"Okay, time to run..."
This sudden occurrence was inevitable but his face still conveyed shock.
For them, he is food and food is always to be hunted. Humans may consider themselves at the top of the food chain but that golden rule bends now and then. Humans are and will always be feeble, all the more when exposed to the world's curse.
"So what are my current choices?"
An about-turn will do nothing. It will only reveal his location so he didn't try to peek.
Creepers have this exceptional sense, especially around their five-meter radius. This means he felt them close enough to decide not to peek.
He prepared himself to the max by breathing sharply to draw out all trepidation he have. However, what he does resulted otherwise. Fear forces its way in.
"Damn, they got here so fast. Looks like it's time to exert maximum effort!" He pulled the sword that's been stuck at the ground.
"What's with them? Finding me so fast? It's like they have eyes all over the forest. Normally, they ought to give up easily after a few hundred meters of chasing."
"This swarm must've been that hungry… Going alone might just be my own mistake from the beginning."
Despite his thought earlier, he still made a quick peek slowly leaning his head at the thick trunk of the tree he is hiding. His breathing is in no way going back to normal but he endured the tense and courageously peeked.
…One, three, five, ten?
"They really do like to gang up on their prey. They sure love it. I'm betting hefty gold they really love it!"
"Those sadistic eight-legged bastards!"
"Wait, no, I can't bet yet. I'm still underage and I have no money at that!"
"What the heck! I'm dead, so dead! Really dying today…"
"Dying without even striking rich is bad. I don't even have any achievements in my life. What did I even come here for?!"
"Of course, it's fame and to make money!" He complained imitating a mosquito voice trying to light the situation but hilariously flunked it.
No matter how you look at it, he's in terrible danger.
"Haah… I'm not thinking straight. I'm losing my sane. I'm hundred percent sure it's the curse's fault."
After leaving a nod to himself like that, he tilted his head back to hide again.
His breathing is ragged.
Cold air brushes his skin that shivers down to his spine.
The sounds of metal clanking can be heard from his sword every now and then.
He's quivering.
His throat is narrowing.
It became silent around all of a sudden so he can hear it loudly. It's the distinct sound of his heart throbbing.
His thoughts run faster and faster as if time didn't matter.
...What am I thinking?
...Ten, huh? Sure, they are small, alright.
...But with ten, huh?
Even thinking a quick battle simulation inside his head got him killed a few times already.
...This might be it.
...I'm really going to die.
...If I manage to live on and tell this story to others and somehow the story became a book and somehow the book survive and pass onto generations, I wonder what would future readers think of me.
...They sure let me run a few hundred meters. What the heck!
...They sure love torturing their prey. You know, driving them back to the corner.
But then he thought,
...Wait?
…Really?
...Is it not coming?
...I thought there would be like a flash of a past or something or like I will remember all sorts of embarrassing, happy, and sad memories like in a flash.
...I thought I heard someone saying that.
...Well, I guess it differs from person to person. Or perhaps I'm really not dying. Not this time.
He rubbed his nose with his index finger. After doing so, he tried leaning back at the tree trying to peek at them again.
…Still ten, huh? …Still no flash from the past either. I guess I can't die just yet. For now, I guess.
He thought for a moment. His eyes are focused below, onto the ground he is standing, still thinking.
The creepers are far and still didn't know his exact location. They seem to be checking every nook and cranny. He can make a run for it or stay hidden until they leave. If they leave, that is.
…Strange, it's been ten minutes and they are still lurking around as if waiting for him to make a mistake.
From that point, he recalled the rumors about them.
...I can't outrun them. For sure, while I'm here sitting duck, they are already surrounding me.
He has to fight.
If not now, when? He felt a strong push at his will yet his hands are still shaking.
He started gripping it hard frantically. It was at this moment when he has to kill or be killed.
"…AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"
With a huge battle cry, he entered the fray. He made a big swing in the air then assumes a battle stance. It was from this moment that he realizes that he was already surrounded by them.
Regret from showing himself tugs his consciousness.
…Now I've done it.
Biting his lip, a forced smirk can be assumed from his despaired face.
Three? Five? He no longer had them counted.
He can't afford to strain his eyes that much further. Left and right, he tilts his head. What he sees now is the current number in front of him. They may be others still hiding but that didn't matter for now.
It was naïve to think like that, but the situation cornered him to think like that as if it was the most rational thing to do.
"Raaarh!"
