The world around Yeon-ah seemed to move in slow motion, her senses heightened by the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. The fight with the strangers had left her shaken, but she was alive. That was all that mattered now—surviving, no matter the cost.
The woman moved ahead, her footsteps almost silent against the rubble-strewn ground. She hadn't said a word since they had left the plaza, and Yeon-ah wasn't sure if she should be relieved or concerned. The brutal efficiency with which she had dispatched their attackers had left Yeon-ah both in awe and deeply unsettled.
"Keep up," the woman said, her voice cutting through the silence.
Yeon-ah quickened her pace, trying to push the lingering fear and doubt from her mind. She couldn't afford to dwell on it now. There would be time for questions later—if there ever was a later.
As they moved deeper into the ruined city, the eerie quiet began to press down on Yeon-ah. The distant roars of the Deborer had faded, replaced by an almost oppressive stillness. Every step they took seemed louder than it should have been, each sound magnified by the emptiness that surrounded them.
"Where are we going?" Yeon-ah finally asked, unable to stand the silence any longer.
The woman didn't turn around, her eyes scanning the path ahead. "Away from here."
Yeon-ah frowned, frustrated by the vague answer. "And after that?"
The woman stopped, glancing back at her with a hard look. "We keep moving. We survive. That's all there is."
There was a cold finality in her words, one that made Yeon-ah's stomach turn. Was this what the world had become? A constant state of running, of fighting, with no real purpose beyond survival?
She wanted to ask more, to press for answers, but before she could speak, a sound reached her ears—a low, guttural growl that sent a shiver down her spine.
The woman's eyes narrowed, her hand moving instinctively to the hilt of her blade. "We're not alone."
Yeon-ah's heart skipped a beat. She had hoped the creatures had moved on, that the fight with the strangers had scared them off. But now, as the growls grew louder, she realized that had been nothing more than wishful thinking.
They moved quickly, ducking behind a crumbled wall for cover. The sound of the creatures—Deborer—grew closer, their heavy footsteps reverberating through the ground.
Yeon-ah's breathing quickened, her fingers tightening around her blade. She glanced at the woman beside her, trying to draw some semblance of calm from her stoic expression. But no matter how hard she tried, the fear gnawed at her insides, threatening to consume her.
The Deborer emerged from the shadows, their hulking forms barely visible in the dim light. There were two of them this time, their skin slick and black, like oil. Their movements were slow but deliberate, their glowing eyes scanning the area as if searching for something—or someone.
Yeon-ah held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. They were too close. If they found them, there was no way they would survive.
The woman signaled for Yeon-ah to stay low, her eyes locked on the creatures. Yeon-ah nodded, doing her best to keep quiet, though her mind was screaming for her to run. Every instinct told her to flee, to get as far away from these monsters as possible, but she knew that wasn't an option. Not now.
The Deborer sniffed the air, their heads turning slowly in their direction. Yeon-ah's pulse quickened. Could they smell them? Were they already too late?
Without warning, one of the creatures let out a low growl, its eyes locking onto their hiding spot.
Yeon-ah's heart stopped. They had been found.
The woman moved quickly, her blade flashing in the faint light as she prepared to attack. But Yeon-ah knew they were outmatched. These creatures weren't like the strangers they had fought earlier. They were faster, stronger, more dangerous.
The first Deborer charged, its massive body barreling toward them with terrifying speed. The woman leaped into action, her movements a blur as she dodged the creature's attack and slashed at its side. The blade cut deep, but the creature barely reacted, its thick, oily skin absorbing the blow.
Yeon-ah stumbled back, her mind racing. She had to do something, but what? She wasn't strong enough to fight these things, not yet. The fear gripped her, threatening to paralyze her.
But she couldn't freeze. Not now. Not with her life on the line.
"Move!" the woman shouted, her voice sharp as she deflected another attack.
Yeon-ah snapped out of her daze, her legs moving before her mind could catch up. She darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the second Deborer as it swiped at her with one of its massive claws.
The woman fought with precision and skill, but even Yeon-ah could see that she was struggling. The Deborer were relentless, their attacks brutal and unyielding. Every time the woman struck, the creatures seemed to shrug off the damage as if it were nothing.
Yeon-ah's mind raced, searching for a way out. They couldn't keep this up. They were outmatched, and it was only a matter of time before the creatures overwhelmed them.
Then she saw it—a pile of debris, precariously balanced on the edge of a crumbling building. If she could just...
She moved quickly, her heart pounding in her chest as she darted toward the debris. The creatures were too focused on the woman to notice her, their attention drawn to the threat in front of them.
With a sharp breath, Yeon-ah grabbed hold of a large metal beam that was sticking out from the pile. She pulled with all her strength, her muscles screaming in protest.
For a moment, nothing happened. Panic surged through her, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop.
Finally, with a loud crack, the debris shifted. The building groaned in protest, and then, with a deafening crash, the pile collapsed, sending a wave of rubble down on top of the Deborer.
The creatures roared in pain as the debris buried them, their hulking forms disappearing beneath the rubble.
Yeon-ah stumbled back, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her legs trembled, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse.
But they had done it. They had survived.
The woman approached her, her expression unreadable. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then, finally, the woman nodded.
"Good thinking."
Yeon-ah blinked, surprised by the praise. It was the first time the woman had acknowledged her in a way that didn't feel dismissive.
"Thanks," Yeon-ah muttered, still trying to calm her racing heart.
The woman sheathed her blade, her eyes scanning the area. "We need to move. They won't stay down for long."
Yeon-ah nodded, still in shock from what had just happened. They had survived, but barely. And she knew that the worst was yet to come.
As they left the ruins behind, Yeon-ah couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The creatures, the chaos, the destruction—it was all leading to something bigger, something far more dangerous than she could imagine.
And she wasn't sure if she was ready to face it.