The cold air of the dark room pressed against Larry's skin, causing a chill to run down his spine. The growling of the beasts surrounded him, echoing off the stone walls. He couldn't see them, but he could feel their presence—big, dangerous, and moving closer with every breath.
I'm really alone this time…
His heartbeat quickened, loud and rhythmic in his ears, almost drowning out the growls. Fear gripped him, but it wasn't the first time. He had felt fear before, countless times in his life. But this… this was different. There was no way out. No one to rely on. Only him and his instincts.
"I can do this. I've trained for this," he whispered to himself.
Just breathe, Larry. You can't see them, but you don't need to. Feel the vibrations, listen to their movements.
His body lowered into a fighting stance, every muscle tensed. His hands hovered, ready to strike. Larry hadn't activated an energy core yet, but he had his training. His ears picked up the subtle shift in the room, the heavy footfalls of the beasts as they closed in. The first one came from the left.
It was big. Its breath was harsh, hot, and smelled of decayed flesh. Larry could sense the air shift as the beast leaped towards him. Without hesitation, he dodged, his body rolling to the side just in time. He heard the beast land behind him with a thud. The floor trembled under its weight.
Focus… Stay calm.
Larry rose quickly to his feet. His senses were sharper than ever. Years of living in darkness had honed them, but this wasn't just about survival anymore. This was about proving to himself that he could survive without anyone's help.
Larry's ear twitched to another growl from one of the beasts. This one was sharper, closer.
He heard claws scrape against the stone floor. This beast was different from the first, lighter on its feet but faster. Larry turned his head slightly, listening for the next move. The beast darted toward him, and he jumped back, feeling the claws swipe through the air just inches from his chest.
It was a blur of movement after that. The beasts came at him from all sides, their snarls filling the room. Larry twisted, ducked, and struck whenever he could. His fist connected with one of their thick hides, but it was like punching stone. He grunted, pulling back.
The creatures seemed endless. Every time he dodged one, another lunged at him. His limbs began to tire, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
I'm not going to last much longer. If Eric were here… No. What am I thinking? I can do this.
While lost in thought, he didn't notice that one of the beasts had moved closer to him. The Meteor beast knocked him off his feet, and Larry hit the floor hard. Pain shot through his ribs, and for a moment, the world spun. He could hear the beasts circling him, feel their hot breath on his skin. His mind raced.
This is it. I can't fight them all, he cursed, trying hard not to scream. He knew better than anyone that sounds attracted the beasts most.
His muscles screamed in protest as he forced himself to his feet again. Blood trickled down his arm from a deep gash, but he ignored it. The beasts were slower now, almost as if they were toying with him. He heard the soft padding of their paws, the scrape of claws against the stone.
And then he heard something else—a low, deep growl that shook the very foundation of the room. This one was bigger, stronger, and more dangerous than the others. Larry could feel it in his bones. This wasn't a basic-tier beast, it was an intermediate-tier beast, just like the Alpha Voidwing.
His heart raced faster, panic clawing at him. How was he supposed to fight something like this? His senses could only do so much, and even with his combat skills, he was no match for this monster. The air shifted, and he knew the beast was close, ready to strike.
Larry stumbled back, his hands shaking. He could feel the walls of the room closing in, his chances of survival shrinking with every second.
I can't… I can't win this.
The growl came again, louder, more menacing. The intermediate-tier beast was toying with him, letting him feel the fear before it struck. Larry's breath came in ragged bursts, his chest tight with panic.
I need to escape. I need to get out of here.
He could hear the other beasts retreating, clearing the way for the bigger one. The room fell silent, the tension thick in the air. Larry's legs trembled, his mind racing for a way out.
Suddenly, there was a faint click—a door opening somewhere behind him. His ears perked up.
That's it. That's my way out.
He didn't have time to think. He dashed toward the sound, his feet pounding against the stone floor. Behind him, the Meteor beast roared, its massive footsteps shaking the ground. Larry didn't look back.
The growl grew louder, and he could feel the beast gaining on him. His body screamed in exhaustion, his limbs heavy with pain, but he pushed forward. He had to make it. He had to escape.
The door was close now, just a few more steps. Larry could feel the cold air coming through it, the promise of freedom just within reach. He threw himself forward, diving through the door just as the intermediate-tier beast lunged.
He hit the ground hard, rolling over the stone floor, but he didn't stop. He scrambled to his feet, slamming the door shut behind him. The growl from the other side rattled the walls, but the door held.
Larry collapsed against the door, his chest heaving. His body ached, his head spun, and his hands trembled. But he was alive. He had survived—barely.
I did it. I escaped…
His breath slowed as he leaned back, the fear still coursing through him but slowly fading. He had faced death, but somehow, he had managed to survive—or so he thought.
Though exhausted, Larry had sharpened his senses to the point that he could pick up the scent of anything nearby. His heart raced when he caught the scent of a human. It was strong, which meant the person was close, but Larry didn't want to risk attracting the beasts.
Before he could think of his next move, a surge of pain shot through his body as he was sent flying back into the room he had barely escaped.
Blood spilled from his mouth as memories flashed in his mind. This was a kick, and he knew it had been delivered by the human. Fortunately, the intermediate-tier beast attacked the human instead of him, but the latter killed the beast with just one strike. The human was none other than Eldric, who had been pulled into the wall earlier.
He was naked, half of his body burned, as he dragged his feet toward Larry, who was struggling to get up. The worst part was that Larry had no idea what was happening. Although Eldric smelled human, the scent of burning flesh made it difficult for Larry to guess who it was.
Before Larry could move, he was picked up from the ground and slammed against the wall.
His body crashed against the stone, and as he slipped to the floor, three beasts pounced on him almost immediately. His screams filled the room as claws and teeth dug into his skin.
"That's my prey." Larry's eyes widened when he heard the familiar voice.