Corinth woke to an oppressive dryness in his throat, a gnawing sensation that seemed to consume his every thought. His body felt as if it had been drained of every ounce of life, stiff and heavy with exhaustion. The thirst was unbearable, each breath like sandpaper scraping against his lungs. But there was one thing he knew—he should be dead.

  His mind was a void. No memories, no understanding of how he ended up here. Just the overwhelming thirst.

  The nd around him was barren, stretching endlessly under an empty, dim sky. There were no ndmarks, no clues to help him make sense of where he was. Just an unbroken stretch of cracked earth, like the remnants of a dead world.

  He rose shakily to his feet, his legs unsteady beneath him. His hand reached up to his dry lips as his body screamed for humidity. His mind didn’t know why, but every fiber of his being felt it:

  Water!

  His eyes scanned the horizon, and there—far in the distance—something shimmered, a small, faintly glimmering pool of water. Without thinking, Corinth began walking towards it, his legs moving on their own, driven by instinct.

  With each step, his body cried out in agony. The thirst, the burning ache in his throat, grew worse.

  Faster. Just a little longer.

  His vision blurred with each bored breath, but he pushed on, moving toward the water. He had to get there.

  Water!

  The shimmering pool came into focus as he stumbled closer, a jagged patch of rocks surrounding it. Without hesitation, Corinth colpsed by the edge, hands shaking as he cupped the water and brought it to his lips. The cold liquid felt like salvation, soothing his parched throat and bringing temporary relief. He drank deep, the coolness spreading through his body.

  But before he could drink more, something in his gut twisted—a sudden unease. What was that? His breath hitched, and a deep, resonating hiss echoed through the still air. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline surging to the surface.

  The water rippled unnaturally, and then—something moved.

  A serpent, the size of a rge horse, surged from the water. Its scales shimmered like oil, bck and gleaming. Its eyes—yellow and predatory—locked onto him with an intensity that made his blood run cold. The air around him thickened, and his thoughts narrowed.

  Fight.

  The serpent let out another guttural hiss, its body coiling, preparing for a strike. Its jaws opened wide, revealing teeth like daggers. It’s fast.

  Corinth’s hand moved without thought. He grabbed a jagged stone from the ground, its rough surface a crude weapon. His stance shifted instinctively, his body low and ready, though his mind remained unnervingly calm. His focus sharpened. The serpent lunged with a speed that defied reason, snapping its jaws mere inches from his face.

  He sidestepped, his body fluid and controlled, the motion automatic. The serpent missed, its fangs slicing through the air, but it didn’t stop. It was relentless, shifting its massive body with arming speed, ready to strike again.

  The serpent reared back, preparing for another strike. Corinth’s mind raced through possible moves, calcuting. He had no memory of how he knew these tactics, but the calm crity of his thoughts betrayed an inner knowledge.

  Stay calm. Keep it focused. One move at a time.

  The serpent struck again, this time aiming lower. Its tail shed out in a blur of motion. Corinth barely dodged, his body twisting as he dropped to the ground. The strike missed, but only just. His chest was heaving now, the adrenaline coursing through his veins. His heart was a drumbeat in his ears, but still, he remained focused, calm.

  [Quest Detected: The Value of Breath.][Objective: Defeat the Serpent.]

  Corinth’s brow furrowed as a strange window appeared before his eyes. It was a brief distraction, the words floating in his vision for only a moment. What is this? He blinked and the window vanished, but the confusion lingered. The serpent hissed again, snapping him back to the present.

  He didn’t have time to ponder the strange appearance. His focus was entirely on the creature before him. It wasn’t concerned with him as a threat—at least, not yet. It was sizing him up as prey, circling slowly, its tongue flicking in and out, tasting the air. It had locked onto him, hungry and calcuting.

  Corinth’s grip on the stone tightened. The serpent struck again, faster than before. His body reacted automatically—sidestepping just in time, his muscles already anticipating the move. The serpent’s jaws snapped shut in a fsh of white teeth, but this time, Corinth was already behind it, barely grazing its scales as he moved.

  It wasn’t enough. The creature was too fast.

  I can’t outpace it in a straight fight.

  His thoughts raced, scanning for any weakness. It’s quick, but…

  The serpent struck again, its tail whipping around in a blur. Corinth dodged, moving to the side and smming onto a jagged boulder nearby. The impact sent a jolt of pain through his side, but he didn’t falter.

  He had to think, had to find a way to use his surroundings, to turn the tide.

  [Quest: The Value of Breath.][Objective: Defeat the Serpent.]

  Corinth’s mind flickered briefly to the quest window that had appeared again. His instincts dismissed it without hesitation. Focus. The serpent’s movements were erratic—fast, but there were patterns. Its head flicked toward him, eyes narrowing as it tracked him with growing frustration. It was sensing a threat now, though it still underestimated him.

  Corinth stepped back, keeping his eyes on the creature. The serpent’s tongue flicked, tasting the air. He noticed it moved slower when it tried to listen, as if its hearing was just as poor as its vision.

