"who are these guys ?"

Karze stepped away from the clearing—his silhouette fading like a shadow finally finding home.

Behind him, Evae's shallow breaths whispered away, fading like a heartbeat swallowed by silence.

And just like that... he was gone.

Sophia sighed.

Turning back, Evae's condition worsened with every passing second.

Her face was pale—drained by blood loss and the creeping poison.

Dark veins snaked up her neck, racing with lethal speed.

"Just hang in there... okay?"

She whispered, voice fragile.

Doubt slithered beneath her words, tightening like a noose around her heart.

She shut her eyes, fighting the worst thoughts.

A deep breath.

Eyes open.

She scanned the others.

They were falling apart—poison spreading its cruel fingers fast.

Some unconscious.

Others awake, twisting and groaning in raw agony.

Some gripped weapons, eyes darting nervously into the trees.

Others tended the wounded—tearing cloth into bandages, hands trembling uncontrollably.

Some simply curled up, knees hugged tight, murmuring prayers to gods long forgotten.

But to which god?

The guards tensed, weapons raised.

Footsteps approached—slow, deliberate, growing louder with every heartbeat.

Their chests tightened, hearts pounding like trapped beasts desperate to escape their ribs.

Silent stares fixed on the edge of the forest, weapons ready to strike.

When the figure stepped into the clearing, relief crashed over them like a wave breaking.

No monstrous horror.

Just a young man.

Blonde hair falling in careless waves, grey eyes lively and sharp.

A carefree smile playing on his lips.

Leather armor hugged his lean frame.

A long steel sword rested casually in his left hand.

It was—

"Andre!"

The shout cracked the silence.

Mark—his best friend—rushed forward.

Short black hair, a sharp fade.

Dark eyes burning brighter at the sight of Andre.

Clad in a ripped grey shirt, black jeans, and bare feet.

He grinned, the short sword in his hand crackling with blue sparks as he ran.

They collided in a tight embrace.

Mark stepped back, voice bursting with excitement:

"So—you beat it, huh?"

Andre hesitated.

Too long.

Finally, he shook his head.

"I didn't even find it... It was like it never existed.

Had to come back. Sorry, Mark... I failed. Now everyone is—"

Mark cut him off, smiling with brotherly warmth, hand on Andre's shoulder.

"It's okay, bro. You tried your best."

But those words tore into Andre's gut like shattered glass.

He'd taken the CHALLENGE.

Failed to find the beast.

Returned empty-handed.

"I'll check on the others. You should head back to your post."

Mark smiled and turned, leaving Andre behind.

Andre's eyes followed his friend, a nagging unease clawing at his gut.

He stretched out his hand.

Blue sparks rained down, coalescing into a short sword.

One last glance at Mark.

Then back to the others.

Fear weighed heavy as Andre approached.

Skin had lost all color.

Black veins cracked across flesh like shattered glass.

Tiny leaves sprouted from some cracks, darkened bark hardening over others.

"So you're back!"

A voice pulled him from his thoughts.

He turned, a smile forcing its way onto his face.

It was his sister—young, fierce, and fierce with joy.

Short, chaotic black hair framed her blood-speckled face.

Her white shirt was torn and soaked—though none of it hers.

Sleeveless now, arms bare.

A black skirt and bloodied sneakers completed her ragged look.

His only family.

Andre dropped to his knees and pulled her close.

She clung tightly, unwilling to let go.

"I thought you wouldn't come back."

Tears glistened in her eyes—precariously close to falling.

"I'll always come back... always," he said, but inside, guilt coiled like a snake crushing his heart.

He lied.

He forced a smile.

She returned it, faint and fragile.

She glanced to the fallen beside them.

"It just keeps getting worse... some passed out from the pain. It's too much."

"I couldn't get the antidote... I tr—"

Words stuck in his throat.

He looked away, jaw clenched tight.

Her soft, warm hand found his.

He met her gaze and gave a weak smile.

"It's okay, brother. You didn't find it. Stop blaming yourself. We'll find another way."

She scanned the area.

Healers struggled to hold the poison at bay.

"They won't last much longer," she said, eyes locking on two girls near the forest edge.

Andre noticed too.

Together, they rose and headed toward the pair.

---

"This is bad. Really bad."

Sophia's whisper barely pierced the cold air.

Her gaze fixed on Evae's stomach—blackened, rough as tree bark.

Her face bloodless, cracked with dark veins.

Cheekbones protruded sharply.

Eyes sunken and fading fast.

"Just hang in there, Evae... for him."

Her eyes flicked toward the path Karze took, burning with fury and questions.

Is he...

The air shifted, carrying a strange scent.

Sophia spun, hand outstretched, ready to summon her weapon.

No need.

A young man and woman approached.

"Holy hell, you scared me to death."

She exhaled, surprised by how long she'd held her breath.

"Are you stepping on air or something? How did I not hear you?"

They smiled warmly.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

The man added, sincere:

"It's a perceptual attribute—can't be deactivated.

We share it since we're related."

"We're sorry."

Sophia raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

"Pero—petia—what? Can't deactivate it?"

The girl answered softly:

"I'm Lora Dawson."

"And I'm Andre Dawson," the man said.

Sophia's confusion deepened.

"Same names, huh? So you're related."

Andre's gaze fell on Evae.

Her face, drained and distant, looked nothing like the girl he knew.

But there was no doubt—this was her.

Their girl.

The one who beat Mich before the crash.

"But if she's here... where's—"

Before he could finish, Lora interrupted:

"I know you're wondering where her boyfriend is..."

"Wait—how did she... can she read—"

"No. I can't read minds."

He held his silence.

She continued:

"He left."

Her eyes shifted toward the trees.

They followed.

A cold dread filled their chests.

Before them hovered red holographic screens, edges etched with ancient runes.

In the center, glowing runes formed a chilling message:

This challenge has been taken.

CHALLENGE NAME: Thorns' Last Breath.

DIFFICULTY: Execution.

SURVIVAL: 30%.

TIME LIMIT: 30 minutes — Current: 18 minutes.

PENALTY: Death.

REWARD: Antidote / Poison King.

CURRENT CHALLENGE: UNKNOWN.

"Unknown... what's that supposed to mean?"

Sophia asked, eyes wide.

Andre and Lora exchanged grim looks.

The answer was worse than any of them wanted to say.

Andre swallowed fear tight.

"Run..."

A roar shattered the mountain, shaking the earth to its core.

Everyone froze.

Hearts plummeted into wells of fear.

Then dozens of creatures burst from the forest.

Their footsteps thundered, shaking the ground beneath them.

No one moved.

Paralyzed by terror.

They sat, waiting for death.

But as the creatures drew near, they stopped—frozen, silent.

Around them, countless red eyes burned with bloodlust.

But the beasts did not attack.

They watched.

Sweat trickled down brows.

Hands trembled.

Every breath hung heavy—one wrong move and death would come swift.

The silence was suffocating.

The wrong kind.

If the air shifted, something terrible would ignite.

Why weren't they attacking?

Andre thought, chills racing down his spine.

His gaze scanned the dark mass.

"They're scared... but of what?"

Then it hit him.

The creatures weren't looking at them—not really.

They were terrified of something else.

His eyes widened.

His heart froze.

His bones trembled with a deep, primal fear.

Why?

His gaze returned to the unconscious Evae.

His whisper cracked with dread:

"Who are these guys?"

Lora and Sophia's eyes met, sharing the same terrifying question.

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