A creature woven from the fabric of nightmares stood before them. Its mouth was wide, lined with dagger-sharp teeth, and atop its head sat a crown made of twisted bones. Its eyes—hollow pits filled with the cries of the dead—held countless trapped souls, clawing for escape. But escape was impossible; their bones were bound by evil itself.
Zach and Aylin trembled from deep within, cold sweat trickling down their backs. Yet the tremor never stopped their resistance.
They had a goal: freedom from this world.
And so every hardship they faced was embraced with passion, transformed into an opportunity.
Aylin glanced at Zach. Their eyes met. Hearts aligned.
They both knew—hesitation was not allowed.
Their swords had to be drawn.
A sanctuary sealed by the world had turned into an unrivaled battlefield, and the ringing clash of blades sent spectators' hearts racing.
Gigantic roots waved their tendrils like dancers, pounding the ground with rhythmic force, encouraging the monster's fury.
Aylin gritted her teeth, golden aura flaring around her as she shouted:
"Don't think you've won. My Moonsilver Blade was forged to devour your shadow. It will consume every last piece of you!"
Her blade—Moonsilver—was a relic from a forgotten age, a weapon she awakened with. It was born to cleave through darkness.
She spun the sword, releasing a surge of pure energy that made the bones beneath the creature quake.
Her golden hair whipped through the air as molten chains burst from her back, spiraling like a storm toward the bone-formed hill.
The first strike was thunderous.
Clank!
The molten chains tangled with the skeleton chains, and an explosion followed.
The earth cracked open.
Zach, standing at the edge, unsheathed his icy spears. The air grew colder, and snowflakes fell from a cloudless sky.
The sharp, cutting spears sliced through the air and neared the grinning beast. But just before impact, a whisper from invisible power shattered them.
"His time has not come…"
The monster laughed, a chilling echo vibrating in Zach and Aylin's ears.
"Ke-ke-ke-ke-ke…"
He hadn't moved an inch. For him, this was merely amusement.
He enjoyed the torture—he wanted them to taste helplessness and despair down to the marrow of their bones.
---
Joshua and the others reached a wall of massive roots, a labyrinth wrapped in poisonous tentacles like serpents, stretching three meters or more.
Joshua stood before a hidden path and, after a brief pause, said:
"Billy… I'm leaving the group to you. I'm going to help Zach and Aylin. I know they're in trouble."
Billy felt despair. He was the weakest among them, with only one minor ability: concealment—perfect for scouting, but useless in battle.
He grabbed Joshua's arm, pleading:
"Josh… don't go. Remember what Zach said…"
But Joshua was resolute. He turned to Billy and said:
"I'm sorry. But I have to. Keep the others safe."
Without looking back, he vanished into the mist.
Billy let out a helpless sigh. Now, he was responsible for protecting Karina and Tahin.
Though he longed to help, he was powerless.
They had to move.
Karina, more frightened after Joshua's departure, tugged on Billy's sleeve:
"Brother… we're not going to help? Even Joshua went… What do we do now?"
Billy bent down, caressed her face, and whispered:
"I'm sorry… but we must leave quickly. We can't waste the opportunity they've given us. I'm sure they'll return safely."
He smiled and added:
"We have to trust them."
Karina was soothed and took his hand as they moved forward.
Billy, in that moment, felt the weight of all his weaknesses.
Even Karina—a mere child—wanted to help.
And yet he? He was just a shadow of doubt and fear… seeking only to flee.
Lost in thought, Billy suddenly heard Karina calling:
"Bi—Billy. Billy… That boy, Tahin. He's acting strange."
Billy rushed back and saw the boy, instead of heading toward the exit, walking back toward the shelter.
Billy wanted to call out—but feared attracting unwanted attention. This place wasn't safe.
He grabbed Karina's hand and approached Tahin… and then noticed something strange.
A dark, ominous aura surrounded the boy, pulling him toward the shelter like chains.
Tahin's eyes were blank—white and hollow.
His soul was no longer present.
He walked like a hypnotized body, lost in void, chasing the black aura.
The monster lurking in the shadows had a filthy plan…
and now, part of it had already come to life.
---