Fear tightened its grip on her, like an invisible hand pressing against her chest, making every breath feel like a struggle, as if a cold chain had wrapped around her ribs, dragging her down, trapping her in a suffocating, stifling dread.
Yuna curled up inside the hollow of a tree, trying to make herself even smaller, as if, if she just shrank deep enough, the monsters outside wouldn't be able to find her, as if the darkness around her could become an invisible shield, hiding her from the giant vines slithering just beyond her hiding place.
Her hands trembled as she clutched the hem of her royal-blue dress, fingers digging so tightly into the soft fabric that her nails almost pierced through.
Her breaths came fast and shallow, but she had to suppress them, had to keep them quiet...so quiet, so light, because she knew that even the smallest sound escaping from her lips could make the monsters outside snap their heads toward her. And if that happened, everything would be over.
She had never experienced this before.
Since stepping into this death game, Yuna had always had Nautilus by her side.
He was always the one standing in front of her when danger approached, always the one leading the way, always the one pulling her along when something terrifying appeared.
Nautilus had always tried to give her the best, always protected her, even when he himself was afraid.
She had never been forced into a situation where she had to run alone like this, never had to face such deep, paralyzing fear, never realized so clearly how fragile she was, how just a single misstep, a single moment of carelessness, could mean the end of everything.
She was not a warrior.
She did not have the strength to swing a sword and cut down enemies like Nautilus. She did not have the agility to move nimbly and evade attacks like other players.
But she had her voice. She had the ability to stir the fighting spirit in others, to lift them up when they wavered, to use her melodies to soothe the wounds of the broken.
She had always believed that she could do something, that even if she couldn't fight directly, she could still help, still be a part of this world, still contribute so that no one had to be alone.
But now… who would help her?
Her fingers tightened around the short sword at her waist, the only weapon she had...but her palms were damp with sweat, her joints stiff and cold.
She knew that if the monsters outside found her, then even if she tried to swing this little blade, it would be nothing more than a useless toy.
A light breeze swept through, brushing against her hair, rustling her pure white cloak.
She suddenly remembered the first day she put on this outfit—beautiful, precious, and simple. It carried a quiet pride, a feeling that she had found her place in this world.
It represented her efforts, her belief that as long as she continued to sing, continued to encourage others, no one would be left behind.
But now, she was the one left behind.
No one was coming to save her.
No one was reaching out to take her hand and tell her, "It'll be okay."
No one was offering her an escape, a safe path to run.
She had to find her own way out.
But… how?
It felt as if an invisible abyss had opened beneath her feet, swallowing every ounce of her resolve.
The darkness wasn't just surrounding her, it was creeping into her mind, seeping into her thoughts, into the rhythm of her heartbeat, twisting her fears into a chorus of sinister whispers.
"You can't escape. You have no strength. You're just a useless girl."
She wanted to run, but her legs refused to move.
She wanted to scream, but her throat was locked tight, as if an unseen hand was squeezing the air from her lungs.
She wanted to do something...anything, but all she could do was curl up tighter in the hollow of the tree, listening to the monsters slide past outside, listening to the helplessness gnaw away at her heart.
She didn't want to die.
She couldn't die.
She still had so much she wanted to do. She wanted to stay by Nautilus's side, wanted to see the day this game ended, wanted to be free, wanted to go home, wanted to sing the songs she hadn't yet had the chance to sing.
She had to live.
No matter how terrified she was, she couldn't just sit here and wait for death.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to think. She wasn't as strong as Nautilus, but she had her own kind of sharpness.
She might not be a warrior, but that didn't mean she had no way to survive.
She had to break free from this fear, before it was too late.
Suddenly, a faint scent drifted into Yuna's nose, subtle, yet so distinct that it made her freeze.
It wasn't too strong, nor did it carry the metallic tang of blood or the damp, earthy stench of wet soil.
This scent was soft but carried a slight bitterness, reminiscent of ripe berries crushed underfoot in the forest, unnoticed, forgotten.
A strange sense of familiarity washed over her, sending a chill down her spine.
She had smelled this before.
But where?
Her breath hitched.
Yuna closed her eyes, trying to focus on the only sense left unhindered by the dense fog that cloaked the forest.
She had lost her sense of direction long ago. The rare sunlight had been swallowed by the thick white mist, turning everything around her into eerie, indistinguishable shadows.
She had no idea what was happening beyond her sight, only sound and scent were the only things she could cling to at this moment.
And then, she realized.
