Act: 19
Pushing forward they entered the final spot of the cave to which they believed. Beyond the hole was something they never would've expected, crystals all scattered around and engraved into the walls although this spot wasn't the end, in fact it was the beginning. Different routes and pathways leading to somewhere new, Shizu and Mars stood still stunned by what they witnessed, and what worried Shizu the most was the number of monsters he could sense and see in the distance.
"Mars... My suspicion is growing of this place... I may understand now... Why people didn't make it out of here alive along with why no dead bodies were ever found..."
"Howl?"
Shizu took a few steps back with a fearful expression that slowly started to worsen.
"This Forbidden Forest. No other Ranker's probably cared too much to realize that this is a Monster Forest! And I believe the source is somewhere deep within this cave…!"
"Howl??"
'This could explain why I met Mars and his buddies… I may have put these puzzle pieces together! Whatever is brining them out must be their way of getting here… but…'
Shizu takes another glance at Mars.
"Buddy... Do you think we made a mistake...? This area might be way out of our league, for once we should turn back… maybe this mysterious creature we've been following is something more dangerous…"
*GRWERR*
A heavy roar like thunder came from behind and echoed throughout the cave, which happened to be so intense it sent chills down his spine. The monster emerged its way out of a hidden exit they hadn't noticed, still in shock Shizu slowly turned around to see a huge black figure charged at him, swinging its arm, and sending him flying further back into the cave and off the edge they hadn't noticed was there.
Mars saw how fast Shizu flew before falling deeper into darkness, Mars turning their head. Beginning to growl aggressively charging at the shadowy figure only to meet the same fate as Shizu. Mars got struck towards the ground while another shadowy figure came out of nowhere, stomping its foot into Mars's skull causing Mars to shatter into particles of energy and disappear. The two figures directed their attention back to where they had tossed Shizu- and stared to make their way towards him.
His entire body felt numb with a constant ringing noise cycling in his ears. He thought that he wouldn't be able to move a single muscle in his body. With all his might, he tried to force himself back up, although it wasn't working no matter how hard he tried, it must be due to exhaustion from all the morning routines and the nasty fall he just had. That wouldn't stop him still attempting to move, the noise of other animals or monsters could be heard in every direction except for one sound that was faintly heard which increasingly got louder each second. The sound of heavy footprints caused the ground to rumble and the sloshing of its foot stepping in the wet dirt.
'You can't be serious... right now... where's Mars!... I need help... My body...'
The sound of walking became much louder and clearer than before.
'Please! This can't be...'
'Wait! No, I was wrong before... The source is not from this cave... I can't believe I'm having these thoughts now! Whatever! I must move!!'
*Thud Thud Thud*
"I need to move now! Ughh!!"
The stomping began to come from behind Shizu's head frozen in place, as they slowly descended the rocky pathway. Emerging out of their shadowy figures, two giant monster bears appeared with black fur, a brown colored coat around their neck and red wide spikes can be seen sticking out of both shoulders. Seeing him lie on the ground the two bears let out a fierce roar, walking closer and closer.
'They... can't... no way are they behind me... ...! I must move! Please body, move!'
Intense thoughts of moving. Shizu tries harder and harder to get any muscle to budge. The bear had crept up ever so close, one step forward, bending down to grab him by the leg until his finger twitched.
'Yes!'
*Woosh*
Shizu's body went upwards into the air and slammed back onto the ground with full force from the bear. His eyes opened wide before hitting the ground and when his face had made contact with the ground, the bear lifted him again into the air with its right paw. Blood spewed out of his nose and mouth, as the bear turned, throwing his body into the darkness.
*Crash*
With his right eye slightly open and the left completely shut, he began feeling dizzy alongside his vision starting to blur- the thoughts in his head seemed much louder and constant. Unlike before he couldn't move anything now, he was certain that his body would give out any minute.
'Please...'
The footsteps were quiet.
'Someone... I- can't...'
The footsteps rattled…
'Anyone... Please...'
