As each slash connected, the beast visibly weakened, until it lay twitching on the ground, in a growing puddle of ooze.  The soldier that had accompanied Luke got up and winced, but seemed otherwise unharmed. "Well done, that monster was no match for an experienced warrior like you. We're trained to fight other soldiers, not things like that."<br/><br/>-----------------------<br/>The archmage grinned as his crystal ball clouded up again.  "Though I didn't orchestrate that, it provided a decent test of his abilities. He's a smart one, and no stranger to fighting. Perhaps I CAN put him to use."