The mutated lycan's eyes locked with Naran's, its gaze like a vice tightening around his chest. Naran took a slow step back, instinctively trying to escape the weight of the beast's presence.
But then he saw it Hugo, frozen in place, trembling violently. His eyes were wide, pupils dilated with fear. It was as if the very blood inside his veins had turned to ice, locking him in place, paralyzed by terror.
The beast began to move, its massive, clawed feet scraping against the earth with each slow step. Naran's pulse raced as the pressure grew. Then Boom! An explosion erupted in the distance, a cloud of smoke filling the air. It was enough of a distraction.
In an instant, Ji Ung leapt forward, grabbing Hugo and Naran, pulling them both toward safety. The beasts were confused, disoriented by the toxic smoke. They ran.
"Shut up and run!" Naran hissed through clenched teeth.
Ji Ung didn't respond but pushed forward with a single minded urgency, dragging them through the chaos.
Once they were clear, they paused to catch their breath, but Naran's fingers fumbled at his comm device, trying to send an alarm. Ji Ung caught his wrist.
"I've already sent it," Ji Ung said, his voice low, tense. "I just hope the others made it out."
The ground trembled beneath their feet, a deep rumble that sent a shiver down their spines. Then came the roar.
It shook the very air, rattling their bones. It wasn't just loud it was devastating. The very air shook. The walls trembled. Naran staggered, clutching his head as blood trickled from his ears. Hugo, still wide-eyed, was jolted from his frozen state, the panic visibly rising in his chest. He dropped to his knees screaming silently
The pressure was too much. Something inside him snapped.
He began to hyperventilate fast, shallow breaths, chest heaving as panic overtook him. His limbs twitched uncontrollably. His vision narrowed. It was like the world was collapsing in on him.
His body was in full breakdown. He couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.
Ji Ung crouched beside him quickly. "Hugo. Look at me. Look at me!" He grabbed his shoulders firmly but gently. "You have to fight through this. For your brother. You remember him, right?"
Hugo's wide, terrified eyes slowly met Ji Ung's.
Hugo's breath hitched, and he shuddered. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady himself. "I… I can't…" he whispered.
"Yes, you can," Ji Ung insisted. "We all have to pull through. For him."
Slowly, Hugo's breathing steadied, the grip of panic loosening. His thoughts turned to his brother, to the fight that lay ahead. He wiped his face with the back of his hand, steeling himself.
Ji Ung stood up, the fire of resolve back in his eyes. "We need to get to the cave. Now. We have to regroup."
Naran, still tense, looked back. "Is Hugo going to be alright?" he asked, his voice a little softer.
… I'm okay," Hugo said hoarsely. "I just need to keep going. For him."
Ji Ung smiled faintly and stood up. "That's the spirit."
Hugo gave a weak smile, shyly putting a hand on Naran's back, but before he could speak, the ground trembled once more.
Thud!
A massive, an hoy wet liquid splatterd all over Ji Ung and Naran in an instant. Their bodies froze as they turned, eyes widening in horror.
Hugo was gone.
In his place stood the massive mutated lycan, its paws soaked in blood. It loomed over them, the air thick with the stench of death. And beneath it, crushed beyond recognition only thing visible was just blood, was Hugo.
The beast lifted his jaw and roared shaking the den again
Ji Ung and Naran stared at the beast, frozen I shock of what they just witnessed. Then instinct took over.
"Run!" Ji Ung shouted.
Still trembling with fear, they turned and sprinted. But the danger wasn't done with them.
From the shadows, corrupted wolves burst forth silent at first, then snarling, snapping, coordinated. They didn't just chase. They hunted. As one.
"These things aren't animals anymore!" Naran gasped.
Some of the wolves caught up, their fangs grazing skin and cloth. Ji Ung swung back, slashing wildly with his blade, managing to fend off the closest attackers. Blood smeared across his arm, but they didn't stop. They ran until the howls faded, until their legs burned, until they collapsed behind a jagged pile of rocks.
