CHAPTER 23: THE BEAST
The monster moved forward, each step splitting the earth as its claws gouged trenches in the mud. Lightning carved the sky above, illuminating its colossal frame—it was like an executioner born of storm and shadow. The roar that followed shook John's bones.
His sword rose almost on instinct, though his arms trembled from exhaustion. Every movement sent pain burning through his back like molten iron. For a heartbeat, despair clawed at him—no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't see a way to survive this. But giving up was not an option.
His jaw tightened, and his breath came ragged as he searched for a way out. Then his eyes caught the outline of a half‑collapsed building, and he didn't waste a second before running toward it.
"Adam!" His voice cut through the storm, sharp and commanding. "Follow me!"
Adam stood frozen, panic locking his body in place. John's shout snapped him free, and he bolted after him, running as if his life depended on it—because it did.
Behind them, the beast's charge tore through the flower field, crushing traps beneath its weight. Splinters of wood and shards of rope scattered like brittle bones. Then, suddenly, it stopped. The creature lowered its head, inhaling deeply at the source of the scent. For a long moment, it remained still, then sank down on the ground, closing its eyes as if it was lulled by the flowers.
By then, John and Adam had reached the ruins and were hiding inside. Adam leaned against the wall, trying to control his breathing. His eyes were shut, and his hand pressed against his chest as he felt the rapid thump of his heartbeat. John was no better; he was crouched nearby, sword gripped tight, his jaw locked as he fought to push down the sting in his back.
John's breathing slowed as the silence stretched. The storm still raged outside, but inside the ruins it felt muted, almost distant. He listened carefully, waiting for the next crash of claws or roar of fury—but none came.
Steeling himself, John pushed off the wall and crept toward the broken archway. Rain slicked the rubble, each step sending a jolt of pain through his back, but he forced himself forward. Peering out, he saw the beast sprawled across the flower field, its massive chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Its eyes were shut, its body still.
Relief washed over his whole body. He let out a slow breath and turned back into the ruin. Sliding down against the wall, he rested his head against the stone.
"I think it is sleeping. We're in the clear… for now," he muttered.
Adam, pale and trembling, finally exhaled as if he'd been holding his breath for hours. "That right there is the best news I've heard since I got here."
John gave a short chuckle. "That makes two of us."
The silence that followed was only filled by rain hammering the ground and thunder echoing in the sky. Adam's breathing steadied, though his chest still rose and fell too fast. He opened his eyes and stared at the space before him.
"So… what do you plan to do now?"
John didn't answer right away. His gaze first dropped to the bracelet on his wrist, its glow mocking him with the numbers displayed. Still not enough points. And only five hours remained till the trial ended. His jaw tightened as he closed his eyes.'
'I am beginning to think I am lucks worst enemy… how else is this kind of mess happening to me.' He let out a sigh. 'Maybe Sylas was right. This isn't Earth. This is a new world, where someone will kill you just for looking at them wrong. What did I expect?'
His eyes flicked toward Adam. The thought of ending him—of surviving by putting a sword through his neck—rose inside him. But his stomach twisted at the idea, disgust burning in his chest just at the thought of it.
As he was lost in thought, Adam's voice cut through the storm.
"Look… I won't blame you if you decide to do what anyone would've done in your place. Honestly, I've thought about killing you more than once… to survive. But I know it'd only write my own end. So, I won't—"
John's eyes narrowed, lazy and annoyed. "Quit your yapping."
Adam blinked, thrown off, while John continued, his tone flat, as if discussing something mildly inconvenient.
"First of all—not cool. And yeah, I'm tempted to finish you off and take the points. Hell, I'd love to rid myself of an annoying prick like you. But even as irritating as you are, you're just… a kid trying to survive. And I can't bring myself to dirty my conscience like that. So, fuck it. I'll find another way to get through this. All you have to do is not give me a reason to regret it."
Adam stared at him, silent for a long moment, then gave a slow nod and turned his head away.
"Well… Either he's possessed… or he's gone insane," he muttered under his breath.
John's eyes twitched. "And I am already regretting it."
Adam scratched the back of his head, uneasy. "Okay… so, all that said, how exactly are you going to do it?"
John rubbed his chin, eyes closed, jaw tight. "Well, the only other way is killing monsters. And a big, juicy one is sitting right outside. Might as well take the point."
Adam shook his head, his expression hollow. "Knew it. Insane it is, then."
