The forest felt heavier now.
Not because it had changed—
But because Eli had.
⸻
The CRUNCH of his footsteps…
Stepping on a tree branch…
Each step dragged just a little more than before.
His legs weren't failing.
Not yet.
But they weren't as sharp.
⸻
"My Breathing's worse now"
He muttered quietly.
⸻
His chest rose and fell more noticeably now.
Air going in—
But not as smooth.
⸻
"I really Can't let it get out of control…"
⸻
He slowed slightly.
Not stopping.
Never stopping.
⸻
"And If I stop moving…"
"I know My body will stiffen…"
⸻
His arm stung.
The cuts hadn't stopped bleeding completely.
Not badly—
But enough.
⸻
"No I'm Losing focus…"
"No I can't No…"
He shook his head slightly.
⸻
"I have to Stay sharp and not give up"
⸻
He tightened his grip on the sword again.
⸻
"I'm Still holding steady…"
⸻
But even that really—
Took effort now.
⸻
The forest around him stood silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
⸻
"Why is it Too quiet again I Hate that"
⸻
Eli's eyes narrowed.
⸻
"And Every time it gets like this…"
"…Something comes…"
⸻
He adjusted his stance.
⸻
Lower.
More defensive.
⸻
"Just Don't rush into it this time He said to himself"
⸻
The wind shifted.
⸻
And then a sound
Hhhhhhhh…
⸻
"Another one really"
Eli said
I'm not even in the right state for another battle not Right now at least let me catch my breath
⸻
The sound didn't sound normal.
⸻
It sounded like—
Breathing.
⸻
Eli froze.
⸻
"…Where is it coming from"
⸻
His eyes moved slowly.
Scanning.
⸻
Left—
Nothing.
Right—
Nothing.
⸻
"…Behind…?"
⸻
He turned—
⸻
Nothing.
⸻
"No No No please don't let it be true"
⸻
His grip tightened.
⸻
"…Above…"
⸻
His head tilted upward—
⸻
"No"
⸻
Something moved.
Not fast.
Not loud.
⸻
But big.
⸻
Very big.
⸻
"…Another one…?"
⸻
But—
This one—
Was different.
⸻
Its body hung between branches.
Massive.
But silent.
⸻
"…How is something that big… that quiet…"
⸻
Its eyes opened.
⸻
Locked on him.
⸻
"So It's been watching me…"
⸻
Eli exhaled slowly.
⸻
"…Since when…?"
⸻
The creature didn't move.
Didn't attack.
⸻
"So It's waiting…"
⸻
Eli didn't rush.
⸻
"So you're Thinking…"
⸻
His eyes scanned its body.
⸻
Long limbs.
Heavy torso.
Sharp edges along its arms.
⸻
"…If it drops…"
"…That weight alone…"
⸻
He tightened his stance.
⸻
"…I won't survive a direct hit…"
⸻
The creature shifted slightly—
⸻
"…!"
⸻
Eli reacted with a—
STEP—!
⸻
Just as he moved he heard a loud—
⸻
BOOOOM—!!!
⸻
It dropped.
⸻
The ground shook violently.
⸻
"…That impact…!"
⸻
Dust shot into the air.
⸻
Eli jumped back—
STEPPING back a bit—!
⸻
"That was Too close from hitting me"
⸻
The creature stood.
Slowly.
⸻
Taller than him.
Much taller.
⸻
"It's Bigger than the last one…"
⸻
Its arm moved—
⸻
Slow.
But—
⸻
"It's Heavy…"
⸻
It swung its arm down with a loud—
⸻
WHOOOOM—!!!
⸻
Eli's eyes widened—
⸻
He moved—
STEPPING to the side—!
⸻
Barely dodging—
⸻
The wind pressure alone—
⸻
"…Damn it—!"
⸻
The ground where he stood was—
Cracked.
⸻
"Just One hit alone"
"And I'm done…"
⸻
The creature didn't rush.
Didn't chase.
⸻
"…It's not like the others…"
⸻
It stepped forward each step making a—
⸻
THUMP—
Sound
⸻
Slow.
⸻
"…But every step…"
"It Feels heavy…"
⸻
Eli steadied himself.
⸻
"I Can't fight this like before…"
⸻
The creature swung again with the attack making another—
⸻
WHOOOOM—!!!
⸻
Eli ducked under and—
STEPPED —!
