Everytime Stein looked back the Tyrant had gained on them,
While Axe could outrun a Tyrant, Stein and Yurim weren't anywhere near as fast as the level 29 Warmonger.
The fact that Yurim could keep up with him must mean she had invested some points in agility. The Tyrant scuttling behind them had already sustained injuries from Axe and Ludacra yet it easily kept gaining on them. At this rate it would eventually take down one or both of them.
Stein turned to Yurim and found her face grim. There was only one thing to do now.
"Split up!" he said.
Yurim gave him a sharp look before nodding. The two went in opposite directions. The footsteps and rustling of leaves caused by the Tyrant faded. The relief only lasted for a moment. There was an ache in Stein's chest, punctuated by a bitter taste in his mouth as he came to a stop.
It was either him or her. He tried to tell himself that it wasn't his fault that the Tyrant had picked Yurim over him, that he wouldn't be responsible for her death. It was hard out here. Playing hero would only get one killed. He wiped his forehead, dreading hearing her screams.
He shook his head trying to do away with the thought. Maybe he could go find the rest of the party ahd see if Veteran had somehow finished dealing with the remaining Tyrants.
Suddenly, the sharp smell of blood stung his nostrils. His attention snapped back to his surroundings. There were leaves and broken branches scattered about, marked with cuts and cracks.
Stein gritted his teeth and began walking forward. He knew where he was and what he was going to see.
First it was a trail of blood, then bloody clothing and pieces of wood. Soon he was finding gore strewn around, a finger here, a scalp there, brains on the tree. He even found the other half of an adventurer's leg. Stein doubled over, emptying what remained of last night's dinner. The chance that Yurim might end up as bits of flesh on the forest floor didn't sit well with him, but what could he do?
As if in response, something reflected light onto his face. Gleaming steel caught Stein's attention. Buried in the dirt, blood and grass was a sword. The blade was stained green with Tyrant blood, while the wooden hilt was caked red with human blood. The sword of a dead fighter.
Stein hesitated before pulling it out. He looked around for the sheath, finding it a hand's throw away. He started for it when the sword's tip began dipping to the ground. The weapon was heavier than he had expected.
He retraced his steps through the forest and soon found the location where he and Yurim had split up. The mad Tyrant had left a trail of destruction in its wake, making it easy for Stein to follow. Stein tried to ignore the pounding in his chest as he ran along the path. What if she was already dead, and on her first day at that?
Another part of him cursed himself for risking his life for some girl he had only known for about an hour. He was no savior, yet something about her frail body and fair smooth skin made him want to shield her from the harshness of this world.
Movement caught Stein's attention. He quickly recognized the rock-like carapace that covered most of a Tyrant's body. He resisted the urge to charge in blindly. He could easily make things worse for Yurim if she was still alive, or put himself in danger if she was already gone. He moved to the side, trying to maintain distance from the Tyrant while finding a good spot to assess the situation.
There was a clearing ahead. Stein hesitated before stepping through.
Yurim was alive and miraculously unharmed. She had her back to a tree. Her default haughty look was gone, replaced by a more intense one, brows tight and face tense.
The Tyrant spotted her and started a mad dash for her. Yurim remained still with her back to the tree. The Tyrant's legs crashed into a root and it stumbled, but kept going for its prey. Yurim didn't move.
Stein broke into a run. What was wrong with her? Had she given up? Had the pressure gotten to her? He knew he wouldn't get there in time. Fangs emerged from the Tyrant, and Stein felt a chill.
"Yurim!" A cry escaped from him, but the fair beauty remained pressed to the tree. It was too late to run now.
The Tyrant lunged at her. Stein was about to tear his eyes away when Yurim's hand whipped out, throwing a handful of tiny pebbles into its eyes. The Tyrant closed its eyes and shook its head with a growl. Yurim jumped high just before it crashed into the tree with a thud, sending splinters flying and leaves falling from the sky. Yurim kicked back against the tree, pushing herself over the Tyrant.
She landed before Stein and gave him a sour look. "I don't need saving."
She said that but quickly fell in beside him.
Stein studied her for a moment, his worry giving way to fascination. This pride of hers—in the presence of others, she was willing to put a lid on it, but when it came to him, it was almost as if she didn't care what he thought.
A growl brought them back to reality. Death was only a few meters away.
Yurim looked around before sprinting for a tree. "Quick, climb."
Stein immediately ran after her. The Tyrants could climb, but he didn't let that bother him. Yurim had instinctively looked for a suitable tree. This certainly wasn't the first time she had done this.
Yurim dove for a low-hanging branch and quickly pulled herself up. By the time Stein arrived, she was already a good five meters up. Stein quickly followed suit, albeit slower than Yurim, and soon slipped up the tree.