As Kale slowly turned around, he caught a shimmer in the corner of his eye.
What he saw was a bit shocking; a suit of armour.
The armour was rusted in several places, especially around the joints.
It looked like it had once been made of pristine silver, with striking engravings. Now, it was just a husk of its former glory.
Ash and dried blood clung to the metal, partially obscuring it.
Behind the armour lay the carcass of a monstrous beast. It was hard to make out the creature's full form, but Kale understood something in that moment; that thing was the one who killed the challenger behind him.
Before Kale could move, the armour shifted.
He let out a high-pitched yelp and crawled backward, nerves on fire.
'What the hell!? There's someone in that armour? He killed that thing?'
A cold shiver ran down Kale's spine at the thought. The knight had brought down a beast three times his size.
"Who are you!? Step back! I'm warning you!"
Kale tried to speak, but the knight gave no response.
'Fuck! What do I do!? That bastard's going to slaughter me! Wait... is that a sword?! I don't want him to butcher me!'
As panic surged, a metallic clank echoed. Kale looked up; the knight still hadn't spoken.
But then the helmet of the Knight had fallen off and hit the ground.
What he saw underneath wasn't a human face… not anymore.
"Oh no... no, no, no, no, NO! FUCK THIS SHIT, I'M OUTTA HERE!"
Kale bolted in the opposite direction, trying to flee from the butcher in steel.
He glanced over his shoulder; the knight was charging after him.
BAM!
Kale ran straight into a tree and crashed to the ground.
"Oh shit! Ohshitohshitohshit! How did I run into a damn tree?!"
Looking up, he saw the knight sprinting toward him, sword drawn and eyes filled with hatred.
Kale's face twisted into pure terror.
Then he heard it; the sound of running water.
'Water? What the hell do I need water for now?! Damn it!'
Just moments ago, he would've killed for a drop. Now, it only pissed him off.
'Wait... OH! That might actually work!'
Hope sparked in Kale's mind. He scrambled to his feet and sprinted toward the sound.
It grew louder with every step.
'There it is! Finally!'
A raging river rushed ahead, currents surging with wild strength.
Kale skidded to a halt at the edge. One more step and he'd be swept away.
Metal clanked behind him. The knight was closing in.
But Kale had a plan.
Okay, technically it was foolish. But it was all he had.
The knight approached; sword raised high. Kale's face dripped with sweat.
It was the first clear look he'd gotten at the monster's face.
The head was vaguely human, but completely grey. Its eyes were two bottomless pits of darkness, and its mouth was filled with razor-sharp teeth.
There was no more time to think.
The sword came down, then Kale rolled between the knight's legs and popped up behind him.
Before the knight could react, Kale kicked him square in the ass.
With a clank and a stagger, the knight tumbled into the river.
"YES! I DID IT!"
Victory surged through him, but then his triumph turned to horror.
A piece of his linen pants had snagged on the knight's heel.
Kale was yanked into the river with him.
'DAMN IT! WHAT IS MY LUCK?!'
Icy water enveloped him, ripping the breath from his lungs.
He clawed at his pants and tore the fabric loose, freeing himself from the knight.
But there was one small problem…
'I don't know how to swim!'
The river tossed him like a rag doll.
Through the chaos, he spotted the knight clinging to a log, drifting with the current.
Gritting his teeth, Kale grabbed the knight's leg and climbed up the rusted armor like a ladder.
Gasping, choking, he pulled himself onto the log.
The knight was still there, clinging tight.
Kale looked ahead… and his face turned ghost white.
'Why don't I ever get a break?!'
'A FUCKING FALL!'
'AHHHHHHHH!'
'OH SHIT, WE'RE GONNA CRASH!'
They hit the edge of a waterfall; and plunged over.
Kale slammed into the river below. Darkness swallowed him as his head hit something hard.
When Kale awoke, pain exploded in his skull.
Blood trickled into his eyes, turning his vision red.
His whole body ached; every muscle drained. He had nothing left. Running, fighting, nearly drowning; it had all taken its toll.
Then he saw it.
Something was shimmering in front of him.
The knight: still intact, though now missing a foot, and one arm crushed; was pinned beneath the same log they'd drifted on.
And suddenly, something long buried stirred inside Kale.
Wrath.
He was filled with rage, pure, unfiltered hatred for the bastard who'd hunted him.
Energy surged through his veins. He staggered to his feet, blood trailing down his face.
"Well, well, well… seems like you're in a tricky situation there. Allow me to help you…"
A sinister grin twisted Kale's lips as he raised the sword he'd taken from the challenger.
The knight struggled, as if he understood.
Almost as if… he knew what was coming.
'Wait... he understands me? That'd make him a... No matter. Actually, if the bastard understands me, then this'll be even more fun.'
Kale tightened his grip on the sword and stepped forward.
"You know, I was actually ready to die... but when you showed up, something changed. I felt fear. And that fear lit a fire inside me.
"Because of you, I know now: I must fight to survive. Not for myself. Not even for Kai.
"But to spite the gods who sent us here.
"I'll survive for all the ones who couldn't."
The knight stopped moving. It almost looked like… he understood.
And then
Kale brought the sword down into the knight's head.