Zyra held her breath. Her body tensed as the heavy footsteps drew closer. Through the gaps in the wooden shack, she could see a massive shadow moving between the trees. The monster's breath was heavy, forming white mist in the cold night air.
Ziero remained still, his sharp eyes tracking the creature's movements. His dagger was ready in his hand, its edge glinting faintly under the dim light from the recently extinguished fire.
"Don't make a sound," he whispered, barely audible.
Zyra nodded slowly. She covered her mouth with both hands, trying to steady her unsteady breathing.
The monster approached.
GRAAAAAAHH!!
A deafening roar filled the air, shaking their shack. Zyra's heart pounded wildly as fear crept over her. She could see the creature more clearly now—it was over twice the height of a grown man, its body covered in rough, black skin that looked like stone. Its eyes glowed red in the darkness, and its claws dug deep into the damp earth.
Ziero observed the monster with an unreadable expression. His eyes narrowed before he murmured, "This one... isn't like the usual ones around here."
Zyra turned to him in confusion but didn't dare make a sound.
The monster stomped the ground, exhaling harshly. It sniffed the air as if searching for something.
Zyra swallowed hard.
Can it smell us?
Suddenly, the monster turned to face their shack.
Ziero cursed under his breath.
"We've been spotted."
Zyra's eyes widened. "What—"
BANG!!
With a single strike, the monster smashed through half the shack's wall, sending wood flying in all directions. Zyra stifled a scream and leapt backward, while Ziero rolled to the side just in time to avoid the attack.
Dust and splinters filled the air. Zyra coughed, her eyes stinging from the debris. She tried to look ahead but could only make out the monster's massive silhouette looming in the darkness.
Ziero sprang to his feet, dagger raised. "Don't just stand there!" he shouted.
Snapping out of her shock, Zyra scrambled to move, but she was too late—the monster's massive arm swung toward her.
SWOOSH!
Ziero lunged and yanked Zyra back just as the monster's claws crashed into the ground where she had been standing.
DUARR!!
The ground split apart. Chunks of earth and mud flew into the air from the impact. Zyra gasped, nearly losing her balance as Ziero yanked her away.
"Do you have a death wish?!" Ziero snapped.
Zyra was still in shock, but there was no time to answer. The monster roared again, even louder this time. Its eyes gleamed with fury as it began moving forward.
Ziero let out a sharp breath, then whispered, "Run left when I say now."
Zyra stared at him in panic. "What?"
"Now!"
Ziero released his grip on her and dashed to the right. Instinctively, Zyra bolted left, following his command.
The monster hesitated for a moment, confused—but only for a moment. It shifted its attention to Ziero, finding him the more interesting target.
Good. That's what I wanted.
Ziero clenched his right fist. A cracking sound filled the air as obsidian grew from his arm, forming a hard, black armor that gleamed under the moonlight peeking through the clouds.
The monster lunged.
BOOM!!
The ground trembled as the creature leaped toward Ziero with terrifying speed, its massive claws gleaming in the air, ready to tear him apart.
But Ziero didn't step back.
He jumped forward.
With a swift motion, he swung his obsidian-coated arm, meeting the monster's attack head-on.
CLANG!!
A deafening clash rang out. Sparks of dark energy erupted from the impact between obsidian and claw.
The monster howled in pain, recoiling as tiny cracks appeared on one of its claws.
Ziero smirked. "So you're not as tough as I thought."
The monster growled furiously.
From a distance, Zyra watched the fight with bated breath. Her heart was still pounding, but she knew she couldn't just stand there.
Ziero was strong, but he was still just a child. If this fight dragged on, he would tire out first.
Zyra clenched her fists.
I can't just sit and watch.
She closed her eyes briefly, feeling the blood coursing through her veins. When she opened them again, a faint crimson glow flickered in her irises.
Her hands trembled as she lifted her fingers into the air. In seconds, tiny droplets of blood seeped from her fingertips, hovering like dew suspended in midair.
Zyra took a deep breath.
Then, with a sharp motion, she swung her hand.
The floating blood instantly shifted—elongating into needle-like projectiles before shooting toward the monster at high speed.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
The blood needles struck the creature's shoulder and side. Not deep, but enough to make it roar in pain.
The monster turned.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto Zyra.
She froze.
Oh no.
The monster lunged straight at her.
Zyra barely had time to react. Her body froze, paralyzed by fear.
But before the monster could reach her—
DUARR!!
An obsidian spear pierced straight through its chest, halting its leap instantly.
The monster let out a guttural growl, writhing in pain as it clawed at the spear lodged in its body.
Zyra turned toward Ziero, who stood with one arm raised, traces of obsidian still forming in his palm.
"Join the fight only if you can win," Ziero said, his tone cold.
Zyra gritted her teeth and raised her hand again.
The monster struggled to yank the obsidian spear from its chest, but Zyra didn't give it the chance.
The remaining blood at her fingertips gathered, elongating into a crimson whip that gleamed under the faint moonlight. With a swift motion, she lashed it at the monster's legs.
CRACK!
The creature flinched, losing its balance.
That was all Ziero needed.
With inhuman speed, he dashed forward and leaped onto the monster's back.
