[Consume Korgin Eye?]

'No. Not yet'

As they continued on their journey, Twilight began to feel an uneasy sensation creeping up on her. At first, she tried to ignore it, but the feeling persisted, causing her to glance over her shoulder multiple times. Rafe noticed her behavior and asked her what was wrong.

"I don't know, Rafe. It's just this feeling. Like someone or something is watching us," Twilight replied, scanning their surroundings.

Rafe's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his Dao as they both became more alert. They didn't have to wait long before a small, innocent-looking rabbit-like creature hopped out from behind a nearby boulder. Twilight thought it looked cute, but a sudden gut feeling made her step back and warn Rafe.

"Be careful, Rafe. I have a bad feeling about that rabbit."

As they watched in horror, the rabbit suddenly transformed into a grotesque monster, growing horns out of every pore of its body and sprouting a third eye in its stomach. It stood at least two meters tall, towering over the duo. They immediately readied themselves for a fight, knowing that this was no ordinary creature.

Twilight charged forward with her rapier, aiming for the creature's eyes. Rafe followed suit, swinging his Dao in a wide arc. The creature was fast and agile, dodging their attacks with ease. However, they managed to get in a few good hits, slicing through its thick hide.

As the battle continued, Twilight's instincts proved to be correct. The creature was incredibly strong and skilled, and its horns were like sharp weapons that it wielded with deadly accuracy. Despite their best efforts, Twilight was eventually knocked back, landing on the ground with a thud.

Rafe was faced with a difficult decision. He could go to Twilight's aid, but risk leaving himself vulnerable to the creature's attacks. However, he knew he couldn't just watch as the monster went in for the kill.

In a moment of desperation, Rafe used his ability to speed towards Twilight in record time, grabbing her and pulling her away from the creature's stomping feet. However, the effort left him exhausted and panting for breath. They both stared at the creature, ready to continue the fight.

The creature roared, its third eye glowing with an eerie light. Twilight and Rafe braced themselves for the next round, determined to take down this formidable foe. They knew it wouldn't be an easy battle, but they were ready to face whatever came their way.

Staring at the grotesque creature, Rafe felt the weight of exhaustion bearing down on him. His limbs were heavy, and he could feel the beads of sweat running down his face. But despite his fatigue, he knew he couldn't let his guard down. Not when they were facing such a formidable opponent.

He looked over at Twilight, checking her condition. She seemed fine, just a little beat up. Her clothes were torn and bloodied, but she still held her rapier with a steady hand. Rafe took a deep breath and prepared himself for another round.

The creature stood before them, its twisted form looming over the pair. Its multiple horns glinted in the sunlight, and its single, unblinking eye stared at them with a feral hunger. They knew that they had to end this quickly before the creature could launch another attack.

With a nod to Twilight, they both charged at the creature once again, their weapons glinting in the sunlight. Twilight struck first, her rapier slicing through the air with precision as it hit the creature's side. Rafe followed up with a powerful strike from his dao, and they both danced around the creature's attacks, dodging and weaving with practiced ease.

But the creature was powerful, and it wasn't going down without a fight. Its massive arms swung at them with bone-crunching force, and its razor-sharp claws lashed out in all directions. Despite their best efforts, Twilight was eventually caught off guard, and the creature's massive paw sent her flying across the ground.

Rafe rushed to her side, his heart racing as he watched the creature lumber towards them. He knew that he had to act fast if they were going to survive this encounter. Taking a deep breath, he poured all his energy into his legs and launched himself at Twilight, just as the creature's foot slammed into the ground where she had been lying just seconds ago.

With Twilight safely in his arms, Rafe landed a few feet away from the creature. He placed her gently on the ground and turned to face their foe once again. But his body was starting to betray him, and he could feel his muscles protesting with every move.

Their opponent was starting to show signs of weakness, though. Its movements were becoming sluggish, and its once powerful attacks were starting to lose their edge. But even in its weakened state, it was still a formidable foe.

They continued to attack it, each blow causing it to weaken further. Their swords pierced its skin, and their blows severed its limbs until it was almost immobile. Its once fearsome strength was now replaced by pathetic, weak attempts at retaliation.

And then finally, they saw their chance. Twilight seized the moment, her rapier plunging into the creature's forehead with a sickening crunch. The creature let out one final roar before it fell to the ground, its body twitching and spasming in its final moments.

For a few seconds, they both stood there, panting and covered in blood. They had done it. They had won.

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As the night began to draw in, Rafe and Twilight both felt the weight of their exhaustion. They had been through a lot that day, fighting for their lives against the grotesque creature. They knew they needed to keep moving, but their tired bodies begged for rest.

They finally found a spot that was a bit up-hill and decided to settle there for a while. Rafe took the first watch, while Twilight tried to get some rest. She was too shy to say anything at first, but finally mustered the courage to speak.

