The tunnel became less cramped and higher, allowing them to stand, but it was dirty with earth and dust.
"Stop complaining." Jonh said as he opened the exit.
Jonh and Viktor finally emerged from the secret passage and were taken aback by the sight of several beasts fighting each other. Jonh, incredulous at what he saw.
"Am I dreaming?"
His eyes widened in horror as he observed the chaotic scene before him. The creatures were fiercely battling one another, their primal instincts taking over. The air was thick with the stench of blood and sweat, and the sounds of growls and roars filled the atmosphere.
"How... how is this possible?" Jonh stammered, struggling to comprehend the sight.
"How did these beasts appear so quickly?"
'USER, THE RED VIAL LABELED 'FEROMONE Y-23', WHICH YOU USED IN THE BOMB, HAS SIGNIFICANT SIDE EFFECTS. THE CREATURES INSTANTLY SENSE THE SMELL AND FOLLOW THEIR PRIMITIVE INSTINCTS TO THE TARGET WITHOUT STOPPING UNTIL THE SCENT DISAPPEARS. WHEN THEY REALIZE THEY'VE BEEN TRICKED, THEY GO INTO A FRENZY, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF SANITY AND CAUSING THEM TO FIGHT AMONGST THEMSELVES OR CHASE WHATEVER APPEARS IN FRONT OF THEM.'
Jonh turned to Viktor, his face pale with fear.
"How many bottles did you use?"
Viktor hesitated, nervously scanning his surroundings.
"I.… used... all of them."
Jonh nearly lost his sanity from the stress he was experiencing in a single day. He looked up at the overcast sky filled with storm clouds and murmured.
"Where did I go wrong?" He began to rethink all his choices and decisions up to that moment.
"...." Viktor silently observed Jonh.
"What did I do to deserve this?"
The beasts continued to fight frantically among themselves, creating a scene of absolute chaos. The sight of the creatures in a state of madness was terrifying, and their roars echoed through the air, amplifying the sense of urgency. The ground trembled beneath Jonh and Viktor's feet as the beasts attacked each other with ferocity, their sharp claws slicing through the air and their jaws wide open, ready to strike.
"We need to get out of here before those things reach us!" Jonh said firmly, though desperation crept into his voice as anxiety built within him.
Viktor nodded, determined to survive, his eyes fixed on Atlas, who was focused on calculating an escape route.
"Atlas, my friend, can you work miracles?" Viktor asked, his voice slightly trembling.
Atlas replied without hesitation. 'USER, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN BY WORKING MIRACLES, BUT I AM CURRENTLY CALCULATING THE ESCAPE ROUTE. HEAD NORTH WHILE AVOIDING AREAS WITH A HIGHER CONCENTRATION OF BEASTS.'
Instantly, a 3D diagram of a real-time escape route appeared in Atlas's right eye, showing the best path to escape the chaos. Viktor felt relieved and smiled as he was about to say something to Jonh when a deafening roar echoed through the air.
"GRRRROAAAR!"
A beast appeared, faster and more determined to hunt them when it noticed the two's presence and began to chase them. The sound of its claws scraping the ground echoed behind them.
John and Viktor turned simultaneously to see the beast approaching them.
"RUNNN!!!" John shouted in panic.
"RUN!" Viktor yelled as he grabbed Jonh's arm and pulled him forward.
'USER, STRATEGIC RETREAT IS NECESSARY!! I RECOMMEND FOLLOWING THE ESCAPE ROUTE!!!'
Fleeing for their lives, Viktor and Jonh moved quickly as they tried to escape from the pursuing beast. The sound of their heavy breathing mixed with the noise of the beast's claws echoed through the air.
"It's an ice canid!" Jonh shouted, recognizing the creature as he looked back. "Why is that thing here?"
"I don't know, but it destroyed our exit." Viktor replied, glancing behind him.
The beast that had destroyed their escape route was an ice canid, a four-legged creature, covered by a thick layer of ice that glimmered in the dim light.
Its fur was thick and long, and it was large in size. Its eyes were a chilling blue, and its breath exhaled a cold mist. The sharp claws scraped the ground, leaving deep marks in the frozen soil.
'USER, HEAD NORTH, AVOIDING AREAS WITH A HIGHER CONCENTRATION OF BEASTS!!!'
"It's following us fast! Run, kid!" Jonh yelled as he looked back.
"Do you think I don't know that?" Viktor replied, trying to stay calm.
"USER! CONTINUE FORWARD FOR 500 METERS AND THEN TURN RIGHT."
Jonh and Viktor ran with all their strength, following Atlas's instructions while the beast continued its relentless pursuit.
Each step was a struggle against fear and exhaustion. Its icy blue eyes seemed fixed on its prey, and its breath exhaled a cold mist that felt like it could freeze the air around them.
