Inside the fourth core, the first thing Isaac noticed was the sound… a sharp, high-pitched scream filled the air.
It was loud and painful, making the refugees flinch. Then, more followed, coming from all around them. The cries grew louder, mixing together in a wave of noise.
Didi covered his ears, his small body trembling.
Then, the monsters appeared, the Howlers.
They were hairless and black-skinned, their bodies thin and twisted. Standing as large as warhorses, their limbs bent at strange angles, making them move in an unnatural way. Their faces had no eyes, only deep, empty holes. But their heads twitched at every noise, a snapped twig, a quick breath, a pounding heart.
Their elongated jaws gaped open, revealing rows of needle-like teeth, perfect for tearing flesh from bone.
The refugees backed away. Some gripped their weapons with shaking hands. Others held their breath, too scared to move.
Isaac took a slow breath and stepped forward.
Then…
The first Howler lunged at Isaac, Its elongated jaws snapped wide as it lunged forward, powerful limbs propelling it closer with frightening speed.
Isaac didn't hesitate. He stepped to the side and swung his axe. The blade struck deep into the creature's neck, cutting through muscle and bone. The Howler let out a choked scream before collapsing, twitching on the ground.
The other Howlers reacted instantly. Their heads jerked toward the sound of the kill. More shrieks filled the air as they rushed forward, their movements fast and unpredictable.
"Stay close together!" Isaac shouted.
The refugees huddled together, gripping their weapons tightly. Some raised spears, while others clutched swords and makeshift tools. Their hands shook, but they held their ground.
Aiah took a deep breath and raised her hand. Flames flickered at her fingertips. She thrust her arm forward, sending a small burst of fire at the nearest Howler. The flames hit its chest, causing it to shriek in pain and stumble back, but it didn't fall.
Isaac didn't wait. He charged forward, swinging his axe again. The blade cut through another Howler's ribs, sending dark blood spraying across the ground. He pulled the weapon free just in time to block a clawed hand reaching for his throat. With a sharp kick, he knocked the creature back.
The battle raged on.
The refugees fought desperately. Some managed to land hits, their crude weapons cutting into the monsters' flesh. Others struggled, barely dodging the Howlers' attacks.
One man screamed as a Howler tackled him to the ground. Its jaws snapped at his face, but before it could bite, Elder Peter drove a spear through the creature's side. The Howler thrashed before going still.
Aiah gritted her teeth, trying to control her fire. She gathered more energy and sent another blast at a charging Howler. This time, the flames spread across its body, and it collapsed, screeching as it burned.
Isaac moved like a shadow among the chaos. Every swing of his axe brought down another Howler. His strikes were precise, his reflexes sharp. He wasn't just fighting, he was dominating.
But the Howlers didn't stop.
They kept coming.
More screams filled the air. More blood splattered the ground.
Isaac's grip tightened on his axe. "We have to end this fast."
He took a deep breath and charged forward.
--------
The battlefield was chaos.
Based on Isaac's estimate, there were only a little over fifty refugees with him, while about thirty Howlers had emerged to attack. The refugees had formed a tight circle to protect those at the center, but as the fight continued, that formation started to break apart.
People moved in a panic. Some backed away too far, leaving gaps. Others broke ranks, trying to dodge or swing their weapons. The once-solid defense was falling apart.
Inside the circle, the weakest refugees clung to each other, eyes shut, too scared to move. Despite being exposed, the Howlers ignored them.
Isaac cut down a Howler, its body collapsing in a heap. He turned his head, quickly scanning the battlefield.
That's when he saw Didi.
The boy sat completely still, hands covering his ears. A Howler rushed toward him, its elongated jaws snapping open.
Isaac moved to intercept.
But then…
The creature passed right in front of Didi. It didn't stop. It didn't attack.
Isaac froze for a moment, watching carefully.
'They really do hunt by sound.'
Just as he realized this, a burst of fire shot forward.
Aiah.
