Dead leaves crunched beneath the hooves of their horses, the rhythmic thudding echoing through the narrow forest path.
The trail was barely wide enough for the carriage to pass. Branches clawed at them from both sides, scratching against armor, tugging at clothes, grazing exposed skin.
The air was cold.
Each breath the horses took came out in small white clouds as they pushed forward, restless and uneasy.
As the forest began to thin, sunlight broke through the canopy in fractured beams, painting the path ahead in a dim orange glow.
It felt endless.
A tunnel of trees stretching forward—
toward something none of them could yet see.
Toward something waiting.
"Now," Bao ordered.
Torches were lowered.
Bundles of herbs were lit.
Thick, choking smoke spread instantly.
It burned.
The smell was foul—like rotting fish mixed with damp decay. It forced its way into their lungs, their noses, their minds.
Bao coughed, his eyes watering.
He could barely see the reins in his hands.
Only the sounds reassured him that the others were still there—
Coughing.
Gasping.
Struggling.
Then—
A gust of wind tore through the smoke.
Just for a moment—
Just long enough.
Bao saw it.
Against the blue sky, something moved.
A dark mass.
Shifting.
Pulsing.
Alive.
"It's coming from the left!" Bao shouted.
A low hum filled the air.
Then it grew louder.
And louder.
Until it became deafening.
Like thousands of tiny wings vibrating in unison.
Like a storm made of flesh.
"They're here too!" someone screamed from behind.
"Right side!"
"Above!"
Voices erupted from every direction.
"We're surrounded…" Ning gasped.
Bao clenched his jaw.
"That's fine!" he shouted back. "The smoke is working—they haven't attacked yet!"
It was like layers of an onion.
At the center—
Their group.
Wrapped in a thick veil of smoke.
And beyond that—
The swarm.
Circling.
Waiting.
But something was wrong.
The rhythm of the horses had changed.
Slower.
Heavier.
Their breathing strained.
The smoke…
It wasn't just affecting the insects.
And then—
The first scream tore through the air.
"What's happening?!" Morell shouted.
Another scream followed.
Then another.
"The torches!" Xun yelled. "They're going out!"
Bao looked down.
His flame flickered weakly.
Dying.
"Damn it!" Bao cursed. "Keep moving! Don't stop! Switch to the backup weapons!"
The smoke thinned.
The barrier broke.
And then—
They came.
A handful of the creatures slipped through first.
Then more.
Then dozens.
One latched onto Bao's shoulder.
Sharp teeth tore through leather—
Through cloth—
Into flesh.
"AAARGH!"
Bao screamed, grabbing the creature and ripping it off.
A chunk of it came away in his hand.
But the damage was done.
Pain exploded through his body, blinding, overwhelming.
And then—
The torches died.
The world vanished into chaos.
A black cloud descended upon them.
Teeth.
Wings.
Blood.
Screams.
Bao couldn't see.
Couldn't think.
Only pain.
Everywhere.
For a moment—
Everything went dark.
When he came to, he was on the ground.
Something warm and wet soaked into his clothes.
Beside him—
A guard.
Or what remained of him.
His body was covered in insects.
They crawled.
They fed.
A few of them were on Bao as well.
Eating.
Gritting his teeth, Bao rolled violently, crushing them beneath his weight.
He forced himself up.
The main swarm had moved on.
Still chasing the carriage.
Still devouring everything in its path.
And then—
He saw it.
At the center of the swarm—
A larger one.
Its body was thicker.
Its wings heavier.
And its eyes—
Diamond-shaped.
Glowing red.
Bao's breath hitched.
A trail of blood followed him as he ran.
His body screamed at him to stop.
To collapse.
To give in.
But something else took over.
[Berserker – LvL 2] activated
Pain dulled.
Rage rose.
He didn't remember deciding to move.
Didn't remember how he reached his horse.
Didn't remember climbing onto it.
But suddenly—
He was back in the swarm.
Everything blurred.
Everything faded—
Except one thing.
The red eyes.
"We have to stop!" Elincia's voice cut through the chaos. "NOW!"
Too late.
Bao no longer had control.
A dagger appeared in his hand.
His body moved.
He leapt.
Through the swarm.
Through the chaos.
Through the pain.
And landed—
On the creature.
The blade drove forward.
Straight into its eye.
A sickening sound echoed.
The world spun.
His vision collapsed.
As he clung to the dagger embedded in the monster—
Everything went black.
Status Update
[David – Level 18][HP: 23/70][MP: 0/0]
[Strength: 14][Perception: 2][Endurance: 2][Charisma: 6][Intelligence: 3][Agility: 10][Luck: 2]
Active Effects:
[Severe Blood Loss] [Poisoned – Unknown Source] [Berserker – Active]