Zami sat near the mouth of the cave, his sharp eyes scanning the forest outside. The faint glow of firelight flickered through the dense trees, casting eerie shadows that danced in the distance. The silence was heavy, broken only by the occasional crackle of burning wood.
Behind him, Kiyo sat quietly, her knees pulled to her chest as she leaned against the cold stone wall. She seemed lost in thought, her pale face partially hidden by her shoulder-length black hair.
Zami broke the silence. "Kiyo," he said, his voice low but steady, "how long have they been chasing you?"
The girl looked up at him, her black eyes reflecting the faint light from outside. She hesitated, her small hands gripping the edge of her robe tightly.
"A... long time," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't know how long. Days? Weeks? Maybe more."
Zami's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he turned back to the entrance. "They're persistent," he muttered, more to himself than to her. His hand instinctively rested on the hilt of his katana.
Before he could say more, a deep, guttural growl echoed through the forest. It was distant at first, but the sound carried a chilling weight that made the air feel heavier. Zami stiffened, his senses sharpening.
The growl came again, louder this time, followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps crunching through the underbrush. Then another growl joined the first, and another, until a chorus of guttural roars filled the air.
"They're here," Zami said, rising to his feet in one smooth motion.
Kiyo pressed herself against the cave wall, her small frame trembling. "It's them," she whispered, her voice shaking. "The ones with the skeleton heads."
Zami stepped toward the entrance, his katana sliding out of its sheath with a soft hiss. His silver eyes narrowed as he peered into the darkness, his battle instincts taking over.
From the dense shadows of the forest, figures began to emerge. They walked on two legs, their bodies covered in thick black fur. Primal armor made of bone and leather adorned their shoulders and knees, and their skeletal deer-like heads glowed faintly as white light poured from their hollow eye sockets.
One of them carried a massive black spear, its jagged edge glinting ominously. Another held a bow, its string taut with an arrow already nocked. Behind them, more creatures emerged, some wielding crude swords while others carried massive clubs.
Zami's grip on his katana tightened. He shifted his stance slightly, his body calm and ready.
"Kiyo," he said without looking back, his voice firm. "Stay behind me. Do not move."
The beasts growled and snarled, their voices a primal chorus of menace. One of them raised its bone-clad head and let out a piercing screech that seemed to shake the very air.
Zami's expression didn't change. His silver eyes locked onto the nearest creature, and in a voice cold and steady, he said, "If you want her, you'll have to get through me first."
The beasts roared in response, their primal fury unleashed as they charged toward the cave.
Zami's katana flashed in the dim light as he stepped forward to meet them head-on.
The skeletal-headed beasts charged relentlessly, their glowing eyes fixed on Zami with primal hatred. The forest seemed alive with their roars, the sound of their pounding footsteps reverberating like thunder.
Zami tightened his grip on his katana but kept his techniques restrained for now. His calculated movements were enough to parry their savage blows. One beast lunged at him with a jagged spear, but Zami sidestepped effortlessly, slicing through its side in a single motion.
Despite his skill, their sheer numbers began to overwhelm the battlefield. More emerged from the dense trees, their weapons glinting in the faint light, and arrows rained down from unseen archers above. Zami's sharp gaze flicked to the Bone Monarch shard strapped to his side.
"Enough," he muttered. With his free hand, he grabbed the shard, its cold surface radiating a faint, malevolent energy.
Plunging it into the ground, Zami channeled its power with precision. A shockwave erupted, and the forest floor quaked as pale, jagged spikes of bone burst forth with blinding speed. The spikes impaled countless beasts in an instant, their cries of agony echoing into the distance.
The few that remained stumbled back in hesitation, their confidence shaken. Zami stood amidst the carnage, the spikes of bone slowly retracting back into the earth. He held the shard tightly, its energy still crackling in the air.
But hesitation was fleeting for the beasts. The survivors regrouped and charged again, their bloodlust undeterred. More arrows whistled through the air, aimed directly at him.
Zami took a sharp breath and muttered, "No holding back." He sheathed the shard and stepped forward, gripping his katana with both hands. As the beasts closed in, he kicked off the ground with inhuman speed, leaping high into the air.
Mid-air, Zami activated **Arrow Flow**. His body twisted with precision, and his leg shot out in a powerful, spinning kick that created a whirlwind of destructive force. The sheer momentum of the technique unleashed a devastating shockwave, shattering arrows in their path and sending the attackers below sprawling.
The wave of energy struck the beasts with crushing force, their primal armor splintering as they fell lifelessly to the ground. The forest stilled for a moment, the wind carrying the echoes of Zami's strike.
But there were still more. The remaining creatures rose, growling with renewed fury as they charged at him from all sides.
Zami landed smoothly, shifting his weight into a combat-ready stance. His katana gleamed as he whispered, "This ends now."
He surged forward, unleashing **Multiple Slash**, a devastating flurry of precise attacks. His blade moved faster than the eye could follow, cutting down enemies in rapid succession. Each strike found its mark, and the skeletal-headed beasts fell one by one, unable to match his speed or skill.
Within moments, the battlefield grew quiet. The once-relentless attackers were reduced to lifeless forms scattered across the ash-covered ground. Zami stood amidst the carnage, his katana dripping with dark, viscous blood.
He turned his head slightly, glancing back toward the cave. "It's safe now," he called to Kiyo, his voice steady but firm.
The girl hesitated, peeking out cautiously from the shadows. Her black eyes scanned the field of fallen beasts before settling on Zami. She stepped forward, her small frame trembling slightly but her expression resolute.
Zami cleaned his blade, wiping it against a torn piece of cloth from one of the fallen creatures. He then turned to Kiyo and said, "We move forward. Stay close. There may be more of them."
Kiyo nodded silently, clutching the edge of his cloak as they ventured deeper into the wasteland. The eerie silence of the forest pressed around them, but Zami remained vigilant, his senses honed for any sign of danger.