Free Web NovelChapter 26: Chapter 25- Price Of Failure
Chapter 25- Price Of Failure
The question seemed to plague Cipha’s mind with no real answer. She just didn’t understand why she was thinking about it so deeply. Something just didn’t feel right, and she could tell. Her gut feeling is usually on point, and she doubted it would let her down now, of all times.
However, asking him directly wouldn’t be a wise choice. ’He is his own person. I don’t know why I’m even questioning him. Perhaps I’m just too stressed.’ She thought to herself as she lay down under the tent next to him. The sound of crickets and all kinds of other creatures echoed in the distance.
Cipha’s eyes stared up at the sky above. Her mind was still in chaos from what had happened. They had barely started their journey, and things were already going south very quickly.
’It was never going to be smooth sailing, not now, not in the future. We need to adapt and find solutions.’ She thought to herself. ’Zen is far stronger than I expected, and he is far more useful than I expected in my initial plans.’
In fact, Cipha could say that he was the sole reason she was still alive now. His power was just ridiculous, and he seemed to be evolving rapidly. She had also grown so much in strength after the hours they spent hunting down beasts. She had gathered almost 60 Soul Points, making her twice as powerful as she used to be.
The other positive thing is their teamwork, which was on point, and even their personalities, which oddly mixed together well.
’It was the right decision to approach him.’ Her eyes lit up with endless determination. Her goal now seemed somehow more realistic after she met Zen. Perhaps he was the key to her success.
"Hm? Are you ok?" Zen felt her eyes staring at him, so he looked back at her.
"Oh yeah... I’m fine."
"Well, if you say so," Zen said with a smile on his face.
"Wake me up in two hours so we can do shifts." She said.
"Roger that."
With that, Cipha finally turned around and closed her eyes. Even in a dark, dangerous forest like this one, she felt rather safe. Zen was more than strong enough to guard them and before she knew it, Cipha drifted to sleep as the darkness swallowed her.
For almost a brief second, everything felt quiet and calm. She was asleep, resting her body and mind... Only to suddenly feel her body getting shaken awake.
"Cipha... Cipha... Wake up..." Zen said with a quiet yet urgent voice.
"Hm?" The girl frowned and opened her eyes.
"We need to get the hell out of here right now. Things... Things are surrounding us." He said as he quickly killed the fire.
Cipha was confused for a second before her eyes wandered around, and her heart finally sank to her stomach. All around them, from every angle, there were white eyes that seemed to shine under the moon’s faint glow. Not one, or two, or even three... Dozens of these eyes mixed with the slow and deep growls of the beasts.
"Wolves... Many wolves..." Zen said as he stood up and grabbed his sword, his face completely dark. ’This is bad... This is really bad... Did they sniff us out? Maybe that wolf from earlier was a part of their pack?’
In reality, the answer to that didn’t really matter. What mattered was how they had to get out of that situation.
Slowly, the wolves stepped out of the dark, their eyes filled with rage as they glared at the duo. They had completely trapped them on both sides with no room to escape. The two were pressed against the tree.
"Listen, on my count..." Zen whispered. "We will run toward the first wolf and kill it. Then, I will buy you time to get out. We can’t run at the same time, or they will get us."
"What? How are you going to hold all of them back?"
"I will figure something out. Just don’t worry about me and run, I will chase after you quickly."
"..." Cipha bit her lower lip, frustratingly. She wanted to refuse, but the reality was clear. They wouldn’t escape if both thought of themselves, and since Zen was stronger than her, he had a higher chance of surviving long enough and escaping. It didn’t make that any easier on her conscience.
"Damn it."
"Don’t worry, I said," Zen replied as he brandished his sword and started channeling his Soul Essence. "We will get out of this."
The sheer confidence with which Zen was speaking surprised her, but she still sucked a deep breath and nodded.
The monsters kept approaching them slowly from every angle. The two stared left and right silently. Then... Out of nowhere...
"Cipha, Now!!" Zen yelled as he dashed forward, followed by his partner.
Using his momentum, he closed the distance with the first wolf as he slashed with his sword. The monster couldn’t even react in time as the sword cut through its skull with ease.
Instantly, the rest of the wolves reacted as they lunged at Zen from every angle.
"Move, Cipha!!"
The girl didn’t stop running as she cut through the path, getting stopped by two wolves. Her Soul Essence channeled as she lifted her hand.
"Lightning Manipulation..." She muttered as her hand started sizzling and flashes of light wrapped around it. Then, she ran it across her blade, coating it in the lightning energy. The sword lit up the dark forest as it slashed through the first wolf.
Cipha span around, dodging the claws that came toward her before she slammed her hand into the wolf’s throat, sending the energy charge straight into its body. The creature spasmed and froze in place before it was swiftly killed with a stab.
Cipha then looked around as she continued running. Zen had dashed out of danger at the last second as all the wolves attacked him from every angle. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
*BANG*
Dirt rose in the air as the monster’s large bodies hit the ground. At the same time, several more rushed from every angle and attacked him.
*CLING*
Zen turned around and deflected a hit with his sword before kneeing the monster in the jaw, pushing it back. Then, using his free hand, he grabbed another wolf’s upper jaw, just as it was about to bite him.
"Fuck..." The weight of the monster fell on his body as his boots sank into the dirt. He clenched his teeth in immense pain as his ribs were pressed down, rubbing against one another. He felt like his lungs were about to be poked.
"Get... off me!!" He yelled as he stabbed the monster in the throat, penetrating its windpipe. Blood gushed endlessly, spraying across his body.
[You have killed...]
’Not now!’ He yelled, erasing the notifications instantly as he jumped to the side, barely avoiding another hit that could’ve killed him. Rolling on the ground, he landed on his feet and stared up, only to see even more monsters attacking him.
*Swish*
Without a moment to waste, Zen dashed to the side as he activated Poison Hand. The wolves, with immense coordination, surrounded him again as their aggression grew even stronger.
Since the moment Zen had stepped into this world, going back decades in the past... This was his toughest battle yet. One that will determine whether he was truly cut for it or not. And the price of failure is... death.
