Kaelin moved instinctively, his sword slicing through the first of the creatures. The blade's edge met no resistance as it cleaved through the pale, glowing flesh, and the creature dissolved into ash with an otherworldly wail. But there was no time to celebrate. Another clawed hand lashed toward him, forcing him to twist his body and bring his sword up in a desperate arc.
The creatures were fast—unnaturally so. Their movements were erratic, their limbs bending at impossible angles as they closed in from all sides. Each step they took sent chills down Kaelin's spine, their eyeless faces devoid of any emotion or intent save for the overwhelming urge to kill. They moved like predators, yet there was no hunger in their attacks, only an eerie, mechanical precision.
Kaelin gritted his teeth and stepped back, his boots skidding against the soft earth of the riverbank. His arms burned with the strain of constant motion, but he couldn't afford to falter. The sword in his hands pulsed faintly, its resonance guiding his strikes. It was almost as if the weapon was alive, steering him through the chaos, urging him to move faster, strike harder.
The second creature lunged, its claws slicing toward Kaelin's chest. He spun on his heel, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth, and brought his blade down in a brutal counter. The creature shrieked as the sword tore through its torso, light spilling from the wound as its body crumbled to ash. But even as it fell, two more took its place.
Kaelin cursed under his breath. There were too many of them, and their numbers seemed endless. For every one he cut down, two more emerged from the shadows, their black eyes glinting with malevolent purpose. He had fought impossible odds before, but this… this was different. These things weren't human. They didn't bleed, they didn't tire, and they didn't falter.
The third creature charged, its claws slashing toward his face. Kaelin ducked low, his blade sweeping upward in a deadly arc. The strike connected, splitting the creature from shoulder to hip. It collapsed into ash, but Kaelin's victory was short-lived. The remaining creatures pressed in, their movements synchronized, their claws gleaming faintly in the pale light.
Kaelin's breath came in ragged gasps as he backed toward the river. The water's surface shimmered faintly, reflecting the glow of the creatures' veins. If he couldn't hold the line here, he would have no choice but to retreat. But where could he go? The forest offered no sanctuary, and the river was deep and slow-moving, a treacherous obstacle.
He shook his head, gritting his teeth. There was no time to think. No time for doubt. If he was going to survive, he had to act.
The creatures lunged as one, their claws slicing through the air. Kaelin raised his sword, his movements guided by instinct and desperation. The blade flashed in the dim light, striking down two of the creatures in a single swing. Their bodies exploded into ash, but the remaining ones were undeterred. They pressed closer, forcing Kaelin to retreat until his boots were nearly at the water's edge.
The river whispered behind him, its surface rippling faintly as if alive. Kaelin's mind raced, searching for options, but the odds were overwhelming. He couldn't win this fight—not alone, not against these creatures. And yet, a part of him refused to give up. He had faced betrayal, death, and the unknown. If he was going to fall here, he would do so fighting.
As the next creature lunged, Kaelin stepped forward, meeting it head-on. His sword carved through its torso in a single, fluid motion, and the creature dissolved into nothingness. But the remaining attackers were relentless. One of them darted in from the side, its claws raking across Kaelin's arm. He grunted in pain, the force of the blow sending him stumbling backward into the river.
The water was ice-cold, shocking his body as it surged around his boots. The current wasn't strong, but the chill cut through his armor like a blade, sapping his strength. Kaelin turned, his sword raised defensively, as the creatures approached the water's edge. For a brief moment, they hesitated, their movements faltering as though uncertain.
Kaelin's eyes narrowed. Did they fear the river? Or was it something else? He took a cautious step back, the water rising to his knees. The creatures hissed, their clawed hands flexing, but they didn't follow. Their eyeless faces remained fixed on him, their bodies twitching with barely restrained aggression.
Kaelin's chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. The water's chill was unbearable, but it gave him a moment to think. If the creatures wouldn't follow him into the river, then perhaps he could use it to his advantage. But the hesitation didn't last. The largest of the creatures—a towering, hulking figure with glowing veins that pulsed like molten fire—stepped forward.
Its presence sent a ripple through the air, a wave of pressure that made Kaelin's skin crawl. This one was different, stronger, more dangerous. The others parted to let it through, their bodies bowing slightly as if in deference. The towering creature's claws were longer, sharper, and its movements carried a terrifying purpose.
Kaelin's grip on his sword tightened. Whatever this thing was, it wasn't going to let him escape.
The creature let out a low, guttural growl, its head tilting as it studied him. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, it lunged. The water erupted as its claws slashed toward Kaelin, and he barely had time to raise his sword. The impact was like a thunderclap, the force of the blow sending him sprawling into the river. The icy current surged around him, dragging him downstream as he struggled to stay upright.
The towering creature followed, its movements slow and deliberate as it waded into the water. Unlike the others, it showed no hesitation, no fear of the river. Kaelin gritted his teeth and scrambled to his feet, his sword flashing as he swung at the creature. The blade struck its arm, carving a deep gash, but the wound only seemed to enrage it.
The creature roared, its claws raking through the water as it advanced. Kaelin dodged and weaved, his body screaming in protest as the fight dragged on. Every strike he landed seemed to slow the creature, but it wasn't enough. Its strength was overwhelming, its presence suffocating.
Kaelin's foot caught on a submerged rock, and he stumbled, falling hard into the water. The river swallowed him, its icy depths pulling him under as he gasped for air. The creature loomed above him, its claws raised for the killing blow.
In that moment, Kaelin's sword pulsed, its glow intensifying. A surge of energy shot through his body, and he swung the blade upward with all his strength. The strike connected, slicing through the creature's torso. Light erupted from the wound, blinding and brilliant, as the creature let out a final, ear-shattering scream.
The river seemed to calm as the creature dissolved into ash, its remains scattering across the water. Kaelin floated on his back, gasping for breath, his body aching from the effort. The remaining creatures on the riverbank watched in silence, their black eyes unreadable. Then, one by one, they faded into the shadows, leaving Kaelin alone.
For a long time, he didn't move. The river carried him gently downstream, its cold embrace numbing the pain in his body. He stared up at the pale sky, his mind a haze of exhaustion and confusion.
This world was trying to kill him, but he wasn't ready to die again. Not yet.