Chapter 21: Run, Kyle!!

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Run, Kyle!!

The forest rats were crawling around their feet.

And behind them stood the last remaining wolf.

Its body was covered in wounds, with one arrow still embedded near its shoulder, but despite its injuries, the beast hadn’t retreated.

Instead, it patiently waited. Waiting for another opening.

Kyle’s heart sank.

"We’re surrounded."

The words caused the remaining hunters to freeze. There were no longer seven of them, only three remained.

And even those three were barely holding themselves together.

One hunter raised his spear with trembling hands.

The spiders were blocking the sides of the corridor.

The poisonous bats circled above them.

The forest rats continued swarming around their boots, while the lone remaining wolf stood at the far end of the passage, its body low to the ground and its yellow eyes fixed upon them.

The three remaining hunters understood the situation at almost the same time.

They were trapped.

There was no clear path forward.

There was no safe route backward.

And the longer they remained there, the more monsters would gather.

Kyle tightened his grip around his sword.

His breathing was heavy, and sweat ran down the side of his face despite the coldness of the dungeon. His eyes moved across the battlefield, desperately searching for an opening, but every possible route was blocked by another monster.

Then he looked at the two hunters standing beside him.

Both were exhausted.

One had a bleeding wound across his arm, while the other was still struggling with the effects of the poisonous bat’s bite.

Kyle’s heart sank.

"We’re in a dangerous situation."

His voice was quiet.

The two hunters stared at him, neither answered.

They already knew.

The younger hunter slowly looked toward the dungeon entrance.

It was still somewhere behind them.

It was close enough that they could almost imagine feeling the cold night air again.

But between them and freedom stood the monsters.

The hunter suddenly laughed bitterly.

"After all that preparation..."

He looked down at his expensive new armor.

"We bought all this equipment because we thought we’d become rich."

His fingers tightened around his spear.

"Instead, we’re going to die in a hole."

Kyle lowered his gaze.

"I’m sorry."

The hunter immediately shook his head.

"Don’t apologize."

He looked at Kyle.

"You were the one who warned us."

"We were the ones who decided to come."

The other hunter, whose face had already begun to pale from the poison, suddenly stepped forward.

"Kyle."

Kyle looked at him.

"You need to leave."

Kyle’s expression hardened.

"What?"

"Go."

The hunter pointed toward the corridor behind them.

"There’s still a chance."

Kyle shook his head.

"I’m not leaving you."

"You are."

The hunter smiled faintly.

"We all know what happens if we try to run together."

He glanced toward the spiders, then toward the bats.

Finally, his gaze settled on the lone wolf.

"We’ll never make it."

Kyle’s jaw tightened.

"We can still fight."

"Fight?"

The hunter let out a weak laugh.

"Look around you, Kyle."

"There are too many."

The other hunter suddenly stepped beside him.

"We’ll hold them back."

Kyle’s eyes widened.

"No."

"You’ll die."

"We know."

The hunter smiled.

"That’s why we’re telling you to run."

For a moment, Kyle couldn’t speak. He had known these men for years.

They had hunted together, and shared meals together.

They had stood shoulder to shoulder against wild beasts during countless hunts.

They had entered this dungeon together because they believed that one treasure might change the lives of everyone waiting back in the village.

And now, they were asking him to leave them behind.

Kyle shook his head violently.

"No."

"I won’t do it."

The younger hunter suddenly grabbed Kyle by the shoulder.

"You have to."

"We didn’t come here just to die."

His expression became serious.

"We came here to discover what’s inside."

"If one of us can return..."

"Then the village will know what we’re dealing with."

Kyle stared at him, the hunter continued.

"Tell the town about this dungeon."

His smile became bitter.

"And come back when you’re strong enough to avenge us."

Kyle’s eyes trembled. He knew they were right.

Suddenly, the remaining wolf released a deep growl.

The three hunters turned toward it.

The beast lowered its body, its claws dug into the stone.

Kyle immediately realized what was about to happen.

"Now!"

The wolf charged. At the same moment, the two hunters moved.

One stepped directly into the wolf’s path while the other turned toward the spiders.

"RUN, KYLE!"

The first hunter raised his shield.

The wolf slammed into it with tremendous force.

The shield shattered.

The hunter was thrown backward, but he immediately rolled and climbed back onto his feet.

"GO!"

Kyle hesitated for only a moment.

Then he turned and ran.

His boots slammed against the stone floor as he sprinted toward the entrance.

Behind him, the battle erupted.

The remaining hunter thrust his spear toward the wolf.

The beast twisted aside, avoiding the weapon before lunging forward again.

At the same time, the spiders began descending from the walls.

"Come on!"

The hunter screamed.

"Come at me!"

He swung his spear desperately, keeping the spiders away while the other hunter struggled against the wolf.

A poisonous bat suddenly swooped down.

The hunter raised his arm, but the bat’s claws tore through his leather armor.

He grunted but refused to fall.

"Not yet!"

He grabbed the creature with his free hand and slammed it against the wall.

The bat went limp, but another immediately replaced it.

Then another.

There were simply too many.

Meanwhile, Kyle continued running. He didn’t dare to look back.

Every part of him wanted to turn around. But he remembered their words.

Kyle gritted his teeth and ran faster, his lungs burned.

His legs felt like they were about to collapse.

Behind him, he could still hear the sounds of battle.

The clash of weapons, the screeches of bats.

The furious howls of the wolf.

The horrifying clicking sounds of the spiders.

Then came a scream.

"KYLE!"

Kyle’s body instinctively stopped, his eyes widened.

He nearly turned around. But another voice immediately followed.

"KEEP RUNNING!"