The giant finally moved.


    Its one-story-tall body stepped toward the gymnasium, and Keneric ran again.


    The stupid dog followed as Keneric entered the locker rooms and back to the public shower pods he hated so much.


    There he wedged himself into a corner and waited. What else was he supposed to do? Try running in this swampland? Laughable.


    Outside, the giant closed in on the gym, its waterlogged wooden body taking one step at a time. But because of its size, each step covered dozens of human steps, so it reached its destination damn fast.


    Still it didn’t stop there.


    With a loud boom, it walked through the front door, its massive body nearly reaching the height of the building. Miraculously, the structure held. Then, with a groan, the small white mushrooms on the giant''s back glowed. Next, they multiplied over a minute.


    The golem raised its hands, tore off many mushrooms in one quick swoop, and threw them to the ground. There they slammed the wall before hitting the floor.


    But they didn’t stay idle for long.


    Each white mushroom sprouted tiny feet and scattered through the gym like they had a mind of their own. Some entered the equipment room, others moved toward the chairs encircling the volleyball court, and some entered the locker rooms.


    They looked like tiny white rats scurrying through the area while the giant waited at the center of the operation in silance.


    However, using this move had its own costs. From the giant''s back, dark green liquid gushed out like blood. Clearly hurt.


    Meanwhile, Keneric stayed hidden in his corner, holding Bear in his lap. Little light reached the room, and it was evening too, but he could still see the glowing, moving mushroom battalion roaming around.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Keneric would have been more curious if there wasn’t a wooden golem waiting outside. Instead, he stayed silent, but the dog in his arms struggled to move while coating his hand with saliva.


    The small mushrooms closed in on the shower pods, and Keneric stopped breathing. The privacy glass kept them out, and Ken knew something terrible would happen if they got in.


    But then, the creatures started climbing the tinted glass wall like slugs. This was bad. Very very bad. The privacy glass surrounded the shower area but left an opening up top for steam to escape.


    ''Why? Just why?'' Keneric couldn''t help but question this. He tried to move further back, but there was a wall behind him.


    One mushroom finally made its way up top and fell in front of Keneric. With no other choice, Ken used his makeshift spear to push it away, but this triggered an unpleasant change.


    The mushroom stopped and rooted itself. Its head shifted from soft white light to a copper color—the same as the makeshift spear. That wasn’t the end. The closest mushroom in succession glowed the same color and a chain reaction started, spreading through the locker room, out to the giant.


    When Ken heard the giant move outside, its footsteps closing in, he stabbed the nearest mushroom. But the others still glowed copper, and the giant kept coming.


    Keneric finally put the dog down, and it ran outside, barking again. He didn’t care anymore and focused on destroying as many mushrooms as possible with his feet and spear. His reasoning was—if left alone, they would cause more unknown problems, and he already had his hands full. When he was almost done, Bear cried for help.


    Keneric looked through the entrance and saw the giant lifting the dog with one finger before swallowing it whole.


    He, however, had no time to feel bad. He knew he’d be next if things kept going this way.


    Also now, seeing the mushroom army outside and the giant finished up with the dog, he gave up on running. There was no quick way to escape through the glass and debris without causing self-injury. And even if he made it out, an endless swamp waited, and he had no confidence in outrunning the golem.


    So he went back to his favorite corner and hid. This wasn’t giving up. This was the best option his mind could come up with.


    The golem moved again, reaching the locker room entrance in two steps. But it didn’t barge in like it had with the front door.


    Keneric understood why in the next moment. It wanted to capture him alive… like the dog… and eat—


    The giant got down on one knee with a thump and carefully widened the entrance. Then it sent a hand inside, searching for Keneric.