World Seedling {Book One}

Nova watched from their hiding spot, her breath shallow, as the twisted hunter prowled the dimly lit room. Its deformed, bone-like limbs clacked against the cold stone floor, each movement unnatural and jerking, as if the creature's very existence was a war against the laws of nature. Its sickly green eyes scanned the room, glowing faintly, reflecting the malicious intelligence that lurked beneath its monstrous form. The hunter’s corrupted body pulsed with vile energy, thick tendrils of dark mana coiling and writhing just beneath its twisted skin. The air around it was suffocating, heavy with the acrid stench of decay and malice, making each breath a struggle for Nova and the others.

From her vantage point, Nova’s sharp gaze caught Claire’s hands gripping the edge of the broken wooden beam they were hiding behind. Her knuckles had turned bone white from the sheer force of her grip. Claire's eyes were wide, locked on the creature as it lurched ever closer to their hiding place. Beads of sweat rolled down her temple, the tension in the air amplifying every tiny sound.

Nova could feel her own heart hammering in her chest, but she couldn’t afford to let fear take over. Not now.

Her mind raced as she silently formulated a plan. The hunter was too powerful to fight head-on, but they had to keep it away from Jade long enough for her to repair the generator. Their only chance was to draw its attention while the others made their move.

Leaning closer to Claire and Jade, Nova whispered just loud enough for them to hear, her voice barely cutting through the oppressive atmosphere. “I don’t have much of a choice. Jade, when I give the signal, run for the generator and fix it. Claire, help her and keep her safe, okay?”

Claire glanced at Nova, her eyes filled with apprehension, but she nodded. Slowly, she pried her fingers away from the beam, though her hands still trembled. The pale look on her face was a stark contrast to the grim determination in her eyes. She swallowed hard, steeling herself for what was to come. Jade’s breath came in shallow, rapid bursts, but she gave a quick nod as well, glancing between Nova and the hulking creature that now seemed closer than ever.

The hunter’s grotesque form loomed in the centre of the room, its monstrous limbs dragging against the floor, leaving behind trails of corrupted mana that hissed and fizzled where they touched the stone. Every step it took sent tremors through the ground, and its glowing eyes flicked between the shadows, searching for any sign of movement. The foul smell that clung to the creature filled the air, choking them with its vile presence. Even breathing felt like a weight pressing down on their lungs.

Nova’s fingers tightened around the rock she had picked up earlier, feeling its cool surface against her skin. Her heart pounded as she glanced at Claire and Jade one last time, making sure they were ready. They had no time to hesitate.

With a deep breath, Nova hurled the rock across the room, aiming for a crumbling stack of debris. The stone clattered loudly as it hit, sending broken chunks of wood and stone scattering across the floor. The sound echoed sharply in the otherwise quiet chamber.

The hunter's head snapped toward the noise, its glowing green eyes narrowing with suspicion. For a brief moment, the creature hesitated, its movements slowing as it processed the disturbance.

“Go! Now!” Nova hissed, her voice tight with urgency.

Jade didn’t wait. She bolted from their hiding spot, her footsteps almost silent against the stone as she sprinted toward the generator. Her breath came in sharp gasps, her body propelled by pure adrenaline. Claire followed closely behind, her eyes darting between the hunter and the path ahead, ready to defend Jade if the creature turned.

The hunter let out a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the room. Its massive, twisted body twitched, jerking in the direction of Jade and Claire, but before it could react, Nova quickly scooped up another rock and hurled it across the room. The stone crashed into a nearby wall, drawing the hunter’s attention once more. Its glowing eyes flickered in confusion as it spun toward the new sound.

Nova’s heart raced. She couldn’t afford to stop moving.

The creature released a thunderous roar, its massive limbs convulsing as it charged directly toward Nova’s last position. The ground shook beneath its weight, the walls trembling as its claws scraped against the stone. Nova darted to the side, just as the creature slammed into the wall behind her, the impact sending a cloud of dust and debris billowing into the air. Her lungs burned, and her pulse thundered in her ears, but she kept moving, her legs carrying her toward the far side of the chamber.

Jade skidded to a stop near the generator, her hands already moving frantically to assess the damage. The old machine groaned under her touch, wires sparking and metal creaking as she worked to piece it back together. Claire stood beside her, tense and on edge, her eyes never leaving the hunter as it roared in frustration, thrashing wildly as it tried to locate Nova.

The creature’s hulking form was a terrifying sight, its corrupted skin pulsating with dark energy. Oily black fluid dripped from its claws, pooling on the ground and spreading like poison. The sickening scent of rot filled the air, mingling with the sharp tang of sweat and fear.

Nova ducked behind a crumbling pillar, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. She stole a glance at the others. Jade was still working, her fingers moving swiftly, but the tension in her posture told Nova they didn’t have much time.

With a quick inhale, Nova grabbed another piece of debris, preparing to throw it once more to keep the creature’s attention.

