Loud footsteps and roars pressed closely on Anny’s ears like a storm.

  She could hear the pounding of her heart too.

  Anny saw a beast with a large mane jump from one building to another. It would have been a breathtaking sight if not for how harrowing the beast looked on the outside.

  “Damnit”

  She heard a wistful whisper from her side and saw Liber grit his teeth in frustration.

  ‘He is frustrated too.’

  Anny thought.

  But she was frustrated as well.

  “What should we do?”

  Anny asked, her gaze remaining on the beast until Liber clicked his tongue and turned toward her.

  “I don’t know… getting surrounded was unexpected.”

  Unexpected…

  What a strange word it was.

  Anny made a selfish decision, she thought. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched her fist till they started to shake.

  They only needed to look around and return back. Creatures of beyond in this place were not as unexpected as Liber said. They had been in the Lost City for a month, after all. The only reason they were stuck was because she was slow… and weak, in fact.

  The only reason Liber is frustrated is due to her presence. If it had been Summer in her place… she could have blasted her way out; if it had been Enzo, he could have hidden them deep in the shadows. If it had been Chris, he and Liber could have just cut down their enemies. If it had been… Asher, he would have found a way out as well.

  Anyone but her could have been of great help to Liber.

  “I see.”

  Anny didn’t let her thought slip out. Her smile remained the same as she held Liber's hand, giving it a small squeeze.

  “What do you suggest we do?”

  Liber kept his mouth closed and turned his gaze away from her. He looked at the monsters for a little longer as if searching for something and then narrowed his gaze.

  “Hey, Anny, don’t they look similar? I feel as if I had seen them before… But I can hardly remember where.”

  ‘Hmm?’

  Similar…?

  Anny looked at the beast. No, at the countless beasts filling the streets as if they own it. They walked on four legs; their bodies were exceedingly large, like a bear with grey fur and necks covered in purple manes. Sharp claws and yellow eyes that were filled with bloodlust.

  They were such scary and vicious creatures. There was no way Anny could ever forget meeting them anytime soon.

  “Haa!”

  Anny suddenly hissed a cold breath as her eyes darkened.

  “T-They look like them!”

  Anny remembered now.

  She was not sure of it at first, but the longer she watched them, the more uncanny their resemblance became.

  “Liber… We have not seen them, but we had seen something that resembled them in Halo village. They look similar to those monsters, the ones that resembled a pack of wolves!”

  Her voice went dangerously low and quiet as Anny told her discovery.

  How could they have forgotten?

  The ones in front of them were just bigger, stronger, and more vicious-looking monsters. But they were undeniably similar!

  “Then in the Safron outskirts… those monsters had appeared all of a sudden as well, just like what’s happening in Kalista?” Liber muttered, feeling his heart sink.

  Yes, that was indeed possible.

  It was the first time they had seen those monsters. But they also knew that they didn’t know about every creature of beyond, so they had ignored it. They were finally paying for their ignorance.

  “Maybe Kalista is not the only place suffering from the sudden appearance of new monsters. It could have been happening everywhere, just more often in Kalista, so no one found out about it till now.”

  Anny's eyes started to shake; her heart was really going to come out now. She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart and placed one hand over her heart, feeling it slow down.

  Stolen story; please report.

  ‘How creepy.’

  Liber had reached this conclusion so easily, connecting dots one after the other.

  “We can think about this later. How do you suggest we escape now?”

  Liber won’t leave her and run away, no matter how much Anny begs him. She knew if alone, he had better chances of survival, but he wouldn’t leave her. The least she could do right now was keep his thoughts on track and show no weakness.

  “Hmm, can you see that door? We will run over there. Those beasts will notice us, but if we run fast enough, maybe we can have a breakthrough.”

  Liber pointed to one of the fallen buildings; it looked similar to a crumbling castle as debris lay everywhere. However, she could also see a giant entrance still intact. If they crossed the street and entered through there, the chances of escape might increase.

  “Alright.”

  Anny nodded with determined eyes.

  ‘Run. Thats all I need to do, then we will survive.’

  It was never a sure thing but Anny believed it wholeheartedly.

  Liber opened the door where they had been hiding.

  His steps remained firm and eyes locked on her.

  Then—

  Monsters roared.

  “Rahhhh!”

  Their presence was found the moment they left their little hiding spot.

  Thump!

  Thump!

  The grey-furred and purple-maned beast lunged toward them with their sharp claws and dark yellow pupils.

  Anny’s breathing hitched, but she didn’t stop.

  Liber took his sword out as it sparkled in flames after a serpent of fire coiled around it.

  Swiss!

  He swung his sword, stopping momentarily.

  Dark inky blood splashed around like a fountain as he cleaved the beast's flesh apart with his terrible flames.

  “Don’t look back!”

  He shouted with rasped breathing as he followed behind her.

