Chapter 8: AFP
The cave was quiet, save for the occasional crackle of embers in the small fire they had built. The air was thick with tension, not from immediate danger but from uncertainty. They had barely escaped with their lives, and though they had managed to treat their wounds and rest, survival was still a looming challenge.
Food. Water. Shelter.
These were the things they needed to focus on now. They couldn't afford to sit idly while the world around them threatened to swallow them whole.
Seated on a jagged rock near the fire, Telemon crossed her arms, her expression serious as she addressed the group. "We're running low on supplies. We can't afford to waste another day sitting here."
Sakuchi leaned against the cold cave wall, his body still recovering from the lingering effects of Lilia's poison. His muscles ached, but he knew she was right. Resting was a luxury they didn't have.
"We need to split up," Number 8 said, adjusting the cloth around his arm. "It's safer that way. Cover more ground, find what we need, and get back before anything finds us."
Telemon nodded. "We'll move in teams."
Sakuchi and Cynthia would search for a fresh water source. Celess and Kyron would hunt for food. Telemon and Number 8 would scavenge for materials to reinforce their shelter.
No one objected. They all understood what needed to be done. The hunt for resources had begun.
Sakuchi wiped the sweat from his brow as he followed Cynthia through the dense, overgrown terrain of the World of Wendigo. The twisted trees loomed over them, their bark blackened and gnarled, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, riddled with deep cracks and strange, bioluminescent fungi.
"This place feels wrong," Cynthia muttered, glancing around warily. "Like it wasn't always like this."
Sakuchi grunted. "Doesn't matter what it was. It's hell now."
They moved carefully, eyes scanning the ground for any sign of a river, a stream, even a puddle. Water was scarce in this forsaken land, and many of the sources they had come across were contaminated—tainted with something unnatural.
After nearly an hour of searching, they stumbled upon a thin stream trickling between jagged rocks. The water was dark, but it was moving—better than the stagnant pools they had found before.
Cynthia crouched beside it, running her fingers just above the surface. "Think it's safe?"
Sakuchi didn't answer immediately. Instead, he extended his hand, summoning a small wisp of purple flame above his palm. He let it hover just above the water. If the fire reacted strangely, it meant there was something toxic, magical, or otherwise unnatural in the stream.
The flame flickered but remained steady.
"Might be safe," he said at last.
Cynthia arched a brow. "Might be?"
Sakuchi smirked slightly. "We'll boil it first."
With that, they began collecting what they could, Cynthia using her Illusion Magic to mask their presence. Even if nothing was around now, she wasn't going to take any chances.
Celess exhaled sharply, gripping the hilt of his dagger as he crouched low in the underbrush. Kyron was beside him, eyes sharp, scanning the terrain. Finding food was proving to be harder than expected.
The World of Wendigo wasn't just devoid of normal animals—it was infested with creatures that didn't belong anywhere near civilization.
"You think there's anything in this place that's actually edible?" Celess muttered.
Kyron smirked. "We could try eating the monsters."
Celess gave him a disgusted look. "You first."
They continued deeper into the terrain, pushing through tangled vines and jagged rocks, when Kyron suddenly halted, holding up a hand.
"There," he whispered.
Celess followed his gaze and spotted it—a patch of strange, bulbous fruit hanging from a vine-covered rock. The fruit was deep red with faintly glowing veins, almost as if it were alive.
Celess narrowed his eyes. "You think that's safe?"
Kyron grinned, plucking one from the vine. "Only one way to find out."
Before Celess could stop him, Kyron took a small bite.
Celess immediately stepped back. "You idiot—"
Kyron chewed thoughtfully, swallowed, then nodded. "Tastes fine."
Celess stared at him, waiting. "…You're not dead?"
"Nope." Kyron took another bite.
Celess sighed, rubbing his temples. "If you drop dead, I'm leaving your corpse here.
Telemon and Number 8 moved cautiously through what looked like the ruins of an ancient settlement. Crumbled structures, rusted weapons, shattered stone pathways—it was clear that something had lived here long ago.
Telemon kicked over a broken helmet, dust swirling into the air. "Whatever happened here… it wasn't natural."
