CHAPTER 9: "ESCAPE"
FADE IN:
INT. DUNGEON - CENTRAL AREA
This UNIQUE CREATURE. Its spider arms had PIERCED THROUGH Mete Kağan's shoulder.
ERETT (shouting) Hurry Setsuko! I'm burning the exit! My echo is almost gone!
Erett grabs Setsuko's arm. But Setsuko seems FROZEN.
She has her bow drawn. One eye aimed. The other closed.
ERETT (panicked) Come on Setsuko! Come on! Drop the bow!
Setsuko OPENS BOTH EYES.
Her BLUE EYES shine like a hunter's.
A BLUE FLAME spreads across the arrow tip.
She releases.
THWACK!
The arrow SLASHES THROUGH the creature's arm.
METE KAĞAN falls to the ground.
The creature doesn't give up. It raises its arm to crush the Kağan—
SLASH!
KEISE cuts the creature's arm again with his sword. This time it didn't sever completely, but it was WOUNDED.
His sword IGNITES once more.
ERETT watches with his mouth open.
ERETT (inner voice) These two rookies… they're saving our lives.
The Kağan lies on the ground, covered in blood.
Erett throws a fireball. But blood drips from his mouth too. He used it too much.
ERETT (panting) Come on Setsuko! I've opened the exit!
SETSUKO (terrified) But… Keise is still in there with them!
ERETT (determined) Don't worry. I'll save them. You go, get help!
INT. DUNGEON - DEEPER INSIDE
Keise CLASHES with the creature.
The creature attacks with spider arms. Keise defends with his sword. But he's taking SMALL CUTS every time.
KEISE (inner voice) Come on Keise… come on… you can do this.
He's taking small wounds. But he doesn't care.
ERETT (arriving beside him, panting) Come on! We'll hold until Setsuko brings help!
Keise smiles. A strange pride on his bloody face.
KEISE (panting, laughing) You didn't have to come…
ERETT (smiling) Well done Keise! Your echo has awakened!
BAM!
Keise deflects another attack.
KEISE (shocked, looking at his sword) Yes… I don't know how, but… I'm doing it!
INT. DUNGEON - CENTRAL AREA (CLIMAX OF BATTLE)
Keise defends 1, 2, 3 times, but the small wounds are starting to wear him down.
BAM!
Keise is THROWN BACK by a punch.
Erett turns his back. His armor is torn too.
ERETT (shouting) KEİSE!
Blood drips from his mouth.
SLASH!
He takes a punch too, thrown back.
METE KAĞAN opens his eyes. Blood drips from his mouth. But he REFUSES TO GIVE UP.
METE KAĞAN (growling) You… FILTHY CREATURE!
He stands up. Picks up his sword.
The creature sees the Kağan rising and ROARS.
The Kağan charges the creature.
The creature attacks with its arms. The Kağan BLOCKS and successfully SEVERS the other arm, TEARS IT OFF.
He picks up the severed arm, leaps into the air.
The creature shoots a WEB upward. The Kağan jumps from above—
SLASH!
He strikes the creature's FACE.
BOOM!
The creature's own arm PIERCES through itself.
The creature ROARS. It begins forming flames in its mouth.
The Kağan tries to escape. But the creature GRABS him with its arm.
Just as it's about to breathe fire—
BOOM!
A FIREBALL and WATER BALL block the flames.
The area fills with MIST.
INT. DUNGEON - CENTRAL AREA (IN THE MIST)
Mete Kağan, mouth full of blood, understands and smiles.
METE KAĞAN (growling, victorious) Creature… I think you should run.
His eyes close. He FAINTS.
BOOM!
ONE ARM of the creature suddenly TEARS OFF.
BOOM!
THE OTHER LEG tears off too.
The creature screams in pain.
The mist begins to DISSIPATE.
In the center stands BİLGE KAĞAN (Wise Kağan). Clearly he did this.
His eyes go to Keise.
BİLGE KAĞAN (faint smile) Well well… new people joined.
He turns to the creature. Lowers his helmet.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cold) Your end has come, creature.
The creature tries to form a FIREBALL with its last strength—
But it DISAPPEARS from the middle.
SLASH!
Its HEAD is cut off.
The creature collapses. Finally dead.
INT. DUNGEON - AFTER THE BATTLE
BİLGE KAĞAN looks at his brother. On the ground, covered in blood, unconscious.
BİLGE KAĞAN (to himself, cold voice) You impatient fool… wait for me next time.
He wipes his sword. Looks at the creature's corpse.
BİLGE KAĞAN (turning to Keise and Erett) You two… did good work.
His eyes stop on Keise's bloody face.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cont'd) But you still have a long way to go.
He turns, goes to his brother.
EXT. DUNGEON EXIT - NIGHT
SETSUKO waits at the exit. Hands shaking. Eyes lost in the darkness.
SETSUKO (inner voice) Please… please come out safe…
From inside, HEAVY FOOTSTEPS echo.
BİLGE KAĞAN emerges carrying ERETT on one arm, KEISE on the other. Dragging METE KAĞAN on the ground.
Setsuko's eyes fill with tears.
SETSUKO (sobbing) Finally… thank God…
Bilge Kağan signals with his head.
BİLGE KAĞAN (booming voice) Soldiers!
The soldiers around rush in. They carry the wounded to a HORSE CART.
Bilge Kağan turns to Setsuko. Stern but approving expression.
BİLGE KAĞAN (serious) Well done, girl. Good work. What's your name?
Setsuko's eyes on Keise. Covered in blood, wounded, but alive.
SETSUKO (shaking) Setsu… Setsuko, sir.
BİLGE KAĞAN (nodding) Setsuko. I won't forget your name.
He turns. Signals for mounting the horses.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cont'd) We return to headquarters!
EXT. ROAD - HORSE CART - NIGHT
Keise, Erett, and Mete Kağan lie side by side in the cart.
Setsuko sits beside Keise, holding his hand.
SETSUKO (whispering) Keise… can you hear me?
KEISE (eyes closed, faint smile) I hear you. Shut up a little… you talk too much.
SETSUKO (smiling, tears in her eyes) You're always like this.
FADE TO BLACK.
[CHAPTER 9 END