The forest stretched endlessly before , above , the canopy was dense, blocking out most of the moonlight.
The faint rustle of leaves and the occasional distant call of so unseen creature.
Each step I took crunched softly against the mossy ground.
The air was damp, thick with the earthy scent of soil and decay, and I could feel the moisture clinging to my skin like a second layer.
I have been walking for what felt like forever, though it had probably only been minutes.
I didn’t dare stay in the cave.
I know the orc lord wasn’t done with , he couldn’t be, especially when he had his pride destroyed by a human.
If I stayed put, I’d just be a sitting duck waiting for death to co knocking again.
My boots sank slightly into the soft forest floor as I trudged forward, gripping Doom tightly.
The weight of the gun was a strange comfort, though my arms ached from the earlier fight.
My body scread for rest, but my mind wouldn’t let stop.
The mory of Henry’s last monts was burned into my brain, replaying over and over like a cursed loop.
His rage.
His charge.
The sickening sound of his head being crushed.
It all ca back in vivid flashes.
My hands trembled as I adjusted my grip on Doom, trying to push the thoughts away.
"I’m not letting it end like this," I muttered to myself, my voice barely audible over the ambient noise of the forest.
But if only Henry didn’t charge straight at the Orc Lord, he wouldn’t have died.
"Henry, you idiot," I muttered, my voice breaking slightly. "You didn’t have to go like that."
I paused for a mont, leaning against a tree to catch my breath.
"I’ll kill him," I whispered, the words barely audible, swallowed by the forest’s vastness. "I don’t care how long it takes. I’ll kill him, he can’t live, things will go wrong if he continues living."
But the truth was, I didn’t know how.
The Orc Lord wasn’t just strong, he was unstoppable.
Bullets hadn’t even scratched him, until my shot.
I don’t know how but, it seems like my gun is able to negate anything.
The bark was rough against my back, grounding as I scanned my surroundings.
There was no sign of the orc lord, but that didn’t an it wasn’t out there.
It was too quiet now.
The kind of quiet that scread danger.
My fingers brushed against the worn edge of Doom’s barrel, and I let out a shaky breath.
"Thanks," I whispered to the weapon, as if it could hear .
I had to thank it, even though it sounds stupid, It is my lifeline now.
My one chance if that monster decided to make another appearance.
I tightened my grip on the weapon, my fingers brushing against its cold tal.
The forest wasn’t entirely unfamiliar, its layout was a patchwork in my mind, cobbled together from mories of the novel’s descriptions and what I had seen firsthand.
A rustling sound broke the silence, and I froze.
My eyes darted toward the source, a cluster of bushes a few feet away.
I tightened my grip on Doom, raising it slightly, my heart hamring in my chest.
"Co on," I murmured under my breath, shifting my weight to one foot.
The rustling grew louder, and then...
A rabbit darted out, its small body a blur as it disappeared into the underbrush.
I exhaled sharply, my body sagging with relief.
"Jumping at shadows now, huh, Sky?" I said to myself, shaking my head.
I pushed off the tree and continued walking, the faint sound of running water reaching my ears.
A stream, maybe.
That ant I could refill my canteen and rest for a few minutes.
The thought of cold water was enough to spur forward.
As I moved closer to the sound, the stream ca into view, a narrow ribbon of water cutting through the forest.
It sparkled faintly in the dim light, and I dropped to one knee beside it, plunging my hands into the cool water.
The sensation was almost enough to clear my head.
Almost.
I splashed so water on my face, the shock of the cold waking up a bit.
As I filled my canteen, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I straightened up slowly, scanning the trees around .
Nothing.
But the forest didn’t feel empty.
"Great," I muttered, standing and slinging the canteen over my shoulder. "Now I’m paranoid."
I started walking again, keeping my pace steady but quiet.
Every now and then, I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting to see the towering silhouette of the orc lord looming behind .
I shook my head violently, trying to dislodge the mory.
Focus, Just keep moving.
The forest began to thin slightly, the trees spreading apart to reveal a faint trail that wound its way through the underbrush.
I hesitated for a mont, scanning the path ahead for any signs of danger.
Nothing moved.
Nothing made a sound.
Cautiously, I stepped onto the trail, my boots sinking slightly into the damp earth.
It felt both like progress and a trap, a straight path ant fewer places to hide, but it was also faster.
I didn’t have the energy to keep weaving through the dense thicket, so I pressed on.
Each step felt heavier than the last, my body screaming for rest, but my mind refused to stop.
Resting ant vulnerability.
Vulnerability ant death.
As I walked, I couldn’t help but think about Amber.
Was she safe?
Is the city still safe, if it isn’t, then... Is she...
I shook my head again, forcing the thought away.
She was strong.
If anyone could make it, it was her.
Still, the ache in my chest didn’t fade.
Taking a deep breath, I walked faster, my eyes darting to every flicker of movent.
I didn’t know where this path led, but I had no choice but to follow it.
Suddenly a thought hit , it sent a chill down my spine.
I didn’t have a plan.
Not yet, but one thing was clear...
I wasn’t going to wait around to die.
If the orc lord wanted to finish this, it would have to catch first.
And when it did, I’d be ready.
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