The footsteps became closer...
'I don't want to die...'
The footsteps were loud.
'Why can no one hear me... Please... It's getting dark. Someone please I'm begging... Am I... Why is it dark... Where are you...'
Both of Shizu's eyes were closed with tears falling.
The footsteps of the two arrived.
'I hear you... Taku... Hinako... Did you come to help me, guys...? Why aren't you responding... It's not funny now! "Who are you...!" You are not it... Am I it...? What do you mean... It's not my fault...'
The bear that originally threw him into the cave wall bent down letting out its fierce growl and spit hitting parts of his face and sticking its arm out. The bear thought for sure he had been dead and grabbed Shizu by the leg once more.
*Grrwrr*
*Bu-dum*
*Ba-dum, Ba-dum* Slowly dragging his body forward that had rested on the wall, caused his head to hit the ground in the process. The bear looked back at him after hearing the noise and was certain he was dead.
*Grrwr Grhehe*
"I don't know who you think you are. I am not letting you grab me again like that and treat me like I'm some doll, get your damn paws off me."
Shizu bent his waist forward glaring up at the bear with a murderous intent resting in his eyes like before and his voice somewhat monotone. He grabs its paw while it was holding onto his leg.
The bear faced back at Shizu seeing the expression on his face. Fearful, the bear quickly reverted to a snarling look, trying to break free of his tight grip.
*Grrwrr*
Aggressively pulling its arm back the bear became more anxious as it looked into his eyes. The void of death. Pulling hard enough the bear managed to break his arm free.
*Splat*
It looked down, blood started to spill onto the ground intensely, as it took another glance at him, he saw that its paw was still in the clutches of his hand. While he stood emitting an aura of something that was unexplainable.
*Grwrahhrahh*
Restlessly roaring, it took a few steps back and the other bear stepped forward awkwardly, letting out a roar that didn't have a fearful tone to it almost as if it too was scared. Shizu paused for a while, empty-minded, staring at the bear's paw in his hand. Slowly lifting his head up at the bear with both paws that stood in front of him, he took another look back at the paw and the bear and back at the paw. Saliva started to drip from Shizu's mouth and without a moment to waste he aggressively started biting into the paw, devouring it all the way down to the bone. Red and greenish-colored blood splashed all over his mouth and shirt.
*Bu-dum*
Blood dripped from his mouth. Shizu drops the cleaned bone he had finished on the ground and directs his attention back toward the bear. Rushing at full speed, he takes a small leap in the air striking a punch at the bear's chest, in return the bear holds its guard putting both paws up. The strike was too intense for the bear to handle, which broke both of its arms completely and sent it back into the wall.
The bear with the missing paw, gradually moved forward dashing at Shizu proceeding to swing with its left arm.
*Grrawaa*
Whizzing around the bear Shizu takes another leap in the air and lands on the bear's back, wrapping his arms around its neck ferociously, snapping it to the right, killing it. Falling off its back the bear's lifeless body plummeted. Looking at the other one he slowly walks up to it and sees it sitting on the ground in pain from both dents in its arm. And without hesitation in the blink of an eye, Shizu delivers the final blow, punching it in the chest, shattering through its rib cage, and bursting its heart, killing it.
*Bu-dum Bu-du*
The beat of his heart lowered, slowing down. He managed to calm down now that both threats were eliminated. Falling onto his knees, coming back to his senses while his body gives out. Once more he fell completely on his back.
'That feeling... It's familiar... Why am I recalling thoughts now? I can't be dying. Can I? Even so... I never felt this way until I met those wolves- Mars to be exact... But wait... That man in the robe!'
"..."
'It started when I saw him... Could he be tied to this... I don't know, everything has gone up and down ever since I got here... Am I truly getting strong? For now, I need to rest- I don't know if I will even wake...'
Shizu passed out for the time being and what seemed to be an hour later before waking up.
"Ugh... My head... No, my whole body is sore! Why in the world...?"