An agony unlike anything I have ever experienced before assaults every nerve ending simultaneously, ravaging my entire being. As if being skinned alive and then having salt poured onto naked flesh — each laceration cutting deep enough to leave bleeding gashes across my psyche itself rather than just surface level injuries on skin alone. Every motion is torture, as if thousands of tiny knives slice into my raw nerves. Yet, I force myself upright, determined to take stock of our dire situation.

The first thing that greets my eyes is the beast. Its jet black fur has lost almost all luster and its wings hang loosely by its sides, unmoving, covered with countless gashes and tears running across their membranes. Despite being barely able to keep itself airborne with its only remaining pair of wings, spread wide out from its body, it still looms above us menacingly while drawing in ragged breaths through clenched fangs. Even when severely injured, its aura is oppressive enough for me to struggle just keeping my head raised up to glance in its direction.

And then I see him. In front of me. Nael!

Even now... He refuses to stop smiling despite lying there motionlessly in a pool of his own blood amidst scattered bits and pieces of flesh that used to belong within his body. With one leg torn off at the knee and half of his face missing entirely, exposing the bloody meat beneath for all to see. Even with part of his abdomen split wide open, with black tendrils creeping along its edges, worming their way into flesh like bugs burrowing into the earth... Despite it all! He refuses! To stop fucking smiling at me!!

Out of all that we have suffered today — all the pain and anguish we have endured — this is what breaks me. After fighting back countless waves of emotions threatening to swallow me whole since this nightmare began... When faced with this scene before my eyes... Something inside shatters like glass. It crumbles apart into tiny pieces within my chest until there’s nothing left but dust drifting away into the wind... Not leaving anything behind. Not even sorrow... Only numbness...

I watch myself stand up from the ground — as if observing a stranger acting out scenes from some play performed on stage. As if someone else is controlling my body now instead of me. And maybe it really is the case... Because there is no trace left of me within anymore — not even anger or rage or hatred fueling my actions right now — only void remains where a roaring inferno of emotions raged uncontrollably just a moment earlier. Only... a single goal in mind. Kill.

Even Lucienne’s slow crawl towards Nael, as she finally regains enough clarity to drag herself weakly through blood-soaked sand beneath us while whispering something inaudible repeatedly, doesn’t stir anything within me at this point...

With his blade in my hand and eyes fixed upon our opponent above, I march forward without hesitation. Once more, a familiar melody echoes out beside me, resonating within my core, reinvigorating battered flesh, bolstering tired limbs, trying to light a fire within my soul to chase away encroaching darkness clinging tightly onto me... But even as it sings out its song so beautifully... So fervently... Despite everything it’s offering me freely with every note it hums, my heart remains frozen solid.

Arrow after arrow flies toward our foe as it hovers midair, tearing through the shadowy membranes of its wings, bringing it down closer to us with every volley sent its way. Finally, it seems to decide that staying in the air is more trouble than it’s worth anymore and dives claws-first at the source of all this torment — Alder! Only a swift kick to his side from Enril saves him from becoming a stain on this cursed ground beneath us, but not from becoming yet another helpless witness to our battle as his bow flies out of reach while he tumbles across the sandy dune.

With Kuleigh lying limp in front of the twins after shielding them with his body during the beast’s initial attack. And with the sisters unable to stop their melody — the only thing keeping us going despite mounting fatigue and wounds — even if they wanted to, that leaves only the two of us standing between our foe and the others’ lives right now.

Before the beast can recover its bearings from crashing into the ground, I lunge forward without delay. My feet pound heavily into the sand below as I sprint toward its prone form, my grip tight around the hilt of the blade in my hand as if holding onto it for dear life itself. As soon as my strike lands against its hide... It proves futile as shadows rush forth to fill every gap between scales and fur, blocking my blow from piercing deep enough to deal any meaningful damage.

Before I have time for another swing, the beast twists around in place, its tail whipping out towards me. With no opportunity to dodge out of its range in time, I raise my sword to deflect the incoming strike instead. However, even with its injuries and diminished size and despite me being prepared for impact, it sends me flying back several feet across the sandy dunes.

On the opposite side, Enril takes advantage of its distraction to activate his class skill. The spear in his hands blurs as he launches one thrust after another in rapid succession against the beast’s exposed flank. Unfortunately, despite striking repeatedly with such blinding speed that it’s hard to keep track of where exactly his spearhead goes, they’re all blocked by a swirl of dark tendrils emerging from its side before they can land their mark.

