Heavy panting echoed through the dense forest as a boy tore through the underbrush, weaving between ancient trees that towered into the twilight sky. Their branches were almost bare, skeletal fingers stretched towards the heavens, while the forest floor was littered with damp grass and broken twigs that crunched under his frantic steps.
The boy, his spiky black hair matted with sweat, wore a glowing brown robe that shimmered faintly even in the dim light. A large, bulging backpack was strapped to his shoulders, swaying with every desperate stride.
His face was pale, streaked with cold sweat, and his chest heaved as his heart pounded like a drum, each beat a testament to his fear. His legs burned, but he pushed forward, driven by sheer will and terror.
"Damn it… it's still chasing me!" he muttered, breathless. Risking a glance over his shoulder, his dark eyes widened in horror.
Behind him, a sinister figure loomed, its silhouette cutting through the misty forest like a nightmare given form.
The creature was a Devil. For the past hour, it had relentlessly pursued him, its glowing red eyes locked onto its prey with malevolent intent.
The boy's name was Draco. Once a simple farmhand who worked tirelessly alongside his aging parents, Draco's life had been upended mere hours ago. When he returned from the fields that morning, he had found his parents dead, their mutilated bodies a grim testament to the Devil's cruelty.
It hadn't stopped there. The beast had sniffed him out, its monstrous appetite unsated. Draco had fled, clutching a small backpack where his little sister, Anita, lay hidden.
The Devil, its hunger insatiable, had given chase. Draco had been running ever since, darting through the forest with every ounce of energy he could muster. His lungs burned, his legs threatened to give out, but he couldn't stop—not with Anita's life depending on him.
"It's closing in on us," Draco thought, his eyes darting to the side as he tried to gauge the distance. Another glance over his shoulder sent a shiver down his spine. The Devil was gaining ground, its long limbs carrying it forward with unnatural speed.
The creature had a humanoid form, but its grotesque features were far from human. Razor-sharp fangs jutted from its snarling mouth, blade-like claws gleamed in the moonlight, and its crimson eyes burned with a hellish glow. Its power was overwhelming—its speed and strength far beyond that of any human.
Draco knew he was only still alive because of his familiarity with the forest. He had taken every shortcut, every hidden path he could recall, outmaneuvering the Devil by sheer cunning. But his advantage was slipping away.
"If I can just reach the Weeping Temple…" Draco's thoughts clung to the faint hope of sanctuary. "Maybe I'll find a Devil Slayer or a mage there who can help us."
The forest seemed to close in around him as the Devil's roars grew louder, its guttural growls mingling with the thunderous sound of its footsteps. The vibrations beneath Draco's feet grew stronger, signaling that the beast was dangerously close.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Draco burst through the trees and stumbled into a clearing. Before him stood the Weeping Temple, its massive golden doors gleaming faintly in the moonlight.
The temple was ancient, a sacred site where rituals of awakening and transformation were conducted. It was said that chosen ones could unlock immense power within its walls under the guidance of high mages.
Draco's heart sank as he realized the odds of finding anyone there now were slim. Still, it was his only chance.
Without hesitation, he sprinted to the doors, pushing against their immense weight until they groaned open. He slipped inside and slammed them shut behind him, the sound echoing through the cavernous interior.
The temple was vast and eerily silent. Tall pillars loomed like silent sentinels, their surfaces adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to whisper ancient secrets. Candles lined the walls, though most had long since burned out, leaving the space dimly lit. Shadows danced across the stone floor, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Draco's voice rang out, trembling with a mixture of fear and desperation. The echoes carried his words deep into the temple's recesses, but no answer came.
His heart sank further as he scanned the empty hall. "No one's here… what am I supposed to do now?" Panic began to take hold as he heard the Devil's heavy footsteps growing louder outside.
Draco hurried to one of the massive pillars, dropping to his knees as he unfastened the backpack. Inside, Anita lay curled into a tiny ball, her wide, tear-filled eyes staring up at him.
"It's okay, Anita," Draco whispered, his voice soft but urgent. "Don't worry. I'm going to lure it away from here. You'll be safe, I promise."
Anita's small voice quivered. "Promise me you'll come back."
"I will. Just stay hidden and don't make a sound, no matter what happens. I'll be back before you know it."
Draco carefully secured the backpack behind the pillar, brushing a strand of Anita's hair from her face before standing.
With a deep breath, he turned and sprinted toward the back of the temple, his eyes locked on the smaller exit in the distance.
A deafening crash shook the temple as the Devil smashed through the front doors. The massive wooden slabs flew across the hall, landing with a thunderous boom mere feet from Draco.
The Devil stepped inside, its glowing red eyes scanning the temple with an air of contempt. Its deep voice rumbled through the hall like thunder.
"Humans…" it growled, licking its fanged lips with a serpentine tongue. "Always running, always so fragile. It's pathetic."
In a blur of motion, the Devil lunged forward, its clawed hand swiping at Draco. He barely escaped through the back door, the creature's claws slicing through empty air where he had just stood.
The Devil snarled in frustration. Its massive frame prevented it from fitting through the small exit, and with a roar, it began tearing at the stone walls, widening the opening with brutal efficiency.
Draco didn't look back. His feet pounded against the ground as he fled, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His escape was cut short when he reached the edge of a cliff, its jagged rocks looming ominously in the moonlight.
He froze, his heart hammering in his chest as he peered into the abyss. The darkness stretched endlessly below, offering no hope of survival if he fell.
Behind him, the Devil emerged from the temple, its glowing eyes fixed on him.
"Are you done running?" it taunted, its voice dripping with malice. The creature's long green tongue flicked out as it advanced, savoring the moment.
Draco's body trembled as he took a few shaky steps back, cold sweat dripping from his brow. His mind raced, searching for a way out, but every option seemed to lead to the same grim conclusion.
"This is it," he thought, his gaze locked on the advancing monster. "It's over for me."