Behind her, Jade worked furiously on the generator, her fingers flying over the tangled mess of wires and switches. Her brow furrowed, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead as she struggled to make sense of the ancient, half-ruined machine. “It’s a mess, but I think I can get it working,” she muttered, her voice tight with focus. Sparks crackled occasionally, flickers of light dancing over the dull metal.

“Hurry!” Claire urged, her voice barely steady as she cast anxious glances toward the hunter. The twisted creature had regained its senses, its sickly green eyes locking onto Nova once again. The eerie glow seemed to intensify as it lumbered forward with renewed intent, its deformed limbs moving with a sickening crack. Each step it took made the ground tremble under its weight, and the stench of rot and corruption filled the air.

Nova’s heart raced, every beat reverberating in her ears as she ducked behind another pile of debris. The air was thick with dust, the remnants of shattered stone and metal coating her skin as she pressed herself against the cold surface. The hunter was closing in, its hissing breaths growing louder. She could feel its twisted presence drawing nearer, like a predator stalking its prey. Sweat trickled down her face, but she kept her eyes focused on the creature’s movements, every muscle in her body coiled for action.

“I’ve almost got it!” Jade shouted from her crouched position. Her hands trembled as she connected the final wires, her breath quick and shallow. The generator sputtered to life briefly, the dim lights flickering before fading again. “Come on,” she whispered urgently, her voice tinged with frustration.

The hunter roared a guttural, primal sound that seemed to shake the very air around them. Its fury lashed out like a storm, and it lunged at Nova with terrifying speed, its claws tearing through the rubble in a blur. Nova barely managed to dive out of the way, her body twisting in midair as the creature’s attack smashed through the stone with brutal force. The impact sent shockwaves through the floor, knocking her off balance as she hit the ground hard, her shoulder scraping against the jagged rocks.

“Nova!” Claire’s shout cut through the chaos, her voice thick with fear. She grabbed a chunk of debris in a desperate attempt to distract the hunter, hurling it with all her strength. The heavy stone hit the creature’s back, but it barely flinched, its glowing eyes fixed on Nova as it prepared to strike again.

Nova staggered to her feet, her body trembling from the exertion. Her vision blurred as dust filled the air, her limbs aching from the constant barrage of attacks. “Just a little longer!” she shouted back, her voice hoarse and raw.

“I got it!” Jade’s triumphant cry echoed through the chamber. The generator roared to life, its ancient machinery creaking and groaning as it powered up. The lights flickered, casting long shadows across the room, and the lift beside them jolted into motion, the metal groaning as it began to rise.

“Get to the lift! Now!” Jade screamed, already sprinting toward it, her boots slapping against the stone floor.

Nova didn’t waste a second. She darted past the hunter’s outstretched claws, her muscles screaming in protest as she pushed herself forward. The creature let out another deafening roar, its massive body twisting in a final, desperate attempt to catch her. She could feel the rush of air as its claws barely missed her, scraping against the floor with a screech of metal against stone.

Claire and Jade were already in the lift, their faces pale, hands gripping the rusted metal bars as they held the door open. Nova’s legs burned as she made one last sprint, throwing herself inside just as the creature lunged again. The lift doors slammed shut with a loud clang, the twisted hunter’s claws scraping uselessly against the bars, its enraged shrieks echoing in the narrow chamber.

As the lift ascended, leaving the monstrous creature below, Nova collapsed against the wall, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. Her body felt heavy, every muscle trembling from the adrenaline and exhaustion. Dust clung to her skin, mixing with the sweat that dripped down her face. Her heart was still racing, her mind reeling from how close they had come to being torn apart.

Claire leaned against the opposite wall, her chest rising and falling with laboured breaths. Her wide eyes reflected the flickering lights of the lift, but there was a flicker of relief in them, a small spark that said they had made it—for now. She wiped the sweat from her brow with a shaky hand, glancing at Nova with a look of disbelief. “That was too close.”

Nova nodded, still catching her breath. “We’re not out of this yet,” she said, her voice quiet but steady. The weight of their narrow escape hung over them, but they knew the real fight was far from over.

herself against the railing, her lips moving silently as if praying for the lift to hold just a little longer. Nova, however, kept her focus downward, her gaze locked on the nightmare evolving beneath them.

Through the grated floor of the lift, she could see the hunter—no longer waiting in its previous form, but undergoing another grotesque transformation. Nova’s stomach twisted, a cold wave of dread washing over her as she saw the creature's body shifting in the dim light. Its once-fluid, amorphous shape was now elongating, bones snapping and reforming as if the very structure of its being was being rewritten by the dark energy coursing through it.

"Gods, it’s evolving again," Nova whispered, her voice barely audible over the rattle and grind of the lift. The words slipped out, unbidden, as if speaking them gave shape to the terror unfurling below.

