Likely immobilized by a spell cast from one of the adventurers in the distance, the beast writhed in place, bound by golden runes that pulsed beneath its paws. It snarled in frustration, trying to move, but the spell held—for now. Arrows and spells rained down from afar, battering its thick hide and drawing dark blood that sprayed across the jungle floor.
Whoosh!
An arrow buried deep into the beast's shoulder. Its hulking body shuddered from the impact, muscles rippling beneath its fur as it let out a guttural growl. The barrage wasn't doing serious damage, but it was wearing it down—slowly but surely.
Jacob's heart thudded in his chest. For the first time since the fight began, a flicker of hope ignited inside him. Maybe we're going to survive this after all. He looked over at Connor, managing a weak smile—one that said, we made it.
But fate wasn't done with them yet.
Without warning, the glowing runes beneath the beast flickered… then vanished.
The world shifted.
A deafening shriek erupted from the creature, reverberating across the battlefield. The twins froze, stunned. In that fatal second of disbelief, the beast surged forward with terrifying speed.
Slash!
A claw swept across their lower bodies, clean and cruel. Pain exploded through them, instant and searing, as they cried out in unison.
"Ahhh!"
They collapsed, hitting the ground hard as blood sprayed from the stumps where their legs had once been. It all happened so fast they didn't even know what had been taken until they looked down and saw them—legs, lying separately, still twitching.
The air reeked of iron. Reality twisted.
The beast loomed over them, breathing heavily, steam rising from its maw. Their victory had turned to horror in a blink.
Then—just as quickly—it turned.
A flurry of long-range spells and arrows slammed into the creature's flank. Roaring in frustration, it pivoted toward the greater threat and vanished into a pool of shadow, disappearing from the twins' view.
Jacob tried to move, but his body was failing him. Darkness crept at the edge of his vision, closing in fast. His limbs felt like lead, his head light. The jungle around him swam.
Damn it… Jacob… stay awake…
But it was no use. He blinked once—slowly—then again.
And the world went black.
His body went limp.
Connor felt it immediately. The extra weight pulling down his right side, the sudden silence of his brother's soul. Jacob was unconscious. Not dead—if he were, Connor wouldn't be breathing either. But the link between them had gone quiet, and with Jacob out, half their strength vanished.
"Ohh… oh shit," Connor muttered, breath shaking. He tried to roll over—but with Jacob unconscious, movement was sluggish and uneven. Their shared body wasn't made for solo piloting.
He scanned the jungle, desperate to spot the beast.
Then—shrripp!—a sickening, wet sound echoed nearby. A scream followed, sharp and desperate. One of the adventurers had fallen.
The beast had returned.
Connor's heart pounded as the panther-like creature emerged from a shadow near its prey, claws slick with blood. Before the others could react, it vanished again—only to reappear behind another target.
This time, the adventurer dodged, more prepared than the last. They swung back with a blade, forcing the beast to retreat briefly.
Another arrow whistled through the air, striking the beast's side.
Connor activated a skill.
{Skill Activation: Identify}
{Target: Shadow Beast – Level 8}
{HP: 125 / 200}
Its health had dropped, but not by much. And if the beast took out the rest of the adventurers, it would return to finish what it started.
Connor's eyes flicked to Jacob—still breathing, but unmoving. If they were abandoned now, they'd bleed out. Or worse—die when the beast circled back.
His MP was at 10. He had enough for one last move. Gritting his teeth, he pictured a way to stop the bleeding—anything.
A tourniquet. No—a cable tie. Steel, unforgiving, tight.
{Skill Unlock: Metal Zip Tie (Common)}
A soft hum of magic filled the air as a glowing magic circle formed above his severed limb. A gleaming silver tie snaked out and cinched tightly around the wound. The bleeding slowed. Then stopped.
MP: 3 remaining.
Connor gasped, sagging in relief. But there was no time to rest. He tried again to move, but Jacob's unconscious weight dragged him down. Half of their spells—Jacob's spells—were locked. Without his brother awake, Connor couldn't access their strongest magic. He couldn't even walk.
For the first time, he wished Jacob would say something stupid.
The silence hurt more than the wound.
Then he saw it—his severed leg, lying feet away, and something in him snapped.
His voice came out low and sharp, every syllable tight with fury. "Where the fuck is that beast?"
His eyes swept the battlefield. The fight had shifted. The adventurers had regrouped, forming a loose circle as the beast darted from shadow to shadow, trying to flank. But it was weakening. Slower now. Less precise.
Its HP was now down to 100. Half its strength gone.
The beast crouched low, tail swishing. Onyx fur bristled. Its emerald eyes scanned the adventurers, calculating, wary.
A growl rumbled from its throat, low and deep.
Wind stirred the leaves. Tension thickened the air.
Both sides braced.
Something was about to break.