"Pl… e…" The mutilated creature moaned as it walked with stubby legs towards the party of six. "M-ma…"

  "W-what is that?!"Radich yelled hid behind Pin.

  "I don't know," Izik unsheathed his dagger. "But I don't think I've ever seen like it."

  "I have never seen such a monster…" Borgis raised his left arm as the creature grew ever closer.

  "Kill it!" Radich yelped.

  The creature suddenly shrieked as it started running towards the group, its dragged mouthed opening wider. A sac tangled in veins emerged from its mouth as it secreted a dark red fluid on Borgis.

  "Borgis! Watch out!" Izik screamed.

  "Hmph!" Borgis' left arm shone grey as a slab of stone took the shape of a large shield, bocking the fluid before hitting anyone. Vapor came out of the red liquid as soon as it touched the stone shield. Borgis then extended his right hand as a stone axe materialized at his hand, striking the creature.

  The creature shrieked louder as half of its face was torn off from Borgis' strike, making the dark red fluid secrete everywhere, sizzling wherever it lands.

  "Now, Izik!" Borgis yelled as he dropped the melting shield.

  "Okay!" Izik huffed as he ran towards the shrieking creature. The dagger in his hand shone with red hue as it engulfed in flame. With a slash at the head of the creature, the dagger's flame extended to the length of a sword, cutting its head clean. The head let out a shriek as it plopped on the floor.

  "Is it dead?" Azeri asked as she grew closer to the motionless creature.

  "I think so…" Izik exhaled.

  "Be careful of its blood," Borgis looked at his shield on the ground, half-melted. "It eats away whatever it touches."

  "I-I could've handled that thing!" Radich exclaimed, his legs trembling.

  Pin sweated as he looked at the creature from a distance.

  "W-what happened here?" Ari trembled as she spoke. "A-are they protecting the p-place?"

  Azeri looked back at the group. "Whatever it is, we need to be more careful."

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  "Look out!" Pin lunged as he screamed at Azeri.

  Azeri quickly turned at the creature, but the creature quickly extended its hand, grabbing her by the neck. Azeri gasped for air as the beheaded creature slowly morphed a new head.

  "Azeri!" Izik yelled as he tried to cut off the creature's arm, but the creature placed Azeri between them.

  "It is using Azeri as a shield?" Borgis' eyes widened. "This headless monster can strategize, even?"

  Azeri groaned she gasped for air as the creature fully restored its head. Azeri grabbed the creature's arm as her ring glowed, freezing the arm. Azeri shattered the creature's arm as it shrieked loudly. She dropped on the floor as she finally inhaled deeply, rubbing her neck.

  The creature lunged at Azeri, but Borgis tackled it with a spiky stone shield, pinning it to the wall.

  "Get back, Borgis!" Izik lunged at the pinned creature, his dagger's tip holding a small ball of fire. He stabbed the creature's torso with it and then retreated. The creature bloated like a balloon until it then exploded from the inside.

  "Is it finally dead?" Azeri coughed.

  "I hope so." Izik sighed.

  Pin squinted as bits of flesh wrangled around the floor like worms around a dark red lump that throbbed. "There!" Pin lunged at it and stomped it, as a small screech came out, and the bits of flesh ceased to move. "I think it's dead now…" he said quietly.

  "Azeri!" Ari yelled as she ran towards Azeri. "Are you okay?"

  "The damn thing almost snapped my neck." Azeri coughed as she rubbed her bruised neck.

  "Let me help you." Ari placed her hand on her neck and healed the bruises on her neck.

  "Appreciate it, Ari." Azeri stood up.

  "This is dangerous…" Borgis stroked his beard. "I think we need to go back, or at least those that cannot fight."

  "Borgis is right." Izik sheathed his dagger and looked at the group. "Anyone who isn't able to face such a thing should leave now."

  "Are you talking about me?" Radich scowled, clenching his fist. "I was just surprised is all!"

  "This isn't a game, young Radich." Borgis stood in front of Radich. "If there are more of these creatures, it could mean death if you could not face them, and you would be dead weight. A warrior always knows when he is to retreat."

  "Dead weight…" Radich mumbled.

  "You don't have to prove anything, you know." Izik added.

  "It's okay if anyone wants to leave," Azeri said to the group. "But I am committed to seeing this through. Now that we know how to take that thing down, we can take them down faster."

  "I-I want to uncover the secrets of the world!" Ari trembled. "I w-will keep on going with you."

  "If one of these things faced you, would you freeze up like last time?" Izik said sternly.

  "I…" Radich hesitated to speak, sweat dripping from his brow. "I-"

  "I am leaving." Pin exclaimed.

  "Pin?" Radich's eyes widened.

  "There are many other adventures await us. I am not strong enough for this one." Pin added. "If anyone wants to leave, feel free to come with me."

  "I-I guess I can't let Pin leave by himself…" Radich said, looking down.

  Pin is leaving because he knew Radich wanted to leave, just not alone, Izik thought. Izik smiled at Pin and nodded to him.

  Pin nodded to Izik.

  "We will wait for you outside." Pin turned to the exit and started walking. "Good luck."

  "Pin…" Ari said quietly.

  "Don't worry!" Azeri waved to the two. "We'll celebrate this together once we're done."

  "Be careful, guys." Radich said quietly as he followed Pin.

  "Now then," Borgis huffed. "Let us continue this expedition, young ones."