Their hearts pounding in their chests, Yasuji and Vivet sprinted through the dense forest. The sound of their own breathing filled their ears as they desperately pushed their limits to escape the horror that pursued them. But no matter how fast they ran, the creatures' howls grew closer, closing in on them from all sides.
As they frantically searched for an escape route, they stumbled upon a dead end. Towering rocks surrounded them, trapping them in a claustrophobic space. Despair washed over them as they realized there was nowhere else to go.
But just as despair was about to consume them, Vivet's sharp eyes caught a narrow opening hidden among the rocks. Camouflaged by shadows and vegetation, it was barely visible. Without hesitation, they squeezed through the narrow passage, hoping it would lead them to safety.
As they ventured deeper into the narrow passage, the creature's growls became louder and more menacing. The guttural snarls echoed through the confined space, sending shivers down their spines. They knew they had no choice but to keep moving, hoping this hidden path would lead them away from danger.
After what seemed like an eternity of crawling through the darkness, Yasuji and Vivet emerged into a small cave. The dim light flickered off the damp walls, casting eerie shadows across the space. And there, before them, stood an old man.
At first glance, the old man seemed ordinary, with weathered features and tattered clothes. But in his eyes, there was a glint of wisdom and resilience that spoke of a life lived through hardship and survival. He gazed at Yasuji and Vivet with a mixture of surprise and relief.
"It has been a long time since I have seen a human so close," he said softly, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
"Who are you?" Vivet asked. "And what are you doing here?"
"I came to this forsaken island long ago on a great ship with my crew. The creatures you saw outside, they killed all my friends. I am the only one who survived, hiding in this secret sanctuary."
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Yasuji and Vivet exchanged glances, their eyes burning with curiosity. They knew this old man held the answers to the mysteries that plagued them. Without hesitation, they bombarded him with questions about the island and the creatures that inhabited it.
The old man took one of his makeshift torches and lit it, illuminating the walls of the cave. Yasuji and Vivet's eyes widened as they saw the intricate drawings etched into the stone. The images depicted the creature with its elongated limbs and sharp teeth. But the drawings were not limited to that; there were several more creature drawings, but what caught their eye was the drawing that resembled Ori, with humans gathered around him for some reason.
The old man brought his torch to the drawing of Ori and began to speak, his voice filled with a mixture of grief and determination.
"There may be many creatures here," he explained, "but the most dangerous among them is Ori, the one who brought you here."
"These are terrible and dark beings that have plagued these lands for centuries. They feed on fear and despair, preying on lost souls like you who dare to enter their territory. But Ori lures children and devours them, sustaining his eternal life and youth. At least that's what I could gather from the writings on the walls."
Yasuji leaned forward, his heart pounding with a newfound purpose. "So how do we escape this island?" he asked with a resolute voice.
The old man smiled sadly. "You must find his weakness," he said. "No matter how formidable he may seem, everyone has a weakness. And if he is slain, your return may be possible."
While the thought of killing Ori seemed impossible, the old man explained that they needed a dagger to kill him, but it was no ordinary dagger. It was in the possession of someone known as Baba Yaga, who lived in the forest. However, the old man warned them that Baba Yaga, like Ori, also devoured children.
Yasuji and Vivet listened intently, absorbing every word.
When the old man finished his explanation, Yasuji and Vivet felt a renewed sense of purpose ignite within them. They knew what they had to do now - retrieve the dagger, find Ori, and end his reign of terror. For now, at least, that was all they could do.
With hearts filled with gratitude, Yasuji and Vivet bid farewell to the old man and exited through a different passage he had shown them, back into the perilous world outside. They knew that their next destination awaited them, hidden somewhere deep within these desolate lands. Armed with the knowledge of Ori's weakness, Yasuji and Vivet pressed onward, their resolve unshaken.