The forest didn't change.
But Eli did.
⸻
The sound of his footsteps being heard…
Each step he made…
Each step now felt heavier than before.
Not by much.
But enough.
⸻
My Breathing's getting louder…"
He muttered under his breath.
"I Need to control it a little better"
⸻
He inhaled slowly through his nose.
Held it.
Then exhaled.
⸻
"I Can't let fatigue slow my reaction not even an inch"
⸻
As His grip tightened slightly on the sword.
Sweat had started to form along his palms.
⸻
"My Hands are getting slippery…"
⸻
He adjusted his hold.
⸻
"It's a Good thing I noticed now…"
⸻
He kept walking.
No rushing.
No wasted movement.
⸻
But his body—
Was beginning to feel it.
⸻
His side still throbbed from the earlier hit.
His arm had a shallow cut.
Not deep.
But it burned.
⸻
"My Pain's manageable…"
"As longest I Just don't get hit again I'll be fine"
⸻
The deeper he went—
The quieter it became.
⸻
Too quiet.
⸻
"Why This silence again…"
⸻
Eli slowed.
⸻
"The Last time it got quiet…"
"…Something attacked…"
⸻
He lowered his stance slightly.
⸻
"I shall Stay ready…"
⸻
The wind shifted.
⸻
Rustle…
⸻
"…!"
⸻
Eli turned—
Sword raised—
⸻
Nothing.
⸻
"…No…"
His eyes narrowed.
⸻
"Really It's not nothing…"
⸻
He stepped forward slowly.
⸻
CRUNCH…
⸻
Then—
⸻
CRACK—!
⸻
"What the!"
⸻
The ground beneath his foot gave slightly—
⸻
"It's a Trap?!"
⸻
He jumped back—
STEPPING BACK!
⸻
Just as HE STEPPED BACK
⸻
A SNAP—!!!
WAS HEARD
⸻
A set of sharp, bone-like spikes shot up from the ground—
⸻
"…What the—?!"
⸻
Eli stared at it.
⸻
"…That wasn't natural…"
⸻
His eyes scanned the area.
⸻
"DID Something set that there"
⸻
Then—
⸻
A SKRRR—
Was also heard
⸻
"What is that!"
⸻
From behind—
⸻
He turned Around
⸻
A creature stepped out slowly.
⸻
Not like the others.
⸻
This one
Smaller.
Thinner.
But its eyes a bit
Different.
⸻
"Is It watching Me"
⸻
It didn't attack.
Didn't rush.
⸻
"It's Smart…"
⸻
Eli tightened his grip.
⸻
"It's Way smarter than the others"
⸻
The creature tilted its head slightly.
Studying him.
⸻
"Did It set the trap…"
⸻
Eli took a slow step to the side.
⸻
The creature mirrored him.
⸻
"Oh Yeah it's"
"…Definitely thinking before attacking"
⸻
Silence stretched.
⸻
"…If it's smart…"
"…Then it won't rush…"
⸻
Eli exhaled slowly.
⸻
"Well Then I'll force it to move…"
⸻
He stepped forward
⸻
The creature reacted instantly—
⸻
With a
WHOOSH—!
Sound
⸻
"It's Fast!"
⸻
Eli blocked it with his sword letting out a loud
CLANG—!
⸻
But the force was
Light.
⸻
"…Not strong…"
⸻
The creature jumped back—
⸻
"It's Testing me…"
⸻
Eli narrowed his eyes.
⸻
"…Alright…"
⸻
He moved forward again—
⸻
This time faster—
⸻
STEP—!
⸻
The creature circled—
⸻
"It's Trying to get behind me…"
⸻
Eli turned with it—
⸻
"I'm Not letting you…"
⸻
The creature suddenly darted left—
⸻
Then right—
⸻
"Okay Which side Eli said"
⸻
It lunged—
⸻
With a
WHOOSH—!
⸻
Eli reacted—
⸻
Fast matching it head on with his sword letting out a loud
CLANG—!
⸻
Blocked.
⸻
But—
⸻
The creature twisted mid-air—
⸻
"Oh no!"
⸻
With a
SLASH—!
⸻
A shallow cut across Eli's shoulder—
⸻
"…Tch—!"
⸻
He stepped back—
⸻
"…It changed direction mid-attack…"
⸻
The creature landed lightly.
