As Alonso and Abhijit continued their march through the dense jungle, the tension between them began to fade, replaced by a growing sense of focus. The relentless worm attacks had become almost routine, yet each encounter demanded their full attention.
The jungle was no less oppressive, but the rhythm of their movements, the precision of their strikes, and the methodical way they packed the orbs were all signs of their growing proficiency.
Alonso's mind, however, was not at rest. As they moved, he kept refining his techniques, pushing his mental capacity to its limit. The recent battle had proven that his improved vibration detection was working, but he knew it was far from perfect. The encounter with the three worms had been a success, but it was only a matter of time before they faced something even more challenging.
"We've covered a lot of ground," Abhijit said, breaking the silence. "Do you think we're getting closer to the end of this area?"
Alonso considered the question, recalling the distance they had traveled and the increasing frequency of the attacks. "Maybe. But I have a feeling this isn't just about covering distance. The intensity of the challenges is increasing. We should be prepared for anything."
Abhijit nodded, his expression serious.
They had been going for more than a couple of hours already, their bags nearly full of orbs. Alonso wasn’t sure what to do with them, but he had a hunch they would prove useful in some way. For one, the material was unbreakable—at least for them—and it was incredibly light. Beyond that, it seemed invisible to EM waves, as they passed through them as if they didn’t exist. EM cloaking? It was worth investigating deeper when he had a chance.
Another thing that had Alonso concerned was the shift in the worm attacks. While the rate of attacks had been steadily increasing before, it had now plateaued. For the last hour or so, the worm attacks had been rather consistent—no more than two at once, with perhaps a third one coming close behind. The only truly dangerous instance so far had been those three worms that assaulted him earlier.
He stared at the jungle ahead, a sense of unease gnawing at him. Something about this didn’t feel right. What was the purpose of this challenge? Based on his experience, trials didn’t get easier as they progressed—quite the opposite. And there had been so many worms already that any participant who reached this point would have undoubtedly hit the orb limit. So why make the worm area so long? He had guessed before that something might change after the 7 km mark, but the truth was, based on his estimates, they had covered more than 30 km already!
As they moved forward, Alonso couldn’t shake the feeling that they were missing something crucial, that there was an unseen element to this trial, lurking just beyond their perception. And whatever it was, he had the distinct impression it wouldn’t stay hidden for much longer. But… what?
Was it the coming of night? Would the panthers reappear, mingling with the worms? That would surely be deadly, but it seemed unlikely. Then what? Would a nest of worms lie at the edge of this long area, barring them from the end? Or would a new creature—a king worm, perhaps—be guarding that point?
No. Detection, tracking, extrapolation, and motor response. These were the skills the worms tested. To pass this trial, the challenger—us—must master those skills. So the question is, have we?
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden vibration from Abhijit’s side. He picked up the familiar signatures—one, two, three worms.
Dammit!
But then… his face froze. Four. Four? FOUR!!
What the hell?
Alonso’s heart pounded as he planted his feet, ready to rush to Abhijit’s side. But he knew it was impossible. The worms were too fast, giving barely enough time to move a blade in response. Getting his body into Abhijit’s position was… not going to happen in time.
Fuck. What the hell is this? This made no sense. Four worms at once? Why? Why was the challenge escalating like this without warning? Where was the gradual slope of difficulty?
His mind raced, processing everything at lightning speed, but his body felt too slow. He knew that shouting would only distract Abhijit, make him lose his focus. All he could do was watch, frozen in place, as the four worms closed in on his companion.
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Alonso watched in horror as Abhijit moved with surprising calmness, his body twisting and turning as he attempted to fend off the onslaught. The first two worms were met with swift strikes, Abhijit's blade cutting through them cleanly. The third worm, however, came too quickly on the heels of the second. Abhijit barely managed to deflect it, the worm's sharp edge slicing through the side of his thigh, leaving a deep, bleeding cut.
