Monster's Lair

Avasyu stepped out of the chief's room, leaving behind a tense silence. The people inside exchanged uneasy glances, their faces filled with doubt.

"Can we really trust him?" one of the guards finally asked.

The chief's gaze hardened. "Have you ever seen monsters like those before?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the uncertainty in the room. "Did you kill them?"

No one answered. The silence that followed was deafening.

The chief continued, his voice steady but firm. "Right now, Avasyu is our key to survival. He's the only one who has faced those things and lived. And more importantly… he knows their leader."

Murmurs of disbelief spread among the group, but the chief wasn't finished.

"I know why he's important," he added. "But for now, what you need to know is this—you will follow his lead. You will help him fight, kill those monsters, and return alive. I will stay here and protect those who can't fight."

The weight of his words settled over the room. Doubt still lingered, but now it was mixed with something else.

Determination.

Avasyu had already made his way outside, his mind focused on one thing.

Finish this nightmare by killing those monsters.

Avasyu sat in his room, waiting patiently, already prepared. Two hours passed before everyone gathered at the gate, each equipped with their chosen weapons, including machetes.

Meanwhile, Avasyu awaited his own weapon. Soon, his guard arrived to escort him. Rising from his bed, Avasyu followed him to the gate. The guard handed him the machete and asked, "Are you sure we can defeat them?"

Avasyu took the machete from his guard and said confidently, "We can. I trust you all."

With his weapon in hand, he walked to the gate, where everyone was waiting.

Then the group of thirty set off toward the forest. It was past 11 p.m., and the night was deep and silent. As they entered the jungle, an eerie darkness surrounded them, making everyone uneasy.

Despite their fear, they began searching for the monsters.

"The monsters hide in the dark and can't be seen by your golden eyes, but I can see them. That's why I need to be in front of you, to scan the area with my eyes," Avasyu explained, sitting in the chief's room.

"My guard will tell you how we'll find those monsters."

At Avasyu's signal, his guard stepped forward and began to explain the details of the monsters he had seen lurking in the darkness, visible only through their golden eyes.

The group searched the forest, hoping to find the monsters, but they found nothing—no sign of them, not even from Avasyu's keen eyes. Then, they arrived at a place that Avasyu immediately recognized as being near the monsters' lair.

He quickly halted everyone and called on two of his guards to scout the area. Ahead of them were two large rocks, partially concealing a small clearing in the jungle. Avasyu sent the guards forward to estimate the number of monsters lurking there.

Though everyone wondered how Avasyu knew the monsters were nearby, no one asked. Their focus remained on the battle that was about to unfold.

The two guards returned from their scouting mission, their faces pale with fear.

"There are eighty monsters in total, including their leader—a female humanoid," one of them reported.

They hesitated before adding, "They don't know we're here, but they sensed some anomalies in the area."

Avasyu remained calm. "Don't worry. After today, there will be no more monsters in this forest to sense anything."

Then, he issued a command—though it felt more like a request—to surround the monsters without alerting them.

His guard stepped forward. "What will you do?"

Avasyu's eyes glowed with determination. "I am the key, Mr. Guard. And I'm going to the lock I belong—to erase its existence from this world."

Everyone was shocked to hear those words from Avasyu.

His guard stepped forward. "Whether this is a good or bad idea, I will be with you. I'll be your backup."

Avasyu nodded.

"I don't know exactly where they are, but I do know one thing-we have six hours to finish this. They came tonight to hunt us. We will strike tonight to end them once and for all."

He said while discussing the strategy in the chief's office.He looked around at his guards.

"I need all of you. We will fight together to wipe them out. But before that, I want just one promise --listen to me when the time comes."

His voice was firm as he continued, "We might have the advantage and strike before they can react, but before the attack, I need to confirm something. Let me handle that first. Once I do, we will ambush them."

The strategy had been discussed, but hesitation still lingered among the group. Everyone was uncertain—except for Avasyu's guard. He recognized the same fierce determination in Avasyu's eyes that he had seen when he fought those monsters in the atrium.

Avasyu turned to the others. "It's time to act."

Then, he looked at his guard. "Mr. Guard, will you come with me?"

His guard followed without hesitation. "I told you—I'll be your backup. If I'm with you, I will protect you."

With that, the two of them slipped through the passage between the two large rocks, cutting down five monsters in an instant. Meanwhile, the rest of the guards moved carefully, surrounding every monster in the lair.

Avasyu and his guard pushed deeper inside, striking down any creature that crossed their path. Their swift attack did not go unnoticed. The female monster—leader of the horde—immediately sensed their presence.

She raised her voice, commanding the others,

"Stop. Do .Not .Attack. Them."

A chilling silence fell over the lair.

"Let .Them .Come," she continued. "I. Want. To. See."

The monsters obeyed, stepping aside to clear a path. As Avasyu and his guard moved forward, he saw her for the first time.

She looked like something out of a nightmare.

Her skin was a bright, glowing red, covered in countless luminescent dots, like grains of burning sand. Within her womb, a child could be seen growing, its small form glowing with the same eerie red light. The sight was unsettling.

Her head, however, was something beyond human—or even monster. It lacked a clear shape, covered in countless, gaping mouths, each filled with rows of sharp teeth. And inside those mouths, nestled between the fangs, were her eyes—many, glowing dark red, watching him from every direction.

Avasyu and his guard moved toward the female monster. As he walked, Avasyu closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again.

In front of him, at some distance, stood the female monster-a horrifying sight. Yet, Avasyu remained expressionless. Behind him, his guard stood firm, ready for whatever came next.

The female monster's voice echoed through the lair. "Why. Are .You .Here? If. You .Wish .To .Sacrifice .Yourself .For .My .

Child, I .Will .Gladly .Accept .The .Offer."

Avasyu locked eyes with her--his glowing grey gaze meeting the many dark red eyes hidden within her monstrous mouths.

Then, in a steady, unshaken voice, he replied

"I. Am. Here. To. Kill. That."

He raised his hand and pointed directly at her womb.