  It can’t see well.

  The realization was sudden, a spark in his mind. He had noticed the way its head jerked toward loud sounds, the way it hesitated when he moved too quickly. It’s relying on something other than sight.

  And the more he thought, the more he realized—its hearing was terrible. Perfect.

  Corinth’s gaze moved across the ndscape. The rocks. The water. He could use the environment, trick it into making a mistake.

  The serpent recoiled for a moment, sizing him up again. Its movements were slower now, more cautious. The moment of hesitation gave Corinth a second to pn.

  He had to make it blind, to disorient it.

  I’ll need to use sound.

  With that, Corinth began to move, his eyes darting around. He had to create enough noise, enough chaos, to make the serpent rely on its faulty hearing.

  Now, he was ready.

  Corinth’s body felt like it was on fire, every muscle protesting against the strain of constant movement. He could hear the snake's tail spping against the ground, each strike an echo of danger. His mind stayed calm, though his heart pounded with a wild rhythm. Survive. That was all that mattered.

  The serpent was now coiling tighter around him, its body moving like liquid darkness, its jaws snapping open in a way that made Corinth's breath catch. The creature’s eyes burned with hunger, its body seemingly able to sense him, even as its vision was fwed.

  It was quick, but so was he.

  His feet pnted against the uneven terrain, his hands finding the sharp stone he’d been holding earlier. The jagged edges bit into his skin, but he didn’t mind it. There would be more to come before this was over. What mattered was that he kept moving, kept thinking. He needed to end this. He needed a way to make the creature hesitate, to throw it off its predatory focus.

  The serpent’s head turned sharply as it prepared to strike again, its movements slower now, more focused on the sounds of his footsteps. The serpent’s tail shed out toward him. Corinth dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike.

  A shot of pain ran up his arm as he hit the ground hard, but Corinth didn’t hesitate. He rolled to his feet, using his momentum to push himself into a crouch. The serpent’s eyes widened, its tongue flicking as it tried to pinpoint where he’d gone.

  Hunting me. It thinks I’m prey.

  His eyes flicked over the terrain again. The rocks near the water. The way the ground sloped. His body moved instinctively, making use of what was around him. He wouldn’t outrun it, and he wasn’t about to py the victim. The serpent’s movements grew more erratic as it searched for him. Its head swiveled sharply, trying to locate the sound of his movements.

  Slower now. Perfect.

  Corinth darted toward a ledge—a pile of jagged rocks near the water. The serpent followed but misread his pace. Its head jerked side to side, confused.

  At the rocks, Corinth's foot slipped, dislodging a boulder. It crashed with a resounding crack. The serpent snapped toward the noise, hissing.

  Good.

  Corinth didn’t waste a second. He jumped, using the sharp rocks to propel himself higher. The serpent’s attention was locked on the boulder now, its body still coiled, unaware of the new danger coming from above. He grabbed the rgest stone he could reach, and with an exhale, hurled it at the serpent’s head.

  The rock hit, but not with the desired force. The serpent recoiled with a screech, its body jerking back, but it wasn’t down. The wound it sustained was superficial, and it was already recovering. But it didn’t advance, still unsure of the true threat.

  Corinth’s feet moved again, eyes scanning the area, considering his next move. A rger stone loomed above, banced precariously above the serpent’s head. It was close enough now. He’d have to use everything in reach.

  Without hesitation, Corinth reached for another stone, its size far rger than the first one. His fingers dug into the sharp edges, and as he climbed higher for a better angle, the serpent's head began to turn toward him again. Its tail whipped through the air as if sensing his next move, but it wasn’t quick enough.

  With a grunt, Corinth pushed the rock off its ledge, sending it down toward the serpent with deadly force. The boulder crashed into the beast's skull with a sickening crack. It let out a terrible screech, its body recoiling violently, but it wasn’t finished yet. Blood began to ooze from the wound, but the creature still lived.

  Corinth didn’t stop. His heart pounded, his focus sharper than ever as he leaped into action, closing the distance between them. His hands gripped another jagged stone, but his stance was different now. The serpent was weakened, its head hanging low, but not finished. Its muscles twitched. Its hissing had slowed, but its rage was far from gone.

  He needed this to end. Now. But the ground beneath him shifted, causing him to slip.

  The serpent’s tail struck in an instant.

  Corinth’s breathing was ragged, every inhale a burning effort as pain shot through his body. His side ached where the serpent’s tail had struck, and his hand felt like it was on fire from where the rock had torn into his flesh. Blood dripped down his fingers, staining the dirt beneath him. His muscles were screaming for respite, but there was no time.

  Not yet.

  The serpent hissed, its body coiling and writhing on the uneven ground, its wounds still fresh and bleeding. The terrain was rocky and dry, offering little advantage for either fighter. But the creature's movements were more sluggish now, its strikes less precise, as it struggled to maintain control over its own body.

