Chapter 4: The First Dong
489 Words
The forest erupted into chaos.
“Run!”
The captain’s command echoed through the trees as the monstrous roar shook the ground once more.
A giant Shadow Fang boar burst through the undergrowth, its black tusks gleaming like sharpened blades. Its crimson eyes locked onto the group, and without hesitation, it charged.
Young warriors scattered in every direction.
Some climbed nearby trees.
Others disappeared into the dense bushes.
A few stood frozen in fear.
“Move!” Bashan shouted as he tackled one of the boys out of the beast’s path.
The boar slammed into a massive tree, splintering the trunk with terrifying ease.
Azul tightened his grip on his wooden practice sword.
A wooden sword… against that?
He knew it was useless.
Still, he couldn’t just abandon everyone.
“Your Highness!” one of the trainees yelled. “This way!”
Azul turned toward the voice, but before he could take a step, the beast lunged again.
He dove aside just in time.
Its tusk sliced through the sleeve of his training uniform.
“So close…”
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
The captain and the palace guards fought to draw the creature away, but the Shadow Fang was far stronger than anyone had anticipated.
“Split into groups!” the captain ordered.
“Head for the First Dong! Regroup there!”
Without waiting for another command, the trainees fled.
Azul sprinted through the forest, branches whipping against his face.
Behind him, heavy footsteps crashed through the undergrowth.
The beast wasn’t giving up.
As he leaped over a fallen log, another figure landed beside him.
Bashan.
“I thought you’d be halfway back to the palace by now,” Bashan said between breaths.
Azul frowned.
“I could say the same about you.”
“This isn’t the time.”
For the first time since they had known each other, Bashan’s expression held no mockery.
Only determination.
The two rivals ran side by side, weaving between towering trees as the sounds of the beast gradually faded.
Minutes later, they reached a circular clearing marked by a weathered stone monument.
Carved into its surface was a single symbol.
First Dong.
Several trainees were already gathered there, struggling to catch their breath.
“We made it…” one of them whispered.
But the relief didn’t last.
A deep rumble echoed beneath their feet.
The ancient stone monument began to glow.
Cracks spread across the ground like lightning.
“What… is happening?” someone muttered.
Azul stared at the glowing symbol.
It looked familiar.
Too familiar.
Then, somewhere beyond the clearing, he heard it again.
The same voice from his dream.
“Come…”
Only this time…
Bashan heard it too.
The two boys exchanged stunned glances.
Without saying a word, they knew they had heard the exact same call.
And before anyone could stop them…
They both turned toward the deepest part of the forest.
Toward the forbidden stream.
- Writer
