Why did it stop? Ali wondered, trying to understand. He cautiously shifted his weight, preparing to defend himself if necessary, but the monster didn't react. Instead, it was slowly falling to the ground.
As the beast retreated, Ali's gaze caught something unusual. Amidst the chaos, a strand of red hair, illuminated by the dim light, was visible from behind the monster. His heart skipped a beat as he strained to see more. The hair was unmistakably familiar—it was Akai's.
As the beast fell to the ground, its massive body collapsing with a thunderous crash, Ali's eyes were drawn to a more surprising sight. Akai was on the monster's back, barely conscious but unmistakably alive. Her long red hair was splayed out across the beast's rough, thick skin, and she was clutching the creature's hide with one hand as if she had been thrown there during the battle.
Ali's heart raced with a mix of relief and urgency. He could see that Akai was battered, but the sight of her alive was enough to ignite a fierce determination within him. He staggered toward her, wincing with every step, but driven by the need to get to her.
The creature's fall had created a temporary silence, broken only by the heavy breaths of the exhausted combatants. Ali approached Akai, carefully climbing onto the beast's back to avoid disturbing her too much. He gently reached out to her, his hands trembling as he touched her shoulder.
"Akai," he murmured, his voice a mix of relief and concern. "You're alive."
Akai's eyes fluttered open, and she managed a weak smile, though it was clear she was still struggling. The battle had taken its toll, but the sight of her alive and in one piece gave Ali a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.
As Ali reached Akai, he noticed something unusual. She was clutching the creature's hide with one hand, while the other hand held her sword—a gleaming blade that had been driven deep into the beast's chest. The sword's hilt was visible, and the blade seemed to pulse with a faint, eerie light, indicating that it had been crucial in bringing down the monstrous foe.
Akai's grip on the sword was weak, but she managed a small nod as she met Ali's concerned gaze. Her face was pale, and her breaths came in shallow gasps, but there was a flicker of determination in her eyes. The sword had clearly played a vital role in the monster's defeat.
"I… I couldn't hold on for long," Akai whispered, her voice strained but resolute. "But I made sure I come back again."
Ali nodded, trying to mask his relief with a focused expression. "You did great, Akai. Let's get you out of here."
With great care, he helped her remove the sword from the beast's chest, making sure not to cause any further injury. The fight was over, but they still had to find a way to escape and tend to their wounds. As they prepared to leave, Ali kept a protective arm around Akai, guiding her away from the fallen beast and toward safety.
As Ali and Akai made their way toward the door, hoping to escape the perilous situation, an unexpected and sinister force intervened. Thick, twisted plant vines, pulsating with a dark, almost sentient energy, burst from the walls and floor, wrapping around their legs and bodies with alarming speed.
The vines tightened with relentless pressure, dragging both Ali and Akai away from the door. Despite their desperate efforts to break free, the tendrils pulled them deeper into the labyrinthine structure, away from any hope of escape. The feeling of being ensnared in the living, suffocating grasp of the vines was both terrifying and disorienting.
Ali struggled against the constricting vines, trying to reach the door, but their pull was too strong. Akai, already weakened from her injuries, was unable to fight back effectively, her attempts to free herself only making the vines tighten more painfully.
"Why again?" Ali murmured, "they just won't cut us a break"
As the plant veins dragged them further inside, Ali's heart pounded with a mix of fear and frustration. They were trapped, and the danger was far from over. The once-faint hope of escape was now replaced with the pressing need to find another way out or face whatever new threat awaited them in the depths of the building.
As the vines tightened their grip, Ali and Akai struggled together, their combined strength barely making a dent in the plant's relentless hold. Desperation fueled their actions as they fought back, using every ounce of energy they had left. Akai, despite her severe injuries, managed to summon a burst of strength, slashing at the vines with her sword while Ali swung his iron rod with all his might.
"I can't believe….I have to fight in this condition", Akai was barely breathing, "trouble always falls me"
"I bet", said Ali, "you are a trouble too"
The battle with the vines was fierce and exhausting. Akai's sword cleaved through the thick tendrils, and Ali's strikes helped to sever several of the pulsating vines. With a final, collective effort, they managed to cut through the last of the plant's defenses. The monster's core, hidden among the tangled vines, lay exposed and vulnerable. They struck it together, and with a resounding roar, the plant beast let out a final, agonized cry before collapsing.
But their victory was short-lived. As the plant's body disintegrated, it released a cloud of toxic gas, filling the chamber with a choking, noxious fog. The gas spread rapidly, enveloping Ali and Akai. The acrid fumes burned their throats and eyes, causing them to cough and gasp for breath.
"What is this?" Ali said gasping for air.
"Poison gas, maintain your breathing", replied Akai as she tried to keep her breathing steady and also trying to stop the bleeding from the hole created when the sharp iron pierced her guts, "ah.."
"Akai!" Ali noticing Akai's bleeding quickly went and pressed the wound to stop the bleeding, "this must have happened when you almost died that time"
As Ali helped Akai, he saw the full extent of her injuries. She was covered in her own blood, her once-pristine clothes now stained and tattered. The red streaks on her skin told a harrowing story of the battle she had endured.
Her face was bruised and cut, with blood trickling from a deep gash on her forehead. Her eyes, though alert, were clouded with pain and fatigue. Her hair, matted with blood and dirt, framed her pale face in disarray. The sword she held was stained with both her blood and the beast's, a testament to the close-quarters combat she had faced.
Akai's left arm was twisted at an unnatural angle, likely broken from a powerful blow. Her right leg was smeared with blood, and she was clearly favoring it, indicating a possible fracture or severe contusion. Numerous smaller cuts and abrasions covered her arms and legs, each adding to the grim picture of her condition.
The exhaustion in her eyes spoke of immense physical and mental strain. Her breathing was ragged, and every movement seemed to cause her pain. Despite her weakened state, her resolve remained strong, evident in her clenched teeth and determined gaze.
"how did she mange to fight in this critical conditions?", he thought, "no human could ever do this"
Ali could see how hard she had fought, and it was clear she had pushed herself beyond her limits. As he guided her away from the fallen beast, he knew they needed to get her medical attention quickly. The sight of her in such a critical state fueled his urgency to get them both to safety.
But, their attempts to escape were futile; the gas was thick and suffocating, and the plant's dying writhing had made the passageways even more treacherous. The room became a blur of swirling darkness, and the once familiar surroundings grew increasingly disorienting.