projectile, and a gush of blood spurted out, painting the ground beneath the beast.

But, to Aldo's disbelief, the Merlock did not falter. Instead, it looked up at him, its face twisted into a maniacal grin as if the arrow was nothing more than a bothersome insect.

And, in a gruesome display of defiance, the Merlock yanked the arrow out of its neck, leaving a gaping wound that only seemed to fuel its ferocity.

The sight of the Merlock's resilience sent a shiver down Aldo's spine, but it also ignited a fire within him.

The Merlock's defiance was a splash of red, a crimson tide that painted its body and the ground beneath it. It was a testament to its fearlessness in the face of death, a statement of unwavering determination in the midst of war.

But that defiance came at a cost.

The Merlock's l