Chapter 10

Through the haze of smoke and debris, my eyes strained to make out the chaos beyond. At first, it was difficult to discern anything clearly, but then the shapes became more defined.

Black shadows—hundreds of them.

Many of them, were darting through the clouds of dust and ash, charging at the towering creature. As I peered closer, I realised that they were the very same creatures I had fled from earlier and were now swarming the golem in an all-out assault.

My mind reeled in disbelief. How was this possible?

These creatures were vicious, but they were small, primitive. I’d killed two of them with little effort. And now, here they were, fearlessly attacking something as colossal and indomitable as a golem. It didn’t add up. I thought back to that sudden lightning strike—the blinding light that had exploded in front of me moments before.

That wasn’t them. It couldn’t have been. They couldn’t possibly wield such devastating power. Unless...

I peered even closer, squinting through the thick veil of smoke that still lingered in the air. There, in the distance, I saw it—a figure standing apart from the rest, obscured but unmistakable.

A similar creature, but different from the others.

This one was cloaked, hooded, and stood surrounded by a phalanx of heavily armed guards. Iron shields and crude but sharp weapons gleamed in their hands as they formed a protective circle around the figure.

The hooded monster held something high in its grasp—something that radiated power, even from where I stood hidden. It was a talisman of sorts, crackling faintly with energy, and as I stared at it, a familiar sensation clawed at me.

Danger!

The warning was sharp and urgent, and I reacted instinctively, ducking back behind the tree, pressing myself flat against the bark just as—

BOOM.

Another explosion rocked the forest, brighter and more violent than the last. I barely had time to shut my eyes before the flash seared through the air, casting everything in a harsh, white glow. My heart raced, pounding against my chest.

That was it.

The hooded creature was the source of the lightning, the origin of the devastating strike. More precisely, the talisman it held. That thing was channeling an unnatural force, and it was using it against the golem.

Slowly, cautiously, I peered back around the tree, my breath shallow. The battle raged on, even more chaotic than before. Hundreds of the creatures, armed with nothing more than crude weapons and sheer desperation, were attempting to scale the golem.

They clung to its rocky surface, clawing their way up its massive limbs, trying to reach the glowing red spheres embedded in its chest. I could see them striking at the golem’s weak points, hacking at the joints, aiming for anything that might give way.

But the golem was far from being defenseless.

With a deep, resonating hum, the golem lashed out, its enormous stone fists slamming into the ground with a force that shook the earth. Each impact was like the strike of a boulder crashing down a mountainside—unstoppable, merciless.

Countless creatures were sent flying with every blow, their small bodies crushed under the sheer weight of the golem’s power. The ground beneath its feet was rapidly turning into a wasteland of shattered earth and splintered trees.

I watched as the golem thrashed, its movements slow but overwhelming. It smashed its fists into the swarm with terrifying strength, sending more and more clouds of dust and debris into the air.

They were flattened where they stood, their bodies reduced to little more than broken shells beneath the golem’s massive hands. And yet, despite the carnage, more of them came. For every one that fell, two more seemed to take its place, charging forward with a reckless abandon that bordered on suicidal.

What was this? A doomsday mission?

It was as if they knew this was their last stand, their final chance to strike before being obliterated entirely.

But they didn’t stop. The hooded creature with the talisman kept its gaze fixed on the golem, raising the artifact again, preparing for another strike. And the golem, for all its might, seemed to be in trouble.

The creatures, in their relentless hive-mind, had begun to overwhelm it. Some had reached the red spheres, chipping away at the protective rock around them. The golem’s movements were growing more erratic, as if it was reacting not out of strategy but pure instinct.

A third blast of light erupted from the talisman, though this time I was prepared. I ducked down, covering my eyes from the intensity of it.

The explosion sent a searing wave of heat through the air, and when I finally looked back, I saw that the golem had stumbled. One of its legs buckled under the force of the strike, its massive frame swaying precariously. The swarm surged forward, sensing an opportunity.

The golem lashed out again, its massive arm sweeping across the ground like a massive scythe, and more of the creatures were crushed, their bodies broken under the force. But the one with the talisman was relentless, ordering its guards to join the swarm.

I tightened my grip on the axes at my belt, heart racing. This wasn’t just a spectacle anymore—it was an opportunity.

And I couldn’t stay on the sidelines any longer.

I decided to take another gamble—and carefully rushed forward, making sure to stay out of sight.

As I moved forwards, I leaped over the littered bodies—countless corpses and dismembered limbs strewn across the ground. But I didn’t let it distract me. This was reality, brutal and unforgiving, and nothing mattered but my own survival. All I had were my instincts and the determination to see this through.

I kept low, weaving between fallen logs and shattered rocks, but despite my best efforts, one of the swarming creatures caught me. Its senses appeared sharper than the others, detecting me before I could get any closer.

It snarled, preparing to charge, but I was already prepared for this. My hand tightened around the wooden spear I carried, and without hesitation, I hurled it forward.

The spear sailed through the air, deadly and precise, embedding itself deep into the creature’s chest just as it began to rush me. It let out a strangled cry, stumbling backward before collapsing, lifeless.

