It moved.
The moment Ryo saw it—
the Westling stepped forward.
The ground didn't just shake—
it shuddered, like the earth itself feared what was walking upon it.
Ryo's body reacted before his mind could.
He ran.
His legs screamed instantly, muscles burning as if they had already been pushed beyond their limit. His breathing broke within seconds—ragged, uneven, desperate.
"Move… MOVE…!"
His voice cracked.
Behind him—
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Each step of the Westling crushed the ground, leaving dents in the earth.
It wasn't fast.
But it didn't slow down either.
It was constant.
Unstoppable.
Ryo sprinted through the ruined path, his vision shaking with every step. Broken carts, splintered wood, scattered belongings—remnants of lives that had been here not long ago.
Now… silence.
Death.
He jumped over debris—
his foot slipped on loose dirt—
his body tilted—
he caught himself at the last second and kept running.
"Why…?!"
His voice trembled.
"Why is it still following me?!"
No answer.
Only—
THUD.
THUD.
Closer now.
Something felt wrong.
Not just the fear.
Something deeper.
A pressure.
Ryo's vision flickered.
For a split second—
the world twisted.
The ground bent.
The air felt heavy.
A strange sensation crawled through his mind—
like his thoughts were being pulled apart.
"…What…?"
His steps slowed for just a moment—
And that was enough.
A shadow fell over him.
CRASH!!!
The Westling's arm slammed into the ground behind him.
The impact exploded the dirt into the air, sending wood and dust flying everywhere.
"Agh—!"
Ryo threw himself forward, rolling across the ground. Pain shot through his shoulder, sharp and immediate.
His ears rang.
His thoughts… blurred.
For a second—
he couldn't think clearly.
"…Get up…"
But his body hesitated.
The pressure returned—stronger now.
Like something was pressing against his mind.
Confusing.
Heavy.
His heartbeat felt out of sync.
"…What is this feeling…?"
It wasn't just fear.
It was like his mind was being attacked—
like his thoughts were being twisted and slowed down.
Not enough to stop him completely—
but enough to break his focus.
To make him hesitate.
To make him weaker.
"…No… I can't stop…"
He forced himself up again.
The Westling stepped forward.
Unbothered.
Unshaken.
Ryo's chest tightened.
"…I can't outrun it…"
That truth hit harder than anything.
Cold.
Absolute.
His eyes scanned desperately.
Nothing.
Nothing that could help him.
He grabbed a stone—
turned—
and threw it with everything he had.
THUD.
It hit.
Nothing happened.
Not even a reaction.
"…Useless…"
The Westling kept walking.
Like the attack didn't exist.
Ryo stepped back, grabbing a broken piece of wood.
His hands trembled.
The creature moved closer.
Closer.
Ryo swung—
CRACK!!
The wood shattered instantly.
Splinters scattered across the ground.
His hands froze.
"…What… is this…?"
The Westling raised its arm again.
Slow.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Ryo stumbled back—
his foot hit something—
He fell.
Hard.
Air left his lungs.
His hand brushed against something cold.
He turned his head.
A villager.
Still.
Lifeless.
Eyes empty.
Beside him—
an axe.
Ryo stared at it.
Time slowed.
The pressure in his mind grew stronger.
His thoughts felt distant.
"…I don't…"
THUD.
Closer.
"…I don't want to…"
The ground shook again.
His fingers twitched.
"…but I have to…"
He grabbed the axe.
The weight felt real.
Heavy.
The Westling attacked.
Ryo rolled to the side, barely escaping.
The ground exploded again where he had been.
Dust filled the air.
He coughed.
Forced himself up.
Barely standing now.
His legs shaking.
His vision blurring.
The Westling stepped forward.
Still coming.
Still unstoppable.
Ryo tightened his grip on the axe.
His breathing sharp.
Uneven.
Pain everywhere.
Then—
he moved.
He ran toward it.
"AHHH!!"
Not courage.
Not anger.
Just desperation.
He threw the axe with everything he had.
Everything.
THUD!!!
The blade struck its left leg joint.
The Westling staggered.
Its movement broke—
just for a moment.
A single moment.
But enough.
Ryo didn't wait.
He turned and ran.
No pride.
No victory.
Only survival.
Behind him—
THUD.
THUD.
"…It's still coming…?"
His voice was barely a whisper now.
His legs felt heavier with every step.
His breathing collapsed completely.
The pressure in his mind returned—
stronger.
His thoughts slowed.
His body weakened.
Everything felt distant.
Still—
he ran.
Until—
he couldn't.
His legs gave out.
Ryo collapsed.
The ground felt cold beneath him.
"…Get up…"
His body didn't respond.
"…Get up…"
Nothing.
Footsteps approached.
Slow.
Certain.
The Westling stood over him.
Ryo's eyes barely opened.
The sky above him blurred.
"…So this is… it…"
The creature raised its arm.
Time slowed.
Silence.
And then—
SHNK.
A sharp sound cut through everything.
The Westling stopped.
Mid-motion.
Something had struck it.
Ryo's vision struggled to focus.
A figure stood there.
Between him…
and the Westling.
Still.
Unmoving.
No fear.
No hesitation.
The Westling moved again—
but slower now.
Unstable.
The figure stepped forward.
Calm.
Controlled.
Precise.
One movement—
clean—
targeted—
The Westling staggered back.
Ryo's breathing slowed.
Darkness closing in.
"…who…?"
His voice faded.
No answer came.
Only a voice.
Cold.
Steady.
"…If you want to live…"
A pause.
"…don't die here."
Ryo's vision faded.
Everything went black.