The kizen stood before Jack while holding a dagger in its right hand and wearing only a loin cloth stained with the blood of previous victims. A rustic smell invaded Jack's nose, causing a nauseating filling to arise from the pit of his stomach.
With murderous intent, it stared at Jack. Its cold animalistic eyes sent shivers down his spine.
Jack stood motionlessly, paralyzed by fear. Anxiety grew within him like a sprouting tree, branching around his lungs and squeezing. His surroundings became devoid of all noise, with the only audible sound being his rapidly beating heart and the whispers of his thoughts.
No, no, why is this happening? Why did I have to be found by this thing? This is bad. How did it find me? Jack quickly glanced at the fish. The smell of the fish must have attracted it. I was too careless.
Lifting the dagger, the kizen assumed a threatening stance. Taking a step forward, it grinned, exposing its fearsome carnivorous teeth.
"KEHL!"
I need to run! Jack mustered his strength and willpower and forced his legs to move. Turning toward the forest to his right side, He moved his shaky legs forward.
Moving only a single step, Jack glanced at the kizen. It had lunged forward at him, thrusting its dagger through the air. Jack instinctively turned to dodge the dagger aimed at his abdomen.
Dodging the dagger, Jack lost his balance and landed on his back. Laying on the ground, he watched the kizen quickly recover and begin to close the distance.
I can't let it catch me. Jack swiftly rose to his feet and, turning his back to the kizen, prepared to flee as fast as he could. If it catches me, I'll die.
"AHHHHHHH"
A sharp piercing pain caused Jack to scream out in agony. Before he could begin to run, the kizen had plunged its dagger into his right shoulder. His fear and anxiety intensified as he fell again to the ground, except this time, the kizen was standing next to him.
It caught me... Jack's mind raced as the danger he was in set in. I don't want to die. I can't die like this. Realizing death was knocking at his door; tears burst like a broken pipe streaming down his face.
Held captive by fear, his mind chased after despair. I'm too weak. That's why I'm going to die. He turned over to face the kizen. It had positioned itself over Jack and, holding the dagger with both hands, fiercely stabbed downward at his chest.
This is how I die. Jack closed his eyes. Weak and alone. As hope dwindled in Jack and the dagger drew closer to his chest, he felt a small fire birthed within him. It rapidly increased in size until becoming a raging fire that burst forth.
Filled with a sudden desire to live and survive, Jack grabbed the kizen's hands. Preventing the dagger from piercing his chest, he mustered all his strength to struggle against the kizen's determination to kill him.
I can't die so pathetically. I can only die when I've seen her crimson-red hair one more time. The kizen wore a surprised expression. Perhaps it was not used to its prey struggling so valiantly, or maybe it was shocked by the sudden resistance. Regardless, its expression did not last long. It soon smiled like a person enjoying the challenge of its kill.
Excited by the approaching death of its prey, the kizen pushed down on the dagger with all its might. The tip of the blade slowly inched towards Jack's chest. If I Just resist its force, I'll eventually lose. I need to find a way to gain an advantage.
Jack shifted his body slightly, allowing him to bend one of his legs and position it at an angle to the kizen. Summoning all the strength he could in his right leg, Jack kicked the kizen in its chest, causing it to stumble backward. Taking this brief moment the kizen spent to regain its balance, Jack swiftly stood up and prepared to fight.
After recovering its balance, it charged him savagely, swinging the dagger around. Jack dodged a few swings and, attempting to close the distance, suffered a light slash to his upper chest from a downward cut. The injury he received was not in vain, as it allowed Jack to grab the kizen's right hand and control the dagger's movements.
A great struggle for control over the dagger began. Jack used his slightly superior strength and height to maintain a firm grip on its hand and steadily pull the kizen closer to a nearby tree. It struggled to free itself from his grasp and attempted to bite him multiple times.
Jack and the kizen struggled till they reached the tree. Jack used the tree to his advantage and smashed its hand against the tree. The kizen released an agonizing scream as its grip loosened, and the dagger dropped to the ground.
Pushing the kizen over, Jack then quickly picked up the dagger. Finally, I can end this. The kizen had stood back up and jumped at Jack with its mouth wide open. This thing is really determined to kill me. Instinctively he held up his right arm to block its attack. Its teeth ripped the outer flesh and buried its sharp fangs into his arm.
The kizen had thrown all its weight onto Jack as it bit into his arm, causing him to fall onto his back with it now on top. Holding it off with his right arm, Jack plunged the dagger into its side. He felt the blade easily cleave through its flesh before meeting resistance. The cracking of bone could be heard as the resistance gave way.
"RRRRRRAAAAAAA"
The kizen released its tight bite around Jack's arm as it cried out from the pain. Blood appeared from the corners of its mouth. It reached down to the dagger's handle and tried to pull it out. Not wanting to give it the opportunity, Jack grabbed its arms and wrestled it onto its back.
Although the kizen was severely wounded, it struggled with great tenacity. It bit at Jack and tried to push him away as he mounted it. The once animalistic eyes and menacing grin had turned into fear and grimacing.
"You fought with all your strength and lost." Jack wrapped his hands around its throat. "You can find peace knowing that you struggled to the very end and helped me realize what I must do." As he tightened his grip, he could feel it gasping for air, the muscles desperately fighting against the pressure to keep its airway open. "I realized that to survive this world, I need to overcome my fears and face every challenge as if my life was on the line." The light began to fade from the kizen's eyes as he applied all the might he could muster into his grip. "You are just the first obstacle along my path."
With the adrenaline wearing off, Jack collapsed onto the ground next to the kizen. His arms, weak from exhaustion, felt like the world's weight was holding them down. Unable to move much, he lay there panting as his heart rate slowly decreased.
I'm lucky to be alive. Jack turned his head to look at the kizen and noticed a barely visible dull red light appear around its body. What is that? The light began to move away from the body and towards Jack's body. Touching his hand, his veins and arteries began to glow, becoming visible through his skin. Then a familiar woman's voice was heard.
[Blood essence absorbed]