Sham's heart raced as she dragged Jayson and Bea through the dense forest. Every step felt like a battle against time, each moment fraught with the fear of what might be lurking in the shadows of the trees. The air was thick with humidity, the ground beneath their feet soft and spongy with the remnants of last night's rain. Tall trees towered over them, their limbs swaying in the wind, casting long, twisting shadows on the path ahead. The smell of wet earth mixed with the sharp scent of pine, and the sound of distant wildlife echoed through the woods. Despite the peace, there was an undercurrent of dread that made every footstep feel like a countdown.
"Come on, we need to move faster!" Sham's voice cracked as she yanked Jayson forward, her eyes darting around, scanning every rustle and movement in the underbrush. The weight of what they had left behind—Aldrich, still battling the massive boar—was pressing on her chest like a vice. She had left him alone out there, and it haunted her every moment.
Bea gasped, holding her side, the blood from her wound still seeping through her shirt. "Sham, what happened back there?" she managed to say between gasps for breath, wincing from the pain.
Sham didn't immediately respond, her thoughts too clouded by fear and guilt. Her hands trembled as she clutched Jayson's arm. She couldn't shake the image of Aldrich standing alone, facing the boar. He was strong, but this was different—this wasn't a game.
Suddenly, the sharp snap of a twig broke the stillness of the forest. Sham froze, her heart pounding in her ears. Slowly, she turned her head. Through the thick foliage, she saw it: a large, slithering form moving silently between the trees. It was a snake—bigger than any she'd ever seen, its scales glistening faintly in the dim light. Its eyes gleamed with an eerie glow.
"Sham, what is that thing?" Bea whispered, her voice filled with dread.
"I—I don't know," Sham stammered, her throat dry with fear. "But we need to run—NOW!"
Sham's scream echoed through the trees, raw and shrill. She didn't need any more encouragement. She grabbed Bea and Jayson, pulling them faster through the underbrush, their steps heavy and frantic as they pushed through the thick vegetation. The snake didn't move at first, but Sham didn't wait to find out if it would. They tore through the forest, their breath ragged, the dark woods closing in around them.
Despite their efforts, the sense of being watched lingered. The snake's presence was oppressive, as though it was never far behind, coiling through the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But it never followed—just observed.
It wasn't until they finally reached the registration area that Sham allowed herself to pause, her legs buckling under her. She was trembling with exhaustion and terror, and her knees gave out, sending her collapsing into the arms of Graham, who had been waiting for their return.
"Sham, what happened? Where's Aldrich?" Graham asked, his voice filled with concern as he looked at her, at the others. Jayson was covered in blood, and Bea could barely stand. The staff quickly radioed for an ambulance, their faces pale with fear.
Sham barely registered the frantic movement of the staff as she was enveloped in Graham's arms. She looked up at him, her face pale and full of fear. "The boar... Aldrich is still out there... fighting it. And—and there was a snake. It was huge, Graham. Bigger than anything I've ever seen," she stammered, her voice breaking.
Graham's grip tightened on her. "A snake?" His voice was soft, almost incredulous. "My God…"
The panic and exhaustion drained her, and she collapsed onto the ground, her hands trembling. "I couldn't protect him," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I'm so scared, Graham. What if he's out there, alone?"
"Sham, he's strong. He'll be fine." Graham knelt beside her, his voice trying to be reassuring, though his own worry was clear. "We need to find him."
Sham shook her head, the terror in her eyes so raw it was palpable. "I couldn't even protect myself from the snake, Graham. What if the boar... what if he couldn't..." She didn't finish the sentence, unable to voice the fear that gnawed at her.
Meanwhile, Aldrich was still in the forest, his eyes locked on the fleeing boar. He had no idea what had spooked it, but he wasn't about to wait around to find out. His mind, however, was racing with new information as he checked the glowing panel that hovered in his mind. The same one he had seen before, the one that displayed his status:
Status Panel:
Health: 100 (+50 from Grasp of the Undying)
Damage: 5
Speed: 10
Armor: 10
Magic Resist: 10
Level: 1
Keystone: Grasp of the Undying
Minor Runes: Conditioning, Second Wind (Locked)
Rune Slots: 3 available shards
There was now a 1 next to the Level, indicating he had reached his first level. Aldrich tilted his head, tapping the panel with his finger.
