As we sat and exchanged stories, the tranquility of our conversation was violently interrupted by an unexpected upheaval beneath our feet. The ground quivered, setting the trees around us into a frenzy of snapping branches and rustling leaves. Panic ensued.
"What the hell was that?" exclaimed Yuweh, his hands desperately gripping a nearby tree for support.
The tremors intensified, and Laylah, wide-eyed, voiced the shared concern, "Is that an earthquake?"
I, with my peculiar sight, turned my gaze towards the source of the disturbance, revealing a sight both outrageous and terrifying.
"Guys, we have to get out of here. It's... we are no match. Why didn't I sense it earlier? Are my senses diminishing due to the atmosphere?" exclaimed Durato, urgency lacing his voice.
It seems the environment has dulled our senses as well because we didn't notice this monstrosity getting closer to us. it's as if we were slowly dying, You could see our collar bones and pale skin. The only person looking partially fresh was Laylah.
Then, emerging from the shadows, a colossal creature revealed itself – a monstrous fusion of scorpion and dragon. The creature, easily dwarfing an elephant, boasted a body clad in thick, armored plates. Its sinuous tail, adorned with venomous menace, swayed ominously. Malevolence gleamed in its eyes as it fixated on our vulnerable group.
"No one move or do anything stupid," Grandpa Tensei cautioned in a hushed tone, his words a palpable undercurrent of fear.
The monstrous entity roared, its violent sound reminiscent of the perilous encounters back in my home country. We found ourselves compelled to step back, desperately attempting to distance ourselves from this colossal threat. The creature, with predatory patience, paced back and forth, its gaze never wavering from our paralyzed group.
We stood frozen, our eyes locked on the nightmarish creature before us. The looming question echoed in our minds – how were we going to escape this monstrous foe? Should we run, or was running even a viable option? The gnawing sense of helplessness consumed me; a few weeks had passed, and I still felt feeble and defenseless against formidable adversaries.
My gaze shifted to Yuweh, positioned closest to the monstrous intruder. Though I couldn't discern his facial expression, the trembling of his body betrayed the fear that gripped us all. The looming threat tested the newfound bonds of our group, presenting a challenge that could either forge us into a stronger unit or instantly kill us.
"Yuweh, just keep calm and continue stepping back, slowly. Maybe we're in its territory. That could be the case because it hasn't attacked as yet." I Whispered to him. But his body trembled even more.
There was a sound like sticks being steeped on and the monsters' eyes focused in the direction the noise came from. Yuweh immediately put up his shield but the monster was too powerful. With a single swipe of its massive claws, it sent him flying through the air, his body crashing to the ground and into a tree with a sickening thud.The force of the swing sent all of us flying back as well but he got the full force of it.
As we all landed, thrown a few meters away by the monstrous force, a swift terror gripped us, compelling immediate action. Each of us scrambled, sprinting in disparate directions to escape the impending threat. However, amidst the chaos, Laylah stood her ground, an unwavering determination emanating from her eyes as the monstrous entity steadily closed in.
My instinct prompted me to circle back toward Yuweh, a sense of urgency propelling me forward. My heart sank at the sight that awaited me. Yuweh, gravely injured, had lost an arm, and crimson rivulets painted a vivid tapestry of pain on his body.
"Please save her and protect them all," he managed to utter through a struggle, coughing up blood.
"Don't talk like that. We'll get you out of here," I responded, grappling with a sense of helplessness.
My gaze momentarily shifted to Laylah, the ominous presence of the scorpion dragon inching closer to her. Despite the imminent danger, her body was enveloped in a transformative energy field, now emanating a striking red hue. It was an ethereal display, akin to the flickering embers of burning wood at a campfire, casting an eerie glow that danced with the encroaching darkness. The sight left me in a state of bewilderment, as if witnessing forces beyond my comprehension.
I called out to Laylah, my voice filled with urgency, but she seemed entranced, lost in a trance-like state. The monstrous creature, poised for a strike, faced an unexpected adversary as Laylah thrust her palms forward. A surge of energy burst forth, distorting the air like a shimmering heat mirage, colliding with the creature in a display of breathtaking force.
In an instant, Laylah vanished from my sight, reappearing with a punch that unleashed a shockwave strong enough to disorient me amid the billowing dust. The aftermath of her attack, however, revealed the resilience of the monstrous foe, barely scratched but visibly enraged.
With Yuweh on my back, I sprinted away, only to be joined by Durato, who insisted on me to go save his sister while he carries Yuweh.
"Go for Laylah. You're stronger and faster. Please save my sister!" he implored.
"Alright, take care of him," I responded as I hastily tended to Yuweh's injuries, cauterizing his severed arm to stem the bleeding.
As I prepared to leave, Yuweh grasped my hands and uttered words of encouragement, "You can do this."
"How can I? That thing is too powerful. We're powerless against those monsters. All we can do is run," I admitted, feeling a wave of hopelessness.