The creature let out a bone-rattling screech, the sound so inhuman it vibrated through the air, making their skin crawl. Dark, oily slime oozed from its twisting body, coating the stone walls as its limbs stretched and multiplied. Jagged spears of bone and sinew jutted out from its sides, their sharp points gleaming with malevolent intent. The hunter's grotesque transformation seemed to defy all reason, its body warping and expanding as thick tendrils of corrupted mana pulsed like veins across its form, pumping it full of dark energy.

Its glowing green eyes locked onto the lift, brighter and more focused now, like twin beacons of death cutting through the gloom. The hunter’s limbs lashed out, its elongated claws scraping violently against the stone walls of the shaft, leaving deep, jagged gouges in the rock. The sheer force of its movements shook the entire lift, sending another violent tremor through the platform.

“What is that thing turning into?” Claire gasped, her voice trembling as she watched the abomination below.

"I don't know, but it's getting stronger," Nova replied, her eyes wide with dread as she tracked the creature's every movement. "If we don't move faster, it's going to catch us."

The lift jolted again, and they all stumbled, barely keeping their footing. Jade clutched the railing with both hands, her knuckles bone white. "What if it breaks through the lift?" she asked, her voice thin with panic. "We'll be trapped with no way out!"

Nova’s heart raced. Below, the hunter slammed its grotesque limbs against the walls, trying to pull itself higher. The corrupted mana dripping from its body warped the very air around it, distorting reality as if it was unraveling the fabric of the world. The monster was evolving at an alarming rate, growing larger with every passing second. Its malformed body no longer resembled anything human—or even alive—it was something else entirely now. Something primal. Something born from corruption itself.

“It’s gaining on us!” Claire shouted, her panic rising as the creature’s claws dug into the stone, dragging its twisted body closer.

Nova’s mind whirled with a thousand thoughts, each one more frantic than the last. They couldn’t outrun it, not at this rate. The lift was slow, the hunter was fast, and the corrupted mana made it stronger with every second. If it reached them before they could get to the surface, they wouldn’t stand a chance. They had to do something, anything, to slow it down.

"We need to stall it," Nova said, her voice suddenly resolute despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "Buy ourselves some time."

"How?" Jade asked, her eyes darting from Nova to the monstrous creature below. The lift trembled again as the hunter’s massive limbs clawed at the walls, pulling it ever closer.

Nova gritted her teeth and reached into her pouch, her fingers brushing against the cool surface of the hidden weapon she had stashed there earlier. She gripped the spear tightly, her knuckles turning white as she pulled it out and moved toward the edge of the lift. The sharp, gleaming tip of the weapon caught the dim light, reflecting off the walls like a blade of salvation.

“I stashed this away in case we needed something sharp,” she said, her voice steady despite the chaos swirling around them. Her gaze never left the hunter, its twisted form still writhing and growing, the corrupted mana fueling its transformation into something far more deadly.

The hunter was almost upon them now, its grotesque body surging upward as it climbed, each movement more ferocious than the last. Its deformed appendages lashed out, clawing at the walls of the shaft, leaving cracks and debris in their wake. It was so close now, its sickly green eyes glowing with a horrifying intelligence.

Jade's panicked voice cut through the tension. “What are you doing?” she asked again, her words laced with disbelief. “You can’t fight that thing with just a spear!”

Nova paused, her hand gripping the edge of the lift door. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her gaze steady, a flicker of determination in her eyes. “I’m not planning to fight it directly,” she replied, her voice calm but resolute. “But if I can hit it hard enough, in the right place, I might be able to sever its connection to the corrupted mana—at least long enough for us to get to the surface.”

Claire’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s insane! You’ll be putting yourself right in its path!” Her breath hitched, fear and disbelief clear in her voice.

“I know,” Nova admitted, her voice steady despite the fear coiling in her gut. “But if we don’t stop it now, none of us are getting out of here alive.”

Below them, the hunter thrashed in its grotesque transformation, its monstrous claws carving jagged gouges into the stone walls. Its body, a mass of writhing tendrils and hardened scales, pulsed with corrupted mana, and the sickly green glow of its eyes locked onto the lift with terrifying focus. Every movement seemed more deliberate, more calculated as it closed in on them. The oppressive weight of dark energy filled the air, thick and choking.

Nova’s heart raced, but she forced herself to remain calm. “You two need to be ready,” she said, her voice firm, “the second this thing is distracted, get to the surface.”

“Nova, wait!” Claire grabbed Nova’s arm, her grip tight with urgency. “There has to be another way. You can’t do this alone.”

Nova met Claire’s desperate gaze, her own eyes softening for a brief moment. “There isn’t another way,” she said quietly but with unwavering conviction. “I need you to trust me.”

Claire’s grip tightened, her fingers trembling as the weight of the situation settled in. But after a moment, she released Nova, her expression torn between fear and reluctant acceptance. “Just… don’t get yourself killed,” Claire whispered, her voice strained.

A faint smile tugged at Nova’s lips. “No promises,” she replied, her voice light despite the tension.

