"I know you're here."
The moment the man in the cloak spoke those words, my heart started pounding so violently it felt like it might burst from my chest. My knees began to tremble, my heartbeat echoing like a war drum in my ears. My legs were tensed, ready to flee, while my breath clung to my chest, refusing to escape. Yet any movement — even the faintest rustle — could expose me.
Suddenly, the mask on my face began to make it hard to breathe. My shallow breaths barely reached the edges of my lungs. That was my mistake — I had acted too hastily. I should've checked the mask before putting it on.
'I need to do something,' I thought as I took a step back — and unintentionally stepped on a bone lying on the ground.
The sound of the bone cracking wasn't particularly loud — not in an open space. But inside the closed echoing walls of the cave, it rang out clearly.
'No... not that!' I spun my head around in panic.
The man in the cloak and the massive Thorna both turned toward the noise. Without hesitation, the man barked:
"Kill him!"
Then dashed out of the cave.
The moment he gave the order, the giant Thorna threw back its head and let out a screech that echoed through the chamber, waking the others.
That horrible, piercing roar made the cave itself shake. Cracks spread across the walls — old ones widened, and new ones splintered open.
The instant I heard it, I dropped to the ground, covering my ears as tightly as I could. I'd never heard a sound like that before — one that rattled not just the body, but the soul itself.
All the Thornas began to stir — lifting their heads like zombies, sluggishly dragging their bodies upright. They swayed like corpses rising from restless sleep. Some collapsed, others tumbled over their companions, letting out hoarse, wheezing breaths as they began to search for me.
Seeing this, I bolted for the exit.
But the giant Thorna moved to block the only way out, placing its massive body in front of the entrance. It stood so tightly in place, there wasn't even room to squeeze through.
My nerves frayed. I gritted my teeth and swallowed hard.
The situation was spiraling. If I didn't escape soon, they'd catch me. Hiding was useless. The mask's power was running out — soon, I'd be fully visible.
'I have to escape. But how?'
I scanned the area, searching for any possible opening.
There was nothing. No escape route. No hiding spot. Just one entrance. One exit. I was a helpless mouse trapped in a cage.
'Think! Think! What can I do?!'
By now, the smaller Thornas had fully regained their balance. Each one stood over three meters tall, with claws like knives and bodies like armored beasts, poised to strike.
'They're moving!'
I froze, barely breathing, lashes lifted, eyes locked on them.
Their massive bodies rose. Faces twisted in nightmare expressions. They stomped across the cave in search of me, sniffing the air in every direction.
That's when something clicked in my mind. I slowly raised my hand toward my face. A faint scent rose from my skin — the lingering scent of the Gilunus flower I had eaten.
'No… please, not that!'
I glanced at my hand — and saw one of the Thornas approaching.
It was tracking me. Following the scent of the flower.
As it got closer, the dagger in my hand grew slick with sweat, threatening to slip from my grasp. My breath faltered. I forgot how to swallow — my throat convulsed. Sweat poured down from my forehead, dripping across my face in a way that made me feel nauseous and exposed.
The creature was nearly upon me. It lowered its head, sniffing, red eyes staring through my mask like it wasn't even there. Each breath from its nose hit the mask — hot and foul.
I had no choice.
'Time is running out. Whatever I do now will likely lead to my death. But the best option I have… is to at least kill this one — to reduce their numbers by one. There's no other way.'
I clenched the dagger in my hand and drove it straight into the creature's eye.
The blade pierced the socket, sank deep, and reached the brain. The creature howled with all its might and collapsed — its massive weight slamming into the ground.
The other Thornas froze for a few seconds, staring in the direction of their fallen kin. Then, realizing it was dead, they roared in fury and charged toward me.
'I can't fight them all. My dagger's no longer hidden. I have to retreat.'
I sprinted away, deeper into the cave.
The creatures rushed to where I had been standing, slashing and clawing at everything, hoping to grab me. Thankfully, I had moved in time. If I hadn't, I would've been crushed between three monsters.
But running didn't mean escape. It only bought me a little more time. The real countdown would begin the moment the mask lost its power.
And that moment came.
The mask's magic faded. I started to become visible.
'Not now, please, not now.' I frantically feeling my face.
Too late. My whole body had already become visible.
The Thornas spotted me and wasted no time. With ugly grins, they stampeded toward me — bones and rocks cracking underfoot as they ran.
They didn't try to kill me quickly.
They wanted to savor it.
They didn't slash with their claws. Instead, they used their open palms, the backs of their hands — to beat me.
I dodged where I could. Pulled away from some hits. Tried to block others with my arms. But there were too many of them.
One strike after another broke through. My defenses crumbled.
'Don't drop your guard. One hit—and you're done.'
A blow struck my left side — just below the chest.
It came fast, hard. I didn't feel the pain right away. Only when my body was hurled across the chamber, slamming into the wall and crashing onto the soldier did I realize how devastating it was.
It felt like my lungs had been crushed. I couldn't breathe. The air stuck in my throat, unable to move.
Heat rose from within. Blood sprayed from my mouth, splattering red across the soldier's helmet.
My body — broken.
My spirit — shattered.
But my heart…?
My heart still wanted to fight.
'I can't die here. I have to fight to live. I have to save my family.'
I tried to move — even a little.
But my body trembled, and I collapsed again.
Pain screamed through every nerve. My limbs refused to listen.
Darkness crept over my vision.
'I don't want to die. I… I still have to live. I have to find my family… Forgive me… for not being able… to save you...'
My eyes closed.
And my consciousness slipped into darkness.