As the sun begins to set on the horizon, a lone skeleton stands amidst the twisted trees of the Hollow Forest. It watches the fading light, its hollow eyes reflecting the orange and purple hues of the sky. For a moment, it wonders if life—or unlife—is more than just endless killing.
But its moment of reflection is shattered.
BANG
Ethan, Ferox, and the Bone Guard sprint past the skeleton, their footsteps pounding against the forest floor. The force of their movement sends the skeleton flying, its bones scattering across the ground.
"SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!"
Ethan shouts, his voice strained as the group continues to run.
The creature is still chasing them, its metallic form twisting and contorting with unnatural speed. Its mouth widens into a grotesque smile, and it lets out a distorted laugh—AOHOHOHOHOHOH
a sound like a dying jackal, mocking and horrifying.
"BOY!"
Ferox pants, his massive frame struggling to keep up.
"I DON'T... THINK... I CAN RUN... AS FAST!"
Ethan glances back, his heart sinking. Ferox is slowing down, his movements growing sluggish. The Minotaur has never run this much, not since the last wars of heaven. Ethan knows Ferox won't last much longer if this keeps up.
He makes a decision.
"FEROX!"
Ethan shouts, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Ferox looks at him, his eyes filled with exhaustion and determination.
"I'LL DISTRACT THE CREATURE WITH THE BONE GUARD!"
Ethan says, pointing north.
"YOU MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE NEXT ZONE!"
Ferox hesitates, his grip tightening on his shovel. "ARE YOU SURE, BOY?"
Ethan nods, his expression resolute.
"Go!"
Ferox grunts, reluctantly nodding in agreement. He veers off toward the north, his heavy footsteps fading into the distance.
Ethan turns to the Bone Guard.
"Let's go!"
"LIGHTNING LIBERTY!"
Ethan activates his ability, his body surging with energy as he sprints toward the creature. The Bone Guard follows, its purple eyes glowing with determination.
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The creature's mouth opens wide, a gaping maw ready to swallow them whole. But Ethan doesn't falter.
FASTER
FASTER
FASTER
FASTER
FASTER
His movements blur as the colors around him shift—
Green,
Blue e
Red
Purple... and finally,
Back
SLASH
Ethan's katana cuts through the air with blinding speed, aiming for the creature's center
But the creature's smile only widens. Its body bends, twists, and turns, the slash passing harmlessly through its metallic form.
"....CRAP,"
Ethan mutters, his heart sinking.
He immediately rolls to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's grasping claws. The Bone Guard moves in to cover him, its shield raised and sword at the ready.
Ethan grabs the Bone Guard by its skeletal arm and yanks it to the side, narrowly avoiding another attack. They take off running again, the two groups now split up.
"ME AND MY SHITTY LUCK NEVER FAIL TO DISAPPOINT!"
Ethan shouts, ducking as a massive boulder hurtles past him, crashing into a tree behind them.
CLICK CLICK CLICK
The Bone Guard's jaw rattles, its purple eyes glowing with a question: Why aren't we fighting it?
"....DO YOU THINK I'M DUMB ENOUGH TO FIGHT THAT? HELL NO!"
Ethan snaps, his voice filled with frustration and fear.
"I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT THING IN THE GAME IN ITS ENTIRE EXISTENCE! THAT'S MORE OF A MONSTER FROM LOVECRAFT THAN A GAME!"
The Bone Guard nods in agreement, its skeletal face unreadable but its body language suggesting it understands the gravity of the situation.
As they run, Ethan spots flames in the distance, flickering like a beacon of hope.
"THERE! MOVE FAST!"
They push themselves to their limits, their footsteps pounding against the forest floor. But the creature is relentless. Its body morphs again, its legs shifting into four human-shaped hind legs, allowing it to run even faster. The sound of its metallic limbs scraping against the ground grows louder, closer.
Ethan's heart races as he glances over his shoulder. The creature is gaining on them, its grotesque form twisting and contorting with every step.
"FASTER!"
Ethan shouts, his voice cracking with desperation.
The Bone Guard clicks its jaw in response, its movements becoming more frantic as it matches Ethan's pace. The flames grow brighter, closer, but the creature is closing the gap.
As they reach the other side of the forest, Ethan and the Bone Guard skid to a halt. Before them lies a sheer cliff, the ground dropping away into a dark, endless abyss.
"...."
Ethan and the Bone Guard exchange a look, their expressions a mix of disbelief and resignation. Behind them, the metallic creature closes in, its grotesque form twisting and contorting as it approaches.
".....If we die, at least I wanna die fighting,"
Ethan mutters, drawing his katana with a determined grip.
CLICK CLICK
The Bone Guard taps Ethan's shoulder, its skeletal finger pointing toward a figure in the distance.
"What?"
Ethan asks, following the gesture.
A cloaked figure stands tall, its silhouette barely visible against the flickering flames. As it steps forward, the cloak falls away, revealing a warrior clad in burning armor. His helmet is that of a hoplite, and in his hands, he holds a spear and shield. The flames and embers of the dead cling to his armor, casting an eerie glow around him.
Behind him, countless skeletons emerge, their hollow eyes glowing with purpose. They line up in formation, their movements precise and disciplined.
AHOO
AHOO
AHOO
The skeletons chant in unison, their voices echoing through the forest. They begin to connect, their bodies forming a makeshift bridge that stretches toward Ethan and the Bone Guard.
BAM
The metallic creature crashes into the skeletal formation, its momentum halted by the sheer force of the undead army.
"....."
Ethan facepalms, his earlier resolve crumbling under the absurdity of the situation.
"Maybe I don't wanna die right now,"
he mutters, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
The Bone Guard clicks its jaw in agreement, its purple eyes flickering with what might be amusement.