With one last glance at Claire and Jade, Nova slid open the creaking metal door, the sound grating against the steel of the lift shaft. A gust of foul wind swept up from below, carrying with it the nauseating stench of decay and corruption. The hunter's guttural growls echoed up the shaft, and the entire structure trembled as the creature's claws scraped against the walls, its body heaving with each movement as it prepared to strike.

Nova braced herself, the spear gripped tightly in her hands, her muscles coiled like springs ready to unleash. The hunter’s grotesque form loomed below, its glowing eyes locked onto the lift with predatory intent. Its transformation was nearly complete—jagged limbs extended, its hardened body rippling with dark energy, the sickly green mana pulsing at its core.

“Now!” Nova shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.

In a surge of adrenaline, she leaped out of the lift, her body plunging downward toward the monstrous creature. The wind roared in her ears, her spear poised as she aimed directly for the hunter’s centre mass, her target clear: the pulsing, sickly green core of corrupted mana that fueled its transformation.

Time seemed to slow as Nova fell, the wind rushing around her, the weight of the spear steady in her hands. The dim light of the lift shaft flickered against the grotesque form of the hunter below, its sickly green eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. She could feel the creature’s corrupted mana pulsing in time with her own heartbeat, its glowing eyes tracking her descent, claws ready to swat her from the air.

But Nova’s aim was true.

With a final surge of strength, she drove the spear downward, and the weapon struck home. The tip of the spear pierced through the writhing tendrils of corruption that twisted around the hunter's body, slicing deep into its pulsing core. A sickening crack echoed through the tunnel as the creature let out a deafening screech, its body convulsing violently from the force of the blow.

The corrupted mana that fueled the hunter pulsed wildly, the connection between it and the creature now severed by Nova’s strike. The hunter recoiled, its twisted form writhing in agony as dark, oily slime gushed from the wound. The black sludge splattered against the stone walls, hissing and bubbling where it landed, sending thick plumes of acrid smoke rising into the air. The creature let out another bone-rattling shriek, its malformed limbs flailing as it staggered back from the impact.

"Nova!" Claire's voice, high-pitched and trembling with fear, rang out from the lift above. She clutched the railing of the old metal platform, her knuckles white as she stared down in horror at the battle unfolding below.

The lift rattled and groaned as it slowly ascended, pulling Claire and Jade farther away from the chaos. But Claire couldn’t tear her eyes from the sight of Nova, locked in combat with the monstrous hunter. Her heart pounded, every instinct screaming at her to help, but she knew that there was nothing she could do. She could only watch and hope.

Nova gritted her teeth, her muscles burning with the strain as she fought to hold the spear steady in the creature’s writhing body. The dark mana that pulsed through the hunter's veins fought back against her, resisting her every movement. But Nova didn’t relent. She twisted the spear deeper, forcing it toward the heart of the corruption. Each inch felt like an eternity, her body screaming in protest, but she pushed through the pain, knowing she had to finish the fight.

The hunter screeched again, its deformed limbs swinging wildly. One of its massive claws slashed through the air, missing Nova by inches. She ducked low, feeling the rush of air from the creature’s attack brush past her. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her vision blurred by the dust and debris swirling through the tunnel. But she couldn’t stop now.

"Just a little more," Nova muttered under her breath, her fingers gripping the spear even tighter. The creature’s corrupted mana pulsed in waves, the vile energy pressing down on her like a suffocating blanket. Every movement felt heavier, more sluggish, but she could sense the hunter weakening.

Behind her, Jade worked frantically at the lift’s controls, her hands trembling as she tried to coax more speed from the ancient mechanism. "Come on, come on!" Jade muttered, her voice tight with panic.

"We have to do something!" Claire cried, her voice rising in desperation. She turned to Jade, her eyes wide with fear. "We can’t just leave her down there!"

Jade’s hands flew over the controls, her brow furrowed in concentration. "We’re almost out," she said through clenched teeth. "Nova will catch up. She has to."

Below, Nova could feel the hunter weakening. The corrupted limbs were slowing, the once-frantic movements becoming more erratic. She seized the moment, pulling the spear back and then driving it into the creature’s chest once more. Black sludge spewed from the wound, the thick liquid splattering against the stone walls and floor, sizzling where it made contact.

The creature let out one last, guttural roar, its body convulsing as it thrashed in its final moments. Nova dodged to the side, her legs trembling from the exertion, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the hunter collapse to the ground in a heap. Its body twitched and spasmed, the last remnants of corrupted energy flickering and fading as the life drained from it.

But it wasn’t over yet.

The lift continued to rattle upward, pulling Claire and Jade farther away from the battle, and Nova knew she didn’t have much time. She took a quick, shaky breath and glanced up at the platform. Claire’s wide, fearful eyes met hers for a brief second. "Keep going!" Nova shouted, her voice strained. "I’ll catch up!"