Suddenly, two medium-sized ice foxes emerged from the shadows and attacked the ice canid from behind. The foxes, with their white fur and bright eyes, were agile and fierce. They bit and scratched at the canid, distracting it enough for Jonh and Viktor to escape. Viktor, panting heavily, looked back and saw the foxes attacking the beast and felt a momentary relie.
"Atlas was right, they're attacking whatever's in front of them."
Viktor running, spinning as the beasts fought.
"Kid, pay attention to what's in front of you!!! that's who you're talking to!" Jonh shouted without stopping.
However, Jonh and Viktor's path was blocked by two large ice yetis that were fighting each other. The enormous creatures exchanged violent blows that shook the ground with each impact.
Viktor, breathless, asked Atlas.
"Can you create an escape route amidst this chaos?"
Atlas replied with a slightly accusatory tone.
'THE CHAOS CAUSED BY YOU AS THE MAIN CULPRIT.'
Viktor gave up arguing since there was no time.
"Atlas."
Atlas responded with a tone that suggested blame.
'NEW ROUTE BEING GENERATED... TURN RIGHT NOW AND CONTINUE FOR 300 METERS. THE EXIT IS NEAR.'
"John, this way!"
Viktor pointed out a new route. John, who was in a panic, didn't even care if the route was reliable or not. He just wanted to get out of this mess and run ahead, leaving Viktor behind. Viktor, realizing this, ran after John.Following Atlas's instructions with John leading the way, Viktor ran with all his might. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as they fought to escape this terrifying situation.
Jonh and Viktor quickly dodged to avoid the ice yetis while continuing to run.
'USER, THE EXIT IS NEAR. CONTINUE FOR 200 METERS MORE.'
Viktor felt his hope rising.
"Jonh, we're almost there! We're going to make it out!"
Jonh was ahead and not speaking as he faced away from Viktor.
"Jonh? Are you okay? Jonh?"
"Because... I'm... with you?" Jonh stammered, struggling to believe what he was experiencing.
"What?" Viktor replied, surprised by the response.
"Why am I with you?!!! I had a full and peaceful life, living as an honest hunter and being a spy for the rebels with ideas. How did my life turn out like this?? How?" Jonh was starting to lose his composure.
Viktor, running in silence, carefully listened to what Jonh said. "But I saved you from being crushed?" he responded.
Frustrated and irritated, Jonh lost all his patience after hearing.
"Saved me!?! Saved me?... WHAT'S THE POINT OF BEING SAVED JUST TO BE DRAGGED INTO THIS CONFUSION?"
'I AGREE.'
'Atlas, this is not a good time.'
"Jonh, trust me; we will get out of here alive!!" Viktor promised.
"Trust you!!! How can I trust you when we're in this mess because of you?"
He turned his head to vent more of his frustration but froze when he saw what was behind them. He began to run as fast as he could.
"WHY ME!!!"
"What?" Viktor was shocked by what he saw but was interrupted by Atlas.
'USER!! WE ARE BEING PURSUED BY ANOTHER HOSTILE LIFE FORM! I RECOMMEND PICKING UP THE PACE!'
Startled, Viktor turned his head and couldn't believe what he saw. White buffaloes like snow appeared out of nowhere, emerging like ghostly shadows in the snow.
Their enormous bodies covered in ice glimmered in the dim light, and their eyes were a chilling white. They charged forward with relentless force, determined to catch Jonh and Viktor.
The buffaloes were injured, with deep claw marks on their bodies, displaying signs of madness. When they spotted Jonh and Viktor, they immediately began to chase them, driven by blind and irrational fury. But there was something unpredictable, yet worrying.
The earthquake began to emerge, shaking the ground violently as if it were angry. Jonh was surprised, as he had never witnessed earthquakes on planet ICE.
Perplexed by the situation, Viktor looked at the beasts, which had stopped in fear. Although they still showed signs of insanity, they began to hunch toward the mountain that was generating an avalanche. Terrified, Viktor realized what was happening.
"Don't tell me one of them is here?" Viktor trembled with fear, his voice barely audible over the noise of the earthquake.
Jonh was still in shock, his face pale and his eyes wide.
"There have never been earthquakes here before. What's happening?"
Viktor understood what was going on. He looked up and saw that an avalanche was forming due to the earthquake.
"Jonh, we need to get out of here now! We don't have time for this!"
But Jonh, exhausted and desperate, accepted his fate. He fell to his knees, weary and resigned to the impending end.
"I can't take it anymore, if this is a dream, someone please wake me up!" He shouted, his voice echoing through the mountain.
"John! Stop playing around, you idiot!" Viktor yelled.
But it was too late. The avalanche descended with overwhelming force, engulfing everything in its path. The snow came down like a white wall, covering Jonh, Viktor, and the beasts in a frozen mantle. The deafening sound of falling snow was accompanied by the roars of the beasts and the rumble of shifting rocks.