Watching him again.
⸻
"…This one's different and faster"
⸻
Eli steadied himself.
⸻
"I Can't treat it like the others…"
⸻
He lowered his stance.
⸻
"I Need to predict it…"
⸻
The creature moved again—
⸻
Fast—
⸻
Left—
Right—
⸻
"This thing is Too quick…"
⸻
Eli's eyes tracked it but
Barely—
⸻
"…There—!"
⸻
He stepped forward—
⸻
SLASH—!!
⸻
But—
⸻
"…Missed—?!"
⸻
The creature had already moved—
⸻
Behind him—
⸻
"Not so fast"
⸻
Eli said out loud as he spun around meeting its attack head on with a
⸻
CLANG—!
⸻
Blocked again—
⸻
"That was Too close…"
⸻
He pushed forward—
⸻
"I Force it back…"
⸻
The creature retreated—
⸻
"…Good…"
⸻
Eli exhaled.
⸻
"…It's not as stronger than the others"
"…But way more dangerous…"
⸻
He stepped forward again—
⸻
The creature didn't move.
⸻
"It's Not reacting…?"
⸻
Eli hesitated—
Just for a second—
⸻
"No Something's off…"
⸻
Then—
⸻
SNAP—!!!
⸻
"No"
⸻
Another trap—
⸻
Spikes shot up—
⸻
Eli jumped—
STEPPING back!
⸻
Barely avoiding them—
⸻
"So It's leading me into traps!"
⸻
The creature lunged—
⸻
Mid-air—
⸻
"…Tch—!"
⸻
Eli twisted—
⸻
CLANG—!
⸻
Blocked—
⸻
But his footing—
⸻
Unstable—
⸻
"…Bad position…"
⸻
The creature struck again—
⸻
SLASH—!
⸻
Another shallow hit—
⸻
"…Damn it…"
⸻
Eli pushed back—
⸻
Breathing heavier now.
⸻
"…This thing it's"
"…Is wearing me down…"
⸻
He wiped sweat from his brow.
⸻
"I have to Think…"
⸻
His eyes scanned the ground.
⸻
"The Traps are set in advance…"
"And Which means…"
⸻
He looked at the creature.
⸻
"…It knows this area…"
⸻
A slow breath.
⸻
"…Then I just need to move it somewhere else…"
⸻
Eli stepped forward—
⸻
Then suddenly—
He turned—
⸻
And ran.
⸻
"…Let's see if you follow…"
⸻
With a CRUNCH—
His footsteps began running
⸻
The creature hesitated—
⸻
Then—
⸻
With a loud sound it let out a loud
SKRRR—!
⸻
It followed.
⸻
"…Good…"
⸻
Eli kept running—
⸻
Through the trees—
⸻
Over roots—
⸻
"…Get out of its territory…"
⸻
The creature chased—
Fast—
⸻
"It's Still behind me…"
⸻
Eli slowed suddenly—
⸻
Turned—
⸻
"…Now—!"
⸻
The creature lunged out of anger
⸻
Mid-air—
⸻
No traps.
⸻
"…This is it…"
⸻
Eli stepped in—
⸻
CLANG—!
⸻
Blocked—
⸻
Then—
⸻
SLASH—!!!
⸻
A clean strike—
⸻
The creature screeched—
⸻
"…Again—!"
⸻
Eli didn't stop—
⸻
SLASH—!!!
⸻
Another hit—
⸻
The creature staggered—
⸻
"Finally I can End it…"
Eli said charging with his sword in his hand
⸻
With a
SLASH—!!!!
⸻
Silence.
⸻
The creature's body dropped.
With a heavy thud
⸻
Eli stood there.
Breathing heavily.
⸻
"…That one…"
"…Was the worst so far…"
⸻
He looked back—
Toward where he came from.
⸻
"…Fighting in its area…"
"…Was a mistake…"
⸻
He exhaled slowly.
⸻
"…Good lesson…"
⸻
He looked at his arm.
More cuts now.
More fatigue.
⸻
"My Body's getting slower…"
⸻
He clenched his fist.
⸻
"…But I'm not done yet…"
⸻
He turned forward.
⸻
His footsteps the only thing being heard as he walked…
⸻
The forest still stretched ahead.
⸻
Endless.
⸻
Waiting.
⸻
"…Let's keep going…"