Chapter 6: Shadows and Steel
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The oppressive darkness thickened around Frank, Elias, and the native man as they stood amidst the looming trees. The air was heavy, saturated with a malevolent aura that seemed to seep into their very bones. Frank could feel his heartbeat hammering in his ears, his grip tightening into a fist at his side. Something was off—something worse than before. He felt like they had already stepped into the beast's maw without realizing it.
The native man's breathing grew erratic, his eyes darting wildly as panic took hold. His entire body trembled, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. His lips parted, but only frantic gasps escaped.
Frank stepped closer, placing firm hands on the man's shoulders, feeling the tremors coursing through him. "Hey, look at me," Frank's voice was steady, but his own nerves coiled in his stomach like a trapped serpent. "We need you here. Focus. Breathe."
The man's gaze flickered to Frank's, pupils dilated with terror. "I... I can't... It's everywhere... Watching us..." His voice was hoarse, choked with something primal.
Frank clenched his jaw. He had seen fear before, but this was different. This was the kind of fear that made men freeze, made them walking corpses before death even touched them. "I know it's terrifying," Frank acknowledged, his grip tightening slightly. "But we stand a better chance together. If we panic, we die. We need you."
The native's breath hitched, his eyes darting around, but something in Frank's words anchored him. He swallowed hard, nodding as clarity returned to his expression. "You're right. I'm with you."
Elias, ever vigilant, scanned the darkness, his voice a whisper. "Stay sharp."
Then it came.
Frank's body screamed at him to move, a feeling like a whip cracking through his nerves. Without conscious thought, he bent backward, his spine arching until his head nearly touched the ground. A razor-sharp claw whistled through the space his torso had occupied moments before, the wind of its passage ruffling his hair.
His breath caught. That was too fast. I didn't even see it move!
Elias's eyes widened in shock. "What the hell?!"
They turned to the native man, only to be met with a gruesome sight. His body stood rigid, head severed cleanly at the neck. Blood gushed in rhythmic spurts, painting the forest floor in dark rivulets. His head lay nearby, eyes frozen in an expression of shock and pain.
Frank's stomach churned, his hands turning clammy. He forced the bile down, but his chest tightened. He had seen death before, but never this close, never this... horrifying. I should've done more. I should've—
"How did it move so fast?" Frank whispered, voice tight.
Elias's jaw tightened. "I didn't see a thing."
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Meanwhile, Kaido and Tayla sprinted through the dense underbrush, their breaths coming in controlled bursts. They skidded to a halt at the edge of a clearing, eyes widening at the carnage before them. Piles of Moon Crawler corpses lay strewn about, their twisted forms contorted in death. The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air.
Kaido's hand went to his sword, his mind racing. This wasn't just a battle. This was a massacre.
Tayla crouched, examining the nearest carcass, her fingers trailing the gaping wound. "These wounds... They're precise. Not the work of a wild beast."
Kaido scanned the perimeter, muscles tense. "We need to be cautious. Whatever did this might still be nearby."
Tayla stood, meeting his gaze. "Agreed. But we can't let fear paralyze us. Frank and Elias might be in danger."
Kaido nodded, determination hardening his features. "Let's move, but stay alert."
---
Raymond and Joel led the remaining villagers through a narrow path. The distant sounds of skirmishes echoed, a constant reminder of the danger surrounding them.
Then they saw it.
A sea of Moon Crawlers, still lurking, their twisted forms illuminated by the moonlight. They hadn't all been taken out.
Raymond inhaled deeply, his massive shield lowering into position. "Stay behind me," he instructed, his voice an iron command. "We're getting through this."
Joel clenched her staff, eyes darting between the creatures and her companions. "I'll keep you healed. Just don't get reckless."
The first crawler lunged.
Raymond moved like a fortress, his shield slamming into the creature with a force that sent a shockwave through the ground. Its body crumpled instantly. Another one struck from the side, but he shifted his weight, absorbing the blow before retaliating with a brutal punch. Bones snapped.
Joel chanted under her breath, light glowing at her fingertips as she mended wounds in real-time. One of the creatures flanked her, but she spun, conjuring a barrier just in time to block its fangs. "Watch my back, Ray!"
Raymond slammed his shield into the crawler, sending it flying. "I got you!"
The fight raged, each movement calculated. Their teamwork was seamless, their survival hinged on the unspoken trust between them.
---
Back in the shadowed forest, the monster moved with blinding speed, appearing to vanish and reappear at will. Elias activated "Trip Slash," his form becoming a blur as he struck thrice in rapid succession. Each strike met only empty air.
"Damn it!" Elias growled, shifting into "Quiet Walk," trying to predict its movements.
Frank, unarmed, found himself evading each attack with uncanny precision, his body reacting instinctively. But the fear was still there, gnawing at him. How am I doing this? And why does it still feel like I'm one step behind?
Elias, breathing heavily, spared a glance at Frank. "You're more than just a luggage guy, aren't you?"
Frank couldn't answer. He was too busy surviving.
Elias noticed the fallen native's sword. "Frank! Arm yourself!"
Frank dove for it just as the monster vanished again.
A chilling growl resonated behind them. They turned slowly, dread pooling in their stomachs. The creature loomed, claws poised to strike.
Elias moved on instinct, raising his katana to block. The monster's claw descended, slicing through the blade like butter. A thin line of crimson appeared on Elias's chest, extending down to his abdomen. Blood oozed as his eyes rolled back and he collapsed.
Frank's breath came ragged, the sword trembling in his grip. Move, move! But his legs refused.
The monster released a deafening growl, its unseen force pressing down on him like gravity itself. He could barely think—his mind blanked in sheer terror. Is this it?
His body screamed for him to run, to fight—but he couldn't move. He was trapped in the predator's gaze, helpless.
And then, it took a step forward.