Andrew doubled over, his breath ragged like a dog on a scorching summer day. The air was thick, heavy with the earthy scent of damp soil and the faint tang of decay. His legs burned with exertion, trembling beneath him as though they might give way at any moment. He had run for what felt like miles, carrying Lequi until his arms screamed in protest. Now she lay on the ground, her back against a gnarled tree root that jutted out like a jagged rib from the forest floor.
Above them, the canopy swayed and creaked, casting shifting patterns of gold and green across the underbrush.
Andrew took in deep gulps of air, trying to calm his racing heart, but every sudden rustle—be it the skittering of oversized beetles through the leaves or the low flutter of birds navigating the high branches—sent his head snapping toward the source, his eyes wide with dread.
His mind refused to quiet. The forest felt alive with hostility, every sound a potential threat. Attack could come from anywhere, at any time.
Still breathless, Andrew leaned closer to Lequi, his voice barely above a whisper, each word broken by his gasps. "What are the chances... of them coming after us?"
Lequi tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. Her voice was calm, steady, though her words were anything but reassuring. "Almost definitely. Revenge is practically a certainty. But not now. Their priority will be their wounded—and their leader."
Andrew stiffened, his gaze flicking to the shadows again. "The leader is dead. I got EXP from her death. That's not a question."
Lequi stood, brushing leaves and dirt off her tattered robes. "Maybe. But they'll still try. They'll want to jumpstart her heart, keep hope alive. And if they fail... they'll come for us in force. One group will pursue, another will tend to the fallen."
Andrew clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "Is there _anywhere_ that's safe? Even for a little while?"
Lequi's gaze drifted upward, past the dense tapestry of purple, green, and yellow trees. Their leaves shimmered faintly, gradients of brown and green glowing faintly where the sunlight pierced through. She pointed to the horizon, where the trees seemed to part, revealing a faint glimmer of black.
Andrew squinted, his expression puzzled. "What? Hide in the trees?"
"No," she said. "Beyond those trees, look closely—two doors of darkness. A dungeon."
Andrew's breath hitched. Though he couldn't yet see it, he understood her meaning. His voice was low, cautious. "Dungeons. They're supposed to be locked from the inside, right? I've been inside with someone who entered at a different time before."
Lequi shook her head, her lips pressed thin. "Not entirely locked. And there's always a risk. Aggressive groups often haunt dungeons like parasites."
She grunted suddenly, her brows furrowing in frustration. "Let's move. Make more distance while we can."
Andrew eyed her sharply. "What was that reaction? Got super senses or something?"
"No," Lequi muttered. "Just realized something. You got EXP from killing their leader, but you didn't collect her ability card. That's a wasted opportunity. But right now, it doesn't matter."
Andrew winced, the memory stinging. "Ah... yeah."
Without another word, they began moving again, their steps quicker now. The dense forest seemed to close in around them, the air growing cooler as they descended a slight incline. Every few seconds, they glanced behind, to the sides, and even above, their paranoia mounting with each step.
The oppressive silence of the forest was broken only by the occasional snap of a twig or the distant growl of some unseen beast. Andrew's anxiety spiked. He had been abusing _redo_ for the past half hour, resetting time so frequently that the greyed-out world barely lasted a second before snapping back to reality.
The toll was showing. His hand jerked unexpectedly, slapping his jaw hard enough to leave a sting.
Lequi spun, her knife drawn in a flash, her voice tense. "Mind control?"
Andrew froze, his heart pounding. For a moment, he said nothing, his mind racing. Then he shook his head, his voice low. "No... I don't think so. My hand just... moved on its own."
Her narrowed eyes lingered on him for a long moment before she nodded cautiously. "Fine. But stay sharp. Let's move."
The unease lingered as they pressed on. The forest opened slightly, revealing a glimmer of light filtering through the canopy. In the distance, the faint murmur of running water reached their ears.
Andrew's throat felt dry as sandpaper. "A river?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
"Rare," Lequi confirmed, her tone grim. "Which means a high chance of predators—or other groups—claiming it."
Andrew's stomach churned at the thought. "Can we spy the area first? I'm dying for water, but I don't want to walk into a giant crab's ambush."
Lequi's lips tightened. "I'm thirsty too."
Andrew and Lequi moved steadily through the forest, their steps muffled by the thick carpet of fallen leaves. The faint sound of rushing water teased their ears.
Each step felt heavier than the last, the forest pressing in around them. Shadows twisted and stretched, cast by the late afternoon sun that filtered through the thick canopy.
Andrew's grip on his weapon tightened as he kept his surveillance high.
They passed a tree with deep claw marks raking its trunk. The gouges were fresh, the sap still oozing.
Ahead, a low growl resonated. Andrew's head snapped to the right, catching sight of something large shifting in the underbrush—a mutated stag. Its antlers glowed faintly.
"Lequi," he whispered.
"I see it," she replied without looking back. Her voice was calm, but her hand hovered near her weapon.
They didn't need to say more. Silently, they adjusted their path again, this time stepping more lightly. Andrew tried not to think about how easily the creature could turn and charge. And how quickly he would have to kill it so it wouldn't make too much of a commotion.
When they finally reached the river, the sound of rushing water was both a relief and a warning. The current moved swiftly, reflecting shards of sunlight like shattered glass. The riverbank was clear, at least at first glance.
He crouched behind a shrub, his breathing shallow. The cool, damp earth beneath him smelled of moss and decay. "It looks empty. But I'm guessing it could be a trick?"
Lequi crouched beside him, scanning the opposite bank. "Could be."
Andrew nodded. He tried to ignore the ache in his legs and the dryness in his mouth. "So... plan?"
Lequi reached into her inventory, the space shimmering faintly as she pulled out two small metal bottles. The strange glow faded as she handed one to him.
"We will fill these," she said, her tone brisk. "Stay low, keep your distance from the water, and don't make a sound. If anything moves, we leave it behind."
"I know."
The two moved to the riverbank, each step deliberate. The water's surface rippled and churned, its depths dark and impenetrable. The world went grey when Andrew dipped his bottle into the rushing current.
The sound of water rushing into the container was drowned by the overall loudness of the river.
Andrew's mind raced. He felt exposed, the open riverbank like a spotlight on their backs. His free hand tightened on his weapon as he cast a glance over his shoulder.
Lequi finished first, screwing the cap onto her bottle with practiced efficiency. She straightened slowly, her eyes scanning the forest again. "That's enough," she said softly.
Andrew nodded, hurriedly capping his own bottle. He turned back toward her, ready to suggest they move further from the water—but froze.
A figure emerged from the trees across the river, stepping out of the shadows with deliberate care.
The man was tall, his broad shoulders hunched slightly as though from weariness. His dark hair was matted with sweat and dirt, strands sticking to his forehead. A tattered jacket hung from his frame, the fabric frayed and patched in places, and a weapon—a red axe—was strapped across his back.
Andrew was in shock. For a moment, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
"Henry?"
The man's head snapped toward them, his dark eyes narrowing.