I didn’t stop to catch my breath.

The golem was still retaliating, even though it had fallen to its knees, thrashing violently against the onslaught of the swarm. I could tell—it was on its last legs, the scaly creatures were winning, and I needed to act now.

I darted forward, reaching down to grab the club the fallen monster had dropped, its crude but heavy weight feeling right in my hands. Just then, another lightning strike cracked through the air, this one slamming into the golem with a force that made the ground tremble beneath my feet.

I dashed behind a tree, shielding myself from the blast of energy that followed.

Just as I peered around the tree, I saw it—the golem’s movements had slowed. Its once overwhelming fury had begun to squander, its strength drained by the relentless assault. The swarm were pressing in from all sides, scaling its massive form like ants devouring a fallen beast.

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This was my chance.

Heart racing, I sprinted forward again, ducking from bush to collapsed trees, my body low to the ground as I moved closer to the golem’s fallen form. Every step brought me nearer to the towering creature, now barely moving, its massive body slumped and battered.

Around it, the corpses were piled high—discarded, yet more of them continued to climb, eager to deliver the final blow. I knew I had to be faster than them.

I could see my target now—the red orbs embedded in the golem’s chest. The source of its power, glowing faintly, like dying embers in a once-raging fire. Many of the creatures were already hammering away at them.

But they were still out of reach. My muscles tensed as I pushed myself harder, dodging past the creatures that were too focused on their attack to notice me. The ground shook again as the golem tried to lift one of its arms, but it was a weak attempt.

Its strength was failing.

I scrambled onto the golem’s fallen leg, my hands gripping the rough stone as I scaled it, moving with haste. The surface was uneven, but I climbed with purpose, using every foothold, every crack.

Halfway up, I caught up to one of the creatures climbing the golem. Without hesitation, I grabbed it by the leg, yanking it down with a snarl. It let out a surprised cry before plummeting to the ground below.

I didn’t stop to look. I was already moving, pulling myself higher until I reached the top of the golem's leg.

But I wasn’t alone.

Two more stood in my way. One had an arrow nocked, its beady eyes locked onto me, while the other came charging forward with a club raised high. I reacted fast, darting to the left, barely dodging the arrow that whizzed past my ear.

The sudden shift in balance nearly sent me tumbling over the edge, but I caught myself just in time, my fingers gripping the rocky surface with desperation.

Thankfully, the golem had stopped moving entirely now, its massive frame completely still. But I knew what that meant—the red orbs, the source of its power, were in danger of being taken.

I turned back to face the creatures. The one with the club was already too close, its face twisted in fury. It swung wildly at me, but I ducked low, feeling the wind of its strike brush the top of my head.

Before it could recover, I struck back, slamming my club into its legs, knocking it off balance. With a quick shove, I sent the creature stumbling off the ledge, its screams fading as it crashed below.

The second monster was already nocking another arrow, but I wasn’t going to give it the chance. My hand shot to my belt, grabbing one of the stone axes I’d taken earlier. In one swift motion, I hurled it with all the strength I had.

The axe spun through the air, embedding itself in the creature’s skull with a sickening thud. The monster’s eyes widened in shock before it collapsed, lifeless.

I rushed forwards.

The chest of the golem was still far ahead, and I needed to get there before it was too late. I broke into a sprint, leaping over the fallen, dodging the chaos around me. More monsters swarmed the golem, desperately trying to finish the deed.

As I moved, arrows rained down from above, some barely missing me, while others found their mark. One arrow grazed my side, cutting through my skin, and another struck me squarely in the back, sending a shock of pain through my body.

I stumbled forward, the pain almost unbearable, but I couldn’t afford to stop. With gritted teeth, I forced myself to keep moving, finding cover behind a stone outcrop to catch my breath. Blood trickled down my skin, the wounds slowing me, but I couldn’t let that be my end.

With renewed determination, I pressed on, leaping and climbing higher, each step bringing me closer to the golem’s chest. Another lunged at me from the side, swinging its weapon at my legs, but I was quicker. I lashed out with a kick, sending the creature tumbling down to its death.

I kept moving. I was so close.

After what felt like an eternity of climbing, I finally reached an outcrop of stone near the golem’s chest. And there, in the chaos, I saw it—one of the monsters holding a red orb up high, its hand raised in victory with a wicked grin stretched across its face.

Behind it, others were furiously striking at the other two red orbs, still embedded in the golem’s chest. I couldn’t let this happen.

I want one—I NEED IT!

With the creature still in it’s triumph, I charged forward, gripping the stone axe tightly, my knuckles white from the force. I closed the distance in an instant, my legs propelling me forward faster than the creature could react.

Just as it began to turn, its eyes widening in shock, I didn’t stop. I pounced, slamming into its body with all my weight, sending us both crashing to the ground.

It screeched, thrashing under me, its claws scrambling to grab at the orb in its hand. But I didn’t give it the chance. With one hand, I pinned its arm holding the orb, while with the other, I raised the stone axe high above my head.

Without a second thought, I brought the axe down on its forearm—hard.

