Yasuji's lungs burned like fire in his chest. Every muscle in his legs screamed in protest, but he couldn't stop. Bursts of moonlight speared through the dense canopy overhead, casting fleeting shadows that danced along with his frantic pace. His eyes, wide and bloodshot, were fixed on the sliver of beach peeking through the trees in the distance. It was a beacon of hope, a desperate promise of escape from the island that had become a living nightmare.
With each pounding step, the frantic rhythm of his heart seemed to echo in his ears. The air itself felt thick with tension, heavy with the unseen dangers that lurked in the tangled undergrowth. The chilling howls of unseen creatures and the unsettling rustle of leaves in the night wind fueled his terror, urging him onward.
Just as Yasuji stumbled out of the oppressive embrace of the forest, his weary legs giving way beneath him, a sight greeted him that sent a jolt of renewed energy through his exhausted body. A large boat, its weathered hull a stark contrast to the island's ominous atmosphere, rested serenely on the water's edge. Like a lifeline thrown from the heavens, it represented a chance, a fragile hope of escape and a return to the safety of civilization.
A surge of adrenaline washed over him, erasing the fatigue from his limbs. He stumbled towards the boat, his mind consumed by the singular desire to reach its welcoming wooden embrace. But just as his outstretched hand grasped the rough surface of the gunwale, a horrifying sensation engulfed him. Two large, hairy hands wrapped around Yasuji's face.
Slowly, the world around Yasuji began to fade as a wave of dizziness washed over him. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him were those glowing red eyes, filled with an unsettling mix of anger and desperation.
When Yasuji finally stirred back to consciousness, a wave of nausea rolled through him. Disoriented and confused, he tried to sit up, only to find himself bound tightly with rough ropes. A choked gasp escaped his lips as he took in his surroundings. He was no longer on the beach; instead, he found himself trapped inside the dimly lit lantern room of the old, dilapidated lighthouse. Jun and Belda, his companions on this ill-fated journey, lay beside him, similarly bound and their faces etched with worry.
Panic clawed at his throat as he realized the gravity of their situation. But before he could dwell on his fear, a guttural growl echoed through the room, and the creature from the forest materialized from the shadows. It perched menacingly on a pile of crates, its unsettling gaze sweeping over them.
It was a black pooka – a creature of unknown origin whose true nature remained a mystery to them all.
Soon after, the creature spoke, its voice filled with pain and anger, unsure if anyone would understand. It explained that Ori, a malevolent being, had cast a spell on it, trapping it in its current form.
"Once I could transform into any animal or beast I desired, but now, because of Ori, I am imprisoned in a single form."
At first, none of them understood, but the pooka, which resembled a mix of several animals, revealed that it had kidnapped them in order to blackmail Ori. Yasuji's skin crawled at the pooka's words, realizing that the dangers on this island were far more complex and intertwined than he had initially thought.
Yasuji knew he had to find a way to save himself, Jun, and Belda from the creature before it delivered them to Ori, the murderous villain.
With a spark of opportunity he spotted on the ground, Yasuji devised a plan – a risky and audacious one that would require every ounce of his courage.
He had secretly hidden a small, sharp piece of metal he had found on the floor in his palm, waiting for the creature to turn its back. He tried to cut the rope without it noticing.
Under the watchful and worried eyes of Jun and Belda, Yasuji used his fingertips to carefully sever the ropes.
When the creature witnessed Yasuji breaking free from his restraints, it lunged towards him. Yasuji grabbed a long iron bar he had found in the corner and hurled it at the creature. But the creature, with its powerful hand, broke the bar in half and charged towards Yasuji. Yasuji quickly freed himself from the ropes at his feet and, to defend himself, thrust the sharp metal he had been holding into the creature. He continued this for a short while until the creature suddenly grabbed him by the throat.
Just then, Jun, who had somehow managed to free herself from her ropes, turned on the lantern and shone it directly on the creature. Yasuji seized this opportunity and, taking advantage of the creature's disorientation, tried to push it off the cliff below the lantern room with the help of Belda, who had also freed herself from her restraints, they managed to shove the creature over the edge. But as it fell, the creature grabbed Belda's arm. Belda was pulled down by the creature's claw-like hand, her arm bloodied and severely injured.
Without a second thought, Yasuji grabbed a piece of the broken iron bar on the ground and plunged it into the creature's eye. With a final roar, the creature released Belda and plummeted to its death on the rocks below.
"Trust is the last thing you need on this island, and remember, you can't save everyone here." he had said his last words by saying.
With their newfound freedom, the trio hastily exited the lantern room and descended the old lighthouse's winding stairs. As they made their way, Yasuji tried to support Belda, who was severely wounded in her arm. Pooka's warning echoed in his mind. The island had taken a piece of them, a harsh reminder of the dangers they faced and the sacrifices that had to be made. The weight of the pooka's words settled heavily on Yasuji, a chilling premonition of the difficult choices that might lie ahead.