"Never forget the human power of evolution, Rome. We will evolve and beat them," Yuweh whispered, coughing up more blood.
With his words lingering in my mind, I raced toward Laylah, who valiantly fought the monsters solo. It was a surreal spectacle, akin to witnessing two titans in combat. Laylah's attacks were formidable, yet the monster exhibited an impervious defense.
The radiant red aura emanating from her gradually faded, leaving the monster with minor injuries and a barely damaged eye. Her display of strength was awe-inspiring but short-lived.
In a shocking turn of events, the monstrous creature seized Laylah by her arms, cruelly tearing one off. Her agonized screams and the gruesome spectacle unfolded before my disbelieving eyes, leaving me paralyzed with horror. But Laylah didnt waver. She had the look of a beast in her eyes as her arm was dripping blood.
After seeing this, I charged at the monster like a mindless zombie, my only thought being to protect Laylah. As I approached,as my hand burned with powerful energy, I summoned all my strength and launched my strongest attack, a blast of fire, straight at its face at his eye that was damaged. I had to grip my right hand with my left hand tp keeo it from ripping apart
"Fireblast!" The cry erupted from my lips as I unleashed the fiery attack point-blank, utilizing my gravity nova force to create a protective barrier that shielded Laylah from the ensuing explosion.
The monstrous creature bellowed in agony and fury as the flames engulfed its face. In its momentary distraction, it flung Laylah aside. Without a moment's hesitation, I sprinted towards her landing spot, swiftly scooping her up in my arms. My legs moved with urgency making a hasty escape.
As I ran, my heart weighed heavily with fear and grief. Thoughts raced through my mind, "Yuweh and Laylah, are they both going to die? I can't heal them. Where is my mom when I need her? Why don't I have any potions from my hometown?"
In a matter of seconds, sprinting at an incredible speed, I came to an abrupt halt, quickly tearing a piece of my shirt to fashion a makeshift tourniquet around Laylah's injured arm, staunching the bleeding. She was battered and writhing in agony, but time was of the essence. A glance ahead revealed the spectral figures of Durato and Yuweh, and an unsettling wave of dread washed over me.
"Oh my god... her arm... it's... it's gone," I stammered, the sight of Laylah's maimed limb sending shockwaves through me. Grandpa finally caught up with us, panting and looking more exhausted than ever.
"Don't..... worry. She..just needs some rest and some energy," he said, attempting to sound reassuring, but his eyes betrayed a hint of concern and his lungs sounded like they were about to collapse.
"What? What do you mean? Her hand is gone! She's losing blood!" I shouted, panic tightening its grip on my voice.
"And Yuweh... what about him?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Yuweh clutched my hands with his cold, malnurished looking, bloodied ones. Despite the pain he must have been in, he managed to muster a weak smile at me. "Please... protect... each other. I love you all. Rome, remember that store we wanted to open when we get out of here? We were going to be rich in this new age," he said, his voice growing weaker with each word, and his gaze distant. Tears streamed down the faces of everyone around us.
"Why are you guys crying? He's going to be okay, and we're going to get out of here. He's going to see his family, and... and..." I denied the reality unfolding, my mind grappling with the unbearable truth.
"The sunset... looks so peaceful today, doesn't it?" His last words hung in the air, a haunting reminder of the impending tragedy.
"What sunset!? What are you talking about, man!?" I screamed, the walls of denial crumbling as tears flowed freely down the faces of my comrades.
"Help me out, Rome," Grandpa Tensei said, placing a hand on me. He wanted to use my energy to help speed up Laylah's healing process. I didnt understand but it didnt matter right now. I just wanted them to get better.
A surreal numbness enveloped me as he siphoned my energy, channeling it towards Laylah. I was lost for words, my emotions tumultuous, as I stared around like a baby in the throes of despair. My friend lay lifeless before me, and the weight of regret, confusion, and the brutal reality of his demise pressed on me like a suffocating darkness. I knelt beside Yuweh's lifeless body, his name escaping my lips in a desperate plea, shaking him, as if the sheer force of my will could awaken him. "Yuweh! Wake up! We'll be rich merchants, just like we planned!" But the silent stillness persisted, and reality held me captive in its merciless grasp.
"Yuweh!! Yuweh! Yuweh!!....Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!!" My anguished cries reverberated through the air, a torrent of grief and disbelief that could not be contained. Each call of his name was a plea to defy the cruel fate that had befallen us. The world seemed to shrink, closing in on the tragedy that unfolded before my eyes.
As if awakening from a nightmare, Grandpa and Durato touched my shoulders, their presence a somber anchor in the storm of emotions. Their hands, heavy with shared sorrow, served as a support, grounding me to the grim reality we now faced. Yet, within the cacophony of my screams and the weight of despair, there was an unspoken understanding—a silent acknowledgment of the profound loss that bonded us in that heart-wrenching moment.