"Level 1..." he muttered to himself, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment, yet confusion lingered. "So, I'm level one... maybe it works like the game? Level 18... the max level?"
He scrolled through the information, his gaze lingering on the locked runes. He knew they were important, but he had no idea how to unlock them. The three empty slots beneath the runes seemed to beckon him. Shards, he thought. He had heard of these in the past, pieces of powerful runes or abilities that could enhance one's status.
A small sigh escaped him. "I should've chosen different runes... Maybe Conqueror or Press the Attack." He looked down at his current runes again, noticing their defensive properties. "But Grasp of the Undying and Conditioning... I'm tankier, at least."
With a final glance at the panel, he turned and began making his way back, his eyes darting from side to side. The forest had never felt so ominous. As he walked, something caught his attention ahead. An outline—no, a shadow—slithered just out of sight, too large to ignore.
A chill crept up his spine. His pulse quickened, and he fought the rising panic. He had faced danger before, but this felt different. The snake. The feeling of being watched. He wasn't alone, and something in the back of his mind told him that if he didn't leave now, it wouldn't be the boar he'd be fighting next.
"Okay, no more being cocky," he muttered to himself, backing away slowly. "I need to get out of here. I've got no idea what's out here."
Aldrich's feet carried him back to the registration area, where the others were already waiting. His gaze met Sham's, and a flood of relief washed over him. He hurried over and embraced her tightly.
"Sham, I'm fine. The boar ran off. It got spooked by something... I don't know what, but it's gone."
Sham pulled back, her eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and relief. "You're lucky," she said, her voice still strained. "I was so worried. I thought... I thought I lost you."
Aldrich smiled softly. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." He kept his voice steady, but deep down, he knew how close he had come to not returning.
The group exchanged quiet words before the ambulance took Jayson away. With the danger of the forest behind them, the staff radioed the main center to report the incident. The voice on the other end sighed deeply.
Radio Transmission:
Operator: "Make sure everything is handled. We don't need another panic. The situation is worsening out there."
Staff: "Understood. We've got the injured on the way, but it's starting to feel like more than just wildlife. Something's changing. We need backup."
Operator: "Hold tight. Reinforcements are on their way. Just stay alert, keep your head down, and don't take risks."
The radio crackled as it cut out, leaving the staff on edge.
Graham stayed behind for a while before heading back to his parents' home. As he left, he turned to Sham. "Mom and Dad are waiting for me. But you know... they're all right. Don't worry."
Sham simply nodded, her gaze distant as Graham walked away. She turned to Aldrich, her eyes heavy with exhaustion and emotion. Without a word, she led him back to her apartment. He could tell she needed comfort, and despite the events of the day, he was more than willing to offer it.
The next morning, Aldrich made his way to the local gym. It wasn't just about training; it was about preparing for whatever was coming next. The world was changing, and he needed to be ready.
At the gym, Aldrich found Steve, the trainer. "Hey, Steve. Are you in?" Aldrich asked, his voice firm with purpose.
Steve looked up from his equipment, nodding. "What's up, kid? What do you need?"
"I need to learn how to defend myself. No weapons. Just... my fists," Aldrich said, a quiet resolve in his voice.
Steve raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "All right. You made the right choice. No weapons, huh? You're gonna learn to punch, defend, and evade. We'll start slow, but this is gonna be tough."
Aldrich grinned, the adrenaline from the past day still buzzing in his system. "I'm ready. Teach me everything you've got, Steve."
Steve nodded, his expression serious now. "Good. First lesson—never let your guard down. Ever. Let's start with the basics." He gestured to the mat, where Aldrich positioned himself. Steve moved quickly, demonstrating a series of jabs and blocks.
"You're gonna need to move faster than that if you want to survive. No one's going to give you a second chance out there. So, move your feet, and keep your eyes on the target," Steve instructed.
Aldrich nodded, his focus sharpened. "I won't let my guard down. I'm ready for whatever comes."
The weight of the upcoming trials felt heavier with every word. But for the first time in a long while, Aldrich felt like he was taking control.