Her flames struck the Howler that had ignored Didi, burning it alive. The creature shrieked as it collapsed, its blackened body twitching before going still.
But the fight wasn't over.
All around them, the refugees struggled.
A man swung a rusty sword wildly, missing his target. A Howler lunged at him, its claws ripping into his shoulder. He screamed in pain.
A woman thrust her spear forward, but she wasn't strong enough. The Howler smacked the weapon aside and knocked her to the ground.
Another man tripped while trying to run, his back turned. A Howler pounced.
"Help!" he screamed.
Aiah fired another blast of flames, knocking the creature back before it could bite. But the attack drained her. She fell to one knee, panting.
Isaac moved without hesitation.
He dashed toward the open area, cutting through another Howler on the way. He had to regain control before more people died.
"Everyone at the center, stay still! Do not make a sound!" he shouted, loud enough to cut through the chaos.
Isaac turned to the fighters. "They hunt by sound! If you stop moving, they won't attack!"
The refugees heard him, but those already fighting had no choice. Their heavy breathing, their grunts of effort, and the clashing of weapons against claws made silence impossible.
A refugee swung desperately at a Howler, his blade clashing against its thick skin. He stumbled back, panting, his breath coming out in ragged gasps.
Another man screamed as a Howler clawed at his shield, the force knocking him to the ground.
Isaac needed to act fast.
A Howler lunged at him. He ducked and countered, but instead of attacking, he hesitated.
Then, an idea struck him.
He loosened his grip…
…and dropped his axe.
The weapon hit the ground with a heavy thud.
The Howler, mid-attack, froze. Its head jerked toward the sound. Then, ignoring Isaac completely, it turned and crawled toward the place where the axe had landed.
Isaac didn't move. Didn't breathe.
It worked.
"Drop your weapons! Now!" Isaac voice cut through the chaos.
One by one, the refugees copied him.
Swords, spears, and improvise weapons hit the ground in dull, heavy thuds.
The Howlers twitched at each impact. Their heads snapped toward the noise. One by one, they abandoned their fights and crawled toward the weapons instead.
The battlefield, once filled with screams and chaos became silent.
Everyone held their breath, too afraid to make even the smallest sound.
The Howlers stood still, their eyeless faces twitching, sniffing at the weapons scattered across the ground.
No one dared to move.
The entire forest seemed to pause.
A moment of unbearable tension.
Then…
Just as the Howlers began to lose interest, their twitching heads turning away, another wave of them emerged from the trees.
Another thirty.
Their shrill, piercing cries shattered the silence.
The refugees clutched their heads, some dropping to their knees from the sheer pain of the sound. Didi whimpered, his small hands pressed tightly over his ears. Even the fighters, who had managed to remain composed, gritted their teeth as the sharp noise drilled into their skulls.
Isaac winced, but his focus remained on the monsters.
Something was different.
These new Howlers were restless, moving erratically as if sensing something was wrong. Their eyeless faces twitched faster.
Then, one of them, the one standing in front of the one-armed man, stopped completely. Its body stiffened.
Isaac's eyes narrowed.
The Howler's ears split open, unveiling a second, deeper hole beneath the surface.
The moment it widened…
The Howler heard him.
Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.
The heartbeat of the one-armed man.
It turned, its elongated jaws opening, needle-like teeth glistening. Its head lurched forward, aiming straight for the man's skull.
Isaac moved.
With a sharp roll, he grabbed his axe off the ground, spun, and hurled it with all his strength.
The blade cut through the air.
THUNK!
The axe buried itself deep into the Howler's skull. The creature twitched once, then collapsed, lifeless.
For a brief moment, everything was still.
Then..
SCHLK!
All the Howlers suddenly shifted.
Every single one of them.
Their ears split open.
A second hole emerged within each of them.
They could hear.
Every heartbeat.
Every pulse.
Isaac's fists clenched, his eyes narrowing.
'This is going to be bad.'