We are now on the other side of the wall, the vast deep forest was unsettling, especially unsettling with the fact that a monster could pounce at any one of us without warning.
My throat felt dry as we walked through paths where trees were more spread out, but regardless the claustrophobic feel of the forest didnt leave me. My grip in the gun holstered to my hips tightened as I tensed up from every off sounds I hear from the distance.
“You ok Blondie?” I flinched as I felt Alice’s hands touch my shoulder as my heartbeats increased.
“Yeah I’ll be fine… just a little tense is all. Theres just this sticky feeling that something is watching me.”
I calmed down a little but after, thankfully my paranoia has also lessened.
Suddenly the man at the very front, Rein who had been silent up until now came to the back toward me, grabbing me by the collar.
“Oi, listen up kid.” He lifted me off the ground with just one arm making me hold onto his hands for security, now using a menacingly deep voice he pushed me into a nearby tree threatening me creating an audible thud.
“I don’t know how you got accepted as a trainee but if this is all it takes for you to start shaking in your legs then you best call it quits.”
“W-wha?!”
“For your sake and for everyone else’s, grow a pair or you leave and never come back.”
“Hey let him go!.” William steps up grabbing the old man's meaty arms, they both have a fierce stare down before eventually Rein finally let go of me. William caught me helping me get back in balance.
“Whatever, just get out of our way.”
“Hey don't mind that guy, he’s rough but he isn't really bad.” Alice said to me in a reassuring tone.
“Yeah ok, but he's right.”
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
We continued deeper, until we caught sight of a distant shade of red ligjt from within, not only that the temperature was also getting higher. We all looked at each other confirming that this was indeed the monster we were looking for.
“Let's spread out and hit it from every side.” Rein pitched his idea.
“Alright! Then Lucas should stay here. Me and William will take the other sides. Rein will use his Stigma in case it tries to get through one of us.”
As we all got into position, I waited for Alice’s signal while I kept my eyes on the wolf-like monster examining its features. Its skin is covered in rocky magma like earth, Smoke came from its mouth and its throat would glow when it growled. The burning tail mimicking movements similar to an actual tail.
Finally with a sharp whistle shards of glass shoot out from the left side. The hound expertly dodged it ducking down as it turned its focus from the origin of the shot.
William rushed from his hiding spot, using his sword to hack at its neck. But it's tough rock armor withstood the attack like nothing.
“Tch! Too Hard.”
The Wolf now enraged burst into flames and pounced at William baring its fangs. I attempt to assist William, taking aim at its head to at least distract it before an earth wall covers its way hitting its head.
“Rein cover him!” Alice came out of her cover stepping on a stairway of floating glass for a clearer view and threw more shards of glass.
“Move away!” Rein shouted jumping before slamming down onto the ground causing pillars of earth to barrage at the wolf.
Unfortunately its speed was not to be underestimated, quickly recovering from its daze, dodging the glass with ease and counter attacking by melting the earth with its breath forcing Rein to dodge.
I could feel the heat from all the way here. I could only imagine how hot it is from Williams' position.
After its melting breath attack, smoke came out of its mouth heavily, more so than last time. Its neck is now glowing noticeably more. William used this moment to quickly jump in and attack it, giving it a clean whack to its side.
It yelped as it was blown away, but it quickly got back on its feet and once again pounced at William. Getting close to his neck.
“Shit!”
His voice echoed as my vision blurred before refocusing. Everything slowed down almost to a halt. My ears were ringing and all the colors surrounding me were washed out. Small sounds felt loud, even my breath as I exhaled echoed in my ears.
My movement was slowed but I could aim easier at its throat now glowing a bright red. I did one last breath cycle before squeezing the trigger, hitting it right at the glowing spot on its body.
“Woah!” William exclaimed in surprise, realizing this opportunity given to him he quickly stabbed at the neck one final time exhausting its flames.
“Yoo Lucas nice support!”
Meanwhile I was barely hanging on to my consciousness, my head was spinning and it felt like I was about to vomit out everything from this morning.
“Y-yeah urp! Give me a moment.”
William ignored me, giving me his signature back slap, unfortunately making me belch what I was trying to hold back.
“Woops sorry! But we did it! WOO” He celebrated one sidedly while Alice helped me up. Surprisingly Rein also helped me get up.
Unfortunately we didn't win that match, only barely losing by 20 seconds. Assuming we handled the same type of monster that meant that Dan guy was able to dispatch it all on his own.
Just what kind of monster are we going up against?