Chapter 92 - Max's Struggle
A sledgehammer was firmly printed on Ellie's stomach the moment she landed from the window. Her figure flew back at a fast speed before it got smashed just below the window frame.
Maximo snorted and was just about to deliver a kick from behind when Ellie rolled to the right while smashing the staff's body towards Maximo's buttocks at the same time.
Ellie was a bit stronger than Maximo, so she had a stronger constitution than him.
Maximo flinched as he let out a painful and surprised 'moo' after his buttocks got hit.
Ellie continued to attack, using the javelin like staff, she poked Maximo's butt check. However, Maximo evaded in the last second as he twisted his body to the side. The javelin continued and it was then met by Maximo's horn, causing it to stop abruptly.
The collision between the javelin of Ellie and Maximo's horn caused a clinking sound just like a metal colliding metal.
Crack*!
Amidst their contest of strength, although Ellie was winning due to her superior Constitution, her staff broke in half causing her body to stagger towards Maximo's horn.
Maximo saw the chance and immediately used it. Maximo dashed to the front a little intending to impale Ellie's body with its horn. He wanted to use Ellie's momentum against her.
However, unfortunately for Maximo, Ellie was able to stop right at the moment when her body was about to get pierced. Her right hand let go of the broken javelin as she tried to use her other hand as a support. Holding Maximo's forehead, Ellie made a jump over Maximo as she tried to somersault in the air. But because of inexperience, her body's rotation stops midway causing her to fall to Maximo's back, back first. Her back landed in the saddle on Maximo's back, before it rolled and dropped to the ground.
Maximo raised the sledgehammer and whacked it on Ellie's body. Ellie didn't have the time to dodge as all she could do was to cover her chest with both of her hands.
A massive force hit her hand causing it to go numb. Maximo raises the sledgehammer again to prepare another smash. Ellie got flustered and desperately rolled away even though her arms were still numb from the impact. As her body rolled on the floor, a sledgehammer would then hit her body's previous location, shattering the floor's flooring.
Ellie rolled and rolled desperately until she bumped into something. It was hard and had a metallic tinge to it. Ellie then realised that it was the sleeping crocodile's hind legs. She then remembered that the dagger was just behind his hind legs.
A sledgehammer was descending from above but Ellie decided to endure it, she was only one reach away from the dagger, her real purpose of being here. She rotated her body as she formed a push-up position. Her plan was to meet the sledgehammer midway so that it could not generate enough force. That way, she would be able to endure the hit and won't take that much damage.
And as what Ellie had expected, the sledgehammer hit her back but it was not as forceful as before. Unlike when her arms got numb because of the impact, this time, she only felt pain but was able to endure it by gritting her teeth.
Using the opportunity when Maximo raises his sledgehammer again to prepare an attack, Ellie hopped like a frog towards Croco's tail area. She stretched her arms forwards and grabbed the embedded dagger successfully.
Ellie then rolled forward again before she jumped up to regain her footing. Her feet were dragged on the floor for a few meters before her back hit the room's wall.
Ellie let's out a grin as she stared at Maximo like he was dead meat already. She playfully licked her lips as blood started to stream from it.
Maximo stopped on his tracks as he checked the still sleeping Croco. He got worried there for a second when Ellie rolled on Croco's side.
Maximo hatefully glared at Ellie. He scratched his hoof as he prepared to plough Ellie and impale her to the wall.
However, when Maximo saw the devilish grin produced by Ellie, his feet wobbled a little as he remembered the straw-hat zombie before.
Ellie and that straw-hat zombie have the same feelings for Maximo right now. It was the feeling of being eyed down by a predator.
However, after wearing the Earrings of Loyalty, Maximo had already signed a contract. He vowed to help Nile and follow his wishes. And Nile's wish right now was to protect the evolving Croco.
Maximo shakes his whole body as he 'mooed' in annoyance. The earring of loyalty on his nose keeps on slamming at each other while producing metallic sounds, akin to a cute bell.
After shaking off the discomfort he felt, Maximo dashed forward and lowered his head. His enraged eyes stared at the smiling Ellie that was backed by the wall.
Ellie just keeps on smiling as she waits for Maximo's arrival on her front.
'Mooo!' Maximo shouted as his head thrust towards Ellie's body.
The smiling Ellie produced a snort as she slid sideways, successfully evading Maximo's attack. Maximo had already learned his lesson from his previous fights. He recalled the time when his horns got stuck because of his unsuccessful attack. This time, when he noticed that Ellie had the intention to dodge, he intentionally weakened his attack.
Maximo's head hit the wall but his horn did not get stuck this time. He twisted his head to follow where Ellie had dodged.
However, it was at that moment, when Maximo had least expected it.
When Maximo turned his head, a dagger was right in front of his eyes, waiting for the opportunity to strike.
Maximo's heartbeats raced like a horse in the race. He wanted to stop his head and retreat immediately. But it was as if his head was moving on its own, not listening to his orders. It continued to move towards the dagger as the dagger itself also closed itself towards his eyes.
Ellie produces a devilish grin. Her eyes formed a slit as she waited for the carabao's doom. Laughing wickedly, she stabs the dagger towards Maximo's eye. "Ihehehe(wicked laugh)... Die bitch!"
Putsik*!
Maximo flinched as his head retreated in instinct after feeling the pain. However, it was already too late. Maximo's left eye was bleeding profusely as he wailed in pain.
The dagger had only pierced by half an inch before Maximo's head retreated. Still, that half of an inch had caused Maximo to be blinded.
Maximo kept on staggering backwards as his left hoof reached for his eyes, rubbing the blood that was streaming from it. It was then at that moment when Maximo was still wailing in pain and rubbing his wounded eyes, he heard Nile's desperate call.
"Max!"
'Moo!' Maximo replied in a weak 'moo!'. He wanted to just abandon Croco right now and help his owner outside. Even if his eyes were no longer useful, Maximo still wanted to be at Nile's side right now.
Maximo staggered towards the door planning to go to Nile's side. Blood was still streaming from his eyes, but Nile's call for help was more important.
However, unfortunately, Maximo would not be able to back his owner up. Ellie would not let it happen.
Ellis strolled towards the staggering Maximo. She produces an evil laugh again as she stares playfully at the bleeding Maximo. "Why are you running away? Hehehe"
She plunged the dagger again, aiming for Maximo's other eye. Fortunately, as Maximo was staggering, he luckily evaded the strike.
Maximo was now stuck inside the room. He wanted to leave but could not. He realised that he would not be able to leave so long as Ellie still remains alive.
"Mooooo!"
Producing a furious 'moo' that resembles a wolf's howl, Maximo wildly convulses his body on both sides. He swung the sledgehammer, kicked at the back, and various attacks that were aiming for nothing.
It looks like Maximo had already gone crazy.
Ellie lowered her guard as she thought that the carabao's demise would only be a matter of time. However, she did not expect that Maximo would go wild. Her shoulder was hit by a wild sledgehammer, her body staggered sideways as she felt that her arm had cracked because of that impact.
Seeing Ellie's body flying because of the accidental hit, Maximo followed while still trashing the surroundings wildly.
Ellie could only try to avoid the wild attacks. But due to the fact that the attack was unpredictable, a few would hit Ellie's body.
Her body was now full of violet bruises. Her previous stomach wound had opened up and started to bleed again.
She leaned backwards as a sledgehammer passed by her chest. Using the momentum from leaning backwards, Ellie backflipped, and after her feet landed on the ground, she slid herself under Maximo's stomach.
While sliding, she raised her dagger and made a slash on Maximo's hind leg.