"Thank you...for saving me," she said softly.

Rafe remained silent.

After four hours or so, Rafe shook Twilight awake and went to sleep himself. She took the watch duty and tried to stay alert. It was a peaceful night, and nothing happened. But as the hours passed, she grew bored.

She began to sing quietly to herself, a soft melody that drifted through the night air. Rafe pretended to be asleep, but he couldn't help but listen to her beautiful voice. He was surprised by how talented she was, and he felt a new sense of admiration for her.

Once she finished singing, Rafe pretended to wake up and greeted her with a "Morning."

"Good Morning, Rafe. Sleep well?" she asked.

"As well as a stranded can," he replied with a small smile.

They packed up their belongings and set off again, feeling more rested but still a bit fatigued.

They continued on their journey, navigating through the treacherous terrain and keeping a watchful eye for any other dangers that may lie ahead. Even though they were tired, they knew they couldn't afford to let their guard down.

Along the way, they began to finally talk to each other. It seemed the big fight with the strange creature had caused them to grow a lot closer.

"You miss your parents much?" she asked.

Rafe thought for a moment.

"As much as the next stranded"

"I miss my mum a lot. She fell ill just before I ended up here. I hope she's well"

Twilight seemed a little emotional speaking about her mother.

"What about your dad?"

Twilight was quiet for a moment, deep in thought.

"He died a while ago"

Rafe was a little embarassed. Things had gotten a little awkward. Seeing Rafe's expression, she sighed.

"It's fine. I've gotten over it. Bigger things to worry about now"

Rafe nodded.

She was right. In a world like this, you can't dwell on the past.

You need to focus on the present, or else you'll live and die in the past.

As Rafe and Twilight continued their journey northward, they could feel their anticipation mounting. The possibility of finding a safe haven, even if only temporarily, was exhilarating.

As they walked, they couldn't help but wonder about the people who may have once lived in the abandoned camp. What happened to them? Were they killed by monsters or some other unknown threat? The thought sent shivers down their spines.

The landscape around them became more rugged and barren as they trekked further north. It seemed as if life had been stripped from the land, leaving nothing but rocky terrain and the occasional shrub.

Finally, after hours of hiking, they caught a glimpse of it in the distance. The fortress.

It was a formidable structure, made of large stone blocks that had withstood the test of time. The walls were tall and sturdy, with towers that jutted up toward the sky. The drawbridge was pulled up, indicating that the fortress was not currently inhabited.

The fortress was indeed enormous. Its walls towered above them, seeming almost impossible to scale. Rafe ran his hand over the rough stone, feeling the weight of history in every stone. It was a formidable structure, a testament to the skill and determination of those who had built it.

But there was something eerie about the place. Despite its size, it seemed entirely deserted. There was no movement on the battlements, no sounds of activity from within the walls. Even the gate stood open, as if welcoming them in.

Rafe hesitated before entering, his instincts telling him that something was not right. But he and Twilight had come too far to turn back now. They stepped through the gate and into the courtyard beyond.

It was empty, too. Not a soul in sight. The buildings that lined the walls were silent, their windows dark and empty. Even the stable was empty, the stalls barren and unkempt.

Twilight's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of life. Rafe followed her gaze, scanning every inch of the courtyard. But there was nothing. No footprints, no discarded food, no sign of recent activity.

It was as if the fortress had been abandoned for years.

They made their way through the empty streets, the silence oppressive around them. Rafe's footsteps echoed against the stone walls, a hollow sound that seemed to stretch on forever.

Finally, they came to the watchtower. It was small, but sturdy, and Rafe felt a sense of relief wash over him as they stepped inside. It was safe, at least, and they could rest for a while.

Twilight took first watch, perched atop the tower and scanning the empty courtyard below. Rafe settled in to rest, but his mind was too restless for sleep.

Would they ever find a way home? The fortress was just another glimmer of hope in his three year long journey that was squashed in an instant.

Another fruitless adventure. However, at least now he had someone to share this burden with. Another stranded.

Rafe sighed heavily, feeling the weight of their situation pressing down on him. He glanced up at Twilight, who was still keeping watch, and felt a pang of gratitude. He wasn't alone anymore.

"Twilight," he said softly, not wanting to startle her. "You ever think about if we'll ever make it back? If we'll ever make it back to the real world? I'm starting to think, what if we never...."

He trailed off.

Twilight turned to look at him, her expression thoughtful. "Of course I do," she said. "But we've made it this far haven't we? What, are you starting to think of giving up? I knew you were weak"

Rafe spat.

"As if. Just thinking. You could say I don't have the highest hopes at the moment...for obvious reasons"

He leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes and trying to push aside his worries.

As he sat there, he became aware of a faint sound in the distance. It was a low rumble, growing steadily louder.

"What's that?" Twilight asked, her voice tense.

Rafe stood up, his heart pounding. "Why the fuck would I know?"