The hunter, though severely weakened, let out one final, desperate screech. Its malformed body jerked to life again, its limbs flailing in a last, savage attempt to claw its way to Nova. She could see the sickly green light in its eyes flickering, its strength fading, but it wasn’t done yet.

Nova knew she had to end it.

With one last surge of energy, Nova leaped forward, her body aching from exhaustion but fueled by sheer willpower. She raised the spear high above her head, her muscles burning as she brought the weapon down in a powerful, final strike. The tip of the spear plunged into the hunter's core, striking the very heart of the corrupted mana that had twisted its form.

The hunter let out an ear-splitting, guttural cry, its body convulsing violently as the corrupted energy that sustained it finally shattered. Dark, oily blood gushed from the wound, splattering across the stone floor as the creature’s body collapsed in on itself. Its twisted form writhed in agony for a few moments longer, and then it fell still, its grotesque body disintegrating into a mass of blackened ooze.

Nova stumbled back, gasping for breath, her entire body trembling with exhaustion. The spear fell from her hands, clattering to the ground as the adrenaline that had carried her through the fight began to fade. She wiped the sweat from her brow, her vision swimming as she tried to steady herself.

Far above, the lift clanked to a halt at the top of the shaft, and Claire and Jade rushed out, their eyes wide as they peered down into the tunnel below.

"Nova!" Claire’s voice echoed through the shaft, trembling with both relief and fear. "Are you okay?"

Nova nodded, her breath still coming in ragged gasps. "I’m fine," she called back, her voice hoarse. "Just… give me a second."

She took a deep breath, her heart still racing as she glanced around the ruined tunnel. The air was heavy with the stench of decay, the corrupted mana thick in every breath she took. But the hunter was dead. For now, they were safe.

With a weary sigh, Nova retrieved her spear and began the slow climb toward the surface, her muscles screaming in protest with every step.

As Nova turned to head for the lift, its creaking ascent carrying Claire and Jade higher into the sky, a faint sound reached her ears.

Thump.

She froze mid-step, her breath catching in her throat. Her pulse still thundered from the battle, but this—this was different. It wasn’t the adrenaline from the fight with the Hunter coursing through her veins now; it was dread. She narrowed her eyes, tilting her head slightly, listening to the unnatural rhythm that echoed faintly through the tunnel.

Thump.

The sound was louder this time, reverberating through the mine like the distant beat of some monstrous heart. It wasn’t just an echo in her ears; it was a vibration she could feel under her feet, traveling through the very stone.

Thump… thump.

Her breath quickened. The air around her felt like it was thickening, heavy and oppressive, as if the corruption was alive and crawling through the mine, pressing down on her chest. The walls themselves seemed to close in, shadows lengthening unnaturally as they twisted, writhing in the faint light of the shaft. Nova felt something deep in her gut—a primal warning telling her to run, but her legs felt frozen in place.

Slowly, she turned, her eyes scanning the dark, twisting tunnel behind her, but there was nothing—only the flickering of dim light, the distant sounds of crumbling debris, and the eerie movement of shadows. Yet the sound persisted, growing louder, deeper. Closer.

Thump. Thump. THUMP.

It wasn’t just a sound anymore—it was a force, vibrating through the ground, through her body, like the pulse of something waking up. Something ancient. Something malevolent. Whatever it was, it was moving toward her, deep below the earth, growing in strength with each heavy thud.

Nova’s heart raced. Her gaze shot back to the lift, now a mere shadow disappearing into the shaft above. Claire and Jade were nearly out of reach, but she was still stuck down here. Alone. The oppressive sense of dread tightened around her, making it hard to breathe.

Thump. THUMP. THUMP.

The ground trembled violently beneath her feet, the rhythmic pounding shaking loose dust and debris from the ceiling in thick clouds. Small stones clattered to the ground as cracks snaked across the walls and floor, expanding like webs. The entire tunnel was coming apart.

Her pulse quickened even more, her mind screaming at her to move.

She turned and sprinted, her boots slamming against the stone floor, pushing herself forward with every ounce of strength she had left. The sound of the thumps followed her, chasing her down the darkened passage like a predator. Each thud reverberated through the walls, growing louder, deeper, more insistent, as though something massive and unstoppable was closing in.

The tunnel shook around her, sending deep cracks through the stone as chunks of rock and dirt rained down. Nova’s legs burned, every muscle screaming for relief, but she couldn’t stop. The oppressive weight of the corruption bore down on her harder with every second, making it feel as if the very air was suffocating her, pressing against her lungs like a leaden weight.

THUMP!

A deafening crash sounded behind her as the ground lurched violently. Nova stumbled, barely keeping her balance as a massive fissure split the floor open, jagged and deep, forcing her to leap over it. Her heart thundered in her chest, the fear clawing its way up her throat as she glanced back over her shoulder, hoping to see nothing more than darkness.

But the darkness was alive.

THUMP. THUMP.

