The group stood frozen, speechless, as Layla was swallowed by the monstrous creature right before their eyes. The horror had yet to subside when the colossal gecko let out a bone-chilling screech, its long, blood-smeared tongue sweeping through the air as if challenging them.
Kael gritted his teeth, drawing his sword, and shouted:
"Do not panic! Prepare to fight!"
Immediately, Senki conjured a protective barrier, shards of pale blue gemstones floating around him and the others. Senmi summoned a gigantic jade golem, her hands enhanced by magic. The golem charged forward, delivering a thunderous punch, but the beast simply twisted its body and struck back with its massive tail. THOOM! — the golem cracked and was thrown aside.
Sill cast a spell, sending a volley of ice arrows whistling through the air. The icy spikes embedded deep into the creature's scales, freezing patches of its flesh. Yet within seconds, the beast flexed, shattering the ice, its screech echoing through the forest.
Renar tried to steady himself, raising his sword to strike the weakened area of the belly. But the blade rebounded, sparks flying. He nearly got entangled by the creature's enormous tongue if Kael hadn't erected a wall of water to push it back.
"Watch out for the venom!" Kael yelled, intensifying the wall with fire, turning the water into a steamy haze that obscured the monster's sight.
Sivall, who had been silently observing, finally stepped forward. He muttered a spell under his breath, and his sword blazed with light. Sweeping it horizontally, arcs of lightning tore through the darkness, forcing the creature to retreat.
But the beast was not defeated. It scaled a tree with astonishing agility, then leapt from above, launching a sudden attack. The adventurers scattered, each struggling to fend it off. Golems shattered, barriers collapsed, ice melted, and scalding water steamed into a blinding fog.
Renar gasped, shouting:
"It… it won't die?!"
Sill gritted her teeth, eyes glinting with desperation. She summoned a blizzard, engulfing the forest in a storm of piercing cold, yet the creature shrieked furiously and shattered it all.
Finally, Sivall roared, raising his sword high above his head:
"Everyone, get back!"
He channeled every ounce of his power into a single strike. The sword crashed into the ground.
BOOM!
The explosion shook the entire forest. Lightning arcs radiated, igniting trees and tearing the air apart. The ground cracked and split.
For a moment, it seemed the beast had been engulfed in a sea of electricity, screaming wildly. But as the brilliant flash faded, it suddenly lunged into the sky and disappeared into the dense mist.
Only the smell of scorched earth and the lingering heat mixed with swirling smoke remained.
The group collapsed, utterly exhausted. Their hearts pounded violently.
Senmi buried her face in her hands, tears welling, whispering to herself:
"If I hadn't said those awful things to Layla… maybe…"
Her voice broke, unable to continue.
Senki placed a hand on his sister's shoulder, shaking his head:
"It's not your fault. We were all powerless."
Kael leaned on his sword, his voice hoarse:
"That creature… was stronger than anything I've ever faced. At least… it withdrew."
Renar still trembled, eyes fixed on the bloodstains on the ground. One question kept repeating in his mind:
"If this is only the first layer of the forest… how terrifying must the deeper layers be?"
Silence fell. Only the wind whistling through the giant trees could be heard, like laughter mocking them from the darkness below.
Sivall staggered and collapsed, completely drained. His sword slipped from his hand. His breaths came in ragged gasps; his magical energy had been entirely exhausted after that final strike.
Sill fared no better. She sank to her knees, trembling all over. The recent spellwork had drained her slender body, leaving her limbs numb. She collapsed next to her brother, lips quivering:
"If that creature had attacked one more time… we would have been finished."
Kael clenched his fists, his eyes revealing both helplessness and a trace of gratitude:
"At least… it ran away."
Everyone lay there, spent. Deep inside, they silently thanked the heavens, knowing that if the battle had lasted even a minute longer, the group would have been torn apart.
Suddenly, a rustling came from a nearby thicket. Senki startled, but he no longer had the energy to summon another golem.
From the shadows, several figures emerged. They wore crude garments of animal hide, their faces painted with strange patterns. In their hands were wooden spears and bows, eyes sharp and piercing, scrutinizing the exhausted group.
The tension was suffocating. The adventurers could only sit and watch, hearts racing.
One of the strangers spoke in a deep, resonant tongue, sounding like drums echoing through the forest:
"…Outsiders…"
The air grew heavier, more mysterious than ever. They said nothing, simply observing the group with piercing gazes. Kael gripped his sword tightly, hands trembling from exhaustion.
Sill forced herself upright, voice hoarse:
"We… we mean no intrusion… we're just… seeking the truth…"
A middle-aged man, tall with vivid red patterns painted on his face, stepped forward. He raised a hand for silence, then spoke slowly in the ancient native tongue. Sill immediately raised her magical translation device; his words were instantly converted into a language they could understand:
"Who are you…? How dare you trespass into the realm of the divine?"
Senki trembled, muttering:
"The divine? We… we're just exploring…"
The man cut him off:
"Exploring? No one comes here for mere amusement. They… will pay the price."
Sivall, gasping, struggled to stand:
"We… we knew nothing… we only want to survive…"
The natives exchanged glances, then extended their hands. Some picked up the group's scattered items — sticks, swords, torn cloth — and laid them back on the ground as a sign of temporary peace. Their leader spoke:
"You… were lucky to survive the beast. But if you continue further, there will be no second chance."
Sill frowned, nodding:
"We understand… we will follow the path you indicate."
The natives said no more but approached closer, leading the adventurers through dense foliage, amid mist and thick darkness. They followed, exhausted and tense, knowing that without cooperation, they would be left in the abyss with creatures whose horrors they couldn't even imagine.
Renar's eyes darted around, full of curiosity and fear:
"What… awaits us ahead?"
Kael said nothing, simply squeezing the boy's hand:
"Just follow… surviving is enough."
Sill, partially paralyzed from overexerting her magic, stayed close to Sivall. Her weak but resolute voice said:
"We… must follow them. There is no other choice."
The natives silently continued guiding them through the thick forest, occasionally moving large rocks or rotting tree roots blocking the path. Some carefully used sticks to push aside obstacles, clearing a way. The surrounding environment grew increasingly mysterious, occasionally filled with the screeches of insects or strange noises from deeper in the forest.
Renar muttered, eyes wide:
"What… could be waiting for us ahead…?"
Sivall tilted his head, residual sparks flickering on his sword, his eyes cold and alert:
"Anything could attack us. Stay ready… and never let your guard down."
The group continued, each step exhausting and tense, but every one of them knew clearly that any mistake could mean death. Meanwhile, the silhouettes of the natives resembled ghostly shadows in the mist, guiding the way with a presence both protective and eerie, forcing the adventurers to tread cautiously with every step.