The two creatures didn't rush him.
That was the first thing Ethan noticed.
They stood a few steps apart, not mirroring each other exactly, but not acting alone either. One shifted slightly to the left, the other held its ground. Watching.
Waiting.
Ethan didn't move right away.
His grip on the blade tightened just enough to feel it. His breathing slowed, controlled, but his focus sharpened.
"…You still there?" he asked quietly.
[Viewers: 1]
No response.
Ethan didn't look at the screen.
He didn't need to.
"…Right."
He adjusted his stance.
If he waited—
They'd close in together.
If he moved—
He'd split their attention.
That was the only way.
Ethan stepped forward.
The reaction was immediate.
The one on the right lunged first, faster than expected.
The second followed half a beat later.
Not delayed.
Timed.
Ethan shifted left—
Avoided the first strike—
Then twisted his body just enough to keep the second one in view.
Too tight.
Too close.
He stepped back—
But the ground dipped slightly beneath his foot.
Just enough to throw off his balance.
Back.
The message came late.
Ethan had already moved.
Barely.
The creature's strike brushed past his side instead of landing clean.
Pain flared, sharp and quick.
Not deep.
But it slowed him.
"…Too slow," he muttered.
No reply.
He forced himself forward instead.
Didn't wait.
Didn't ask.
He targeted the one that moved first.
Short step.
Blade up—
Strike.
The creature twisted, but not fast enough.
The hit landed.
Not enough to finish it.
But enough to break its rhythm.
The second one came in immediately.
Ethan turned—
Too late.
The strike hit.
Solid.
It knocked the air from his chest and sent him stumbling back.
His foot slid.
He dropped to one knee.
The creatures didn't pause this time.
They moved together.
No hesitation.
No delay.
Ethan pushed himself up—
Too slow—
Stop.
The word cut in.
Sharp.
Clear.
Ethan froze.
The first creature lunged—
Then—
It stuttered.
Not fully.
Not like before.
Just—
Enough.
Its movement clipped slightly, like something interrupted it mid-action.
Ethan didn't think.
He reacted.
He drove the blade forward—
Clean.
Deep.
The first one dropped.
The second one followed immediately.
No pause.
No hesitation.
Ethan barely got his footing back in time—
He raised his blade—
Left.
He moved—
The strike missed—
He turned—
Countered—
This time the hit landed clean.
The creature collapsed.
Silence returned.
But it didn't feel the same.
Ethan stayed where he was, breathing heavier now.
His chest still hurt from the impact.
His side burned slightly.
But that wasn't what held his attention.
"…That wasn't you," he said.
The screen flickered.
I helped.
Ethan shook his head slightly.
"No."
His voice came out steadier than he expected.
"That wasn't the same."
No response.
He pushed himself to his feet, eyes still on the space where the creatures had been.
"…Before, they paused completely."
Nothing.
"…That one didn't."
A flicker.
It was enough.
Ethan let out a quiet breath.
"…Yeah."
It was.
But—
That wasn't the point.
He glanced at the screen now.
"…You're not controlling it."
Silence.
Ethan's jaw tightened slightly.
"…You're interrupting it."
The screen flickered again.
Longer this time.
Then—
I'm helping.
Same answer.
Different weight.
Ethan looked away.
"…Right."
He didn't push further.
Not here.
Not now.
But the thought stayed.
Clearer than before.
He moved deeper into the chamber.
Slower now.
More careful.
Not just watching the creatures.
Watching everything.
The air.
The ground.
The timing.
Another sound echoed from ahead.
Not close.
But not far either.
Ethan stopped.
"…Still more," he muttered.
The screen stayed quiet.
"…You don't know how many."
No reply.
He nodded slightly.
"…Got it."
That was fine.
It changed things.
But not in a way that stopped him.
Just—
Adjusted.
He took a step forward.
Then another.
The next encounter came quicker.
One creature.
Then another behind it.
Not together.
Not separated either.
Ethan didn't wait this time.
He moved first.
Closed the distance—
Struck—
The first one dropped.
The second reacted—
Faster.
Ethan stepped back—
Adjusted—
No message.
No delay.
He moved on his own.
Strike.
End.
He stepped back, breathing steady.
"…That worked."
No response.
Ethan glanced at the screen.
"…You didn't say anything."
A flicker.
Then—
You handled it.
Ethan stared at the words.
"…Yeah."
He did.
But—
"…You still saw it."
Silence.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"…Right."
The deeper he went, the clearer it became.
Not just the delays.
Not just the gaps.
Something else.
The creatures weren't reacting the same way anymore.
Not fully.
Not cleanly.
Like something in the dungeon itself had shifted.
Or noticed.
Ethan slowed again.
"…This isn't normal," he said quietly.
No response.
"…It's reacting."
The screen flickered faintly.
Then—
Maybe.
Ethan stilled.
"…You don't know."
No reply.
That was answer enough.
He let out a quiet breath.
"…Alright."
He reached another open space.
Wider than the last.
The air felt colder here.
Heavier.
Ethan stopped at the edge.
Waited.
Listened.
Nothing.
Then—
A sound.
Not movement.
Not scraping.
Something else.
Low.
Faint.
Ethan's grip tightened.
"…That's new."
The screen flickered.
No message.
Ethan didn't look at it.
"…You hear that?"
A pause.
Then—
Yes.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"…What is it?"
Silence.
Ethan waited.
Nothing.
He nodded once.
"…Right."
He already knew the answer.
Or lack of one.
He stepped forward.
Slow.
Careful.
The sound came again.
Closer now.
Not random.
Not distant.
Focused.
Ethan stopped.
"…It's watching."
The words came out before he thought them through.
The screen didn't respond.
Didn't deny it.
Didn't confirm it.
It just stayed there.
[Viewers: 1]
Unmoving.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
That feeling again.
Not new.
But stronger.
Clearer.
He adjusted his stance, blade ready.
Because whatever was ahead—
Wasn't like the others.
And this time—
He wasn't sure if the thing watching him—
Was the only one.