He yelled a huge roar attempting to intimidate his enemies. 'Come! Try and get me!' his eyes are saying. However, what he did was for naught. It made them more hostile. Their blue eyes glared at him with killing intent. To them, he was nothing more than food to be hunted. This was for a certain when their squeals became much sharper than ever.
Where? Where will they attack me? Front? …Sides? …At the back? Why are they not going for it? Huh? Still, sizing me up? Hey! Crap! My nerve's on fire, man…
Unlike his thought earlier, his eyes are straining as much as his mind like gears from a clock that is bound to move by the other; only that the clock that he has in mind was insanely fast at that.
"Sssskiiii"
Suddenly a sound emerges from the swarm of hissing no, they aren't snakes, spiders don't hiss. It must've been their speaking language saying 'I'm coming at you' or something. Not that Faya knew of that language though.
Where?! Where is it, left or right?
He didn't even need to ask. Answers struck at him through a force of mass.
The creeper pushed him onto the ground glimmering with blue luster in their eyes piercing through the space between him and the creeper.
The boy made a quick judgment getting his blade in front of him at the last second.
No, it's not like that.
It may have looked like a proper block but it was not. What he did was just frantically guard his front not knowing where the attack would hit.
It may have protected him at the least but what's next? He's now pinned down. He's in more trouble than ever.
The attack came from the front. Not noticing this is a pure blunder. How can he make such a mistake? It was supposed to be a manageable attack from the swarm. His eyes only left that spot for a split second and yet his guard came slower.
...Arghhh, complaining won't do any good.
"Tsk! Urgh! You piece of!"
"Sssskiiiiiiii"
…Heavy!
The blow was heavy enough to make him stay his back flat on the ground.
The monster's push continued.
With his shaking hands, he struggled to handle the sword as the dark creeper forced its fang onto his neck.
His inexperience in swordsmanship is showing which further wounded his self-esteem.
The creeper's squeals were irritating his ears, like a high pitch voice.
He kicked it and kicked it then kicked it.
It was no more than a vain struggle. But he didn't give up; no matter what risk it will be, he held the sword in one hand. With his other free hand, he pounded it with numerous punches till the Dark creeper finally let loose with a painful squeal.
...What now?
There are still others.
It's a miracle that they didn't gang up at him earlier. It was a close call but why? He didn't brood over it hard. He knew it well enough that his question won't be answered.
He cleared his throat to conclude his thoughts then made a charging stance followed by a rather pathetic groan.
He's still alive.
Right now he is still standing alive and that much is certain.
His limbs are still moving.
...Don't think of anything unnecessary.
...If you still have some time for thinking, use it for the battle you good for nothing.
...Still ten, huh? Nope, I won't complain, fine. When it happens, it happens. I guess that's how the saying goes but I can't help but feel discouraged from that.
He quickly looked back only to feed despair to himself. He wanted to run but seeing his way blocked off made him bite his lip.
Grimacing won't do anything. He will fight it out until help comes.
...Huh? Did I really expect help, from whom?
A thought came for a moment and made him fake a laugh.
Laugh?
It was no more than a despairing laugh, a laugh that someone ought to make when there's nothing that can be done. There's no way help would come. He already knew it.
Squeals after squeals, they sound.
His eyes strained from left to right to check if something is moving. Who's going to go first? …Left or right?
His eyes were widened, cautious enough to keep his life burning. Kindling fire it might have been.
However, his fists grow tighter holding the handle of the sword, unable to accept the inevitable end that's laid before his eyes.
...End? This is? What? I didn't know dying is this serious. I mean, yeah, it's pretty serious. I know that for sure. But I might really die for good. No, that can't be.
"Sssskiiiiiii!"
A sharp sound came from his right. Almost ear breaking but he forced his head to tilt to it.
From the sound of it, he knew an attack was coming yet again he was late reacting to it. He blocked it out after failing to deflect it totally.
The force from the creature's limbs pounded at him which shook his arm muscles upon impact as a result.
Some limbs grazed his arm. Luckily, it hit just his armor of leather.
The block he performed sure made the creeper loosed its balance to go straight through his left. No, it didn't look like he managed to deflect it. He made it manually by forcing it out of his way.
The outbalanced creeper made a reckless crash on the ground with its back facing Faya.
...Master said 'never show your back to your enemy'. Yep, I still remembered it very clearly.
He didn't let the sudden luck pass by him.
