There was a cracking sound as the thing’s skull dented in slightly.  The concrete bulb at the end of the pole cracked, and several pieces fell free.  Allistor’s momentum slammed his own body into the side of the thing’s head.  It was like running full speed into a brick wall.  He was knocked backward, disoriented for a moment.  His left elbow stung and didn’t seem to be working properly.

He lay there for a moment, hearing gunshots somewhere to his left.  A moment later there was a very human scream that cut short.  Allistor rolled onto his side and struggled to his feet.  His left arm was definitely broken.  Looking up at the titan, he was staring directly at the side of its head.  He could see a small indentation where he’d struck the thing, but the blow hadn’t even broken the skin.

Lifting the pole with just his right hand, he tucked it up under his arm like a jousting lance.  “Just die, dammit!” he gasped at the titan as he rushed forward.  He used his momentum to jam the end of the pole into the monster’s ear.  Its end was rounded, not sharp like his spear, but the pole was hollow.  It dug into the much softer flesh inside the thing’s ear and broke the skin.  Allistor gripped as hard as he could and leaned into it, pushing the hollow tube deeper.  When he lost his grip, he backed up and pressed his shoulder against the back end of the pole where some concrete still clung to it.  He slammed himself forward like it was a tackling dummy.   Something popped, and the pole shot forward at least a foot.   Continuing to push, he moved forward with it until the pole struck something more solid and stopped.

Once again, messages filled his interface.   A green +18,000 floated across as Allistor realized the monster was dead, and he let himself collapse to the ground.  Cradling his broken arm, he coughed and spat, still trying to clear his mouth of the nastiness.   He instinctively reached for his bag, looking for his water bottle, but it wasn’t there.  He’d left the bag back in the stronghold when he charged out.

His back against the monster’s head, he reached up with his right hand and took hold of the pole that protruded from the ear.  He used it to help himself to his feet.  Disoriented, he looked around for the stronghold gates, but he couldn’t see them.   As he fought to gather his wits, a series of golden numbers flashed across his interface.  Fame points.  It occurred to him to wonder why more than one set of them had flashed by, but he blinked the thought away and focused on trying to walk.  His legs were a little unsteady, but he managed to stumble around the debris and make his way toward the titan’s feet.