The Crimson Goliath charged.
The ground shook under its massive steps as it rushed toward us.
"Scatter!" Darius shouted.
Everyone moved at once.
The monster's fist slammed into the ground where we had been standing a moment earlier. Dirt and rocks exploded into the air.
Garrick rushed from the side, raising his axe.
"Take this!"
His weapon crashed into the monster's arm.
The sound that came out was more like metal hitting stone.
The Crimson Goliath barely reacted.
Instead, it grabbed Garrick with terrifying speed.
"Gah—!"
It threw him like a rag doll across the forest.
He crashed through two trees before landing hard on the ground.
Mira raised her staff.
"Minor Heal!"
A faint green light surrounded Garrick, slowing the bleeding from his shoulder.
But the monster was already moving again.
Darius charged forward, sword glowing faintly.
"Move aside!"
His blade cut across the monster's chest.
This time, it actually left a wound.
But the monster didn't fall.
Instead, it roared.
The sound shook the air itself.
Then it swung its arm.
The impact hit Darius directly.
He flew backward, slamming into a rock.
My heart started pounding.
This thing was overwhelming.
The Crimson Goliath turned its burning eyes toward me.
For a moment, time felt frozen.
Then it moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
I barely managed to raise my arms before its claw struck.
Pain exploded through my body.
Something sharp pierced through my stomach.
My vision blurred instantly.
I looked down.
Its claw had torn straight through my side.
Blood poured onto the ground.
My legs collapsed beneath me.
"...Damn it."
I could hear Mira shouting somewhere behind me.
"Kazu!"
The monster lifted its arm again.
If that hit me again, I would die.
My hands moved without thinking.
I grabbed the monster's arm.
My fingers slipped on its rough skin.
But I didn't let go.
"If I die…"
My voice came out as a weak whisper.
"...I'm not dying alone."
I forced myself upward.
The monster leaned closer.
That was my chance.
I drove my fingers straight into its eye.
The Crimson Goliath screamed.
Its roar shook the entire forest.
Blood sprayed across my face.
The monster staggered backward, clawing at its damaged eye.
I didn't stop.
I grabbed the broken spear lying on the ground and slammed it into the creature's neck.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The spear barely pierced its thick flesh.
But the monster was bleeding now.
The Crimson Goliath swung wildly.
One of its claws slammed into my chest and sent me crashing across the ground.
The world spun.
My body wouldn't move anymore.
Somewhere nearby, I heard voices.
Garrick groaned.
"Darius… this thing is insane…"
Darius stood slowly, wiping blood from his mouth.
"We can't kill it like this."
Mira looked toward me.
"Kazu is still there!"
Darius glanced at my motionless body.
His expression hardened.
"...He's already dead."
"What?!"
"We retreat."
Mira grabbed his arm.
"We can't just leave him!"
Darius pulled away.
"If we stay, we'll all die."
The Crimson Goliath roared again, blinded in one eye and bleeding heavily.
But it was still standing.
Darius turned his back.
"We move."
Garrick slowly followed him.
Mira hesitated.
Her eyes met mine for a moment.
Then she lowered her head.
"...I'm sorry."
The sound of their footsteps faded deeper into the forest.
The Crimson Goliath staggered away into the trees, wounded but alive.
The forest became silent again.
I lay there, barely breathing.
Blood soaked the ground beneath me.
My vision slowly faded.
"...Heh."
A weak laugh escaped my throat.
"So this is how it ends… again."
Darkness swallowed everything.