"Fuck… we need to get out of here. Now," Ji Ung said between gasps, clutching his side.
"Hugo's gone… and the wolves they're all psychos now," Naran wheezed, slumping beside him.
Ji Ung glanced at him, urgency in his eyes. "You need to warn Coroules. He has to know what's coming."
"Wait. Me? Why me?"
Screams pierced the air distant, human, dying.
Ji Ung clenched his fists, guilt flashing in his eyes. "I'll hold them off. You go warn Coroules."
"…Wait where's the boy?" Ji Ung asked suddenly.
"Boy?"
"The one we found. I gave him to you."
"Oh. That boy. Yeah, I left him tucked between some rocks in the cave. He's probably fine."
"You what?" Ji Ung snapped. "How didn't I notice that?!"
Naran stiffened, his tone sharpening. "Hold them off? What the hell do you mean by that?"
Ji Ung was still upset about the fact that Naran had left an unconscious little boy in the middle of nowhere.
"I'll hold them off," ji ung said, giving Naran the opportunity to get the boy and leave the den to warn Coroules of what was coming.
"No," Naran replied. "We'll find a way for both of us to escape, alright? I told you already don't sacrifice yourself for me."
Ji ung looked down, visibly upset. "I'm not trying to be a hero…"
Before Ji Ung could continue , a corrupted wolf spotted them and lunged. Ji Ung reacted instantly, pushing Naran aside and slashing the beast across the abdomen. It collapsed with a guttural cry. But then they saw it an entire pack of corrupted wolves, eyes glowing, staring straight at them.
Ji Ung, seeing the mountain of beasts, thought to himself:
There's no way we can get past all of them. I just need to make a path for Naran…
As the wolves charged, he sliced one across the face and turned to strike another. But one lunged at his legs. As he tried to defend himself, another went straight for his face.
These wolves… they're not just stronger they're coordinated. They're moving like a unit. I have to get us out of this…
Suddenly, Naran appeared, stabbing the beast that had gone for Ji Ung's head. The blow created just enough space for them to run.
As they sprinted, they passed the mangled remains of their fallen comrades bodies torn apart by the savage wolves. Trying not to look, they pressed forward toward the cave. But as they neared it, they saw a trail of blood and dismembered limbs. The mutated lycan leapt down from a platform, its blood-red eyes locking onto them.
Behind them, the corrupted wolves emerged, their numbers and speed causing the ground to tremble. But Ji Ung and Naran didn't look back. They ran with everything they had toward the cave.
When they reached it, they found more horror shredded bodies of their unit members, the cave walls painted with blood.
Ji Ung turned to Naran. "Get the boy. I'll check if any of the wolves made it this far."
Naran frantically searched through a pile of rocks, his hands trembling. Then he saw him the boy, miraculously unharmed. Relief washed over them both.
"Let's get going," Naran said, his voice shaking.
But Ji Ung didn't move. His face had changed. There was a look in his eyes acceptance, guilt, something Naran couldn't understand.
"What are you doing?" Naran cried, tears welling up. "Let's go!"
"We both know if we leave together, the wolves will catch us," Ji Ung said grimly.
"But…" Naran's voice cracked as he took a hesitant step closer.
Ji Ung stared at the oncoming horde dozens of corrupted wolves, foaming at the mouth, eyes glowing with unnatural hunger. With a fierce growl, he shoved Naran backward.
"Go!"
Before Naran could react, Ji Ung sprinted toward the mouth of the cave. Then, in one swift motion, he turned his blade gleaming with mana and slashed into the cave's entrance. The strike triggered a rumbling avalanche as boulders and debris tumbled down, sealing the path between them.
"No Ji Ung!" Naran screamed, scrambling forward, but it was too late.
Through the dust and falling rocks, he caught one last glimpse of Ji Ung's face smiling, defiant.
"Run, you fool!" Ji Ung shouted, just before the cave collapsed completely.
Silence followed. Only the muffled howls of the wolves echoed beyond the stone.