Number 8 crouched near a pile of rubble, brushing away debris to reveal a set of weapons—daggers, short swords, metal spikes. He picked up one of the daggers, testing its weight. "Still usable."
Telemon, meanwhile, was more focused on securing anything that could reinforce their cave. She gathered sturdy wood, metal scraps, anything that could serve as barriers or weapons.
"We need to make sure we can hold out here," she muttered. "Who knows how long we'll be stuck in this place."
Number 8 nodded, tossing her a roll of old but intact rope. "Then let's take what we can."
By the time everyone returned, the sky above had darkened—not because of nightfall, but because of the eerie, oppressive nature of the World of Wendigo.
They gathered around the fire, laying out their findings.
Sakuchi and Cynthia's water supply would need to be purified, but it was usable. Celess and Kyron's fruit hadn't killed Kyron yet, which was a good sign. Telemon and Number 8 had found weapons and materials to reinforce the cave.
For the first time since they had arrived, there was a brief moment of peace.
Kyron stretched his arms, biting into another fruit. "You know… for a death world, this place ain't that bad."
Celess scoffed. "Don't jinx it."
Sakuchi sat near the fire, staring into the flames. They were surviving, but for how long?
Because one thing was certain…
The peace wouldn't last.
The group sat around the fire, their bodies worn but their spirits momentarily at ease. Kyron was still chewing on the strange fruit, completely unfazed, while Cynthia lay on her back, staring at the rocky ceiling of the cave.
But then… the ground trembled.
A deep, guttural sound reverberated through the air, low and distant at first, like a heavy drum echoing in the far reaches of the World of Wendigo. Then came another tremor—stronger this time, sending small rocks tumbling from the cave walls.
Everyone went still.
Sakuchi's eyes narrowed as he pushed himself up, his body still aching from the poison's aftereffects. Telemon was already on her feet, hand on her weapon, while Number 8 silently moved toward the entrance of the cave, his presence nearly disappearing into the shadows.
And then… they saw it.
A massive figure loomed in the distance, barely illuminated by the dim glow of the strange fungi that dotted the landscape. Its body was grotesque—long, gaunt limbs stretched unnaturally, its skin cracked and gray like dried stone. It stood at least twenty meters tall, its hunched frame giving the illusion of a beast that had once been human but had long since abandoned its mortal form.
A Titan Wraith.
Celess swallowed hard. "You have got to be kidding me."
The creature's head twitched, moving in erratic jerks, its hollow eyes scanning the terrain. Despite its size, it made no effort to pursue them. Instead, it merely stood there, its massive, clawed hands dragging along the cracked earth as it lumbered forward, aimless but destructive.
Kyron exhaled. "That thing's not even looking at us."
Sakuchi's mind raced. If it wasn't hunting them specifically, then what was it doing? Could it even think? Most Wraiths were cunning, but this one seemed… different. Less intelligent, more primal.
Then the creature howled.
The sound sent a shockwave through the air, rattling the cave and making Sakuchi's insides twist. It was a sound that carried pure, raw power—a voice that didn't belong in this world.
"Everyone stay low," Telemon ordered, her voice calm but firm.
But the Titan was already shifting. Its massive foot slammed into the ground, shaking the entire area. It was moving again, its direction uncertain, its presence wrong.
Sakuchi clenched his fists, purple flames flickering around his hands. If that thing got too close to the cave, their fragile peace would be shattered.
Telemon's voice cut through the tension, sharp and commanding. "Everyone, move! We can't let it get any closer!"
Without hesitation, the group sprung into action.
Celess was the first to rush out, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. "We need to hit it fast and hard before it gets any closer!"
Kyron dashed beside him, the adrenaline pumping through his veins. "I'm ready."
Sakuchi and Cynthia took the rear, keeping an eye on the creature's movements. Sakuchi was the first to act, his purple flame flickering to life in his palm. "Stay close. I'll keep the fire going."
"Got it," Cynthia responded, her form flickering briefly as she masked their presence with Illusion Magic, shrouding them from the monster's vision.
The Titan-like Wraith moved with an unnerving slowness, but each step caused the earth to quake. It reached forward with massive, elongated limbs, smashing through the thick trees in its path. Its eyes locked onto the cave entrance as it neared, the very ground shaking with each of its steps.
