The sky was already beginning to tint itself a deep red as Kenzo and old William continued to move through the dense, suffocating forest. Their steps, hurried yet measured, crushed dead leaves in a nearly discreet rustle. For several hours now, they had been advancing without pause. From time to time, William guided their path toward a useful plant or a small water source. Every sip was a victory; every fruit or root they unearthed became a treasure they consumed slowly, kneeling in the dirt, tearing strips of fabric from their already tattered clothes to wrap whatever they couldn't eat right away.
Time seemed to stretch, almost suspended, yet the sky kept darkening, a sign that the sun was slowly sinking. Still, luck appeared to be on their side. So far, none of the eight Void Creatures had discovered them, and the dreadful dungeon warden didn't seem to be prowling nearby. They had survived the six hours during which he actively took part in the hunt.
The sun slowly faded behind the tall canopies. Its last rays, golden and lukewarm, barely pierced through the forest's thick roof. An orange light spread like a veil over the gnarled trunks and lush moss, casting long, unsettling shadows across the uneven ground. Insects were already singing the coming of night, while a gentle, moisture-laden wind lazily stirred the leaves. Light danced on the branches, as if the entire forest were holding its breath before sinking into nocturnal silence.
Night settled in. In this foreign, almost unreal forest, darkness imposed itself with suffocating weight. The temperature dropped softly, and the silence grew oppressive. Rustling became rare, as if all wildlife were hiding to avoid whatever prowled in the shadows. Even the trees seemed more threatening, their ghostly silhouettes rising beneath the faint glimmer of stars. The air was damp, nearly muggy, and every breath seemed to drain the strength from the two fugitives.
– « We should stop… we ran at the start of the hunt, then at zenith we walked pretty fast, and since night fell we haven't slowed down… I suggest we rest and regain our strength so we can run the rest of the night until morning, » Kenzo whispered, his voice veiled with fatigue.
He knew the hardest part was still ahead. The Nightmare Viper, that infernal entity of infected level and Instable rank, would begin its pursuit at midnight. They had to take advantage of these rare hours of respite, even if it meant risking an encounter with one of the eight weaker creatures.
– « Alright… in that case, we climb the trees… we have nothing to camp with, and even though I know how to make fire, that's something you absolutely must not do when you're being hunted, » William replied, inspecting the trees around them.
They chose a massive trunk with sturdy branches. Spears still in hand, they began to climb, their aching muscles protesting with every movement. Kenzo, lighter, went first, wedging his spear between his teeth while he used the rough branches for support. William followed with more difficulty, jaw clenched, his thin fingers gripping the bark tightly. Once at a reasonable height, they found a wide branch, stable enough to bear their weight. Back against the trunk, legs crossed, William settled in first, spear laid across his knees.
– « I'll start… rest, kid, » he murmured.
Kenzo nodded and closed his eyes. His limbs trembled, but he managed to drift into a light, almost conscious sleep. They alternated like that, a fragmented, fragile watch.
A gentle touch woke him. Something was nudging him softly. He opened his eyes abruptly, Heart pounding, and saw William, his face tense.
– « It's time, » he said quietly. – « We need to move again, fast. »
There were no dreams that night. He didn't need them. His only dream was to leave this forest. To reclaim their freedom.
They started running again, the night still pitch-black around them. Leaves lashed their faces as they pushed through roots and thickets. Strangely, Kenzo was leading. Without understanding why, he navigated with uncanny precision in the darkness. His eyes, as if accustomed to the night, caught every movement, every lunar reflection on the leaves. He stayed ahead of William, his steps steady despite the fatigue.
They ran, spears forward, ready to pierce anything that might emerge from the shadows.
Then, a scream. One, then two. Tearing shrieks echoing between the trunks, followed by a cavernous, bestial growl. A sound so deep it vibrated in their guts. Then nothing. Just… the sinister noise of flesh being torn, bones being crushed. Silence had turned into pure terror. They stood frozen, petrified. Unable to move, they could only listen, trembling, to death prowling so close.
Another scream rang out farther away. And the creature—whatever it was—moved on. They heard heavy footsteps recede, smashing the ground with violence.
It didn't matter whether it was the Nightmare Viper or one of the others. This wasn't the moment to find out.
They ran again, and this time, fear transcended their exhaustion. The will to survive galvanized their dry, aching muscles. They ran without stopping, breath short but determined. The sky began to pale. Dawn finally appeared, timid and graceful.
– « We made it… we got through the night, » Kenzo gasped, arms hanging loose, legs shaking. His Heart was pounding so hard his chest hurt. His ragged breathing whistled through clenched teeth.
– « Yes… we did it… » William murmured, his face pale, but alive. – « Let's climb a tree. »
Once more, they climbed, finding refuge in the heights. The sun rose slowly. When they opened their eyes again, zenith was approaching. The sun beat down, heavy and relentless. As the day before, they decided to move quickly while the warden hunted elsewhere.
That was when William suddenly stopped.
– « That smell… »
He sniffed the air, then without warning, broke into a run. He leapt over rocks, rushed down a steep slope. Kenzo, startled, chased after him.
– « Hey, old man! Why are you suddenly running? »
When he caught up, he found William kneeling at the edge of a cliff. His spear lay on the ground. He was staring at the horizon.
The wind was coming from the sea.
– « It's the ocean… » he said in a broken voice. – « I know the sea… I know oceans… »
Kenzo, still panting, stepped closer.
– « It's okay. We'll just turn back. Maybe on the other side, there'll be land. »
But William shook his head, eyes blurred with tears.
– « I follow the faith of Thalorin, God of Oceans and Depths… I lived near the coasts, I often went out to sea… »
He slowly turned. His gaze was drowned in tears, filled with dull pain.
– « We're on an island… we can't escape. »
The wind blew softly, brushing the worn faces of the two men. Before them, the ocean stretched endlessly, vast and merciless.
And for the first time since their escape began, Kenzo felt despair take hold.