The shadows writhed like living creatures, twisting and stretching unnaturally as something colossal stirred beneath the earth. The ground buckled beneath her feet again, and she nearly fell as the rumbling grew louder. The oppressive force of the corrupted mana clawed at her skin, crawling up her spine like icy tendrils sinking into her bones. She could feel it—it was no ordinary monster. It was something far worse. Something ancient. Something that had been waiting, sleeping beneath the ground.

THUMP! THUMP!

The pounding was almost deafening now, like the heartbeat of the earth itself. Each impact sent tremors through her body, shaking her to her core.

“Jade! Claire!” she screamed, her voice hoarse, desperate. “Stop the lift!”

Her words were drowned in the chaos. The lift creaked, its groans echoing through the shaft as it continued its slow, agonizing ascent. It was too far away now, disappearing into the black tunnel above. They were almost safe, but she was trapped, alone, with no way out.

THUMP.

With a sickening crack, the ground behind her exploded.

Nova spun around just in time to see the earth rip open. A massive limb burst through the stone, clawing its way upward. Black, oozing slime dripped from its grotesque surface, hissing as it hit the ground, burning away the stone beneath it like acid. The appendage slammed down with an earth-shattering crash, followed by another limb, then another. Six limbs in total—each as thick as a tree trunk—ripped through the ground, their grotesque surfaces pulsating with dark, corrupted energy.

Nova’s stomach lurched as the main body of the creature began to emerge from the pit of inky blackness. It was massive—round and twisted, its form too alien, too grotesque to fully comprehend. Six unblinking eyes blinked in eerie synchronization, glowing a sickly green as they focused on her with terrifying precision. The creature let out a screech, a high-pitched, guttural sound that sent shockwaves through the tunnel, rattling her bones.

Its skin, slick with oily sludge, pulsed and twitched as it dragged its massive body out of the earth. The corruption oozed from its form in thick, viscous puddles that bubbled and hissed as they spread, eating away at the stone floor like poison. The stench of decay hit Nova’s nose, overwhelming and foul, making her gag as bile rose in her throat.

This wasn’t just another corrupted monster. This was something else—something ancient and powerful, something that had been slumbering deep in the earth, feeding on the corrupted mana that had seeped through the mine.

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.

The creature’s six eyes locked onto her, each blink in perfect unison. Its twisted limbs twitched, and with a sickening lurch, it began to drag itself forward, the ground trembling with every massive step. The thumping sound came from within it now, like a heartbeat, pulsing through the air with malevolent intent. The corrupted mana radiating from its body was suffocating, pressing down on her like a weight she couldn’t escape.

Nova’s mind raced, her thoughts tumbling over each other in a blur of panic and fear. She wasn’t equipped to fight something like this—not with a spear, not with anything. It was too big, too powerful, too wrong.

She had to get out of here. Now.

She turned and ran, her legs burning as she pushed herself harder than ever before. Every step was agony, her muscles screaming for relief, but she couldn’t stop—not with the creature so close behind her. The sound of its screeches echoed off the stone walls, the scraping of its massive limbs against the ground like nails on a chalkboard.

“Jade! Claire!” she screamed again, her voice breaking with desperation. “Get the lift back down!”

But there was no answer. The lift was still rising, slowly disappearing into the darkness above. Her pulse quickened, fear wrapping around her chest like a vice. She wasn’t going to make it.

THUMP. THUMP.

The creature lunged, its massive limb crashing down where she had been standing only moments before. The ground exploded beneath its weight, sending chunks of stone flying through the air. Nova dove to the side, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind from her lungs.

Gasping for air, she rolled to her feet just in time to dodge another swipe from the creature’s grotesque limbs. It was faster now, its movements more calculated, more purposeful. Its eyes were locked on her, glowing with malevolent intent as it dragged itself closer.

She had to slow it down—buy herself some time, anything to keep it from reaching her.

Her gaze snapped to the wall of the lift shaft, where several support beams jutted out from the stone. If she could bring them down, maybe it would be enough to stall the creature.

With a burst of adrenaline, Nova sprinted toward the wall, her spear clutched tightly in her hands. The creature screeched again, lunging after her, its massive limbs tearing through the ground like paper. Nova skidded to a stop in front of the support beams and swung her spear with all the strength she had left.

The spear struck the beam with a resounding crack, splintering the wood. She gritted her teeth, swinging again and again, each blow sending shockwaves up her arm as the beam weakened.

The creature was almost upon her.

With one final swing, the beam snapped in half. The entire section of the tunnel groaned in protest as the wall began to collapse. Debris rained down, crashing into the ground and burying the creature beneath a massive pile of stone and rubble.

For a brief moment, there was silence.

Nova stood, panting heavily, her chest heaving as she stared at the mound of debris, her heart racing in her ears. Dust swirled around her, the air thick with the stench of decay.

But the thumping didn’t stop.

From beneath the rubble, the creature’s massive limbs began to stir, pushing aside the stones as it clawed its way out. Nova’s heart sank. It wasn’t dead—it was just getting started.

