[07: 10: 01: 32]
…
Fuck…
Cassian's heart pounded like a war drum as he dove to the side, the [Expedite] boost card igniting his every nerve. In that fleeting, cherished moment, the world transformed into a twilight of peril, every shadow pulsating with the ominous red glow of his foes. He barely registered the menace before a ragged whisper escaped his lips.
"Not today…"
His boots skidded on loose gravel as he rolled, narrowly escaping the razor-sharp talons that slashed at the very place his head had been. In that split second, instinct surged within him—survival was his sole focus as his breath caught and adrenaline surged through his veins.
With a desperate flick of his wrist, he cast the destruction sorcery hoping it would hit the monster.
" [Lightning Bolt] "
A burst of crimson energy erupted from his hand, as a blinding red flash was accompanied by the high-pitched crackle of his sorcery striking flesh as one enemy was thrown back with loud screams. In the chaos, his mind raced—but his focus fractured.
[ DING! YOU HAVE KILLED AN ENTITY FORSAKEN BY THE SYSTEM ]
Cassian's concentration was diverted as the system text flashed before him, his mind momentarily overwhelmed. In that instant, he realized too late—there were two monsters, not one.
"Damn it…" he cursed, barely registering the appearance of another monster emerging like a specter from his blind side.
A claw sunk deep into his stomach, tearing through flesh. Pain exploded, a hot wave of agony, and Cassian's eyes widened in disbelief.
Arggg… fuck, there was more.
He stumbled backward, his heart racing, just barely avoiding another vicious strike. The sharp scent of blood mixed with the bitter taste of fear in his mouth. For a couple of seconds, pain burst through him like fire, and Cassian's eyes widened in shock.
Aggg.. It hurts… I need to focus… fuu forget the pain…
Spitting out blood, he forced his racing thoughts into action. "I can't… let it win!" he murmured, his voice trembling but determined.
In a split-second gambit, he feinted the motion of moving backward. The monster, deceived by his ruse, lunged. Stopping and with trembling fingers, he cast his only sorcery.
" [Lightning Bolt] "
A red flash exploded between them, and the enemy's desperate scream was swallowed by the blast as its massive body collapsed upon him with a sickening thud.
[ DING! YOU HAVE KILLED AN ENTITY FORSAKEN BY THE SYSTEM ]
Cassian's pulse pounded in his ears as the battle reached a fever pitch. Due to his nonexistent experience in battles and combat, he had miscalculated the monster's momentum. The arc of his hastily cast [Lightning Bolt] had done its work—the searing energy had scorched the beast's skin, leaving a trail of blackened, smoking wounds in its wake—but that brief burst of light couldn't save him now.
No, no, no! Shit…
The impact stole the wind from his lungs, and he gasped, his body momentarily overwhelmed by the shock of pain and the weight of the fallen monster crashing down on him.
A searing pain lanced through Cassian as the creature's charred body grazed his side, the burning heat momentarily stealing his breath. His mind reeled from the shock; he had never been in combat before, nor had he had any practice with combat and monsters. His mind was panicking about what to do. In the haze of adrenaline, Cassian's mind was a chaotic blur; the momentary agony of the burning, broken body was swallowed by the urgency of survival. The shock of the impact was soon replaced by a desperate, primal urge to survive.
Straining against the crushing weight, Cassian let out a guttural curse and forced himself to move when his ears caught the echo of multiple voices—a chorus of monstrous snarls, guttural growls, and frantic screams that grew louder with every passing second. Peering into the murk of shadows, Cassian's eyes widened in terror. Three more monsters surged toward him.
"Shit!... I've got to move—now!" he roared, his voice raw and ragged with fear and resolve.
Summoning every ounce of strength, he gritted his teeth and wrenched himself free from the oppressive weight of the corpse. His muscles, screaming with the strain of pain and exertion, responded in spastic jerks as he shoved the burning mass aside.
I don't have time; what to do… the flashbangs.
Barely catching his breath, Cassian reached for his backpack with a shaking hand, its weight a comforting reminder of the few tools he had at his disposal. As he swung it off, the chain clinked ominously, echoing in the tense silence that had momentarily settled.
Fumbling, his fingers finally closed around two flashbangs. His inexperience battled with the urgency of the moment, yet survival demanded swift action.
It's do or die now… Thank the gods Expedite is still active.
Cassian grabbed a flashbang, his eyes cold with resolve as he hurled it toward the oncoming monsters, and the flashbang erupted with a concussive boom.