  Anny entered the fallen building.

  Her mind started to spin as she huffed at the lack of air in her lungs.

  Black smoke that smelled like ashes suddenly followed from behind her.

  Anny's eyes opened wide as she saw two large figures covered in grey fur and a purple mane had appeared above her, standing on the debris. Just as they were to jump, the smoke curled up like wings and lunged at them, pushing them away.

  Thud!

  They were thrashed away.

  The others had felt bad for Anny.

  She knew that her act was not perfect. If she had done better, they would have no need to worry about her mental state.

  If that were to happen, Liber would not have brought her here for a change.

  If…

  If…

  So much could have changed with so little effort.

  Liber jumped ahead, covered in the ashen black smoke.

  His steps were light as a feather as the smoke propelled him above her.

  His sword coiled in smoke and flames surged forward with burning passion towards the monsters.

  Dark flames as disgusting as the monsters themselves covered the exit coming out of their mane.

  Cling!

  His sword hit the first beast, and smoke and blazing serpents coiled the other, slowing it down. After a moment of struggle the beast was covered in Liber's flame.

  Boom!

  The serpent exploded, releasing a surge of flames.

  Liber himself was covered in bruises and wounds. The battle was not as one-sided as it looked. Gritting his teeth, he pushed another beast aside and created a fiery serpent as large as the flames blocking the entrance covered in dense smoke.

  The serpent collided with the flames and then—

  Boom!

  Another explosion occurred!

  Anny’s eyes burned and her breathing became heavy. Her vision had gone blurry as Liber fought monsters one after the other.

  She was behind him.

  A white light came as another exit was opened for them to escape.

  The smoke was thick.

  It was hard to see, but she did see it without a doubt.

  Liber was going to clear the path for them to escape. He went ahead, and Anny followed. Her eyes saw him bleed profusely and his armor crack with each attack that missed its target.

  The sun was out, pressing closely on them as they came out.

  The smoke escaped and so did they—

  Thud!

  Liber fell on his knees loud enough for Anny to tremble. She was too far behind to even heal him in time. His eyes had gone hazy as if those that touched him were poisonous.

  Then she saw it.

  Another beast, larger than others, comes forward from above the building.

  Jumping with maddening fury and gnawing its claws towards the Liber figure.

  Anny closed her eyes.

  One needs a will to stay strong and a path to follow.

  One needs to understand and master what they have.

  One needs to decide on what they want next.

  As if in the fleeting moments before death, she remembered what a cheeky boy with silver eyes had said to her and Liber. He had grown so much that it was hard to believe; the one who knew nothing of the world had told them the key towards accession, on how to find enlightenment. Anny had laughed at that time, happy to just learn some basic ruinic language and rituals from him. She was satisfied with just that.

  “I am not strong… Summer, not like you or anyone else.”

  Time seemed to have slowed down for her, as Anny reminded herself.

  Even after Asher had told them what they needed for the future. Anny neither found her will nor did she find any path he speaks of.

  However, she knew what she wanted next. That was enough for now.

  Anny opened her eyes.

  “But… I can't run away either.”

  Anny wanted to disappear but not run away in fear.

  She can’t leave her friend behind.

  She, who had always been behind and shielded by others, came forward for the first time.

  She had reached enlightenment!

  She didn't need to decipher it because she would have done it given or not.

  She threw her arms around Liber just as the beast’s claws tore across her back, hurling them both to the ground.

  “Ugh!”

  The cry escaped her lips as pain surged through her body. Her fingers dug into his shoulder, snapping him out of his daze. Her face went pale, her lips trembled, and crimson spread across her back like a blooming stain.

  Liber’s eyes widened.

  A burst of smoke roared past him, shoving the massive beast back with force—buying them a fleeting moment to breathe.

  “Anny! Anny!” He yelled in panic.

  She trembled, unable to even lift her head.

  The beast approached once more, now wreathed in dark flames. Liber felt his jaw clench.

  “Go… I will be… okay.”

  He froze. A genuine smile rested on her face.

  He hesitated but slowly rose, gripping his sword tighter than ever. Something had changed—not in him, but in her. Despite her condition, Liber believed her words.

  ‘She will be okay.’

  He muttered it softly, as if willing it into truth.

  Anny almost laughed, for reasons only she knew, as she watched Liber once again shrouded in dark smoke.

  His sword swung toward the beast—and the dreadful creature roared.

  It wasn’t a roar of rage or resolve. It was panic—pure dread. Liber saw it stumble, turning frantically as if searching for something.

  And it was searching—not for him, but for light.

  It had gone blind.

  Anny let out a faint chuckle while healing herself. She couldn’t move, her eyelids heavy, but she still saw Liber’s blade slip into the creature’s neck like a silent serpent.

  But her laughter came from something deeper.

  Her enlightenment… was sacrifice.