LOCATION: Unknown
Distant footsteps
Panting sounds
In a dense jungle filled with green and yellowish trees, a figure in a white robe carrying a booklet could be seen sprinting through the towering trees. Several other figures, all clad in black robes and armed with weapons, pursued him in a heated chase.
"One can run, but one can't hide!"
A towering figure, larger than the rest and seemingly the leader, yelled, mocking the escaping figure with a sneer.
"Marv, it's pointless to struggle. Hand over the package!"
The leader yelled again, toying with the man in white. The man's hair was disheveled, and sweat dripped down his chin. His white robe was crumpled from the long run. He took a desperate breath as his foot caught on a tree root, causing him to tumble to the ground. Yet, he quickly got up and continued his escape. The fall, however, had narrowed the distance between him and the black-robed leader, who was now close behind.
"Jim, you and I have no enmity between us. Let me go, and I'll pretend this never happened."
For the first time, the man in white spoke, gritting his teeth with an unyielding expression.
"Hahaha, you think you're strong, huh? Look who's cowardly running away now!"
The leader of the men in black yelled and mocked while snickering. His companions behind him laughed along, brandishing their swords with excitement and vigor. Even while running, they didn't seem to tire or lose their breath, and their laughter echoed through the forest.
Time was running out.
It had to be hidden. Marv knew it, and everyone else did too. The council would never believe what was written in the book. This book held the power to shake the world to its core. If it fell into the wrong hands, it would spell doom for the entire world.
He knew he had to destroy the book. Their sacrifice shouldn't be in vain.
A few kilometers later...
Jim persisted throughout the chase, panting for breath as sweat dripped from his forehead. He was growing increasingly annoyed with this unyielding rat. Even after a long chase, the escapee still persisted in his desperate attempt to flee.
Worse still, Marv ran like a madman on the verge of collapse, yet they still couldn't catch up to him.
'How much stamina does this bastard have?'
Jim gritted his teeth as he chased after the rat, his eyes reddening with frustration.
The crew behind them began to tire, some of them lagging behind after Marv's rough evasions and tricks. Their jeering expressions had long vanished, replaced with heavy exhaustion.
They had been chasing for a while now, from finding Marv in their secret headquarters to pursuing him out here.
The sky was now dark, and the shadows from the trees seemed to move. Strangely, the temperature was dropping.
Sure, every night was cold—it was a law of nature—but this coldness was different.
Marv noticed the odd surroundings too. First, the trees around them seemed to have multiplied, becoming twice as dense compared to the jungle they had been running through.
The trees this time were different from the yellow and green-leaved ones. They were ashen gray, and the area was enveloped in a whitish-gray fog that thickened as they advanced.
They stopped in their tracks, scanning their surroundings. Marv also halted not too far from them, backing away cautiously.
Forgetting the heated chase, everyone focused on their surroundings. They could no longer care about Marv or the book he stole. After all, they couldn't decipher it. Even with their leader personally studying it, all they got was the title...
Book of Doom
They knew something was wrong. This place gave them a sinister feeling. Naturally, they valued their lives more than the damn book…
Coo! Coo!
Abruptly, they turned their heads toward the source of the sound deep in the mist, listening intently.
Coo! Coo!
"Ca... Captain, d–do you hear that?"
One of the men asked, his legs trembling with fear.
"Y-ye... Ahem, yes. Victor, go check what's making that sound."
Victor, one of Jim's men, felt his pupils contract in terror upon hearing the order.
"C–Captain, why me?" Victor asked fearfully, backing away slowly.
"Listen, mate, you're the strongest among us, aye? Surely you're brave too?" Jim gave his minion a stink eye as he watched his cowardice. He gritted his teeth and continued,
"Victor, buddy, remember your oath. You swore to be brave, remember?"
Victor fidgeted and replied,
"Captain, you once said we have strength through numbers. If I leave now, it'll weaken our group."
The men behind Jim mumbled in agreement. They knew if they didn't agree, with Victor's stubbornness, one of them might end up checking the sound.
Seeing his crew agreeing with Victor, Jim had no other choice but to let it go. After all, Victor wasn't entirely wrong—they did have strength through numbers.
"Fine, but keep your mouths shut. Everyone stick together, and... where's that rat?"
Jim and his men were startled to discover that Marv, whom they had been chasing, was no longer among them.
Thinking back, they realized they hadn't heard his voice during the commotion, too engrossed in their argument.
"Everyone, don't panic. That bastard must've been eaten. Stay together and keep your eyes open."
Arrgh!
Jim turned to see one of his men on the ground, his neck bleeding profusely as he twitched before slumping dead.
"Shit–shit–shit! He's dead." Victor exclaimed in fear, staring in horror at the lifeless corpse.
"Shut up, Victor…"
"We're gonna die, we're gonna die, we're gonna d..."
Slap!
"Victor, get a hold of yourself and stop panicking…" Jim angrily spoke as he slapped Victor, who was instantly silenced, his gaze fixed behind Jim.
"What are you standing around for, Victor? Get on the defense line." Jim spoke again, noticing Victor's mouth agape.
"C–C–Captain, b–behind you." Victor stammered, pointing behind Jim in terror.
Curiously, Jim turned his head to look behind him and...