A burst of blinding light and ear-splitting sound shattered through the dusk. The shockwave stunned the monsters, their agonized hisses and screams echoing. Cassian had shielded his eyes and ears just in time, but the ringing in his skull was relentless.
He inhaled deeply, each ragged breath a reminder: time was slipping away—only 21 seconds remained on his [Expedite] boost timer.
"Every second counts…" he whispered internally, the words merging with the pounding of his heart. Without hesitation, Cassian rushed forward. His machete bit into the monster's neck with a sickening crunch.
The strike wasn't enough, but with grim determination, he plunged his knife deep into the bastard's head, and purplish blood spewed from the wounds, splattering onto his bare skin.
"Almost done now… ," he chided himself between gritted teeth, pain lancing through his body with every movement. Summoning a surge of energy, he kicked hard at the creature's knee joint. A crack rang out as the leg buckled unnaturally—something that would have been impossible just days ago, but now, with his newfound strength, he could.
Seizing the moment, he plunged his dagger once more into the creature's skull. Its scream began as a low, pained moan, then faded into silence as life ebbed away.
[ DING! YOU HAVE KILLED AN ENTITY FORSAKEN BY THE SYSTEM ]
But there was no time for thoughts; he let his instincts take over as he pulled the pin from his remaining flashbang.
"Take that you fuckers!" he roared, more to steel his own nerves. He pressed his body against the monster's body he had just killed as he hurled the flashbang sideways at the two monsters that were almost recovered but then,
BOOM
Another explosion erupted in disorienting brilliance, and the monsters' agonized screams and hisses were swallowed by the blast.
Not wasting any more time, Cassian forced himself to stand. Sweat and blood streaked his face as he wiped them away with trembling hands.
Raising his hand, he cast [Lightning bolt] at the stunned monsters.
" [Lightning Bolt] "
A vivid red bolt streaked through the air, and the acrid smell of charred flesh filled the surroundings. As his vision steadied, he saw that both monsters were badly injured—their skin bubbled and burned, contorting in pain.
Shit…arggh, did I miss… god damn it!
Gritting his teeth, he pressed forward despite the searing pain. The distant screeches and hisses were growing louder.
Shit, just how many of these fuckers are there…I can't let them overwhelm me…and I'm in no state to fight.
I need to move out and hide, but first,
Aiming at the two injured and stunned monsters, Cassian mumbled,
" [Lightning Bolt] "
But as his outstretched hand sparked with magic, nothing came. Instead, a jolt of excruciating pain flared through his chest, as if his very heart were stabbed. His breath came in ragged gasps, each one a battle against despair.
"No No! shit I overexerted my essence reserves… Stay awake, I can't lose my consciousness here!"
Ignoring the searing pain, Cassian refused to collapse. With a guttural scream—a sound of both defiance and despair—he dragged himself toward the two burning, injured creatures.
Crouching Cassian plunged his knife repeatedly into their quivering forms. The relentless beeping of system notifications marked fallen enemies; only then did Cassian stop.
[ DING! YOU HAVE KILLED AN ENTITY FORSAKEN BY THE SYSTEM ]
[ DING! YOU HAVE KILLED AN ENTITY FORSAKEN BY THE SYSTEM ]
"Come on, come on… get up," he urged himself, voice raw and determined; the taste of iron filled his mouth, and his vision became a disjointed montage of red and black. Cassian dragged himself toward a nearby crumbling wall. He slid down its rough surface, crouching in the shadow as more monsters emerged.
Their screeches and hissing echoed through the air.
In the dim half-light behind the wall, Cassian allowed himself a brief moment of silence. His bloodshot eyes scanned the approaching figures as conflicting emotions churned within him—fear, anger, regret, and an unyielding resolve. "I'm not going to let you take me," he murmured, his voice low and trembling, daring the encroaching darkness.
I have to believe in myself. I can't let this be the end. I've survived so much already… I'm stronger than this pain. I just need to hold on.
A low, guttural growl shattered the stillness, drawing Cassian's gaze from his cramped hiding place behind a toppled wall.
That was close… Shit, should I run…
His eyes flickered open, burning with quiet terror and determination as he pressed himself further into the darkness. Sweat and blood mingled on his skin, remnants of a brutal escape, and both his knife and machete were clutched in his trembling hands. Half-crouched and barely daring to breathe, Cassian remained motionless in the shadows.
In the pitch-black silence, a shifting shape began to move—each heavy step resonated ominously as it drew ever nearer.
The monster's dark silhouette loomed, filling the gloom with impending menace.
For now, his only recourse was to remain utterly still, hidden in the murky depths.
Bide his time.
…