Thump, thump, thump.
The rhythmic sound of Gutis's axe echoed through the dense forest as he chopped down a tree. Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught his eye. Before he could fully register it, a small beast lunged at him with startling speed.
Instinctively, Gutis swung his axe. The sharp blade struck the creature mid-air, sending it hurtling several meters away. Breathing heavily, he turned toward the fallen beast, his heart pounding in his chest.
The creature writhed weakly on the ground, its movements erratic and feeble. Yet something about it felt deeply wrong. A chill ran down Gutis's spine. Why would such a small beast attack without provocation?
As he stepped closer, unease gripped him. The beast's eyes glowed an ominous red, and a dark, malevolent aura radiated from its body. A sense of dread washed over him, paralyzing him momentarily.
"A... a dark beast?" he whispered, his voice quivering. "How is this possible? Could they be attacking the village?"
Wasting no time, Gutis turned on his heel and sprinted toward the village, pushing his body to its limits as fear drove him forward.
---
John walked along the muddy path bordering the village fields. It was spring—the season of planting—and the fields had been freshly sown. Every evening, just before dusk, he made his rounds. It had been his routine for many years. Ever vigilant, he kept an eye out for wild animals or stray beasts that might wander too close. The village was surrounded by forest, and encounters with dangerous wildlife were not uncommon. As a veteran warrior, second only to the village chief, it was his duty to ensure the villagers' safety.
Today had been uneventful—ordinary, even. John had grown used to this lifestyle. As he approached the edge of the forest, he noticed a man running toward him.
What's gotten into him? Did he see a ghost? It's not even dark yet...
Looks like he went into the woods to gather some sturdy materials, John thought. But why is he running like that—as if something's chasing him?
As Gutis drew nearer, he broke into an even faster sprint. Sensing urgency, John decided to stop him and ask what had happened. But before he could speak, the young man called out in a panic:
"Uncle John! We need to alert the chief—and warn the villagers!"
John frowned, immediately sensing the seriousness in his voice.
"Calm down, boy. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened," he said firmly.
"There's no time! Everyone is in danger!" Gutis cried, visibly shaken.
"What happened? Speak clearly!" John demanded, his tone sharp. A foreboding sense of dread crept into his chest.
"I... I saw a dark beast in the forest while I was cutting wood," Gutis stammered.
"A dark beast? Are you sure?" John asked, startled.He questioned him "Describe exactly what you saw. How can you be certain it was a dark beast?"
He remained skeptical. Dark beasts in this area were unheard of. No one in the village had ever encountered one. Perhaps the young man had seen a wild animal and panicked.
"It had glowing red eyes and a sinister, shadowy aura. It was the size of a rabbit, but it attacked me. I'm certain it was a dark beast—I could feel it! It matched the description you gave us. I was one of your survival training students, remember?"
John's expression hardened. That description was far too accurate to ignore. Now recognizing the young man, he hesitated. He still had doubts, but he couldn't afford to take any chances. The village's safety was at stake.
"You're right. Go straight to the chief and report exactly what you saw. I'll stay here to confirm it myself. Now GO!" John ordered, his voice resolute.
Gutis nodded and dashed toward the village. John remained at the forest's edge, senses alert. If the boy was right, danger was near—and John would be ready for it.
---
Minutes passed.
A piercing alarm sounded from the village behind him.
"Woo...wo...wooooo."
"Woo...wo...wooooo."
The warning bell rang out continuously, its urgency unmistakable. John turned his gaze toward the northern side of the village, his mind racing. A single dark beast wasn't a problem—he could dispatch several alone without backup.
But dark beasts never came alone.
They moved like a relentless tide—hundreds, even thousands—swarming in unison. They weren't like ordinary creatures. They had no fear, no sense of self-preservation. They existed solely to destroy, throwing themselves at their enemies without hesitation. That suicidal ferocity was what made them truly terrifying.
I never thought I'd see the day we'd face dark beasts again... John thought grimly. How cursed are we, to suffer through the dark tide once more?
About ten minutes later, a dark figure emerged from the forest's edge, a hundred meters ahead. So it was a dark beast. Even though John had mentally prepared for this moment, he'd still hoped it was a false alarm—a misunderstanding. But fate had not been so kind.
One... three... six... ten.
More of them appeared, shadowy figures creeping out of the forest, illuminated by the last dim rays of the setting sun.
Their numbers were growing fast.
John turned and began sprinting toward the village defenses. The dark tide was coming. And this time, it would take everything they had to survive.
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