The forest was a labyrinth of shadows and twisted roots. The faint moonlight did not offer much guidance for Ryu and Aris as they moved forward. Their breath came in ragged bursts. The weight of their battle was still fresh in their minds.
"We need to get out of here before something worse shows up," Aris said, gripping her daggers tightly. She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting another set of glowing eyes to emerge from the darkness.
"I know," Ryu replied, his sword still drawn. The strain in his voice betrayed his exhaustion, but he kept moving forward. "But we can't head back toward the plains. Too many players. Too much risk."
"And walking further is any better?" Aris retorted hotly but not unkindly.
Ryu hesitated. She wasn't wrong. With every step they took, it seemed to drag them deeper into the forest's clutches, and oppressive silence gnawed on his nerves. But moving remained the only option.
"Just believe in me," he said finally. "We will find a place to regroup safely".
Aris sighed but followed without argument. The trees loomed taller, their branches intertwining overhead like a cage. The forest felt alive, its presence heavy and watchful.
After what felt like hours, the sound of rushing water broke through the oppressive silence.
"Do you hear that?" Aris asked, her voice tinged with cautious hope.
"Yeah," Ryu said, picking up the pace. The thought of fresh water was a small comfort, even if it didn't erase the danger.
They came out into a small clearing, where a narrow river wound through the forest. The water sparkled faintly in the moonlight, its gentle flow a stark contrast to the chaos they'd left behind.
"This'll do for now," Ryu said, sheathing his sword. He knelt beside the riverbank, cupping his hands to take a drink. The coolness of the water brought ease to the dryness in his throat.
Aris paused for a moment before sheeding water like him, her eyes flitting around the clearing. "Do you think it's safe here?"
"As safe as anywhere else," Ryu replied. Leaning back, he let his body go limp for the moment. The tension seeped out of his shoulders, but the heaviness in his chest only deepened.
Aris sat beside him, her daggers resting on her lap. "So, what's the plan?"
Ryu did not say a word. His mind was running over the options, each of them riddled with danger. "We have to continue leveling up," he finally said. "But we also need information. This game's too big to figure out on our own."
"You're thinking of joining a guild?" Aris asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not yet," Ryu said quickly. "Guilds can be dangerous. Too many players with their own agendas. But we can't stay solo forever. At least not if we want to make real progress."
Aris nodded, though her expression remained skeptical. "And what about the Nexus Keeper? We don't even know where the final dungeon is."
"We'll figure it out," Ryu said, though the words felt hollow. "One step at a time."
Their conversation was cut short by a faint sound—a low, rhythmic drumming that seemed to echo through the trees.
"Do you hear that?" Aris whispered, her hand instinctively reaching for her daggers.
Ryu nodded, his grip tightening on his sword. The sound grew louder, accompanied by the rustle of leaves and snapping of branches. Whatever was coming, it was big.
"Get ready," he said, rising to his feet.
The first view of their pursuer came in the form of glowing blue eyes, much bigger than those of the Dire Wolves. The creature entered the clearing, its enormous shape illuminated by the moonlight. It was a hulking bear-like beast, its fur bristling with shards of ice that shimmered like crystals. Steam rose from its nostrils with every breath, and its claws dug deep grooves into the earth.
Level 10," Aris said, her voice shaking as she read the creature's stats. "An Iceborn Behemoth."
Ryu's stomach fell. They were only Level 3. Taking on a Level 10 monster was suicidal.
"Run," he said curtly, grabbing Aris's arm. "Now."
They ran into the forest, the Behemoth's roar shuddering the ground behind them. The sound of its heavy footsteps grew louder, the beast barreling through trees with terrifying ease.
"This thing's not giving up!" Aris shouted, casting a brief glance over her shoulder as the Behemoth continued gathering speed, its icy breath chilling the air around them.
"There's gotta be a way to slow it down," Ryu shouted back, as his mind began racing fast. His eyes scanned about for anything that they may use to their advantage in the battle.
The ground began to slope down into a ravine as they ran. Ryu slid to a stop, his heart pounding in his chest as he took in the view. A bridge of fallen trees spanned the gap, its structure rickety and uneven.
"Over there!" he shouted, pulling Aris toward the bridge.
"Are you insane?" she yelled, staring at the precarious crossing.
"Just trust me!" Ryu said, stepping onto the logs. The bridge groaned beneath his weight, but held.
Aris hesitated for half a second before following him, her movements quick and agile. The Behemoth reached the edge of the ravine just as they were getting to the other side, its roar in frustration echoing out.
"It's too big to cross!" Aris exclaimed, her voice full of relief.
But the Behemoth had different plans. It reared back, slamming its massive claws into the edge of the ravine. The ground trembled, and the bridge shuddered violently.
"Run!" Ryu shouted, grabbing Aris's arm and pulling her away from the collapsing structure.
They ran as fast as they could into the woods, listening as the roaring Behemoth disappeared in the distance. Finally, they leaned against a tree, almost gasping for air.
"That… was too close," Aris whispered.
Ryu nodded; his hands were shaking. "We can't keep running like this. We need a real strategy.
And better gear," she added, brandishing her daggers. The blades were chipped from overuse, their durability nearly gone.
Ryu stared at her, determination hardening his expression. "Then we start tomorrow. We get stronger, find allies, and figure out how to beat this game."
Aris met his gaze, her exhaustion fading into resolve. "Alright. Let's do it."
For now, they had survived. But the shadow of uncertainty loomed larger than ever. And in the world of Eternal Nexus, survival was only the beginning.