Sakuchi's eyes narrowed. "We're not going to let it get any closer."
He stepped forward, positioning himself between the Wraith and his group. A small flame flickered in his hand, but he wasn't going to hold back now. He ignited a series of flame bullets, their tips glowing fiercely. The projectiles shot forward with pinpoint accuracy, each one slamming into the Wraith's thick hide.
The Wraith let out a deafening roar, the impact of the flames causing it to stagger back. But it didn't fall.
Celess and Kyron wasted no time. Celess slashed through the air with his dagger, summoning his Ice Manipulation ability as he created spikes of ice that shot forward with deadly precision. They embedded into the Wraith's legs, momentarily slowing its advance.
Kyron, agile and quick, darted around the Wraith's massive limbs, his dagger flashing with each strike. He aimed for the creature's joints, aiming to cripple it. "It's tough, but it's not invincible," he muttered under his breath.
The Wraith swung its massive arm toward Kyron, who rolled to the side just in time to avoid being crushed. "This thing's got reach," he muttered.
Telemon and Number 8 flanked the creature, working together with precision. Number 8 moved like a shadow, darting between the Wraith's legs, his Shinobi training giving him an almost unnatural agility. He focused on the creature's vulnerable points, slashing with his daggers, leaving shallow but damaging cuts.
Meanwhile, Telemon focused on creating openings. She rushed in, her body a blur as she dodged the Wraith's swings, and used her own powerful strikes to weaken it. Her sword clanged against the Wraith's armor-like skin, but she didn't relent. With each swing, she chipped away at its defenses.
Cynthia, still hidden in the background with her Illusion Magic, was weaving spells to keep the group concealed from the Wraith's attacks. It didn't seem to notice them as clearly, but it was still aware enough to retaliate. When it swiped at her last position, Cynthia reappeared and quickly summoned another illusion, redirecting its attention elsewhere.
"We need to take it down now," Sakuchi said, his voice low but urgent. "I can't hold the fire forever."
Sakuchi's hands flared with more power. The fire swirled around him, growing in intensity. He focused, taking aim once again. "I'm going to hit it with everything I've got."
With a deep breath, Sakuchi gathered his energy and released a massive burst of flame—a full-charged Flame Nuke. The explosion of fire surged forward, consuming the creature's torso. The Wraith shrieked in agony, the heat scalding its body, and the impact staggered it back, leaving a trail of burning destruction.
But even then, the Wraith did not fall. It roared with fury, more enraged than ever. The ground beneath them cracked as the Wraith began to move faster, its primal rage now fully awakened.
"That's it!" Celess shouted. "It's gone berserk!"
Kyron gritted his teeth. "We're running out of time. We need a finishing blow."
Telemon nodded to Number 8, her face set in determination. "Number 8, create an opening. I'll finish it."
With a swift movement, Number 8 tossed his remaining daggers at the Wraith's chest, drawing its attention toward him. The creature lunged forward, but in its distraction, Telemon darted in, her sword glowing with ethereal energy. She jumped high, spinning through the air, and landed on the Wraith's shoulder.
With a roar of effort, she drove her sword straight into the Wraith's skull, the blade piercing deep into the creature's brain.
The Wraith trembled violently as it let out one final, tortured scream. Then, with a sickening crack, its entire body collapsed, crumbling to the ground like a broken puppet, lifeless and still.
The group stood in a circle around the fallen titan, panting heavily, adrenaline still pumping through their veins. The cave had gone silent once more, save for the distant crackling of the fire.
"That was too close," Celess said between breaths, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Kyron let out a breathless laugh. "I think we need to get a lot stronger before we face anything bigger."
Sakuchi nodded, his body still throbbing with exhaustion from the poison and the battle. "Yeah. But we made it."
"We made it because we worked together," Telemon said, wiping the blood from her sword. "And we'll need to keep working together if we want to survive this place."
Number 8, ever the silent observer, gave a small nod of approval.
Sakuchi glanced at his team, each of them battered but unbroken. They had survived the worst of the World of Wendigo, for now.
But as he looked into the distance, the dark silhouette of the World's landscape stretching out before them, he knew this was just the beginning.
End of Chapter 8