Yuzu took a deep, shuddering breath, nocking his first arrow with trembling fingers. The creature's twisted form slithered toward him, its dozens of bulbous eyes narrowing as they locked onto him. He felt his pulse racing, every sense heightened. He had only six arrows left, and he knew that each one had to count.
As the creature lunged at him, he sidestepped, barely avoiding its slimy grasp. In that split second, he raised his bow, aimed, and released an arrow, which struck the creature's side with a dull thud. The monster screeched, its eyes snapping toward him with renewed fury.
He fired again and again, loosing five more arrows in quick succession. The shots pierced various parts of the creature's body, each one hitting true but doing little more than slowing it down. The arrows barely pierced the tough hide of the monster. Its blood, a dark, thick ooze, leaked from each wound, yet it kept coming, relentless and enraged.
I need to get closer, Yuzu thought, his mind racing for a plan. He had to go for the creature's weak spot: the cluster of eyes that watched him with unnatural intelligence. He slung his bow across his shoulder and tightened his grip on the short sword he'd found. Adrenaline pumped through him as he dodged another attack, his boots skidding across the debris-strewn floor.
The creature's body undulated, shifting as it coiled and slashed in his direction. He ducked low, narrowly escaping a swipe from one of its slimy appendages. With a surge of resolve, he darted forward, slipping under its hulking mass, and raised his sword in a desperate swing. The blade connected, slicing through several of the creature's eyes in a spray of dark fluid. A guttural roar tore from its twisted mouth, and it thrashed violently, its form contorting in pain.
Yuzu leapt back, catching his breath as he watched the creature writhe. He could see his own reflection in one of its remaining eyes, wide and desperate but filled with a fierce determination. He wasn't the kind of person who'd thought himself brave or heroic, yet something within him flared in defiance. He couldn't let this thing beat him. Not now. Not here.
The creature staggered, its movements slowing as it squirmed in pain. Yuzu saw his opening and lunged forward, swinging the sword with all his might, slashing at its remaining eyes. Each strike was met with a spray of dark blood, and soon the monster was nothing more than a twitching, sightless mound, emitting a final, anguished screech as it slumped to the floor.
Yuzu staggered back, breathing heavily. His body felt like it was on fire, every muscle aching, his bones vibrating from the strain. He looked down to see blood running down his arm, a deep gash along his shoulder where one of the creature's claws had caught him during the battle. His legs trembled, barely supporting him as he slumped against the wall.
It's done, he thought, a small, victorious smile pulling at his lips. But as the adrenaline began to fade, the pain settled in, dull and unrelenting. His vision blurred, and he struggled to stay upright.
He took a shaky breath, focusing on his surroundings, willing himself to stay conscious. I just need to last until I'm brought back to the tower room.
Seconds felt like hours as he sank to his knees, clutching his wounded shoulder. Blood seeped through his fingers, pooling on the floor. The creature's corpse lay a few feet away, its hideous form lifeless and broken. Yuzu felt a grim satisfaction at his victory, but his body was battered, his strength nearly spent.
Come on… stay awake. His thoughts began to blur as exhaustion overtook him. He closed his eyes, timing his breaths to keep himself steady.
The edges of his vision faded, his mind going numb as he hovered between consciousness and darkness. Finally, he heard a faint beep, and a screen materialized in front of him, signaling the end of the trial. In that final moment, relief washed over him, and he allowed himself to collapse, his body giving in to the darkness.
And then, with a familiar flicker, the world dissolved into light.
Yuzu awoke with a gasp, sprawled on the cold, metallic floor of his tower room. His entire body ached, bruises and cuts still stinging despite the relief of being safe. He looked up to see the glowing screen in front of him, displaying a message in triumphant letters:
"Trial Complete. Welcome Back."