Cherreads

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Desperate events

The hard substance wasn't a soul core, but rather a small shard of rock.

I continued my search but found no core.

Every spawn had a core. How was this one coreless?

Since it was a beast, its core should have been a faint, transparent sphere—warm to the touch, dense with raw energy.

But this one had nothing.

I frowned, swinging my palm to get rid of the sticky blood clinging to my skin. That's when I found myself staring at the lake again.

The black lake.

I walked over, crouched at its edge, and dipped the bloody flesh into the still water. It didn't sizzle. No smell of rot. The surface just rippled quietly. At least it wasn't poisonous—lucky, maybe—but I didn't dare drink it.

Sooner or later, I'd have to leave. If I stayed too long, thirst would get me. And dying of thirst... didn't sound painful, but I didn't want to experience it either.

I gathered twigs, dried bark, and leaves, then crouched down with two rocks. Sparks flew uselessly at first—until one finally caught. A tiny flame danced to life, and I carefully fed it, letting the warmth spread.

I slid the carved meat closer, letting it roast over the fire.

The smell was... awful. Bitter, iron-rich, with a sour edge that clung to my nose.

And yet, it was great.

No spices. No herbs. No softness.

Just flesh and flame.

But after hours of walking, running, and fighting—I didn't care.

I bit into it. It was tough and dry. The kind of taste that clung to the back of your throat.

Still... it was warm. It was real.

That was enough.

Faintly, a sound broke the moment—so soft I almost missed it. But it deepened the silence that surrounded me like a weight.

I stood, blade in hand, and moved forward. Slowly. Carefully.

The forest around me didn't look like anything from the outside world. Trees twisted like bones. The air was thick, laced with something sharp and earthy. Every step crunched underfoot, the ground layered in dead leaves and brittle roots.

Hours passed.

No monsters. No signs of life. No paths. No light.

Just me, and the weight of something unseen pressing from all directions.

Every direction I took… eventually led me back.

The lake.

The cursed, black lake.

No matter how far I walked, how many turns I made, the path curved on itself like a loop. A trap. The forest was toying with me. I could feel it now—bending reality just enough to wear me down.

I stood at the edge again, staring into the still surface. No reflection. Just depthless dark.

Then it happened.

A screech. Not like before.

This one had weight.

It rattled in my bones. A sound born of hatred and hunger. Something old.

Before I could react, a figure shot from the trees—claws flashing, limbs unnaturally long, a twisted body warped beyond reason.

Another spawn.

Faster than the last.

I raised my blade just in time, the blow sending pain through my arms. It snarled, glowing eyes locked onto me. And then, it attacked again.

Faster. Stronger.

I swung back, fighting to keep up.

But I knew—

This one was different.

Instinct kicked in.

I raised my blade, just in time.

The clash sent a shock up my arms—numb, heavy.

The creature lunged again.

Hollow eyes locked on mine. No thoughts. Just killing intent.

It didn't breathe. It didn't stop.

It just kept attacking.

I stepped back. Swung. Steel met air.

Another slash came—fast. I blocked, but my footing slipped.

I couldn't keep up.

Left. Right. Claws. Blade.

Each of my strikes felt like they hit stone.

Each of its hits almost broke my grip.

My arms burned.

Chest tight. I could barely catch my breath.

It didn't care.

I swung wide—too slow. It ducked. Claws grazed my side.

Fabric tore. Skin burned.

I twisted. Parried the next strike.

It snarled, low and sharp. I didn't respond. I couldn't.

I was being pushed back.

My heels scraped across the stone. Every inch mattered.

I stepped in.

Cut across.

It jumped. Above me.

Too late to dodge—

I braced.

It landed hard, claws slamming down.

My blade blocked it, barely. The force rattled my bones.

My knees buckled.

Vision blurred for half a second.

I couldn't win like this.

But I wasn't planning to lose.

---

The creature pressed in—fast, violent. I couldn't keep up.

Every swing felt heavier. My breath came sharp.

Chest tight. Arms trembling.

I was running out of time.

I needed something—anything.

A way out.

But my mind was blank.

Faces I should've remembered were just shadows.

My father. My mother.

Gone.

Not in death—

In memory.

Blurs. Whispers. A storm. That's all I had.

Even she—the one who used to be beside me—was just a fading shape.

"Why can't I remember?"

The words slipped out, bitter and quiet.

My grip on the sword tightened. It felt like stone. But I wouldn't let go.

Not now. Not when this mattered.

Then—

Something cracked.

Not outside. Inside.

A ripple.

I couldn't see their faces, but I felt them.

His strength. Her voice.

Movements etched in me, like I had done this before. But i knew that wasn't possible but the familiarity was just too strong.

The spawn lunged.

I didn't run or try to dodge. Because if i did, i would be dead. I froze.

Didn't eve blink.

Eyes closed. Breath steady.

I moved.

Steel met claw—perfect. The hit landed where it needed to.I couldn't say i expected it but i instinctively knew.

The beast staggered, its rhythm broken.

That's when I knew.

I wasn't fighting alone.

My blade moved with clarity now.

My body knew the steps. The memory wasn't clear, but it was enough.

His hand on my shoulder. Her presence behind me.

I attacked.

Cut through the strike.

Forced it back.

The spawn circled, slower now. Watching. Waiting.

I kept my eyes closed.

But I could feel everything.

Its steps. The wind shifting. The weight in the air before it moved. The darkness around me being cut away. Everything was clear.

It pounced towards me. I didn't try to avoid it. All i did was prepare to slay it.

My blade rose, sharp and smooth.

No hesitation.

The clash was brief. Final.

It screamed—once.

Then hit the ground, still. Lifeless, its blood dripping into the ground.

[You have slain Twilight Demon, Blackened Soul.]

I stayed standing.

Eyes still shut. I didn't want to open them.

No sound. No threat.

Just silence.

I dropped to my knees.

Tears came without warning.

Not because I was hurt.

But because, for a second—

It felt like I had them again. The feeling of being close to the people i longed for was warm.

So i didn't dare to open my eyes, because i knew, once i did it might all fade away.

More Chapters