James's heart pounded in his chest as the dragon's piercing eyes locked onto him. His mind screamed at him to run, but his legs felt like lead. The HUD's single-word warning blared in his vision: RUN.
The dragon took a step forward, its massive claws scraping against the rocky floor, creating sparks. "Where do you think you're going, little dark elf?" it rumbled, amusement tinging its menacing voice.
James didn't need any more prompting. He bolted from his hiding spot, sprinting deeper into the cave. The dragon let out a roar that shook the very walls, and James felt the ground tremble beneath his feet. He glanced over his shoulder to see the dragon lumbering after him, its movements deceptively fast for its size.
The cave was a maze of tunnels and chambers, and James's only hope was to find a path too narrow for the dragon to follow. He darted down a side passage, barely squeezing through the gap. The dragon's massive head appeared at the entrance, its eyes gleaming with a predatory light.
"You think you can hide from me?" the dragon taunted, its voice echoing through the narrow tunnel. "I can smell your fear."
James's breath came in ragged gasps as he pushed himself to keep running. The tunnel opened into a larger chamber, and he skidded to a halt, looking for an escape route. The chamber was filled with more treasure—gold coins, jewels, and ancient artifacts—but none of it mattered. All he saw were dead ends.
The dragon squeezed its bulk through the tunnel entrance, its scales scraping against the rock. "This is almost too easy," it said, its voice dripping with cruel amusement.
James's eyes darted around the chamber, landing on a pile of ancient weapons and armor. He grabbed a sword, its blade glinting in the dim light. He knew it was a futile gesture, but he needed something to defend himself.
The dragon laughed, a deep, rumbling sound. "Do you really think that toy will save you?" it mocked.
James backed up, holding the sword in front of him. "Stay back!" he shouted, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice.
The dragon's eyes narrowed, and it lunged forward with terrifying speed. James barely had time to react, diving to the side as the dragon's massive jaws snapped shut where he had been standing. He rolled to his feet, clutching the sword tightly.
The dragon turned its head, a predatory grin spreading across its face. "You're fast, for a dark elf," it said. "But this game is only delaying the inevitable."
The chase continued through the winding tunnels and vast chambers of the dragon's lair. James's legs burned with exhaustion, but he couldn't afford to stop. Every time he thought he had found a safe spot, the dragon was right behind him, toying with him like a cat playing with its food.
He ducked into a narrow crevice, hoping the dragon would pass by. He could hear its heavy breathing and the sound of its claws clicking on the stone floor. He held his breath, praying it wouldn't find him.
The dragon paused, its head swiveling as it sniffed the air. "You can't hide forever, little dark elf," it called out. "I will find you."
James's mind raced, trying to think of a plan. He needed to outsmart the dragon, but how? He glanced around the crevice, looking for anything that could give him an advantage. His eyes landed on a loose rock, and an idea began to form.
He picked up the rock and threw it down a side tunnel. The sound echoed through the cave, and the dragon's head snapped in that direction. "There you are," it growled, moving towards the sound.
James took the opportunity to slip out of the crevice and run in the opposite direction. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever. He needed to find a way out of the cave or a place to hide where the dragon couldn't reach him.
As he ran, he noticed a faint light up ahead. Hope surged within him, and he sprinted towards it. The tunnel opened into a large cavern, and James's heart sank. It was a dead end.
The dragon entered the cavern, its eyes gleaming with triumph. "Nowhere left to run," it said, advancing slowly. "Let's end this game."
James backed up until he was against the wall. He raised the sword, his hands shaking. "I won't go down without a fight," he said, his voice steadier than he felt.
The dragon chuckled and lazily knocked the sword from James's hand with a flick of its claw. "You fight like a newborn pup," it said with a smirk.
James, desperate and exhausted, blurted out, "I am a newborn!" Then, muttering under his breath, he added, "A freaking Village Manager that never makes it to his village."
The dragon's perked up, and its eyes narrowed with interest. "You're a hero?" it asked, a note of curiosity in its voice.