He struck it fiercely with his sword and made a weird cry. It was almost egotistical. He yelled loudly even if it looks miserable. Is he celebrating? That yell might've been both. He didn't want to die. Not now, not ever. There's no remake or do-over in life. Once you die, it's all over.
Another teaching his Master told him that in amidst of battle, there's no law in not using such things as cheap tricks and cheating.
All in the battle of life and death is equal.
There is no one in this world who believes that life can be gambled by playing fair and square. That might've been thinking too low but that's what makes humans are.
Honor, glory, what are those when you die?
Sure, the living will remember your good works but that won't keep you alive. To live at all costs is the most important rule.
Creepers might not be too different from them not quite by far. They hunt him in a swarm knowing he's alone after all. In the end, life's just unfair for everyone. Did Faya feel remorse in killing his enemy by his back? No.
...It's killed or to be killed.
...There's no way I would feel bad. I mean, they're still more of your kind around man. And I'm still in the red zone. I have no qualms in killing one or two …but that didn't mean I have the strength to act on it. Acting tough, huh? Yeah, that's me!
He pulled the sword out from the flesh then waved the sword splashing away the blood off to the ground. Splattered sounds came after that manner. This alone can make him smile in relief but he didn't.
It's still the beginning.
"Haaah… Haaah… Haaah…"
That moment he came to know yet again of the feeling; that strange feeling of the flesh being struck by his sword. That gooey sensation after pulling. It is all enough to loosen his grip. The bloodied sword he is holding.
It was all real.
He killed yet again another monster.
This isn't the first time he killed a monster but that strange feeling won't let go. It lingers and bothers him as if a rock was stuck between his lungs. This occurrence alone made him breathe heavily.
…I just can't let myself get used to this.
But that didn't mean that was the end of it.
They weren't just standing there staring at him. Another one's already coming his way. Fortunately, he evaded it. However, the creeper went through his left but managed to get a hold of his one arm gliding through the air making its way to his back.
Panicked, he frantically moves weirdly. He looks as if some random cockroach landed on his back.
To his luck, it came off. Then he stabs it in the head.
He groaned.
Blood sprayed and brains splattered.
"Haaarghkk!"
"Ssssskiiii"
A surprise attack made an entrance. No rest was made. He turns back just at the right time to block the attack. The creeper's hardened dark hairy limb locked with his sword.
"That's two of them… " He said as he lands backward lying beside a huge pillar of rock being pushed by another spider monster.
His words from his mouth were fogged caused by the coldness of the forest.
Faya sounded more like complaining rather than counting his current achievements so far.
With a sword at his hands, he shielded himself against it. The huge monster squeals at his face shaking his whole body. The force made the shimmering stone from his hand got loose and dropped to the ground.
...This is getting bad. I'm getting numb.
It was probably the curse's effect, Myrk. Or perhaps some of their venoms got him through his wounds. He can't be sure. His vision is already failing him.
…Two, huh? So two is my limit. Not that I'm proud of.
...Still two, huh? This is so pathetic. Not worth bragging. Heh, Can't I do better than this, huh? Eight more to go."
"What the heck I didn't know they were this heavy. I guess rumors were right after all."
...They look really weak and all, but, looking at them now and experiencing it myself. I can say for sure. These guys really pack a punch or much more than that. So it really comes down to this, huh? Risa, I'm sorry.
Silence filled the boy for a moment before he permitted his eye to rest.
The monster that is attacking him from the front jumps back to retreat. The creeper squeals and turns to its other creepers while waving its front limbs. It was as if it's bragging that he cornered Faya to this extent.
Faya assumed that it was the case as he was still observing their behavior even probably at his last moment.
...So everything that happened is like a contest for them to see who's their strongest member in the swarm. What a joke. So from the beginning, they were all just toying with me.
The boy didn't even brace himself. It was like he didn't even need to prepare, he just accepted it like it is his fate that was ending at this moment.
...Risa.
But then suddenly a huge squeal interrupted.
Being been disturbed by the sound, he squints his right eye to search for the possible disturbance.
...What? Oi, Come on? I'm still here!
Isn't his time already? Isn't he dying? They chased him all the way from their nest so why bother waiting?
As he slowly opens his left eye, he was stupefied.
...They're gone!
He tilts his neck to the right and saw a number of Dark Creepers fly in the air one by one from afar.
He squint his eyes and furrowed his brows. With a huge relief and frustration on his lips, he let out a big sigh.
Faya saw him, that broad back of his.
"I'm totally dead..."