I wandered through the ruins near the outskirts of the village I had discovered days earlier. The faint glow of the rune against my chest was my only source of light in the growing darkness. As I moved through the crumbling remnants of ancient structures, a chilling growl reverberated through the desolate air.
Emerging from the shadows were a group of demons, their eyes glowing with a sinister, predatory light. Behind them, a massive beast advanced with a heavy, deliberate gait. It was clear they were drawn to something, and the rune must have been the source of their interest.
The lead demon pointed directly at me, and the beast let out a bone-chilling roar. My heart pounded as I realized the immediate danger. I summoned my flame magic, fire bursting from my hands to create a barrier between me and the advancing creatures. The flames pushed the demons back and momentarily halted the beast's charge, but the reprieve was brief.
The demons regrouped quickly, their chanting growing louder and more frenzied. The beast circled the edges of the flames, its eyes fixed on me with a menacing hunger. My strength was waning, and I struggled to maintain the barrier as the demons pressed forward.
Despite my efforts, the flames began to falter. The demons surged forward, their claws slashing through the air. One of them struck me, and a searing pain erupted in my side. I staggered, barely able to maintain my footing. The beast roared again, and I could feel its hot breath on my neck.
Desperation gripped me as I fought to fend off the attackers. The beast lunged, its massive jaws snapping dangerously close. I barely managed to dodge, the ground shaking with each of its steps. My vision blurred with pain, and I knew I was running out of time.
In a final, desperate act, I threw a burst of fire at the beast, but it wasn't enough. The beast roared in rage and lunged again, its claws slashing through the air. Just as I braced for the impact, a figure burst from the shadows, moving with incredible speed and precision.
The stranger struck the beast with a powerful blow, sending it reeling back with a roar of pain. The demons, momentarily stunned, fell back, their focus shifting to the new arrival. I collapsed to the ground, my vision fading as I struggled to stay conscious.
The mysterious figure fought with skill and bravery, pushing back the demons and protecting me from the beast's renewed attacks. Just as the situation seemed to turn in my favor, the stranger's form began to blur and fade. I could barely make out their face, an expression of fierce determination and concern, as they delivered the final blow to the beast.
As the beast roared its last, the figure turned to me, their expression softening. But before I could fully comprehend what was happening, darkness closed in around me. The last thing I saw was the figure's outstretched hand reaching towards me, and then everything went black.