Chereads / "Deities in the Making / Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Kill or be killed

Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Kill or be killed

I stepped through the door, unsure if this would be my last breath. The fear of death lingered in my mind, but I knew I had to keep going. As I entered, a screen appeared, explaining the challenge: I had to kill three low-grade beasts and survive natural disasters to collect their amulets.

Without warning, I was teleported into the heart of a dense forest. As I took in my surroundings, I noticed some bows nearby. This might not be as bad as I feared. I started searching for a place to rest for the night and spotted a cave. But before I could get close, I had to jump back—nearly getting rammed by a giant gorilla. This would be my first beast.

Before I could even react, two more beasts emerged. An eagle swooped down from the sky, and I knew I was in for a tough fight. Claws and fangs came at me from all directions, and a bull charged straight toward me, nearly impaling me. I dodged just in time. This was going to be a brutal battle.

I decided to take out the eagle first, figuring that controlling the high ground would be crucial. I scrambled up a tree, branch by branch, as the gorilla tried to follow. The bull, not to be outdone, started ramming the tree, shaking it violently. I realized I had to act fast or I'd be done for. Using my flame element, I propelled myself into the air. But as soon as I was airborne, the eagle was on me, dodging my arrows with ease.

I had to be faster. My energy was draining quickly, so I thought, What if I turned my flames into wings to conserve energy? I did just that, and it worked. I knew the eagle was at its fastest when diving but slower when climbing, so I summoned a barrage of flames and lured the bird into a trap.

The eagle didn't see it coming. It grew tired as it tried to follow me higher, and just as it reached its limit, I unleashed a massive fireball that engulfed it. The bird struggled, but I aimed my bow and fired an arrow straight through its head, decapitating it in one swift motion.

Before I could even catch my breath, a lightning bolt struck me down to the ground, and the gorilla landed a powerful punch to my chest. I realized this challenge was more than just a fight against beasts; I had to battle the very elements themselves. The gorilla charged again, and this time, I barely dodged its attack. One more hit like that and I'd be finished.

I quickly assessed my options and decided that the bull, now enraged, would be the easiest to take down next. I lured it into a straight path, then at the last second, I dodged to the side and leapt onto its back. Before it could throw me off, I drove an arrow deep into its throat. Blood poured from the wound, covering me as the bull collapsed.

With two beasts down, I knew the gorilla was next. But I had a plan. Earlier, I had secretly coated its fur with gunpowder. Now was the time to set it off. I launched a fireball at the gorilla, and it exploded into a shower of blood and gore. I couldn't help but laugh as pieces of its flesh rained down around me.

But then, I heard that voice again—"Kill, kill, kill." I forced myself to calm down. Had I lost my sanity for a moment? Who cares? The task wasn't over yet. I had to collect the amulets and finish the job.

The final challenge awaited me. I had to kill a human to complete the task. I steeled myself for what was to come.