The sound of bone splintering echoed in the air, followed by a spray of warm blood that splattered across my face. The creature howled in agony, its body jerking wildly beneath me, but I didn’t stop.

Again and again,

I brought the axe down, splitting flesh and severing tendon until, finally, its arm was ripped clean off.

The orb slipped from its loosened grip.

Quickly, I snatched the red orb from its falling trajectory and shoved it into my pocket, heart pounding as I glanced up at the other monsters. They didn’t seem to notice—didn’t care—about their fallen comrade.

Their attention was solely on the two remaining orbs still lodged in the golem’s chest, their frantic hammering growing more desperate with each second. The injured creature beneath me whimpered, clutching its stump of an arm, but the others didn’t even spare it a glance.

I stood up, breathing heavily, my gaze locking onto another creature. This one was dangerously close to pulling out a second orb. Its clawed hand had already wrapped around the glowing sphere, its arm raised triumphantly as it prepared to claim the prize.

I couldn’t let that play out.

Without hesitation, I hurled my axe, the stone weapon spinning through the air. It struck the monster square in the head, its body stiffened before collapsing, its hand loosening its grip on the orb just as it toppled to the ground.

But before I could even move, another one leapt forward, eyes wide with desperation. It snatched the falling orb from mid-air, clutching it tightly to its chest as if it had just claimed salvation.

No. Not on my watch.

I sprinted toward it, closing the gap in moments. The creature barely had time to stand before I was on top of it, driving my boot into its skull with a forceful kick followed by a fierce stomp.

Eventually, the creature’s head cracked under the pressure, its body convulsing once, then going still. I didn’t waste any time. I yanked the orb from its limp hands, plundering it for myself.

Two! I had two of the three orbs.

But the third was still up for grabs.

I turned, my eyes darting toward the final orb. A vicious struggle had already broken out for it, clawing and biting at each other, I watched them; each desperate to claim the last remaining orb. Their fight was brutal, but I didn’t have the luxury to wait and see who would win.

Because now, I had become a target.

The other approaching creatures, their eyes wild with greed, had seen what I had done. Their gazes were locked on me, on the orbs I had just stolen, their faces twisted with fury and desire. A chorus of snarls erupted from their ranks, and one by one, they sprinted in my direction.

They were coming for me.

My trusty instincts were flaring. I didn’t have time to think, only to act. Without looking back, I turned and ran—sprinting with every ounce of energy I had left. The sounds of their footsteps and growls followed closely behind, growing louder and closer with each passing second.

Fuck! It's like Deja-vu again.

I moved quickly across the golem’s stony corpse, darting from one jagged surface to another, the uneven ground beneath me making every step a potential disaster. Arrows whistled through the air, some close enough that I could feel the wind off their fletchings.

I dodged them as best I could, but I wasn’t fast enough to avoid all of them. I felt the sharp sting of a few grazing my arms and legs, the pain flaring hot but manageable. I couldn’t let it slow me down.

There wasn’t time.

I leapt across a narrow gap in the stone, landing hard on the other side, my breath coming in sharp gasps. Just as I was about to take cover behind a protruding chunk of the golem’s arm, my instincts screamed at me.

Danger!

I glanced to my right, catching sight of the hooded creature in my peripheral vision. It was standing on the ground below, its talisman raised up high and aimed directly at me.

Well isn’t that great?!

Up ahead, another monster blocked my path, its sword glinting as it charged toward me, eyes full of rage. And behind it? A whole swarm of them. They were climbing up the sides of the golem, their claws digging into the stone, scrambling to reach me. I was trapped, no doubt about it.

Shit. Fucking shit!

The thought pounded in my skull as I tried to assess my options, but none of them looked good.

There was no escape. No time. Only one way out, and it was suicide—but what other choice do I have?

I gritted my teeth, feeling the heat building in the surroundings. The hooded monster’s talisman began to glow, brighter and brighter, as if it were charging some devastating attack.

My instincts roared, and my body moved.

Without hesitation, I charged straight at the creature in front of me. It saw the madness in my eyes, hesitation flickering for a split second as it raised its sword to strike.

But it’s hesitation was it’s downfall.

I ducked under the slash, the sword whistling above my head. Without slowing down, I slammed my entire body into the monster, my shoulder driving into its chest in the direction of the edge.

The impact knocked the wind out of it, and we both went tumbling off the edge of the golem’s body, falling into the abyss below.

Just as we went over, a blinding flash of light exploded behind me, the lightning strike hitting the spot I had just vacated. The boom was deafening, my ears ringing from the force of it, and I felt the intense heat searing the skin on my back, radiating outward. But it hadn’t hit me directly. I’d narrowly escaped.

We plummeted through the air, the creature’s body thrashing in my grip as we hurtled toward the ground. I had its arms locked in mine, holding it tight, using it as a shield against the brutal fall that was fast approaching.

The wind rushed past, pulling at my clothes, and I could barely keep my eyes open. The ground was coming up fast—too fast—and all I could do was pray. My chest tightened, my breath shallow, as I squeezed my eyes shut. My saving grace kicked and snarled, but I held it close, determined to let its body take the brunt of the impact.

Shit! Shit! Shit—

SHIT!!!