AMBUSH
800 Words
Whoooosh!
The air rushed past with incredible speed.
"A ghost!" a disciple yelled, frantically looking left, right, and behind him. His legs shook uncontrollably as he stumbled forward.
"There's no ghost in the void, i***t," a red-haired disciple mocked. "It's just the wind. Now stop walking so slowly and keep up before something actually comes for you." He stared warily into the deep darkness surrounding them.
The others burst into loud laughter.
The frightened disciple quickly returned to formation, sweat forming on his face as the cold night breeze rustled past.
Elder Hu sighed deeply. "Brats," he muttered to himself, shaking his head.
The alley was wide, lined with broken buildings and tall greenish grass hidden beneath the dark night.
"Elder Hu!" A female disciple rushed toward him from the back line. Her brown eyes blended with the shadows. "The stone just turned red." She held it up in her palm for him to see.
"That means we’re getting close. Good," Hu commented. "Keep watching the stone, Limu."
"Yes, Elder Hu." She bowed and returned to formation.
"Alright, pay attention," Hu raised his voice. "We are close to the treasure. I want everyone to maintain discipline until we secure it and return safely to camp. Do you all understand?"
"Yes, Elder Hu!" they answered in unison.
"Erm… Bro, do you see those things staring at us with red eyes?" the chubby green-haired disciple whispered, pinching his friend’s side.
"Seriously, dude… for once, stop being such a child and act like a man," his friend replied with a sharp gaze.
"But—"
"Even if anything attacks us, Elder Hu is here to protect us," the friend interrupted.
The green-haired disciple swallowed hard. Sweat dripped from his chin as he glanced back into the darkness. The red eyes were still staring back.
He shrieked.
"Bro… bro… bro…" He desperately tugged at his friend’s robe.
"For f**k’s sake! What?!" his friend’s voice echoed.
"Shhhhh!" A female disciple behind them glared, gripping her wooden spear tightly. "You two are annoying everyone—including the Elder."
They turned around and met Elder Hu’s intense, grumpy stare.
"Sorry…" Both boys bowed their heads.
"Arghhhh."
The green-haired disciple looked back into the darkness. This time, fangs and sharp teeth were visible.
Goosebumps erupted across his body, and the hair on his head stood on end.
"Bro… bro… bro…" he called again.
"Stop dragging my damn robe, Yan-li!" His friend slapped his hand away. "What’s the f*****g problem now?"
"Bia-li," Yan-li called softly.
"Yeah?"
"What are those things in the shadows?" Yan-li pointed.
Bia-li raised his lantern, shining the light into the darkness.
"What things? I don’t see—"
His lantern fell to the ground. His feet froze in place.
"Black… black… black…" he stammered. "Black Beast Panthers!" he screamed.
**ARRRRGH!**
Loud roars shook the alley.
---
Elsewhere…
"Elder Mia." A light-skinned disciple with dark hair entered the tent and knelt on one knee. "The storage tents are filled."
"Seems we completed the first task earlier than expected," Mia exclaimed, leaning back in her wooden chair as it groaned under her weight.
"Yes, Elder," the disciple replied.
"Inform the others that at first light, we move out to begin the second task," she ordered, waving her hand.
"Yes, Elder. At once." The dark-haired disciple rose, bowed, and left the tent.
Mia shifted her attention to the old map spread across the table.
"Currently, Sung is on the north side of the fourth continent, killing as many beasts as possible with his team. That area is off-limits." She traced her fingers across the map.
"We’ve already scanned the entire western and eastern regions. Nothing but skeletons of dead beasts and empty temples filled with dust, sand, and old paintings." She sighed deeply.
"So what remains… is here." She stamped an X on the map. "The south side of the fourth continent."
---
Back in the alley…
"Maintain formation, all of you!" Elder Hu commanded.
The disciples quickly shifted into a box-like defensive pattern as the Black Beast Panthers surrounded them from all sides.
Some disciples shook violently at the knees, others wet their robes in fear, while the rest clenched their jaws tightly.
*s**t! From their energy signatures, these panthers are at the peak of Foundation Building,* Hu thought.
*I can handle a few, but not enough to save everyone.* His eyes continuously scanned the panthers and the surrounding ruined buildings.
"Uhmmm… Elder Hu. What do we do?" Yan-li asked from behind, his sword trembling heavily in his hand.
"Shut up, Yan or Li… whatever your name is!" Hu shouted. "I’m thinking."
The Panthers growled, their sharp teeth bared and saliva dripping onto the ground. Each beast was the size of a large truck, with massive claws that left deep imprints as they slowly circled the group.
- Writer