⸻
The air above him ripped apart—
⸻
"It's Too strong For Me"
⸻
He stepped back avoiding the attack—
⸻
"I Need to find a weakness sooner"
⸻
The creature moved again making the ground vibrate with a—
⸻
THUMP—
⸻
"It's Slow… but overwhelming…"
⸻
Eli circled it.
⸻
"And If I get close…"
"I'll risk getting crushed…"
⸻
The creature suddenly moved faster—
⸻
"Dang it Eli creamed out"
⸻
It stepped forward—
Hard—
⸻
Making another
THUMP sound!!!
⸻
As it was Closing distance instantly—
⸻
"Dang it That speed is also fast!"
⸻
Its arm came down with a—
⸻
SMASH—!!!
⸻
Eli rolled over making loud—
THUD—!
⸻
Barely escaping—
⸻
"It's Too dangerous…"
⸻
He got up quickly—
⸻
"I have to Think…"
⸻
His eyes scanned again—
⸻
"It's Arms are too strong…"
"And it's Body is too thick…"
⸻
Then—
⸻
"It's Legs…"
⸻
The joints.
⸻
"The Same as before…"
"…But this one is"
⸻
Stronger.
⸻
Eli exhaled slowly.
⸻
"…I don't have the energy for a longer fight"
⸻
His body reminded him.
Every movement his body became—
Heavier.
⸻
"…So I need to end it fast…"
⸻
The creature stepped again each step making a—
⸻
THUMP—
⸻
Eli moved forward.
⸻
"Ok Let's go…"
⸻
The creature swung at him with the attack making a loud—
⸻
WHOOOOM—!!!
⸻
Eli stepped in not avoiding the attack but charging at it head on—
⸻
"Ok how about this Eli said With a
loud scream running towards the creature
His sword let out a loud
⸻
SLASH—!!!
⸻
His blade struck—
⸻
"How about that"
⸻
It cut—
But not deep.
⸻
"It's Too tough…!"
⸻
The creature reacted instantly—
⸻
It's fists came
SMASHING down—!!!
⸻
"Oh no"
⸻
Eli jumped back but—
⸻
Barely avoiding it—
⸻
"That's Not enough…"
⸻
His breathing grew heavier.
⸻
"My Body's slowing me down"
⸻
The creature came again—
⸻
With each step making a
THUMP—THUMP sound!!
⸻
Eli steadied himself.
⸻
"Okay One more time…"
⸻
He waited—
⸻
"…Closer…"
⸻
The creature swung its arm with a—
⸻
WHOOOOM—!!!
⸻
Eli moved—
⸻
STEP—!
⸻
Then—
⸻
"…All in—!"
⸻
SLASH—!!!!
⸻
A deeper strike—
⸻
The creature roared loud
⸻
ROOOOOARRR—!!!
⸻
Its leg buckled slightly—
⸻
"…That did it…"
⸻
But—
⸻
It grabbed him—
⸻
"No"
⸻
Its massive hand—
Closed around Eli's arm—
⸻
"…Crap—!"
⸻
He struggled—
⸻
"It's Too strong…!"
⸻
The grip tightened—
⸻
"…If it crushes me I'm done for"
⸻
Eli's eyes sharpened
Let me go you ugly beast—
He screamed at the Creature
⸻
"…I'll not just give up I must make you release me
instead of giving up Eli began to Move"
⸻
He twisted—
⸻
And—
⸻
SLASHING with his sword
⸻
Cutting into its hand
the creature let out loud—
⸻
ROOOARR—!!
⸻
It's grip loosened—
⸻
Eli pulled free—
⸻
Stepping back to catch his breath—!
⸻
Breathing hard now.
⸻
"…That was close…"
⸻
The creature staggered—
⸻
"…Now it's my time"
⸻
Eli stepped forward—
⸻
"To Finish it…"
His blade letting out a
⸻
SLASH—!!!!
⸻
Before it could move—
⸻
The creature froze—
⸻
Then collapsed its body making a loud—
⸻
THUD—!!!
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Eli stood there.
⸻
Breathing—
Heavy.
Uneven.
⸻
"Now That one…"
"…Almost killed"
⸻
He didn't finish.
⸻
He didn't need to.
⸻
His legs trembled slightly.
⸻
"My Body's at its limit…"
⸻
He looked around.
⸻
The forest—
Still endless.
⸻
"I have One more in me"
⸻
He whispered.
⸻
"Only Just one more…"
⸻
He took a step.
⸻
Then another.
⸻
With a
CRUNCH step on a broken tree branch…
⸻
As he began to move again he started walking
But slower now.
⸻
Much slower