13.| Wheel Fragments

This was it—the bravest thing I'd ever done in my entire life. As I charged forward, every pathetic moment from my past flashed before my eyes. Me, the eternal disappointment. Never good enough. Always running away. But not this time!

[Skill Activated: Reckless Valor]

[Strength +20%, Speed +15%, Fear Resistance +50%]

My body moved on its own, a surge of power I'd never felt before coursing through my veins. I pushed my legs harder, the world blurring around me as another hail of crystalline spikes rained down.

[Environmental Hazard: Crystalline Spike Rain - Wave 2]

[Damage Potential: Lethal]

[Evasion Chance: 22%]

I blazed past Bryard's shield wall, my bare feet skidding on dirt and grass. Time seemed to slow as I spotted a fallen guard's broadsword. Without thinking, I snatched it up, the weight feeling right in my hand. "I won't die here!" I screamed, my voice raw with determination.

The crystalline spikes glinted in the moonlight, deadly and beautiful. My heart pounded in my ears as I tightened my grip on the sword's hilt. My body tensed, ready for action even as my mind raced with doubt.

[Item Acquired: Steel Broadsword]

[Attack: +25]

[Weight: Heavy]

[Status Update]

[HP: 100/100]

[Stamina: 65/100]

[Adrenaline Rush: Active]

"Please, don't fail me now!" I whispered to whatever force was driving me.

With a yell that surprised even me, I swung the sword in a wide arc. The blade sang through the air, splitting the incoming shards in two. Sparks flew as metal met crystal, and I stood unscathed in the aftermath.

[Skill Unlocked: Blade Dance Lv.1]

[Projectile Defense +10%]

I caught sight of Dyon, still lying on the ground, clutching his wounded leg. His eyes were wide with shock and... was that hope? It was like he'd been ready to die, but now... now he was seeing the impossible.

"How... how did a thrall like you...?" he gasped.

Before I could answer, the treeline erupted. Massive creatures, their bodies covered in needle-like fur, burst forth. They slammed into Bryard's shield wall, sending guards flying like ragdolls.

[Revealed Threat Detected: Needle Beasts]

[Danger Level: Extreme]

[Recommended Action: Flee]

[Quest Update: Escape Route Compromised]

[New Objective: Survive the Needle Beast Assault]

"No time to explain!" I shouted, reaching Dyon and wrapping my arm beneath his.

As I pulled him up, sweat poured down my face. My chest heaved, lungs burning with each breath. But I couldn't stop now. We had to survive.

"We're not  dying here, Dyon," I growled, more to myself than to him. "I don't know how, but we are!"

As we limped towards the golden glow of the wheel fragment, I couldn't help but wonder: was this the start of my redemption, or just another path to disappointment? Either way, there was no turning back now.

[Character Growth Detected]

[New Title Earned: Unlikely Hero]

[All Stats +5%]

"If you keep helping me, you're going to die," Dyon whispered, his voice barely audible over the ear-grating snarls and screams.

"Shut the hell up," I snapped, surprising myself with the venom in my voice. "I chose to do this." But even as the words left my mouth, I wasn't sure if they were true. It was more like my body had a mind of its own, constantly dragging me along for the ride in moments like these. I could almost see my courage stat ticking up, though I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

Our backs slammed against a gnarled oak, its rough bark digging into my skin through my tattered shirt. The ancient tree stood behind us, shielding us momentarily from the horde of nightmarish creatures. 

My hand trembled as I snatched up a splintered piece of the wagon—the wheel fragment glowing faintly in my inventory that popped up on the screen. I'd have to find out later how to enter it, though I was sure saying inventory would work.

[Item Acquired: Wheel Fragment (1/4)]

I let out a breath. "Good, great, we're doing fucking great. One out of four."

"Are you losing your mind? Am I trusting my life to someone who's losing their mind?" Dyon said in a panic. 

Even if we somehow managed to collect all the pieces, there was no way in hell those monsters would just let us waltz up and fix our ticket out of this nightmare. The thought made my stomach churn, but I forced it down. One problem at a time.

I peered around the trunk, my eyes widening at the scene before me. Bryard and his men formed a ragged line, their weapons flashing in the moonlight. The captain's greatsword cleaved through the air, bisecting a wolf-like creature with too many eyes. 

One of his soldiers wasn't so lucky—I watched in horror as a thing with too many limbs and not enough skin dragged him screaming into the underbrush.

My heart pounded in my ears as I scanned the bloodstained clearing. There! About twenty yards to our left, I caught a glint of something that didn't belong. Another wheel fragment?

"Dyon," I hissed, nudging him. "Cover me. I'm going for that piece over there. You see anything coming for me, let me know!"

Without waiting for a response, I sprinted from our shelter. My feet pounded against the forest floor, leaves and twigs crunching beneath them. I could feel my agility increasing with each stride, the forest around me becoming a blur of shadow and menace.

A howl pierced the air, far too close for comfort. I dove, my fingers closing around the cool metal of the second wheel fragment just as something heavy slammed into my back.

[Item Acquired: Wagon Wheel Fragment (2/4)]

I rolled, coming face to face with a creature that looked like it had crawled out of my worst nightmares. Its breath was hot on my face, reeking of decay and hunger. As its jaws gaped wide, I wondered if this was where my journey would end.

A swirl of darkness appeared in front of me, a dark cape lashing in an otherworldly breeze. A figure—no, the dark priest from earlier—rose from the ground, his slitted eyes gazing at me from over his shoulder. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized him.

"Didn't I tell you to come find me?" he asked, his voice carrying an eerie calm despite the chaos around us.

"Hello!" I waved my arms, feeling slightly hysterical. "I'm a thrall with no right to my freedom whatsoever." The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. Was this some kind of system compulsion? I'd have to check my status screen later—if I survived.

Standing up, I positioned myself beside him, my sword at the ready. But the creature didn't wait for introductions. It shot three spikes at me, each one glistening with what I could only assume was poison.

I dropped, watching them zip over my head and embed in the tree behind me with a series of dull thuds. The agility stat must have come in handy again because I felt like I was moving in slow motion compared to the projectiles.

The dark priest charged forward, his movements fluid and precise. The creature opened its maw, large jagged teeth coming into view as it readied to snap down upon the dark priest's arm. But the priest was faster—impossibly so.

He caught the damn thing by the jaw and pulled. A loud crack and whimper echoed out as the beast's jaw hung loose, grotesquely misaligned. I winced.

I thought what I had done earlier was amazing, but this... this was nothing compared to how the priest moved. It was as though battle was a dance only he knew the tune to, each step calculated and lethal.

The priest wrapped his arm around the creature's neck, the needle-like fur breaking against his cape as he jumped up and over. In one swift motion, he snapped the thing's neck like a toothpick. The sound made my stomach turn, but I couldn't look away.

As the creature's lifeless body hit the ground, I realized I was holding my breath. The dark priest turned to me, his eyes unreadable beneath his hood.

[Experience gained: 50]

[Level Up! You are now level 4]

A notification popped up in my vision, but I barely registered it. All I could think was: What have I gotten myself into?