But the fourth worm… Alonso’s breath caught in his throat as he saw it happen in slow motion. The worm found its mark, piercing Abhijit’s abdomen, just below the ribs, and tearing through flesh with terrifying force.
“NO!” Alonso’s voice finally broke free as he surged forward. His sword flashed in the air, catching the fourth worm mid-flight before it could bury itself. He then spun around, his momentum carrying him into a swift downward strike that quickly dispatched the second as it hit the ground.
Abhijit staggered, the color draining from his face as he fell to the ground, his blood spilling out onto the jungle floor. The bag he had carried spilled open, orbs rolling out in every direction.
Alonso reached him instantly, his heart hammering in his chest as he dropped to his knees beside Abhijit. The wound in his abdomen was severe, blood soaking through his clothes and pooling around him. Abhijit’s breathing was shallow, each breath labored and wet.
“Stay with me!” Alonso shouted, his voice laced with desperation as he grabbed Abhijit, trying to assess the damage. But the jungle wasn’t giving them a moment’s reprieve. More worms were coming—he could feel them, sense them closing in.
Alonso cursed, rising to his feet.
“What the fuck do you think you are doing?! Just turn the fuck back, Alonso. Get the fuck out of here!! Dammit, listen to me! I am you for god’s sake.”
Alonso held his sword tight. Three were coming now.
“Why are you doing this? His death is a certainty. You know this is the limit. We understand now, so just go back. GO BACK!”
He shifted his stance, getting closer to two worms just barely, and executed two quick slashes, the second starting from the end of the first, giving him just enough time to kill the three at once.
“RUN! DAMMIT. Don’t just fucking die for nothing! What about MOM? Who the hell is going to take care of her? JUST LEAVE HIM!”
But Alonso didn’t stop. Another three worms. He did the same—two optimized slashes, quick and efficient. Then another batch, and another, and another…
“Are you really so eager to die? Did you survive this far just to die so stupidly?”
The worms kept coming, relentless, and his sword kept slashing. His arms were tiring, his heart pounding harder than it should, his focus draining with every strike.
“Nobody is going to remember you, Alonso. Both of you die today, and that’s the end of the story. If not for yourself, then do it for him. Live on to honor his memory, to carry on what he was. But… please, don’t die like this. Just… please.”
The worms did not stop. He was tiring, his body feeling heavier, his strikes no longer accurate, deflecting some worms without killing them. But he kept on. He killed a dozen, and then a dozen more, and then more…
The pile of orbs behind him grew bigger and bigger. And then… a worm cut him. He hadn’t managed to deflect it as intended, and it sliced across his wrist. A shallow cut, but… it was the first.
He no longer knew if Abhijit was alive or not. The world had narrowed to nothing but moving targets, interpolated trajectories, and finding the path to strike them all before they reached him. But there was only so much he could do. And so came the second cut. Another shallow wound near his abdomen. Then another on his shoulder. Another on his thigh.
And the next was not shallow anymore.
The cut tore through his side, deep and burning, forcing a sharp gasp from his lips. He staggered, his vision blurring for a moment as pain shot through his body. He gritted his teeth, refusing to let the agony slow him down, but his movements were becoming sluggish, his strikes less coordinated.
More worms were closing in, relentless and merciless. His mind raced, desperately calculating the trajectories, trying to find the angles, the openings, but the strain was overwhelming. His sword felt heavier in his hand, his grip weakening with every passing second.
Another worm lunged at him, and he barely managed to deflect it, the force of the impact sending a jolt up his arm. But he couldn’t stop the next one—it struck him in the back, tearing through muscle and flesh. Alonso stumbled forward, his knees threatening to give way, but he forced himself to stay upright.
"In the end you couldn’t even save yourself… pathetic."
He swung his sword again.
Another cut—this one across his chest—followed by another to his leg. Without the support from the leg, his body gave in, and he fell into a kneeling position.
> Stage 1 - 1.233%
He stared at the ground in front of him, his vision blurry but suddenly clear.
There was nothing there.