As if taunting us for our feeble attempts at injuring it further, it straightens out its body while lifting its head high before unleashing yet another deafening roar. But unlike earlier, the force behind it fails to stagger us at all this time around. Instead of a hurricane battering against our souls, it’s barely strong enough for us to notice it even happening anymore. Even the emotions swirling within — the fear and hopelessness meant to drag us down into despair — are now little more than a gentle breeze brushing past our minds than a tempest howling inside our heads.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Back on my feet and with sword raised high once again, I dash forward for another charge while Enril tries to draw the beast’s attention with a flurry of blows from different angles. Once in range again, I slash my weapon down, this time aiming for a spot just behind where its front legs connect with torso. But as expected, shadows move swiftly to intercept my strike before it can land — blocking my blade mere inches away from its scales before pushing me back once more with a swipe of its claws.

For what feels like an eternity afterward... We are reduced to little more than dancing puppets performing our parts in this twisted tragedy unfolding around us — each step predetermined by fate itself long before our births and our actions only serving as a means for the amusement of gods looking down upon us from above...

Every time I try to attack... Shadows rush forth to protect the monster and repel me away from it...

Every time Enril attempts to land a blow against its exposed hide... They surge forward to defend their master while knocking him off course...

Despite every effort we throw at it... Despite all of our desperation... Despite all the wounds littering its body... Despite the blood pouring from countless gouges marring its form... Despite Nael’s sacrifice... Despite everything we’ve endured through today! Even now, we are still unable to break through its defenses!

Worse...

As we grow more exhausted and tired by the second... As fatigue and pain slowly drown our hearts under waves of anguish crashing relentlessly against them... As Aria and Eumelia‘s voices become hoarse from overuse and their mana channels burn out from channeling power through them repeatedly without pause...

The beast grows stronger!

Its strikes grow faster! Its attacks land harder! Its wounds begin to close up!

No, no, no! This isn’t how it was supposed to end!

Didn’t it lose strength as we fought previously? Or was that just my imagination? No, clearly not! That I remember. As the sun raised during—

Wait... Where’s the sun?! When did it rise?! Shouldn’t there be rays of dawn breaking past night’s veil by now?!

Surveying my surroundings frantically while fending off another strike from a tail sweeping across my path, I almost miss the subtle signs. But once I notice them, there is no mistaking their significance. The horrifying truth is laid bare for me to see now that my attention focuses beyond just surviving one more second against our foe...

There is no wind blowing past us anymore... No distant sounds of wildlife stirring in forests around us either... Clouds in the sky lie in place motionless — not a single one drifting across its vast expanse... And more than anything else... The water in the river running beside us doesn’t flow anymore!

There is no dawn approaching to signal the start of a new day here! There never was! Since we arrived here — since fighting back against our pursuer — not even a second has passed within this godforsaken realm!

Hopeless...

Energy drains from my limbs all at once at this realization, while numb apathy takes its place instead — spreading throughout my body until nothing remains but cold emptiness in my chest and an overwhelming weariness weighing down upon me from every direction.

Why bother...? Why try any longer when there’s no way for us to win this? Not against this monster that refuses to die and can heal itself indefinitely? And even if we were to fell it somehow... Won’t that shapeshifting prick just bring it back once again? Can we even die or is it already the eternal punishment? Maybe once the beast kills me, I will wake up having just arrived at the beach again. And again. And again...

The edge of my sword slips from my grasp as I drop to my knees before collapsing into sand completely — weapon falling to the ground next to me with a dull thud — while tears stream freely down my face without end...

“Trust the Hunt,” she said... And where is she now?!

Enril rushes forward to cover for me immediately after seeing me fall. However, even his best efforts prove useless as his spear strikes glance off effortlessly whenever they manage to slip past black tendrils swirling around their master. As he’s knocked back again and again — blood spilling from countless small cuts covering his body now — the monster draws closer towards me. Even it looks confused about why I have given up on struggling so abruptly instead of trying to strike at it while it’s focused solely on Enril now...

If there is a next life for us after this one ends...

The world slows down as the beast pounces toward me. As shadows coalesce around its claws before stretching out — forming long black talons that gleam dangerously in dim light — ready to tear out my throat in one swift motion. That last moment seems to stretch into eternity.

I know you are watching! In fact, you’ve been watching since the very beginning, haven’t you?! Since you took away everything from me!

If there is a next life for us after this one ends... I swear... I will hunt you down! No matter what it takes! Or how long it takes! Or how many lives it costs! Even if I have to defy fate itself and bring death to every god standing between us! I will find you! And once I do? When that day comes? When it’s just the two of us left facing each other alone? I will hunt... the God of the Hunt!

And all the stupid rabbits!

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Bit too late for that, hah. Well, at least Luci will have something to think about while waiting for the beast to get done with me here, haha...

I throw a glance at where she lay previously, expecting to find her gazing hatefully towards me for bringing her into this.

But... To my surprise... She sits upright while cradling Nael’s head in her lap. Slowly stroking his cheeks with a trembling hand covered in blood and sand. Looking at me in shock. Reality cracking around her as she plunges a dagger deep into his chest...

As the world shatters, there’s only one thought running through my mind.

Never trust a rabbit!