Yeon-ah's pulse raced as the first Deborer emerged from the shadows. Its grotesque form was twisted, barely recognizable as something that had once been human. Its eyes, black and soulless, glinted with hunger as it stalked toward them. She tightened her grip on her sword, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts as the creature moved closer.
The woman beside her remained calm, her eyes fixed on the advancing creature. Her hand rested lightly on the hilt of her sword, her body tense but composed. "Stay focused," she whispered, her voice low but firm. "Don't panic."
Yeon-ah swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the fear gnawing at her, threatening to take control. But the woman's calm presence beside her was enough to keep her grounded. She couldn't afford to lose her head now. Not with the Deborers closing in.
More of them appeared from the shadows, their twisted bodies moving with unnatural grace as they circled around the square. There were at least five of them now, their growls echoing through the air, sending chills down Yeon-ah's spine.
The woman's grip on her sword tightened. "We need to take them out quickly. If we let them surround us, we're finished."
Yeon-ah nodded, though her hands trembled. She had never faced anything like this before. The man with the rusted blade had been a threat, but this... this was something else entirely.
The first Deborer lunged, its long claws reaching for the woman, but she was faster. Her sword flashed through the air, the blade catching the creature's arm and severing it in one clean stroke. The creature let out a shriek, its body recoiling from the blow, but the woman didn't hesitate. She moved with a fluid grace, her movements precise and lethal as she delivered the final blow, her sword cutting through the creature's neck.
It crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
But there was no time to celebrate. The others were closing in fast, their grotesque forms moving with terrifying speed. Yeon-ah felt a wave of panic rise in her chest as the nearest one charged at her, its clawed hands outstretched.
Her body moved before her mind could catch up. She raised her sword, the weight of it unfamiliar in her hands, and swung with all her strength. The blade connected with the creature's arm, slicing through its flesh. It let out a guttural scream, its black eyes narrowing with fury as it staggered backward.
Yeon-ah's heart pounded in her chest. She had landed a blow, but it wasn't enough to stop it. The creature lunged again, faster this time, its claws slashing through the air toward her. She barely had time to react, throwing herself to the side as the creature's claws grazed her arm, tearing through her jacket.
Pain flared in her side, but she couldn't stop. She had to keep moving.
The woman was already engaged with two more Deborers, her sword flashing as she dodged their attacks with ease. Her movements were fluid, almost effortless, as if she had fought these creatures a hundred times before. Yeon-ah could only watch in awe as the woman dispatched one after the other, her sword cutting through flesh and bone with deadly precision.
But Yeon-ah wasn't the woman. She wasn't strong or fast or experienced. She was just trying to survive.
The Deborer in front of her let out a guttural growl, its black eyes gleaming with malice as it prepared to strike again. Yeon-ah's hands shook as she raised her sword, her mind racing. She couldn't fight like the woman. She didn't have the skill or the experience.
But she had something else. She had her mind.
Without warning, she darted to the side, away from the creature's path. It hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by her sudden movement, and in that split second, Yeon-ah saw her chance.
She reached down, grabbing a loose piece of rubble from the ground, and hurled it at the creature's face with all her strength. The stone struck the Deborer square in the eyes, and it let out a screech, stumbling backward as it tried to shake off the blow.
It wasn't much, but it was enough.
Yeon-ah didn't waste a second. She lunged forward, her sword slicing through the creature's exposed side. The blade cut deep, and the creature let out one final, pained scream before collapsing to the ground.
Yeon-ah stood there, her chest heaving, her hands trembling as she stared down at the lifeless body of the Deborer. She had done it. She had survived.
But there was no time to rest. The woman was still fighting, her sword cutting through the last of the creatures with a swift, lethal strike. She stood over the bodies of the fallen Deborers, her chest rising and falling with the exertion of the battle, but her face remained as calm and composed as ever.
"Good work," the woman said, her voice steady as she wiped the blood from her sword. "But we need to move. There could be more."
Yeon-ah nodded, though her body felt like it was made of lead. She was exhausted, her muscles aching from the fight, but she knew the woman was right. They couldn't stay here. Not with the possibility of more Deborers nearby.
They moved quickly, their steps quiet and deliberate as they left the square behind. The streets around them were silent once more, the only sound the faint rustle of the wind through the ruins.
As they walked, Yeon-ah's mind raced. She had survived the fight, but the fear still lingered in her chest, a constant reminder of how close she had come to death. She had fought, yes, but it had been sloppy, desperate. She had used her wits to survive, but it wasn't enough. Not if they were going to keep facing creatures like the Deborers.
"I need to get stronger," Yeon-ah muttered to herself, her voice barely more than a whisper.
The woman glanced at her, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Strength comes with time. You survived, and that's what matters."
Yeon-ah wasn't sure if that was true. She had survived, yes, but only barely. And next time, she might not be so lucky.