As the creature lunged again, Markus did the only thing he could think of. He threw himself in front of Gordon, acting as a human shield. He knew it was a desperate move, a foolish one, but he couldn't let Gordon be hurt. He may weaker than Gordon but still he was the senior besides Gordon was a friend and they need his magic wind to beat this ugly creature.
The creature's claws raked across Markus's arm, tearing through his leather armor and a bit of flesh. He cried out in pain, but he held his ground, giving Gordon a precious few seconds.
"Run, Gordon!" he yelled. "Get out of here!"
Gordon hesitated, his face a mask of anguish. He couldn't leave Markus. But he knew Markus was right. They couldn't defeat this creature in a direct confrontation. They needed a plan, but leaving Markus behind? There was no way he would did something like that.
"Get back!" Gordon shouted then blast the creature with a punch of the wind, again and again while Markus braced himself for the next attack. They needed to use their wits.
They darted behind a large tree, using it as cover. The creature roared in frustration, its glowing red eyes searching for him through the fog.
Markus knew he had to distract it, to buy himself some time. He reached into his quiver and pulled out a handful of small stones. He tossed them in different directions, creating a series of rustling sounds in the undergrowth.
The creature, its senses heightened by the fog, turned its attention to the various noises. It lumbered after the sounds, giving them a chance to move.
They crept silently through the trees, trying to stay out of sight. They knew they couldn't stay here. They had to find a way to defeat this creature.
"Gordon," Markus whispered, "we need a plan."
"I think I have one," Gordon said. He looked determined. "But it's risky."
"We don't have a choice," Markus replied.
Gordon explained his plan. It involved using the creature's size and strength against it, luring it into a trap. It was a long shot, but it was their only hope.
As they prepared their trap, Markus couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking a very dangerous path. They were facing a creature of immense power, a creature that seemed to be connected to the darkness that was spreading through the forest. They were just two hunters, two friends, trying to protect their village. But were they enough?
Gordon finished setting the last part of the trap, a series of strategically placed vines and branches that would hopefully trip the creature. He looked at Markus, his face etched with worry. "Ready?"
Markus nodded, though his heart was pounding in his chest. His arm was still hurt, and he felt weaker than he had ever been. But he knew he couldn't give up now. He had to be strong and finish this abomination.
They moved back to their hiding place, a cluster of large rocks that overlooked the clearing where they had encountered the creature. They waited in tense silence, listening for any sound, any sign of the monster's approach.
The fog swirled around them, making it difficult to see. But then, they heard it. The rustling sound, the guttural growl, growing closer.
The creature emerged from the fog, its massive form casting a long shadow across the clearing. It sniffed the air, its glowing red eyes searching for them.
Markus gripped his bow, his arrow nocked and ready. He knew he had to be precise, to make every shot count.
The creature moved towards the trap, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. It stepped on one of the hidden vines, and a series of branches snapped, tripping it.
The creature roared in surprise, its massive body crashing to the ground. It struggled to get up, its limbs tangled in the vines.
Now! Markus thought.
He stepped out of hiding, taking aim at the creature's exposed flank. He take a deep breath and everything was still, the sound of the wind was gone and he didn't know why but the tip of his arrow seems a little bit red like a hot coal. He released the arrow, and it flew true, piercing the creature's thick hide.
The creature roared in pain, its struggles intensifying. It thrashed wildly, tearing at the vines, trying to free itself.
"Holly shit!, you manage to pierce its skin!" Gordon said in disbelieve and seeing his opportunity, emerged from hiding as well. He focused his will, channeling the wind into a powerful blast. The wind slammed into the creature, pushing it further into the trap, further entangling it in the vines.
The creature roared again, its voice filled with rage and pain. It finally managed to break free from the vines, but it was weakened, disoriented.
Markus fired another arrow with red tip, and then another. Each arrow found its mark, further weakening the creature.
Gordon, channeling the wind once more, created a swirling vortex of air around the creature, lifting it off the ground. The creature flailed helplessly, its claws slashing at the air.
With a final, desperate push, Gordon sent the creature crashing against a large rock. The creature let out a final, agonizing roar, and then it went still.
Gordon stood there, panting heavily, his bodies aching, his minds reeling from the adrenaline and the caconopy of screams. But they had done it. they had defeated it.
But as they looked at the creature's lifeless body, they knew that this was just the beginning. The darkness was still out there, and they knew they would face it again.
A sense of unease settled over them. The forest, even after the creature's defeat, felt heavy, oppressive. The fog still clung to the trees, and the silence was unsettling.
"We should get out of here," Markus said, his voice low. "I don't like this feeling."
Gordon nodded, his eyes scanning the surrounding trees. "I agree. Let's go."