  Corinth’s legs wobbled as he rose, the ground beneath him feeling less stable with every passing moment. But he didn’t back down. His eyes locked on the serpent, his focus sharp.

  The serpent lunged again, its mouth wide, a dark cavern intent on devouring him whole. Its movement was swifter than it should’ve been given its wounds. But Corinth had learned its pattern. It was predatory. It moved instinctively, its eyes trained on him as if he were the st meal it would ever have.

  He ducked to the side, feeling the heat of its breath on the back of his neck as the serpent missed its mark. The creature let out a low growl, frustrated, but undeterred. Corinth took advantage of its momentary confusion, darting toward the injury he had inflicted earlier. His fingers grasped the jagged stone that had served him well.

  He turned and thrust the rock into the serpent’s wound, twisting with all his might. The serpent's body arched violently, its hiss echoing through the air, its tail snapping in rage. It was furious. Pain and fury mixed into a single beast that only knew how to fight, to survive.

  Corinth gritted his teeth and pushed harder. The rock scraped against the serpent’s tough scales, but he could feel the pressure building inside the wound. The beast thrashed, throwing Corinth off bance for a moment, but he held his ground. His bones screamed in protest as he used every ounce of strength to keep pushing.

  How long? Until one of us breaks?

  The serpent’s body bucked beneath him, and for a brief moment, Corinth lost his footing. But there was no fear. Not now. He was too close.

  The serpent’s body surged forward, smming into him with the force of a boulder. Corinth’s head hit the ground, pain fshing across his vision, but he forced himself back up. Blood ran freely down his arm, but it wasn’t enough to stop him. He had already survived this long. He couldn’t let it end here.

  He staggered to his feet and faced the serpent again. This time, it was less deliberate in its attack. Blinded by rage and pain. Sloppy. Corinth moved fluidly, unhurried. His hands reached out, grabbing another sharp stone—smaller, but just as dangerous.

  The serpent was slower now, its movements more erratic. It was weakening, but it wouldn’t go down without a fight. Corinth saw that in the way its eyes tracked his every move. It wasn’t a mindless creature; it was a fighter—just like him. But it had one fatal fw. It was desperate.

  The serpent lunged again, mouth wide, aiming for his throat. Corinth sidestepped, and with a quick swipe of his hand, he plunged the stone into the snake’s open mouth, aiming for the soft tissue inside. The creature recoiled, its head jerking back as blood spurted from the wound. But it didn’t die. Not yet.

  Corinth’s body ached, his limbs trembling with fatigue. He was injured, but he was far from finished. He took a step back, calcuting his next move. The serpent’s eyes narrowed, as if realizing that its opponent was still standing. But it was only a matter of time. The serpent had already lost. It just didn’t know it yet.

  Corinth took a deep breath, his hands steady despite the exhaustion gnawing at his bones. The next attack would be the st.

  The serpent hissed, its body curling in preparation for one more assault. Corinth shifted, using his remaining energy to leap over the creature’s strike, nding behind it. His feet hit the ground with a thud, but he didn’t pause. He was already in motion again.

  He grabbed one st stone, its weight nothing compared to the weight of his resolve. The serpent’s tail shed toward him, but he ducked, rolling underneath it to nd on the creature’s side. He wasted no time.

  With a swift motion, he drove the stone deep into the serpent’s side, hitting the vulnerable spot near the ribs. The creature let out a final, ragged scream, thrashing violently, but Corinth held his ground. His arms shook with effort, but he pushed the stone in deeper, twisting with all his might.

  The serpent’s body shuddered, its tail went sck, and the once-thrashing creature stilled. Corinth remained poised, his breath ragged, waiting for any sign of life, but none came.

  The serpent was dead.

  Corinth’s body slumped against the nearby rock, the pain finally catching up with him. His hand trembled as he wiped blood from his face, his eyes never leaving the fallen creature. The adrenaline was still coursing through his veins, but his mind began to clear.

  [Quest Completed: The Value of Breath.]

  He didn’t flinch at the appearance of the words, the brief fsh of unfamiliar symbols. They were nothing to him now. His chest rose and fell with every breath as the reality of his situation began to sink in.

  Alive. I survived. That’s enough. For now.

  His body felt like it was on the verge of shutting down, but the pain was fading, and the familiar feeling of being whole returned as his wounds began to close. It was as if his body itself was responding to the quest’s conclusion. Healing, restored, reborn.

  Corinth closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the stillness of the air. His chest heaved, every breath feeling both like a blessing and a curse. Blood dripped slowly from his body, but now, it was just a mark of his survival. The serpent’s form y still before him, its massive body sprawled out across the dry, rocky ground. But as he stood up, the familiar weight of exhaustion beginning to settle in, he knew deep down that this wasn’t the end. It was only the beginning.

  A far cry echoed in the distance, harsh and primal, sending a ripple through the air. Corinth’s eyes snapped open, and his body tensed. The sound was too close, too loud to ignore.

  It wasn’t just the serpent. There were more.