The creature that scared the goblins into retreat towered like a mountain. Its red, glowing eyes burned through the darkness, and its legs were long and thin, supporting a bulky frame. Two enormous hands gripped a jagged axe a weapon larger than an average-sized child. Its skin covered with tiny spikes, and both shoulders bore massive skulls, one of which looked bigger than the creature's own shoulder.
The glowing red gaze locked onto Donghyun.
He froze.
His breath caught in his throat, limbs paralyzed for a heartbeat. Then his instincts screamed. He bolted faster than ever feet pounding against the dirt.
He didn't know where he was running just knew if that thing swung its axe, he would be dead in a single strike.
The wind howled past his ears as he dove behind a massive tree, its bark rough against his skin, chest heavy clamping a hand over his mouth, heart hammering. Sweat dripped down his temple, cold and sticky.
The creature's steps were heavy, each one making the ground tremble.
"What is that thing?" he thought, barely breathing.
Across from him, just behind a twisted patch of brush, was a gaping hole in the ground large enough for him to slip into a shelter. Maybe even a way out.
But the creature was still circling nearby. Donghyun ran with all his strength and dove into the hiding spot just as the monster's footsteps grew louder. Each step was deliberate as it walked in the opposite direction, like it was sniffing out prey.
He held his breath.
A long exhale escaped his lips relief washing over him like a wave.
"I'll need a plan," he muttered.
He closed his eyes and calmed his nerves.
"Soul Sync Instinct."
Ten goblins, near a campfire.
He couldn't sense anything beyond ten meters.
Quietly, Donghyun moved through the underbrush, his footsteps light and deliberate. He crouched behind a patch of tall grass and watched the goblins.
They were clustered around the flames, their rough, green faces glowing under the firelight. Their voices echoed in a strange, guttural tongue two smaller goblins surrounded by ones much larger.
The goblins were beating the smaller one.
To others it might've just looked like monsters brawling, but in its eyes there was something, fear, desperation, a silent plea for mercy.
He couldn't understand a word, but the rhythm of their chatter and occasional howls of laughter gave off an eerie, almost ritualistic feeling.
"It's the same everywhere. There's no place for the weak," he whispered.
Donghyun noticed Geon twitching, reacting. The shadow soldier was trying to forcefully summon himself.
Donghyun's chest tightened, like something heavy had pressed against his ribs. It felt like being crushed by a hammer.
"Come out."
Geon emerged from the shadows, and the pressure on Donghyun's body slowly faded.
"Tch, what do you want to do?"
Geon pointed toward the goblins.
Donghyun didn't answer.
"Come back, we don't even know if we could kill one," he muttered.
Donghyun slowly backed away, eyes scanning the twisted forest. Something about it all felt, wrong. The air was thick and the stench of rot clung to the trees.
He wandered for a while, careful not to attract attention, until he spotted a cave in the distance dark, half-buried under vines and moss. It looked like shelter, but he couldn't tell what lurked inside.
"Geon."
He emerged, its figure flickering in the dim light.
"Check the cave."
Geon nodded once and disappeared into the darkness.
Minutes passed, then the shadow returned.
It didn't say a word.
"Anything inside?"
Geon shook his head.
Donghyun hesitated at the entrance. Each step inside was careful, measured the kind of movement only someone used to fear would make.
The cave was cold and silent.
Darkness swallowed everything, not even his eyes could make out the shape of the walls.
He kept moving until his back found a solid surface, a large stone lodged in the corner. With a quiet sigh, he sat down and rested his head against it, letting the silence press in.
Then, a faint blue light flickered in the blackness.
A notification.
[New Objective: Survive from the Behamut]
[Time Remaining: 45:51:45]
[Item Obtained: Flitched Sword]
The blue light vanished, leaving the cave in darkness once more, leaving the item in his hands.
The Flinched Sword slipped from his fingers and clattered softly to the ground. Donghyun crouched down, sweeping his hand across the dirt, feeling around in silence.
After a minute, his fingers closed around the hilt again.
[Flinched Sword can be used to make fire]
"Flinched, maybe I can rub it against a stone."
He struck the blade against the cave wall.
Sparks flew, small and faint.
Donghyun stepped outside, careful not to draw attention, and began gathering fallen branches from the forest floor. "The air was heavy, the red moon casting an eerie stillness over the trees. Everything felt like it was holding its breath.
Returning to the cave, he crouched and began working. Sparks flew again, again, again. Tiny bursts of orange swallowed by the dark.
"Now I can make a fire," he muttered, almost convincing himself.
But minutes turned to hours. The branches smoked once, but never caught, his hands were bruise, and the chill in the air crept deeper into his bones.
He sighed.
The sword clattered beside him again.
Donghyun leaned against the stone wall and let his eyes slowly close, then cold.
He opened his eyes to a place washed in white, the air stank of blood. Every breath tasted bitter. His feet were submerged in a shallow pool of crimson.
Faces, one by one, the faces of those he had killed rose from beneath the surface half-formed, their eyes wide with silent accusation. His heartbeat quickened, lips trembled.
Then he saw, a shadow in the distance, still and watching.
Its gaze pierced through him like knives, hungry, like it meant to devour his soul.
[Warning: A predator has entered your zone]
Donghyun's eyes flew open it was gone, the night was back.
And all around him, he felt a wave of goblins, closing in.