Tap, tap, tap.
A sound echoed across the hallway as a figure walked under the blue shade of the burning torches; its shadow painted the walls, stretching on the floor alongside its claws, which dragged across the wall, crumbling it as it moved forward.
Deep inside, Noen and Sera took a run, trying to find a way out; it was so dark that no light crossed their eyes, except for the sound of their footsteps.
Minutes passed, but as if lost in a maze, they didn't find a way, besides returning to the same place over and over again.
Sera asked, "Mister, I-I don't think this is the right way," but at that, Noen just stared at her, eyes glowing in the dark, replying, "Yes, this is not the right way, I know, but…"
A trail of blood followed his hand; like a thread, it vanished into the long pathway. He said, turning his hand toward his head, "We have to wander for a while."
"Why?" she asked.
A quick response came. "Cause this place is too vast, and my blood would take a while to find an exit. So we can only wait."
Sera, still unsure, just nodded as she sat on the floor, completely tired, where he just stood, closing his eyes, turning the darkness into a root of path.
He sensed his blood moving across the place; some met an end, or some just wandered the place. After a while, he felt something.
It was like an opening, as he opened his eyes, calling for Sera.
But no response came; he looked down, where she slept, taking support on the wall.
Her drool fell down as her brown hair brushed against her cheeks; she looked innocent, sleeping like a carefree child.
On it, he just chuckled, slowly picking her up on his back as he started to move.
***
In the shadows, the last torch burned, its light brightening up the surroundings as it revealed the crumbled ground; walls were destroyed, engravings were erased by a green liquid.
With a thud, someone moved.
A skull hung on its face, its cloak fluttering.
It punched the wall, crumbling it, as an eerie wind passed by, and under it, its eyes glowed with a green haze, whereas behind him, the whole ceiling fell, covering the last flames that burned till darkness took place.
***
"Huff, huff… how far is it?" he muttered under his breath, as Sera lay completely motionless, sleeping soundly on his back, as step by step he moved forward.
In front of his eyes, the path stretched endlessly, looking like it had no end; legs trembling, even then, he moved. Sweat poured down his face, completely covered, as the wind brushed against his skin.
Finally, after an hour of seamless walking, he saw the light; the scent of fresh air filled his nose as he touched the end of the path. Alas to his worries, he was finally out, out to the outside view.
And in front, an unmoving stair stood, stepping a few inches away from his escape.
He took down Sera, waking her up, as she gently opened her amber eyes, slightly teary. She took a yawn, looking like she had had a good sleep. She asked, "Where are we?" still sleepy, looking at Noen.
As he replied, still the same as ever,
"We are out, but I think you had a good sleep on my back." Hearing that, something clicked in her mind. Standing up completely red, she started mumbling apologies. "I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry," but Noen just chuckled.
"Don't worry," he said, before turning his eyes to the outside. "Let's go, or are you still planning on staying here?"
She stood up, moving forward as they began to make their way out. Outside, huge trees lay standing, their shadows moving across the ground. In front of their eyes was a beautiful scenery, before Noen noticed something.
There was a road, long bruised, as if someone had gone through that path a hundred times, where Sera, in the bright sky, mildly closing her eyes, enjoyed the scenery.
But he just stood there, looking.
"Sera!" he said. "I think we have found a hint."
She looked at him, surprised, as she came forward, looking at what he was saying, where he pointed his finger toward a road going somewhere, and on it were a few traces of a carriage passing by.
He moved closer, looking at it closely, about to move on the path, but then—
Rumble.
Behind them, the whole ground shook, crumbling before their eyes. From it, a shadow erupted, as its skull became visible in the bright light of the outside. Sera's heart fell, thump, as Noen looked at it in a wary gaze, his senses screaming to run away, but he pulled out a sword, creating it from his blood.
He gritted his teeth.
Whereas it walked through the shadows, moving slowly like a predator, its claws glowing brightly as a liquid dripped through the holes in its fingers.
That drop instantly melted the ground. Looking smugly at Sera, it vanished.
Noen instantly went on guard, looking in all directions as he jumped in front of her, blocking an invisible attack before the enemy vanished again.
"Where is it?" he said.
His eyes weren't able to trace its presence; it was like a whole new entity for him.
Screech.
Something pierced his back. Blood began to drip down. Gritting his teeth, he looked back.
But there was no one, although the wound that was inflicted on his body began to degrade, sizzling in the air, as Sera stood holding her mouth, looking in all directions in absolute fear.
He again moved, quickly intercepting the monster's attack incoming toward her, as he tried to punch it, but it vanished. Taking the chance, he picked her up in a princess carry, moving toward the dense forest, looking at it, the only option was to escape.
His legs moved, speed increasing with time, as the shadow followed him behind, its eyes still glowing in that same green haze, as it swung its claws, destroying the whole area around before it dashed forward.
A glimpse of its figure caught his eye as a sword formed mid-air from his blood, blocking its attack. He jumped back.
He dropped Sera on the ground around a bush as he said in a low tone, "Sera, stay here and don't come outside."
Just after saying that, he moved forward at an inhuman speed as he vanished into the green, before the sound of clashes began to echo in the forest.
Small birds flew away; every monster kept their distance.
But he didn't falter back.
Squinting his eyes, he started to focus as he calmed his breath, counting each movement of the plague.
It jumped forward, attacking Noen, and with it, the whole forest burst apart, instantly falling down as all the trees fell around him, although he still remained on his feet, huffing, as his skin melted down on the ground.
His eyes stayed sharp, looking coldly at the figure. He stopped counting.
Boom.
Noen twisted his whole body, landing a punch squarely on the plague's face, but it didn't do much, as its claws met his face, tearing him apart with their sharpness.
Making him sure
"If this fight drags on, she might get into danger."
He quickly placed his foot on the ground, instantly dashing in the direction of Sera, picking her up on his back.
He leaped high into the trees, jumping away as he took all the attacks, protecting Sera with his body, although his injuries were something that his body couldn't catch up with, besides healing every time it fell.
The process got so rapid that heat began to rise from his skin; his muscles tensed back to his eyes, to the running legs that were battered in blood and injuries.
He screamed, holding back the pain. He took one final jump as his cells twisted around his legs, changing their shape, as a thick muscle formed around it.
It had white strips, as if made from bone, moving like a new mechanism before his skin started to cover it up.
And then—
Boom.
He dashed forward; his speed had gone beyond any visible limit as he traced past the whole forest in an instant, tearing apart the air, shielding Sera in his arms.
He jumped off the cliff along with her, who just tucked her face into his arms, scared.
They safely landed on the ground before Noen collapsed on his back, searching for air.
"I outrunned it… hehe," he muttered, continuing further, he asked
"Hey… are you alright?" looking at Sera, as she just nodded. Worrying, she rushed over
But he couldn't just lie on the dirt, completely exhausted. He just mumbled,
"We have lost the only hint we had… just because of those plagues… sigh…"
He slowly began to move up. Looking at Sera, he said,
"I guess our journey will not end soon."
"But before that… what else do you know about plague?" his face got serious as he looked at the cliff in anger…