Rustling...
Annie finished picking the herbs and raised her head to look at the sky. Through the forest canopy, she felt a twinge of unease.
"Anyi! It's already this late! We should go home," she shouted towards Anyi, who wasn't far away.
"Good," Anyi nodded, glancing around with a wary eye.
Rustling...
"Wait!" Annie suddenly thought of something, furrowing her eyebrows and looking around. "Anyi, did you hear any sound?"
"I hear the sound of you," Anyi said enigmatically.
"No! I mean... surrounding sounds!" Annie closed her eyes, listening intently.
Rustling...
"Did you hear that? It's this sound!" Annie's eyes flew open with excitement as she spoke to Anyi.
At that moment, she finally realized the eerie sensation. She glanced at the leaves, confirming there was no wind.
"Why is there the sound of grass rustling when there's no wind?!" Annie's fear intensified as she pondered the source of the sound.
"Anyi, it couldn't be just one monster... could it?!" Annie's eyes widened with fear. She clung to Anyi's sleeve, alert and increasingly anxious about their surroundings.
"Dad often said the jungle is extremely dangerous at night, with cannibal monsters lurking about. If we encounter such a monster, what should we do? Will we all be eaten??" Annie whispered urgently.
"That won't happen," Anyi reassured her with a shake of his head. "There aren't many monsters that prey on humans," he explained, noting that regular humans without mana typically aren't targets for such creatures.
"Oh, I never knew that," Annie replied with surprise, absorbing this new information about monsters' preferences.
"But..." Anyi's gaze shifted, fixating on the hidden eyes in the dim forest, as if warning them, "I see you there."
"We might encounter something worse than ordinary monsters," Anyi continued.
"Ah..." Annie was immediately taken aback.
"It seems they've heard our conversation; they're no longer hiding," Anyi said, his excitement rising. "Now the enemy intends to reveal themselves."
"Hi hi hi he he --"
"Cack cac cac --!!"
"Chit chit heh heh heh heheh!!"
From all sides, grotesque monsters with twisted and malevolent smiles emerged from the shadows, their hideous and inhuman appearances instilling dread and fear in the air. Their green skin stretched over oversized heads and disproportionate bodies, with sharp ears and bulging eyes adding to their repulsive visage. Saliva dripped from their long fangs, heightening the nauseating sight.
Though not tall, their sturdy frames and thick, muscular arms exuded a dangerous aura, creating an overwhelming sense of threat and fear.
"Anyi?!" Annie cried out in fear, her face contorted with panic upon seeing the monsters. "What are they?!" Trembling, she grabbed onto Anyi's arm, seeking protection from the unknown menace.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Class 1 monster, Goblin," Anyi replied calmly, his hand resting on his sword. His expression betrayed no fear or uncertainty, as if he knew exactly how to handle the situation.
"Finally... today..."
------
Anyi's vision abruptly shifted. The world around him seemed to waver, as if time had momentarily reversed to a day from his past life.
Same place, same time, same two people.
"Just a group of Goblins, not my match," Anyi declared firmly, positioning himself protectively in front of Annie. His voice remained calm, yet his determination was palpable as he faced their adversaries.
However, due to the "Rules of this World," as soon as Anyi drew his sword without the necessary "Authority," he staggered and nearly collapsed to the ground. Amidst the taunts of the Goblins and Annie's concern, he seemed lost, unable to orient himself.
Annie acted swiftly, pulling him up from the ground and guiding him away from the encroaching Goblins. Little did she know, the Goblins intentionally allowed them to escape, initiating their own twisted game of cat and mouse.
......
Anyi lifted his gaze to the darkening sky, reminiscent of the sunset from "that day," when the horizon was also bathed in red...
Annie lay on the ground, her clothes smeared with sand and mud, her wound now seeping red...
------
"Anyi... You're faster than me. I'll stay here and draw the monsters' attention," Annie said firmly, ensuring Anyi's escape to safety. "Hurry back to the village and alert the adults about the monsters here."
"These monsters haven't attacked yet, so they're not looking to kill us right now. If we go back and get help from the adults, we'll make it out of this."
"...Those were the last words Annie spoke before she left this world..." Anyi recalled his sister's words with a heavy heart, even in a completely different life, they stayed with him.
She perished, taken in a way that brought him deep sorrow.
......
"But in this life, I won't let that happen again," Anyi vowed, his determination solidifying to protect Annie. He swore to exact vengeance upon the monsters that had taken her from him in his previous life. They would pay dearly for their crime.
Annie pondered their predicament with a serious expression, anxiety gripping her mind as she scanned the overwhelming number of Goblins. Sweat trickled down her face, her first encounter with such creatures inducing a primal fear she had never known before. She felt like a child in a world of peril.
"I must stay calm," Annie coached herself, pushing back her fear. "I need to find a solution."
'Let Anyi fight...?'
'No!'
'Anyi is alone; he can't take on all these monsters!' Annie realized, her worry mounting. 'He must alert the village adults.'
"Anyi," Annie's voice quivered with fear as she released his arm and stepped forward, blocking the Goblins in front of him. "You're faster than me. I'll distract them. Use the chance to escape and get help from the village adults!" Her shoulders trembled involuntarily.
Annie knew staying meant almost certain death, but she refused to show any weakness in front of her younger brother, whom she felt responsible for protecting.
Anyi placed a warm, reassuring hand on Annie's shoulder, offering some comfort to her fear-stricken state.
"No need to be afraid, sister." Anyi spoke in a calm, low voice. "Goblins enjoy playing with their prey. They won't kill us right away. They prefer to see fear in their victims, to mock and toy with them."
Annie's voice trembled with anxiety as she asked, "How do you know this for sure?" Her own question heightened her unease. "But if that's true, aren't we in even greater danger?"
Realizing the gravity of their situation, Annie struggled to find a way forward. Yet, when she looked at Anyi again, she saw his calm demeanor unchanged. There was no trace of fear, panic, or even surprise. It was as though the danger didn't faze him at all. Strangely, this reassured Annie somewhat, easing her nerves in the face of imminent peril.
Annie's voice wavered as she asked, "So what should we do?"
"They're approaching us openly, which actually works in our favor," Anyi replied calmly. "Goblins prefer to surround their prey, enjoying the fear they instill. It's their cruel nature to revel in tormenting their victims."
"Why would being surrounded be good news...? It's better to fight directly.” Annie questioned, her voice filled with concern.
"No, if they don't surround us, I won't be able to protect you," Anyi muttered softly.
"What do you mean?" Annie's eyes widened in shock as she glanced nervously at the encroaching Goblins. "Is there really a way you can save us from this?"
"It's simple," Anyi said confidently. "I'll eliminate all the monsters here. Only then can I ensure your safety." He spoke with an assurance that belied the dire circumstances surrounding them.