The boat hit the rocky shore with a jolt. Kaito’s hand slipped off the edge, but he barely noticed. His eyes were glued to the island ahead—dark, jagged rocks stretching out from the mist like claws.
Looks like it’s hungry.
He swallowed, feeling his stomach churn. The old man steering the boat grunted and threw his bag on the shore without a word. Kaito almost thanked him but stopped. What was the point? The captain was already gone, disappearing back into the fog like the island had swallowed him whole.
With a sigh, Kaito grabbed his bag and took his first step onto the island. The ground was rough beneath his feet, uneven with sharp stones that seemed ready to trip him. Of course this place wouldn’t make it easy.
He glanced around. Paths split off in every direction, each one leading into the dense, dark forest. None of them were marked. No way to tell which is the right one, huh? He hesitated for a moment, his father’s voice ringing in his ears. Pick a path. Don’t waste time.
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“Left it is,” he muttered, taking the first trail that seemed somewhat walkable. The silence pressed down on him as he walked, broken only by the crunch of his footsteps. It was too quiet. Every sound seemed louder, sharper. His nerves buzzed with tension.
A rustling noise cut through the silence. Kaito’s heart leaped into his throat. His hand went straight to the dagger at his waist, his fingers tightening around the hilt. Stay calm… breathe… His father’s old lessons echoed in his head. Footwork first, then the strike.
Something burst out from the bushes—a bandit, wild-eyed and snarling, swinging a sword with a crazed grin. Kaito barely managed to block the attack with his dagger, but the impact knocked him back. He stumbled, nearly dropping his weapon.
The bandit laughed. “You’re dead.”
Not yet!
The bandit swung again, but this time Kaito sidestepped, the blade slicing through his cloak. He thrust the dagger toward the bandit, but his strike was sloppy. The bandit easily parried and knocked him down with a brutal kick.
Pain shot through Kaito’s ribs. He gasped, struggling to get his breath back. Get up, get up, get—Before he could rise, a roar echoed through the forest, shaking the ground beneath him. Both he and the bandit froze.
What… the hell… was that?
A shadow loomed over them. Kaito turned, his heart dropping into his stomach. A creature—massive, with glowing eyes and teeth dripping with saliva—emerged from the trees. It lunged at the bandit, tearing into him with one snap of its jaws.
Kaito didn’t wait to see more. He ran.
To be Continued…..