Using every ounce of strength, he swung his obsidian-coated arm and struck the creature's head.
CRACK!!
The monster let out one last groan before its body collapsed with a heavy thud.
Silence.
Zyra stood frozen, her breaths still ragged. Her wide eyes remained locked on the motionless corpse.
Ziero hopped down from the creature's back, letting out a quiet scoff.
He glanced at Zyra and said, "Now you understand why I can't sleep peacefully in this place."
Zyra swallowed hard. Her body still trembled, but she had realized one thing.
This forest was far more dangerous than she had imagined.
And this was where she had to survive.
—
Zyra remained rooted to the spot, her chest rising and falling with each shaky breath. Adrenaline still coursed through her veins, making it difficult to think clearly.
The monster lay lifeless on the ground, black blood oozing from the cracks in its skull and the obsidian spear still embedded in its chest.
The cold night air felt sharper against her skin—or perhaps it was just the lingering tension refusing to fade from her body.
Ziero let out a long sigh and shook his hand. The obsidian coating his skin slowly cracked and peeled away, leaving faint scars on his arm.
"Are you okay?" he asked without turning around, his voice weary.
Zyra opened her mouth to respond, but only a weak murmur came out. Her legs trembled, and she had to grasp the nearest tree trunk to keep herself from collapsing.
"Zyra?" Ziero finally turned, his brows furrowed.
She nodded quickly. "I… I'm fine." Her voice wavered slightly, but she forced herself to stand upright.
Ziero studied her for a few seconds before exhaling again. "You're still in shock," he stated flatly. "Sit down for a bit."
"I don't need—"
"Don't be stubborn."
The cold edge in his voice made Zyra fall silent. She looked at him for a moment before sighing and complying.
She sat on the thick roots of a towering tree, feeling the cool dampness of the ground beneath her. Her hands were still trembling, and she realized the tips of her fingers were still stained with blood from the technique she had used earlier.
Zyra stared at her hands before clenching them into fists. She could still feel it—that strange sensation of her blood moving at her will, shaping itself in the air, turning into a weapon.
"Do you always fight like this?" she asked quietly, still gazing at her hands.
Ziero, who had been observing the unmoving monster, turned his head toward her.
"You think I could survive in this place by just hiding?" he replied, his tone sharp.
Zyra fell silent for a moment before shaking her head. "No. I just…"
She bit her lip.
She just hadn't expected how brutal the fight would be.
She had lived in a palace all her life. Even though she was never pampered like her siblings, she was still a princess. The world she knew was filled with etiquette, politics, and unspoken rules.
Fighting on a battlefield? It had never once crossed her mind.
But now, she was in the middle of a deadly forest, where monsters could appear at any moment.
And the only way to survive was to kill before being killed.
"If you're still scared, it's better if you don't fight," Ziero said again, his voice even colder this time.
Zyra snapped her head up. "I'm not scared!" she shot back.
Ziero raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical.
"You almost died just now."
Zyra clenched her jaw. "I just… need time to adjust."
"There is no time to adjust," Ziero retorted instantly. "Here, you either live or die. That's it."
His words were as sharp as a blade, but Zyra couldn't argue with them.
Silence settled between them.
The only sounds were the whispering wind weaving through the trees and the distant hum of night insects that had resumed their songs after the battle ended.
Zyra exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself.
"Were you like this when you first fought?" she asked softly.
Ziero didn't answer immediately. His expression shifted slightly, as if recalling something buried deep in his past.
Then, without answering, he turned around and walked toward the monster's carcass.
Zyra sighed inwardly.
Of course, he wouldn't answer.
She was beginning to realize that Ziero wasn't the type to talk about himself easily.
Zyra watched as Ziero stood near the monster's body. The boy examined the wounds on the creature, then pressed the obsidian spear still lodged in its chest.
CRACK!
A sharp cracking sound echoed as the obsidian shattered and spread, like roots growing inside the monster's body. Within seconds, the creature's form hardened, turning into obsidian stone before crumbling into tiny shards that merged with the ground.
Zyra stared at the sight, both in awe and horror.
"You… destroyed it?" she asked.
Ziero nodded. "I don't want to leave any traces."
Zyra swallowed. "Do you think other creatures will come if we leave it here?"
Ziero shrugged. "Maybe. But it's better to be cautious."
He turned and walked toward the ruins of their shelter, which was now barely recognizable. Zyra followed him, taking in the scattered remains of wood.
"Can we rebuild it?" she asked hesitantly.
Ziero looked at the wreckage with a blank expression.
"It's pointless."
Zyra frowned. "But we need a place to stay—"
"We'll find another one."
Zyra fell silent. She glanced at the ruins once more, then let out a sigh.
They really didn't have a choice.
"Alright," she finally said. "So, where do we go?"
Ziero scanned their surroundings, his eyes narrowing as if deep in thought.
"We need to move before sunrise," he said. "Monsters are more active at night, but some hunt until morning."
Zyra nodded. "Then let's go."
They began walking away from the site, pushing through the dense forest.
The night grew darker, but Zyra didn't feel sleepy.
Maybe it was the lingering tension in the air.
