Eryx ran until his legs gave out. His breath came in ragged gasps, each inhale a desperate fight for air. His lungs burned, his vision swam in darkness, and his body felt like it was on the verge of collapsing entirely. But he couldn't stop—not yet. The villain's presence still haunted him, a phantom he couldn't escape no matter how far he ran.
The forest around him was eerily quiet, every tree, every shadow seeming to watch him. His blood left a trail, a reminder of the crushing defeat he had just suffered. He stumbled forward, barely able to stand, clutching his side where the villain's lightning had seared through his flesh. Every step felt like it brought him closer to death.
Finally, Eryx collapsed near a stream, his body refusing to carry him any further. He lay there, panting, his heart pounding painfully in his chest, his entire body wracked with spasms of pain. He could hear the gentle trickle of water beside him, but even that serene sound was drowned out by the echo of the villain's voice in his head.
"You were never meant to win..."
The words haunted him, digging deep into his mind like a curse. For the first time since he had received the power of the Gate, Eryx had felt utterly, completely powerless. He had thought that with enough strength, with enough training, he could stand against anyone. But the villain… the villain wasn't just stronger. He was a force beyond comprehension.
Eryx clenched his fists, his knuckles white as his nails dug into his palms, drawing more blood. It didn't matter how much power the Gate gave him—it was nothing compared to the ancient, overwhelming energy that the villain wielded.
He felt weak. Small. The fear had consumed him. He had run.
He gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the wave of self-loathing that threatened to drown him. But every time he closed his eyes, he saw the villain's glowing red eyes, the mocking smile as it tossed him aside like a ragdoll.
"Run, Eryx. Run, and remember the fear."
Eryx let out a choked sob, burying his face in his hands. He wasn't just physically broken—his spirit had shattered. The weight of his defeat pressed down on him like a boulder, suffocating, relentless.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the rustling of leaves. Eryx's heart skipped a beat, his body instinctively tensing. He tried to push himself up, but his arms gave out beneath him, leaving him helpless on the ground. He strained to see through the darkness, every nerve on edge, expecting the villain to emerge from the shadows once more, ready to finish what he had started.
But instead, a soft voice whispered through the trees. "Eryx."
He froze. It was a familiar voice. He turned his head weakly, and there, standing on the edge of the stream, was Lira.
Her eyes widened when she saw the state he was in. She rushed to his side, her hands trembling as she gently lifted his blood-soaked body. "Eryx, what happened? You—you're bleeding everywhere!"
He couldn't speak. His throat was raw, his mind still numb from the trauma. He wanted to tell her everything, but the words wouldn't come. All he could do was shake his head weakly, his body quivering under her touch.
Lira's face was pale, her eyes wide with worry as she examined his wounds. "We need to get you back to safety. You need healing."
"No…" Eryx's voice was barely a whisper, a raspy croak. He grabbed her arm weakly. "He's…he's still out there. He'll find us…"
Lira's eyes darkened, her jaw clenched in determination. "No, Eryx. We're getting out of here. I won't let him touch you again."
But Eryx wasn't listening. His mind was slipping back into the darkness, replaying the fight over and over again. Every swing he had thrown was useless. Every defense, shattered. Every scream, unheard.
"You're weak," the villain's voice echoed in his mind. "I will enjoy watching you break."
Eryx's breath quickened, panic surging through him as memories of the fight came flooding back. His chest tightened, the fear returning in waves. He could still feel the red lightning coursing through him, burning him alive from the inside out.
"Eryx, focus," Lira said, her voice strained with worry. She shook him gently, her hands gripping his shoulders. "You need to stay with me, okay? I can't lose you."
But all Eryx could see was the villain's face—those cold, red eyes, that smile full of hatred. He had never been this scared in his life. Not when he first faced the monsters from the Gates. Not when he faced the bosses. This… this was something else entirely.
He had never felt so helpless.
"Humans…" the villain's voice rang in his head again, louder this time, almost taunting. "You are destined for extinction."
His body convulsed, his heart racing faster, his mind spiraling out of control. He couldn't escape the voice. He couldn't escape the fear. It was all around him, suffocating him, dragging him deeper into despair.
And then he broke.
"I can't do it," he whispered, his voice barely audible. Tears streaked down his bloodstained face, his body trembling violently. "I can't… He's too strong. I'm too weak…"
Lira's eyes softened, her heart breaking at the sight of him like this. She had never seen Eryx this vulnerable, this terrified. She knelt beside him, pulling him into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around his shaking body.
"You're not weak," she whispered fiercely, holding him close. "You're not. We'll find a way. We always do."
But Eryx didn't respond. He couldn't. His mind had retreated into the darkest corners of his fear, and there was nothing left for him to cling to. He had faced death before, but this time, it wasn't just death he feared.
It was the villain. That monstrous, hateful creature who had torn him apart so effortlessly.
And the worst part? Deep down, Eryx knew.
Next time, he wouldn't be lucky enough to escape.