Azad stood in the heart of the ancient, desolate city, the eerie silence pressing down on like a weight. His breath formed small, foggy clouds in the chill of the underground air, the oppressive darkness amplifying every shiver of fear in his bones. The crumbling stone structures around him seemed to close in, their twisted shadows stretching long and claw-like across the floor. It was too quiet. Too still. The faint, heartbeat-like pulsing of the strange blue floor made his skin crawl, as if he were standing on something alive and sinister.
Suddenly, a low, guttural growl echoed from the shadows behind him, sending a cold spike of terror down his spine. He whipped around, eyes wide with horror, and there it was—that massive creature, emerging from the darkness. Its towering form was cloaked in shadows, and its skin pulsed with that familiar sickly blue glow. As it moved, a dreadful rhythm thudded in Azad's chest, matching the creature's heavy, deliberate footsteps.
The beast seemed to hone in on him with terrifying precision, even without eyes, and Azad's mind went blank with panic. He took a stumbling step back, his voice barely a hoarse whisper. "No… please… someone… anyone… help me!"
He turned on his heel, breaking into a desperate sprint, his heart hammering wildly in his chest. His footsteps echoed erratically through the empty city, the blue glow flickering in and out with every stride, casting jagged shadows across the ancient stones. But no matter how fast he ran, the beast followed, each of its strides shaking the ground. The sound of its heavy breathing filled the air, growing closer and closer, like a living nightmare that refused to relent.
Azad's breath hitched as he pushed himself harder, his legs burning with exhaustion. The ancient structures seemed to blur around him as he tore through the city, his voice cracking as he gasped, "No… no, please… someone, please save me!"
He dared a glance over his shoulder, his heart sinking as he saw the creature was nearly upon him, its hulking form illuminated by the eerie glow of the pulsing blue light. The creature opened its maw, letting out a bone-chilling, inhuman howl–
Azad jolted awake, gasping as his hand shot to his chest, heart pounding as if it were trying to leap out. In his dream, that monstrous creature had been chasing him, its haunting roars and twisted song echoing as it reached for him. His breath came in ragged gasps as he took in his surroundings, the oppressive darkness making it hard to tell where he was at first.
He swallowed hard. "I… I actually escaped." His voice wavered in disbelief. "What even was that thing?"
Attempting to sit up, he winced, a sharp pain radiating from his back and chest. "Ah! That… whatever it was, it hit me with that… overpowered blast!" The memory of the creature's sonic attack echoed in his mind, the impact still imprinted in his bones.
Suddenly, an eerie sound in the darkness froze him in place—a soft groan, followed by the telltale clinking of bones. Mobs. His stomach clenched, a rush of adrenaline washing over him, temporarily dulling his pain. "No, no… no more of this," he whispered to himself, his voice trembling. "I can't stay here… gotta get out, get back to the surface. Forget this 'iron sword' trial… forget everything! My life's worth more than some stupid test."
With a deep breath, Azad steadied himself and looked around, trying to recall the way he'd come. Somewhere, there had been a small current of water, trickling through the rocks. That was his entrance, his only way back. "Alright, think… think," he murmured, clenching his fists to focus. "There was water… if I just retrace my steps…"
The darkness around him felt alive, pressing in close, as if it were reaching for him. Each shadow seemed to shift and writhe in his peripheral vision, and he could feel the sensation of being watched. He took a step forward, cautiously scanning for any sign of the water. His eyes strained to make out anything familiar, but in the dim glow of his last torch, everything looked the same.
After what felt like an eternity, he rounded a corner—only to be met by the blank stare of a zombie shambling toward him. "Oh, come on!" Azad growled, reaching for his sword as he braced himself. "I've had enough of you!"
The zombie groaned and lunged, and Azad barely sidestepped, swinging his sword in an arc that sent the creature stumbling back. But even as he struck it down, he heard more footsteps. "Can't you all leave me alone?" he hissed through gritted teeth, backing up against the cavern wall.
The twisted sounds and groans of the mobs were getting louder, and Azad's heart beat faster with every step he took. He clenched his fists, cursing under his breath, "Should've… should've marked the way out! Dumb, Azad… so dumb!"
After another desperate dash through the twisting tunnels, nearly tripping on loose rocks, he finally caught the faint glint of something familiar—the faint trickle of water. Relief flooded over him as he stared at it, feeling almost delirious with joy. "That's it! That's my way out!"
A wave of exhaustion hit him as he staggered forward, his limbs heavy and sore. Yet he couldn't afford to slow down; he knew the mobs were still somewhere in the shadows, lurking, waiting for him to falter.
With a weary smile, he whispered to himself, "I did it… I actually found the way."