The terrifying noises had vanished.
No more rustling of tendrils sweeping across the ground.
No more eerie screeches echoing from the unseen void.
No more rustling of leaves as dark figures slithered through the gaps.
Nothing.
Had they... disappeared?
Yuna clenched her hands, the cold seeping into her trembling fingers. This silence brought no sense of safety; if anything, it was even more terrifying because she knew something was still lurking within the mist.
She shifted slightly, her body as taut as a string about to snap, straining her eyes to see through the thick fog.
But all she could make out were twisted, distorted shadows.
And then, she noticed, two of them were still there.
Two monsters.
They hadn't left like the others.
Why?
Why only these two? Where had the others gone? And this strange scent… what was it?
Something was wrong. She knew it.
But instead of rushing out, her legs remained frozen in place. A part of her screamed that this was her chance to escape, that if she waited just a little longer, if she stayed hidden in the hollow of this tree, those monsters might leave too.
She could wait.
Right?
Her grip on the short sword tightened, her knuckles turning pale from the force. This wasn't the first time she had faced danger.
All the way here, she had always been the one at the back, always relying on others to protect her. When someone stronger led the way, she could fight, she could support.
But now?
She was alone. No Ren. No Nautilus. No one to tell her what to do.
Run or fight?
She took a deep breath.
No. This wasn't just about her.
Ren and Nautilus were trapped in this forest too. She didn't know where they were, didn't know if they were safe. She couldn't just sit and wait, doing nothing.
A thought flashed through her mind, if this really was a chance to break free, she had to take it. Not just for herself, but for them.
Even though she was afraid, even though doubt still lingered, for the first time, she felt the need to step forward.
Taking another deep breath, she tightened her grip on the short sword and slowly crawled out of the tree hollow.
The darkness of the mist swallowed her whole. But this time, she no longer trembled.
Beneath the thick white veil covering the forest, Yuna inhaled deeply, forcing her ragged breathing to steady.
She could feel her heartbeat pounding in her chest, every muscle in her body tensed, ready to explode into motion.
Retreat was not an option.
She lunged out from the hollow, her sword aimed straight at the nearest monster.
The Little Nepenthes barely had time to react, but it was too late. The short sword in Yuna's hands slashed down with all her strength.
Slash!
A streak of light cut through the mist, followed by a clean wound across the Nepenthes' body.
Shreds of crimson pixel fragments scattered like torn fabric, vanishing into the air before they could hit the ground.
[You have defeated Little Nepenthes Lv.2]
But before she could celebrate, a sudden gust of wind swept across her side.
A whip-like vine, tipped with a razor-sharp triangular leaf, came hurtling toward her.
By reflex, she jerked back, but she was a fraction too slow, the tendril struck her left arm, sending her tumbling sideways.
"Kh—!"
She staggered, her feet dragging against the ground as she fought to regain balance. Pain. A sharp sting flared for a brief moment, but the spreading numbness down her arm was impossible to ignore.
Gritting her teeth, Yuna tightened her grip on the sword. There was no time to hesitate.
Her HP bar was still above half, within the safe zone.
The second monster was charging straight at her this time.
It didn't lash out with its tendrils. Instead, it lunged, its grotesque, leathery body twisting unnaturally.
Jagged teeth-lined maws gaped open, revealing a thick, slimy fluid dripping inside.
Run? No. She would not back down.
The moment the creature leaped, Yuna sprang forward, not dodging, but attacking head-on!
Her sword slashed upward from below, the sharp edge cutting through the Nepenthes' soft skin, slicing through its weak inner joints.
She could feel the blade tearing through, the resistance trembling up her arm with the impact.
"Haa—!!"
She shouted, pouring all her strength into the final strike.
The monster convulsed violently, then burst into red pixelated fragments.
[You have defeated Little Nepenthes Lv.2]
[You have leveled up!]
Yuna landed on shaky legs, her knees buckling slightly from the aftershock of the attack.
Two down.
Her breaths were ragged, her heartbeat still unsteady. But she no longer felt fear like before.
She looked down at her hands, still gripping the sword tightly.
For the first time, she had defeated multiple enemies on her own. No one had shielded her, no one had fought in her place.
But she had done it.
The dull pain in her left arm remained, but compared to the newfound confidence surging within her, it was nothing.
Yuna took a deep breath, then raised her head, her gaze sharper than ever.
The mist had yet to clear. Other creatures could still be lurking.
But now, she was no longer the weak girl left behind.
She had to find the others.