Chapter 10: Debt Collector iii

The sand around Garrett's body began to swirl, just like Lila's. It glowed faintly, forming intricate patterns that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.

Noah, still wrapped in his sleeping bag, snoring

The creature roared, its eyes locking onto Erin. It charged, its massive claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed. Erin barely dodged, the claw grazing his shoulder and sending a searing pain through his arm. He gritted his teeth and thrust his spear forward, the sharpened tip striking the monster's tough skin. But the force wasn't enough to penetrate. The spear bounced off harmlessly, leaving only a shallow scratch.

"Damn it!" Erin muttered, his arms trembling from the effort. He dodged another swipe, his movements growing more desperate—I can't land a fatal hit. Its skin's too tough. What do I do?, what do I do?!—

The monster pressed its attack, its claws tearing through the air with deadly precision. Erin dodged and weaved, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

He struck again and again, but each hit barely fazed the creature. His spear was chipped and splintered, the wood cracking under the strain.

"Come on, you overgrown plushie!" Erin yelled, his voice shaking but defiant. "You're not taking me down that easily!"

But the monster was relentless. Its claw struck true, slamming into Erin's chest and sending him flying. He hurtled through the air, crashing into the ground with a sickening thud. Pain exploded through his body as he skidded across the forest floor, his spear slipping from his grasp. He came to a stop, lying motionless on the ground, his vision blurring.

For a moment, everything was still. The monster roared in triumph, its plushy eye gleaming with malice. Erin's body ached, his limbs heavy and unresponsive. He blinked, his vision swimming as he stared up at the canopy of trees—Is this it?— he thought, his mind drifting—Am I going to die here? What would become of Aria if I die now?— tears dripped down his eyes

Erin struggle to stand on his feet, His focus was on the monster, which was now charging toward him, its claws raised for the final strike.

Erin moved his arm, wincing at the pain. Then he moved the other arm, his fingers curling into a fist. "It's not over," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "Not yet."

With a surge of determination, Erin pushed himself to his feet even though his body is already giving up.

His body screamed in protest, but he ignored it. He grabbed his spear, the wood splintered and cracked, and charged toward the monster. His movements were fueled by sheer willpower, his energy seeming to concentrate into boosting his strength. It wasn't magic—Erin had no magic—but it was something raw and primal, a force born of desperation and resolve.

The monster roared, its claw slashing toward him. Erin dodged, his movements sharper and faster than before. He raised his spear, aiming for the creature's eye. With a guttural yell, he threw the spear with all his might, the weapon hurtling through the air like a bolt of lightning.

The monster sensed the danger and quickly closed its eye, its tough eyelid acting as a shield. But the spear was moving too fast. It pierced through the eyelid effortlessly, sinking deep into the creature's eye. The monster let out a deafening roar, its body thrashing wildly as it stumbled back.

The spear shattered on impact, but a piece of it remained lodged in the monster's eye, rendering it blind on one eye. Erin stared, his chest heaving as he gripped his dagger. "Not enough, not enough. I have to do more?" he muttered, his voice trembling with exhaustion and pain.

But the monster wasn't done. It charged at Erin, its movements erratic but no less deadly. Erin dodged, his body moving on instinct. He maneuvered through the trees, using the forest to his advantage. The monster's claws struck the trees, the impact shaking the ground and sending splinters flying. Each strike weakened the creature, its movements growing slower and more uncoordinated.

Erin saw his chance. He climbed onto a low-hanging branch and leaped onto the monster's back, his dagger clenched tightly in his hand. The creature thrashed, trying to throw him off, but Erin held on, his grip firm. He raised his dagger, aiming for the monster's remaining eye.

"This is for my comrades!" he yelled, plunging the dagger into the creature's remaining eye. The monster let out a final, ear-splitting roar, its body convulsing as it collapsed to the ground. Erin jumped off, landing hard on the forest floor. He stared at the monster, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

But the creature wasn't completely defeated. With its last ounce of strength, it swung its claw, striking Erin and sending him flying. He crashed into a tree, his head hitting the trunk with a sickening crack. Pain exploded through his skull as his vision blurred. He slumped to the ground, his body going limp.

Before he completely blacked out, he saw something that made his blood run cold, not knowing what it is but it looks like a giant tentacles erupting from the ground, their surfaces slick and brownish. They wrapped around the monster, their grip crushing and unrelenting. The creature let out a final, guttural scream as the tentacles ripped it apart, its body torn into multiple pieces.

Erin's vision darkened,—finally, he blacked out.