Without a second thought, she turned and sprinted toward the lift once more, praying she could make it in time.

As Nova sprinted toward the lift, her heart pounded in her chest like a drum, the rhythmic thumping of the massive creature behind her growing louder with each passing second. The stone walls of the tunnel trembled from the creature’s movements, its grotesque limbs clawing their way out of the rubble with sickening ease.

She could hear it scraping the ground as it pursued her, the sound like nails dragged across a chalkboard, amplified by the narrow passageways of the mine. Every nerve in her body screamed at her to run faster, but her legs were leaden, exhausted from the fight with the Hunter. The air around her thickened, heavy with the oppressive presence of the corruption that clung to the creature.

The lift was still rising, the distant metal screeching in protest as it carried Claire and Jade toward the surface, but it was moving too slowly. Her eyes darted up, desperately hoping to see some sign of them lowering it back down—but there was nothing.

The creature let out a bone-rattling screech behind her, its six eyes glowing brighter as it dragged itself closer. Nova’s skin prickled with the corrupted mana pouring off its body. It wasn’t just chasing her now—it was hunting her.

Ahead, the tunnel narrowed slightly before opening into a larger cavern, and Nova’s gaze flicked toward the walls. If she could just reach the open space, maybe she could use the environment to her advantage. Maybe there was something she hadn’t seen before, something she could use to slow the creature down.

THUMP. THUMP.

The creature’s pounding steps shook the ground again, and the walls trembled violently. More cracks spread through the stone, widening into fissures as dust and small rocks rained down around her. The tunnel was collapsing—she could feel it. If she didn’t get out soon, she’d be buried alive, trapped with this monstrosity.

“Come on, come on…” Nova muttered under her breath, her legs burning with exertion. The muscles in her arms ached from the force of her earlier swings against the support beams, but she pushed through the pain. There was no room for weakness here, not when survival was hanging by a thread.

She reached the larger cavern just as another tremor shook the ground, nearly knocking her off balance. The creature was right behind her now, its massive limbs stretching out to close the distance. Nova risked a glance over her shoulder and immediately wished she hadn’t.

The creature had grown larger, its twisted body pulsating with raw, corrupted energy. Black sludge oozed from its many eyes, dripping onto the ground with a sizzling hiss. Its limbs moved with a sickening fluidity, as though it wasn’t bound by the same rules of physics as the world around it.

Nova skidded to a stop near the edge of the cavern, her chest heaving as she scanned the space. There—on the far wall, near the ceiling. A cluster of old mining equipment, half-buried in rubble but still intact. If she could reach it, maybe she could cause another collapse, something that would buy her a few more precious moments.

But the creature was too close.

THUMP!

The ground beneath her feet shifted violently, and Nova barely managed to keep herself upright. The creature lunged, its massive limbs crashing into the stone floor, sending shockwaves through the cavern. Rocks and debris rained down around her, and Nova darted to the side just as one of the creature’s claws slammed into the spot where she had been standing.

It let out another ear-splitting screech, its eyes glowing brighter with every second, the corruption twisting and warping the air around it.

Nova’s pulse quickened. She had seconds to make a decision.

With a sharp breath, she bolted toward the far wall, dodging the creature’s claws as they slammed into the ground. Her muscles screamed in protest, but she forced herself to keep moving, every step bringing her closer to the old mining equipment. She just needed one good swing—one chance to bring the ceiling down on this thing.

She reached the wall and grabbed a rusted metal pipe, using it to pull herself up toward the equipment. The creature roared behind her, its massive body lurching forward as it tried to follow, but the narrow passage of the cavern slowed its movements. Nova’s breath came in short, ragged bursts as she reached the old mining cart and yanked on the lever.

The rusty mechanism groaned, protesting after years of disuse, but it finally gave way with a loud clank.

Above her, the ceiling trembled. Rocks and debris began to shift, loose stones tumbling from the cavern roof. Nova glanced back at the creature—it was nearly on her, its grotesque limbs clawing at the walls, trying to reach her.

She yanked the lever one last time, and the ceiling gave way.

The sound was deafening. A massive section of the cavern roof collapsed, sending boulders and rubble crashing down onto the creature below. Dust and debris filled the air, choking the cavern in a thick, suffocating cloud. Nova coughed, scrambling to avoid the falling rocks as the ground trembled beneath her.

The creature screeched, its voice a guttural, rage-filled wail as it was buried under the rubble. Its massive limbs flailed, thrashing against the stone as it tried to claw its way free, but the weight of the collapse was too much. The cavern floor shook violently as the creature’s final roars echoed through the mine, but then—silence.

For a moment, Nova stood still, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Dust coated her skin, and the taste of dirt lingered in her mouth, but she was alive. She had survived.

She staggered back, her legs trembling from exhaustion. The lift was still rising, now almost completely out of sight. But the creature was buried—at least, for now.

The silence was broken by the faint thump of the creature’s limbs still twitching beneath the rubble, but it was weaker now, fading.