John snapped his gaze toward him. "You got a better idea?"
Adam leaned back against the wall, voice flat. "No. But I'd prefer if it didn't involve committing suicide." He let his head rest against the stone, eyes half‑closed. "And how are you even planning to pull off this… this insanity?"
John hesitated, drawing in a breath. "I… I don't know yet."
Adam let out a sharp laugh, dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, great. Then this is no different from stabbing myself with a sword, is it?"
John's glare hardened, his hand tightening around the hilt of his blade. Adam swallowed audibly, nerves flashing across his face. "Uh… yeah, okay. Sorry."
John held the glare on Adam for a moment longer before turning away, his mind grinding through possibilities. Nothing made sense—every option felt like suicide.
Then, a blinding flash split the sky, followed by a deafening crack as lightning slammed into the twisted tree outside. The ground trembled beneath the ruins, dust shaking loose from the walls. Adam flinched violently, clutching his ears.
The second strike came almost immediately, then a third. Each bolt hammered the tree until its bark glowed faintly, smoke curling upward in the rain.
Adam lowered his hands, still shaken, his voice trembling. "I don't know how that tree is still standing… but I admire its tenacity."
John barely heard him. He leaned forward, peering through the broken archway. The beast was still sprawled across the flower field, unmoved, its massive chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. Not even the thunder seemed to stir it.
His gaze shifted back to the tree. Charred, battered, yet still drawing strike after strike. Something about it was wrong. It wasn't the tallest tree in the field, yet the lightning kept finding it.
He pulled back into the ruin, sat down, and closed his eyes. Then suddenly a thought sparked in his mind like the storm itself. Slowly, a smile crept across his face.
"I think I know how to kill that thing," he said, turning toward Adam.
Adam froze mid‑gesture, rubbing his face. He lowered his hands and stared at John. "Okay… what do you have in mind?"
John nodded, voice steady but edged with excitement. "That tree. You said it's being struck the most, which doesn't make sense, right? It isn't even the tallest, but it's still the one getting hit."
Adam frowned, confusion written across his face. "uhm ok... So, what does that mean?"
John's eyes sharpened, a glint of resolve flashing in them. "It means there's something else attracting the lightning toward it maybe some kind of metal or something."
Adam sighed, frustration bubbling. "I don't see how this is going to help us kill that monster."
John leaned forward, his tone edged with impatience. "Do I have to spell everything out for you? If we can get that something—whatever's pulling the lightning—we can use it on the beast."
Adam's eyes widened. "You mean… kill the beast using lightning?"
John's lips curled into a grim smile. "Exactly. I'm pretty sure it can take one or two strikes with that body, but it'll be severely weakened. And then… I'll finish it off."
Adam's brow furrowed, his voice shaky but edged with disbelief. "And how exactly are you going to guarantee the lightning hits it? Or even use lightning at all? Where do I fit in all this?"
John leaned back against the wall, his tone calm but firm. "I can't guarantee anything. It's a gamble, and we'll have to rely on luck. But if we take the thing making that tree a lightning beacon and attach it to the beast, odds are it'll get hit."
Adam dragged a hand down his face, letting out a sharp breath. "The tree's behind the beast, John. Which means we'd have to slip right past it to get there." His gaze darted toward the archway, where the monster's shadow stretched even in sleep. "Not exactly the kind of shortcut I'd call ideal."
John's gaze hardened, but he didn't flinch. "I know. That's why I'm the one going—not you. Sitting here waiting for the clock to run out is suicide, too... At least for me. That's why I need you to do more than just watch—you'll keep eyes on the beast, but you'll also be ready to distract it if it stirs. Anything to buy me a few seconds."
Adam's jaw tightened, his laugh bitter but nervous. "So, I'm bait now? Great. just great."
John's hand tightened around his sword, his voice low and steady. "This is the best I got. And if this works, we both walk out alive."
Adam stared at him, silent for a long moment, then finally nodded. His shoulders slumped, but there was a flicker of resolve in his eyes. "Fine. I'll keep it busy if it wakes. But if I die make sure to tell my group I love them."
John gave a grim smile. "you will tell them your self. Get ready—we're going."
The storm rumbled overhead, thunder rolling like a warning. Outside, the beast's massive chest rose and fell in steady rhythm, its eyes still closed, oblivious to the two desperate figures plotting its downfall.