Rain suddenly poured down over the forest, as if the sky itself wanted to extinguish the last traces of warmth around the small fire burning at the cave's entrance. Heavy droplets hammered against leaves, rocks, and soil, creating a relentless rhythm. Wind howled through the tall trees, bending branches and carrying the cold smell of wet earth deeper into the forest.
Kai stood near the mouth of the cave.
In his left hand he held a wooden shield, the surface scarred and chipped from earlier battles. His right hand rested near the hilt of his sword. His eyes stared into the gray curtain of rain falling beyond the cave.
Kai muttered quietly to himself.
"It raining again…"
Behind him, Duke leaned against the rocky wall of the cave, letting out a tired sigh. He ran a hand through his soaked hair, wiping rain and sweat from his face.
Duke said, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
"Looks like we're stuck here a bit longer."
Mike crouched beside the fire, poking at the weak flames with a stick. The fire sputtered under the damp air, struggling to stay alive.
Mike grumbled.
"This sucks… if only—"
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
The scream tore through the forest.
It was sharp, raw, desperate.
The three of them froze instantly.
Mike jumped to his feet.
"Did you hear that?!"
Duke frowned and tilted his head, listening carefully through the sound of the rain, but he quickly ignored it
"Must been someone try to escape those little devil, we're heard that a lot for the past two days"
Mike look at duke then shake his head, try to ignore the sound also
"Maybe you're right…."
Kai turned toward the cave entrance immediately. His heart began pounding in his chest.
"It close….maybe we should go out there and check"
Before Kai could step out, Duke grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back.
"Are you insane?!"
His voice was sharp with anger.
"Going out there right now is suicide! It's raining, visibility's garbage, and goblins are crawling everywhere!"
Kai turned his head slowly and looked Duke straight in the eyes.
His voice was calm, but firm.
"As long as we kill them, it's fine."
Mike stepped forward too, worry written across his face.
"You make it sound so easy! Even if you kill them, you can't burn the bodies in this rain! Remember?!"
Kai brushed Duke's hand off his shoulder.
"So what do you want to do? Sit here while someone out there is dying?"
Duke clenched his fists.
Frustration and helplessness flashed across his face.
"You can't even guarantee your own survival and you're trying to play hero?! Think about it! Only an idiot would run out there right now!"
Kai didn't respond immediately.
The rain.
The wind.
The sound of his own heartbeat.
Everything blurred together.
In his mind, a memory surfaced.
The rooftop of his old school.
A pale blue sky.
A burning house, screaming, yelling….and blood
"WHY DON'T YOU HELP US KAI!?
"kai"…"Kai"…."KAI"
Kai snapped back to reality where mike and duke trying to convince him
"Are you even listen!?"
Kai let out a quiet laugh.
A bitter, self-mocking laugh.
"Maybe you're right."
Duke blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Kai looked directly at him.
"Maybe I am that idiot."
Before Duke or Mike could stop him…
Kai grabbed his sword.
Strapped the shield tightly to his arm.
And ran straight into the pouring rain.
Duke and Mike shouted at the same time.
"KAI!"
But the storm swallowed their voices.
Only the sound of rain answered.
Kai sprinted through the forest.
Branches whipped across his face. Mud splashed up onto his boots. His breathing grew heavier with every step, but he didn't slow down.
The scream echoed in his mind over and over.
Then suddenly…
He stopped.
"Blood…?"
A streak of dark red spread across the ground at his feet. Rainwater dragged the blood across the soil in thin crimson trails.
Kai lifted his gaze.
More blood.
Leading deeper into the forest.
He didn't hesitate.
He followed it.
The deeper he went, the stronger the metallic smell became.
Then he saw it.
His stomach tightened instantly.
A girl had collapsed onto the forest floor.
Her leg was bleeding badly, crimson soaking into the mud. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably.
Surrounding her….
Dozens of goblins.
Their gray-green skin glistened with rain. Their red eyes burned with hunger. Drool dripped from crooked mouths as they crept closer.
"Don't… don't come closer…"
"M-Mom… please save me…"
One goblin suddenly leapt forward.
Slash!
Kai burst out of the rain like a blade itself.
His sword cut through the air and struck the goblin mid-jump, sending its body flying sideways.
The girl stared in shock.
"H… huh?"
Kai stepped between her and the monsters.
His voice came out fast and urgent.
"How's your leg?! Can you run?!"
The girl was still trembling, tears mixing with rain on her face.
"H-hu… huhu…"
Kai shouted.
"HEY!"
She flinched and looked up.
"H-huh?!"
Kai breathe start to become more and more heavy
"What's your name?"
The girl try to say her name while body is shaking uncontrollably
"Y…yuki"
Kai hold on to his weapon more tightly
"Your leg!…Can you run?!"
"I… I think so…"
"Then what are you waiting for?! RUN!"
She bit her lip and forced herself to stand. Limping badly, she turned and ran into the rain.
She looked back once.
"W-who are you…?"
Kai didn't turn.
His eyes were fixed on the goblins closing in.
"nobody…."
The girl disappeared into the storm.
Now only the goblins remained.
Kai swallowed.
He raised his sword and shield.
"…Damn it."
His hands were shaking.
But he charged.
Steel clashed against bone. Goblins shrieked and lunged wildly. Rain blurred his vision as he swung again and again, cutting down whatever got too close.
One fell.
Then another.
But there were too many.
Their attacks grew faster.
More aggressive.
Kai could feel his strength fading.
One mistake—
A goblin slipped around his shield.
Its crude spear drove straight into his shoulder.
"AHHH!"
Pain exploded through his body.
Kai staggered backward. Gritting his teeth, he thrust his sword forward and killed the goblin in front of him.
Then his legs gave out.
He collapsed into the mud.
Blood poured from his shoulder, mixing with rainwater and dirt.
The goblins circled him slowly now.
Patient.
Hungry.
Kai sat there, breathing heavily.
Then he laughed softly.
A tired, hopeless laugh.
"After all that… nothing changed…"
His vision began to blur.
"So this is how it ends…?"
His lips still curved slightly upward.
"I wonder… how those two idiots will react…"
One goblin roared and lunged forward.
Its shadow filled Kai's fading vision.
The rain continued to fall.