Or maybe it was the realization creeping into her mind.
This forest would not let them survive easily.
And if she wanted to stay alive, she had to learn—fast.
Because in this place, weakness meant death.
---
The drizzle continued to fall, dampening the already soaked ground. The night air grew colder, seeping through the skin and into the bones. Zyra pulled her cloak tighter, trying to fight off the chill that was beginning to bite into her body. Her steps felt heavy, not just from exhaustion, but from the weight of everything that had happened.
Ziero walked ahead with steady steps, as if the rain and wind had no effect on him. But Zyra knew he felt the cold too. The tips of his dark-blue hair were wet, sticking to his face, and his thin clothing offered little protection from the freezing night.
"We need to find shelter before the storm gets worse," Ziero said, his voice almost drowned by the wind howling through the trees.
Zyra only nodded in response. Her breath was growing heavier. They had walked far from the battle site, yet the forest seemed endless. The towering trees, their massive roots jutting from the earth, cast eerie shadows under the moonlight that was hidden behind the clouds.
"Are you sure we'll find a safe place?" Zyra finally asked, trying to ignore the exhaustion creeping over her.
Ziero didn't answer immediately. He surveyed the area, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness.
"There's a chance," he said briefly.
Zyra sighed. "That's not a very reassuring answer."
"We have no other choice," Ziero replied flatly. "If we stop now, we could freeze to death. Or worse, another monster might find us."
Zyra fell silent. She knew Ziero was right. Even though her body was already protesting from exhaustion, she couldn't stop now.
They continued walking in silence. The only sounds were their footsteps, mixed with the rain pouring over the leaves and the ground.
After a while, Ziero suddenly stopped. Zyra almost bumped into him from behind.
"What's wrong?" she asked, still trying to catch her breath.
Ziero pointed ahead, toward a narrow gap between two large moss-covered rocks. The opening wasn't very wide, but it was enough for them to squeeze through.
"There," he said.
Zyra frowned. "Are you sure it's safe?"
"It's better than sleeping out in the open," Ziero replied, already making his way toward the gap.
Zyra sighed and followed him.
As they stepped inside, they found a small space just big enough for the two of them. The stone walls around them were damp, but at least they were shielded from the rain and wind.
Zyra let out a relieved sigh. "At least we don't have to be soaked outside."
Ziero didn't respond. He crouched down and started examining the ground beneath them.
"It's still too cold," he muttered. "We need something to warm this place up."
Zyra looked at him. "Can you make fire?"
Ziero shook his head. "No. But we can light one another way."
He stood up and glanced toward the entrance. "I'll look for dry twigs. You stay here."
Zyra stared at him in disbelief. "Alone? In this rain?"
"I won't take long."
"Wait, let me come—"
"No," Ziero cut her off quickly. "You're too exhausted. If anything comes, you need to be able to defend this place."
Zyra wanted to argue, but she knew Ziero wouldn't change his mind.
"Fine," she said at last. "But don't take too long."
Ziero didn't reply. He simply stepped out of the gap and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
Zyra exhaled slowly and sat on the cold stone floor, feeling the dampness seeping through her clothes.
This place is far from ideal, she thought. But at least it's better than nothing.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings. The ceiling of the small cave was low, with a few cracks letting in faint moonlight. The floor was rough, but flat enough to serve as a temporary resting place.
But we can't stay here forever.
Zyra started thinking. If they really wanted to survive in this forest, they needed a better shelter—something that could protect them from the weather, monsters, and whatever other dangers lurked in this place.
As she was still deep in thought, footsteps echoed from outside.
Zyra immediately tensed, her hands ready to use her power.
But then, Ziero's figure appeared in the shadows, carrying a bundle of dry twigs in his hands.
"That was fast," Zyra remarked, trying to hide the relief in her voice.
Ziero simply nodded and dropped the twigs onto the floor.
"See if there are any stones we can use to start a fire," he said as he crouched down, arranging the twigs in the center of the room.
Zyra quickly searched around the small cave. She found a few small stones and handed them to Ziero.
Taking two of them, Ziero started striking them together, trying to create sparks.
Several attempts failed, but finally, a tiny spark landed on the dry twigs, slowly catching fire.
Zyra's eyes lit up as she watched the flames flicker to life. "You did it!"
Ziero didn't respond, only blowing on the small fire gently to help it grow.
Soon, the flames burned bright enough to bring a bit of warmth to the stone chamber.
Zyra stretched out her hands toward the fire, savoring the comforting heat on her skin.
"Living in this forest is really changing my perspective on comfort," she said with a tired smile.
Ziero simply stared at the fire, his expression unreadable.
"This is just the beginning," he murmured. "We need a safer place."
Zyra nodded, glancing around the small cave once more.
"Tomorrow morning," she said, "we start building a proper shelter."
Ziero said nothing, but Zyra could tell he agreed.
They sat in silence, enjoying the warmth of the fire as it slowly drove away the cold from their bodies.
Outside, the rain continued to fall, but for the first time since fleeing the ruins of their previous shelter, Zyra felt a little more at ease.
Maybe, just maybe, they could survive in this forest longer than they had thought.