They turned to leave, but as they did, a figure emerged from the fog. It was Willow.
She approached them slowly, her face unreadable. "I saw what you did," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Markus and Gordon exchanged a wary glance. They didn't trust Willow. They knew she was working with Brock, and they suspected she was involved in something bad for them.
"What do you want, Willow?" Markus asked, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his knife.
Willow shrugged. "I just wanted to see for myself. The creature… it was powerful."
"It's gone now," Gordon said, his voice firm. "We defeated it."
Willow nodded. "Yes. But there will be others. Something is awakening."
She paused, her gaze fixed on Gordon. "I know you can feel it too," she said. "The power. The darkness."
Gordon didn't reply. He knew she was right. He could feel it. The air was pulsing with a dark energy.
"What do you know?" Markus asked, his voice suspicious.
Willow hesitated, then she sighed. "More than I should," she said.
"What is?" Gordon asked, his curiosity piqued.
Willow looked around nervously, as if she was afraid of being overheard. "The cult," she whispered. "There was a cult brewing something in this forest. They're doing something. something terrible."
Markus and Gordon exchanged another worried glance. They had suspected that there was something more behind the hag's attacks, something more sinister at play. But the cult? They didn't think that the hag would be part of this cult.
"What kind of Cult?" Markus asked curiously, any information was important at this point even if he didn't know its validation.
"The dark one, they are dangerous." She said.
"What are they doing?" Markus asked.
Willow shook her head. "I don't know. But"
She paused again, then she looked at them, her eyes filled with a strange mix of fear and desperation. "We need to stop them," she said. "Or all of us would be in danger." Then she drew a symbol on the ground. "This is their symbol."
Without waiting for Gordon and Markus response Willow vanished back into the fog, leaving Markus and Gordon alone with her ominous warning. The silence of the forest seemed to amplify her words, the whispers of the wind carrying a chilling echo of ancient power.
"The cult," Markus murmured, his brow furrowed. "What do you think she meant?"
Gordon shook his head. "I don't know. But I felt it too. That… presence. It was like nothing I've ever encountered before."
"This cult… they sound dangerous," Markus said. "What do you think they are doing here?"
"Dunno," Gordon said. "But it definitely nothing good right? They are a dark cult after all."
They knew they had to find out more. They needed to understand the nature of this cult.
"We should go back to the village," Markus said. "We need to warn the others."
Gordon nodded in agreement. "And we need to find out what Willow knows. She's clearly afraid, but she's also holding back. There's something she's not telling us."
As they made their way back through the fog-shrouded forest, they discussed their next steps. They decided to approach Robin, one of the village elder, hoping she could shed some light on the ancient symbol Willow had described, the one associated with the cult.
They reached the village just as the first rays of dawn were painting the sky. The village was quiet, the villagers still asleep. They went directly to Robin's hut, a small, unassuming dwelling at the edge of the village.
Robin was already awake, tending to her herb garden. She greeted them with a warm smile, but her eyes held a hint of worry.
"What troubles you so early? She asked "And let me look at your hand." she said to Markus "Hmmm...it is nasty wound but already closed, did you burn it?"
"What!? No.. why would i burn my own hand." Markus said while looking at his wounded hand which indeed looked like someone had burned it and the wound hadn't bleeding anymore. He wonder why did this happen?
"It is look good, but don't do anything to rash next times, if you keep burning your wound it would left scar and ruin your good look." Robin said then wink at Markus.
"Right..." Markus said embarrased.
"Ehemmmm..." Gordon clearing his throat to save his friend from this flirting old woman. "We need to ask you something."
Then Markus and Gordon explained what they had encountered in the forest, the monstrous creature, Willow's warning about the cult, and the ancient symbol.
Robin's smile faded, her expression becoming grave. "The symbol…" she whispered. "It's a mark of the Shadowwood Coven. An ancient cult, thought to be extinct. They worshipped the dark god, drawing power from the shadows, performing rituals that were said to corrupt the very land itself."
"Willow said they were did something," Gordon said. "Something terrible."
Robin nodded. "They seek to awaken an ancient entity, a being of immense power, a creature of pure darkness. It is said that this entity can grant unimaginable power to those who serve it, but at a terrible cost."
"What cost?" Markus asked.
Robin hesitated, then she sighed. "Their souls," she said. "They sacrifice their souls to this entity in exchange for power. They become its puppets, its slaves."
Markus and Gordon exchanged a look of horror. This wasn't just about a rogue hag or a power-hungry hunter. This was about an ancient evil, a darkness that threatened to consume everything they knew and loved.
"We have to stop them," Gordon said, his voice filled with determination.
Robin nodded. "But you must be careful," she warned. "The Shadowwood Coven is powerful. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. You will need allies, powerful allies, if you hope to defeat them."