Kyle moved carefully between the rocks, each step making the ground tremble beneath him.
The sound of a single drop of water falling in the distance made him stop immediately.
Even the smallest movement here…
could mean death.
The memory of the first strike stayed with him, the echo of fear and survival still accompanying him.
But this time, something was different.
Something that seemed to whisper deep inside him:
This is the real test.
From the shadows, the first monster appeared, smaller than the gray crawler he had faced before.
Its skin was gray, its limbs long, its eyes shining in the dark.
But something about it was more dangerous: its movements were fast, sharp, and without hesitation.
Kyle gripped his broken knife, panting, and realized immediately:
It's not its strength that scares me… it's not knowing what I will do.
The monster took a step, then another…
Then it lunged at him suddenly, very fast.
Kyle dodged with all his might, the weapon only scratching the monster's skin.
The pain in his hand made him scream inwardly,
but something else was growing inside him: focus, caution, the instinct to survive.
The second attack was even harder.
Kyle tried to stab again, this time with a calculated move,
but the monster stepped back, surprising him with its reaction.
Time seemed to split between them, each second feeling like life or death.
The monster jumped, twisted, and attacked from the side.
Kyle bent down, almost crushed,
but managed to deliver a final strike to the monster's neck.
The monster fell to the ground, screaming in a voice like a whisper, then went silent.
Kyle sat on the ground, breathing hard, his hand shaking, blood on his face.
He had succeeded, but he felt confused.
I killed it… with difficulty. I wasn't ready for this.
He felt something strange inside:
fear hadn't disappeared, but it had become a tool, something he could use, not just an obstacle.
Kyle slowly stood, looking at the dead monster, then at the darkness around him.
Every rock, every shadow, every movement… became signs of the path he was about to begin.
He wasn't strong yet,
but he began to understand something important:
Survival here isn't just luck… it's a constant war, inside and out.
He sat on a rock, wiping the blood from his hand, and smiled faintly:
I survived again… but the road is still long.
And inside, something began to stir, whispering in a quiet but strong voice:
This is not just one monster… this is the beginning of your true transformation.