Nova wiped the sweat and grime from her brow and looked up toward the distant light of the lift shaft. She had bought herself some time, but how much longer would it last?

“Claire, Jade… I hope you’ve made it,” she muttered under her breath.

She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and turned toward the tunnel. It was time to make her escape, before whatever came next emerged from the darkness below.

Unknown POV

He woke to a void, endless and silent, stretching out in all directions without shape or form. It was nothingness—a space untouched by time, without horizon or boundary.

His thoughts arrived slowly, like echoes drifting from some far-off place. Who am I? The question rang out in the void, unanswered. What am I? He searched for something to grasp onto, something to ground himself in this weightless expanse.

Then, a certainty came over him. I am male. The knowledge felt solid, unquestionable, like a fundamental truth that didn't need explaining.

With this realisation, the void began to shift.

At first, it was subtle, a faint flicker in the distance. Colours bled into the edges of the darkness, faint at first, as if they were memories trying to resurface. The void resisted, but the colours persisted, growing more vivid, more insistent. Reds and oranges bled into the black, shimmering like embers of a dying fire. Blues and greens followed, swirling in, breathing life into the void, creating something where there had been nothing.

Shapes materialized. Short, tall, indistinct at first but growing sharper with each passing moment. They became buildings, trees, streets. People. And with the shapes came sound—the hum of life, the faint murmur of distant voices. Laughter, footsteps, the rustling of leaves in a breeze that did not exist moments ago.

But beneath the surface, there was something wrong.

The sounds became louder, harsher. The gentle murmur of voices grew into frantic shouts. Footsteps turned into pounding as if people were fleeing from something. Then came the cries—screams of fear and agony, rising and falling like waves crashing against rocks. He could feel it now—the weight of terror pressing in, palpable and thick in the air.

And then, the tearing.

The wet, sickening rip of flesh being torn apart, the visceral sound echoing in the distance like the snapping of fragile bones. His chest tightened, and a strange pull tugged at him, drawing him toward the source of the noise.

Suddenly, a figure appeared before him—ghostly white against the shifting backdrop of chaos.

"Where am I?" the figure asked, its voice trembling in the void, hollow and lost.

Before he could answer, the figure turned, calling into the swirling chaos, "Samantha! Where are you?" Their voice grew more frantic, the desperation sinking into their every word.

He frowned. Samantha? The name meant nothing to him, but the urgency in the figure's voice tugged at something inside him.

"What is wrong? And what is a 'Samantha'?" he asked, his voice deep and unfamiliar, yet somehow his own.

The figure, a man, froze, turning back toward him with wide, haunted eyes. "Who is there?" he whispered, his voice barely audible now, trembling with fear and confusion. "My daughter… she’s missing… I think I—"

The man's voice broke, and he faltered, the words catching in his throat.

"I think I just died."

The weight of those words settled between them, heavy and suffocating, like the pressure before a storm. His breath hitched, and for the first time, he felt something stir deep inside him—an awareness. An understanding of the boundary between life and death. He had heard this voice, these cries before. They had come to him before he had a name, a form.

"I’m not sure I can help," he murmured, glancing around. But something was shifting again—this time in the colours, the space around them. The hues that had once been muted and dull began to deepen. The reds grew fiercer, the blues more piercing. It was as if the world itself was reacting to the anguish of the souls around him.

And then, there was another sound.

A sob, faint but distinct, rose up from the depths of the void, cutting through the chaos. It wasn’t like the screams of the dying—it was softer, more fragile. A child's sobbing.

"M-Mommy?" The voice was barely a whisper, tinged with a raw, aching fear. "Mommy, where are you?"

His chest tightened again, this time more sharply. A child. The soul was young—too young, too innocent to be caught in this place of sorrow.

The air around him grew colder, more oppressive, and the very ground seemed to ripple beneath his feet. He was no longer just an observer. He felt the tug of something deeper, more primal—a force pulling him toward the voices, toward the pain that saturated the air.

He appeared before the child, though he did not understand how he had moved. His form solidified further now—a tall figure with dark, olive-toned skin. He was draped in a robe, the color of the void itself, but it shifted with the swirling energy around him. He looked down at the child, her small form trembling, lost and afraid.

"What is wrong, little one?" he asked, his voice now softer, yet carrying the weight of the void itself.

The girl’s wide, tear-filled eyes stared up at him. "I can’t find my mommy," she sobbed. Her tiny hands clutched at nothing, grasping at the empty air as if reaching for someone who was no longer there. "She’s gone. Everyone's gone."

He knelt beside her, the overwhelming sense of helplessness filling him, though he didn’t understand it. These souls, these voices—they were not his concern, yet their cries echoed within him. He could feel something stirring deeper, something that recognized their pain.

The void trembled, rippling with energy.

He felt it—the earth tearing open. Far beyond this place, the cries of the living echoed in the distance, growing louder, merging with the cries of the dead.

The world was breaking.