As Kale walked through the forest, he found a trail of blood.
'Now where might this lead?'
He started walking along the path and soon discovered another challenger.
What he found was not pretty...
It was another dead challenger, only this time there was a group of Hollows standing over the corpse, eating the remains.
Hollows were one of the many creatures that lurked in the Cursed Horde. They were the most common creatures one could find. Hollows were a race of humanoid-like monsters. Their bodies were gray and big, their muscles strong. They were bald and had mouths full of razor-sharp teeth. Their hands had four long, thick fingers, each with claw-like nails. Their skin was tough, with some parts even rock-like, so fighting them hand-to-hand would not be the best choice.
'There are five Hollows! How am I supposed to kill all of them?!'
Kale started to panic, sweat forming on his brow.
'If I was stronger, then this would have been feasible...'
He took a step back and tried to hide himself.
'I need a weapon. Wait... I have a weapon!'
'Where is the sword?'
'Oh no, DID I LOSE IT!?'
He looked around for the sword and quickly found it in a puddle of blood. He had dropped it in shock after seeing the corpse and the Hollows. Kale picked up the sword, feeling the blood soak his hand.
'Eww.'
Kale began slowly retreating, getting ready to run for his life. He turned his back and began walking.
A rustle of leaves resounded behind him.
'FUCK.'
Kale turned around, and what he saw made him drop his sword again. His heart was beating faster and faster, his eyes wide.
In front of him, four humans charged at the Hollows with great resolve. There was a buff guy with a bald head wielding a battle axe, he looked almost like a beast himself, and wore armor seemingly made from scales. To the right of the buff guy was a man with an average build. He had short black hair and a handsome face with sharp angles and a clean-shaven look. He wielded a sword and shield, clad in steel plate armor. In the rear was a girl who seemed quite athletic, but she wearing a black robe hiding over chainmail armour. Her brown hair reached her shoulders, and she wielded a longbow.
They were all eye-catching, but at the front was the one who led the charge. Kale's heart skipped a beat as he gazed at her. A girl wearing light steel armor, wielding a sword as long as she was tall. Her skin was tan and soft-looking, her eyes a light blue with tinges of grey. Her dirty blonde hair was tied into a ponytail that nearly reached her tailbone. She was stunning, and an aura of vigor surrounded her.
"AHHHH! Charge!"
A scream tore his mind away from the beautiful girl and brought his attention back to the battlefield. The four charged the five Hollows, but the Hollows had not moved an inch. When the four got within twenty meters, the Hollows lunged at them and the battle began.
The big guy with the axe rushed the largest Hollow and swung horizontally at its head. The Hollow ducked under the axe and swept the axeman's legs. He stumbled and fell to the ground.
A Hollow with a spear charged at the archer girl. She drew the bow and aimed. When the Hollow got within five meters, she let the arrow go, then she doged the attack from the Hollow. The arrow whistled through the air and buried itself in the eye of the Hollow standing above the axeman. The axeman then decapitated the Hollow and jumped to his feet, throwing his axe into the back of the Hollow attacking the archer. The Hollow stumbled, and the archer shot another arrow through its skull.
Another Hollow was locked in a fierce battle with the shield bearer, who parried the monster's blows. The Hollow grew angry, swung its leg, and struck the shield bearer in the abdomen. He flew into a tree and fainted.
Only three Hollows remained. The archer and the axeman were fighting one, and the dirty blonde girl fought the one who kicked the shield bearer.
'Wow, she is stunningly beautiful...'
'Those moves are just...'
'Wait, what am I thinking? Get yourself together, Kale!'
Kale observed the battlefield and trembled at the ferocity of the battle. But something was wrong.
'Where is the third Hollow?'
'It was just here with the others...'
'Should I just run? It's a perfect opportunity to get out of here, after all...'
Then he saw it.
'It's in the trees!'
Above, a humanoid figure lurked in the branches, teeth bared, ready to pounce on the dirty blonde girl.
'NO!'
Kale didn't know what happened to him, but in that moment he grabbed his sword and sprinted toward the girl with all his might. She had just slain the Hollow she was fighting and turned to see his blurry form approaching.
'She hasn't seen it! She's going to die!'
Kale pushed himself harder.
'NO! GET AWAY FROM HER!'
He threw the sword through the air. It spun, then pierced the eye of the Hollow just as it lunged and buried itself into its brain.
'Yes! finaly luck is on my side!'
But the creature's body was falling, it was going to crush her.
'Wait, no! i am not luckt after all!'
The creatures body closed in
'NO, I won't let it happen!'
Kale leapt forward, crashing into her and sending them both rolling through the ashen dirt. Dust clouds kicked up around them.
They had managed to not get crushed by the creature-
When they stopped rolling, Kale was on top of her. He looked down, checking if she was alright.
Her eyes were locked onto him.
'Oh, she's staring at me, and her face is red? Is she blushing at seeing my handsome face? Wait, her face is really close to mine! Should I lean in for a kiss?'
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, she drew a dagger from her belt and stabbed him through a gap in his chestplate.
"AHHHH!"
Kale screamed. The girl kicked him off and sent him flying onto the Hollow he had just killed.
'What the fuck!? She was supposed to kiss me, not try to fucking murder me!'
She jumped to her feet, eyes burning, and charged at him.
'Oh, she is really angry, isn't she? What the hell did I do to piss her off?!'
Kale saw the dagger still lodged in his chestplate. He struggled to his feet just before she reached him. With no other choice, he ripped the dagger out and used it to block her strike.
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING, BLONDIE?!"
Suddenly, her grip loosened. She looked confused, then stepped back and sheathed her sword.
"Wait... you're a human?"
Kale was dumbfounded.