As I neared the volcano, I heard what sounded like a very loud heartbeat.
Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum
It was going in a syncopated beat, and it only got louder, the closer I got to the volcano. Made me feel like I was in a really weird club, for some reason.
Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum
I looked all around me to figure out what was going on, but it was no use. Leaves of every color blocked my line of sight, and the smoke was so thick, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to see where the sound was coming from anyway.
Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum
Was this just part of the soundtrack of the game? Or was it something else entirely? It could be coming from the volcano, but why? I kept moving forward, but as I did, I was cognizant of the fact that something was very, very--
Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum
Something landed on my head.
Ba-dum ba-dum
No chance to see it.
Ba-dum ba-dum
A slimy appendage wrapped itself around my neck.
Ba-dum
Thorns started growing on my knuckles.
Ba-dum
Was it too late?
Ba-dum
My ears hurt. My head was vibrating.
Ba-dum
This creature had suckers on it.
Ba-dum ba-dum
The beat was coming from the suckers.
Ba-dum ba-dum
I dug my thorny knuckles into the creature’s slimy skin.
Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum
It began pulling at my neck.
Ba-dum ba-dum
I was running out of air.
Ba-dum ba-dum
Had to work fast.
Ba-dum ba-dum
Slid my thorny fist down the creature’s slimy appendage.
Ba-dum ba-dum
Blood pouring out
Ba-dum ba-dum
Its blood, not mine.
Ba-dum ba-dum
Couldn’t see a thing. Couldn’t see a damn thing.
Ba-dum ba-dum
The pressure on my neck released a bit, but more appendages were trying to wrap themselves around me. A couple were going for my arms.
Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum
I threw myself to the ground on purpose. My head landed in a thorny bush.
Ba-dum-Ba-dum-Ba-dum-Ba-dum-Ba-dum-Ba-dum
The beat was getting louder, faster.
BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum
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No screams from the creature -- nothing recognizably pained. Just the loud incessant beat.
BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum
Thorns lined my face, hurting like hell. The haptics in this game were good -- too good.
BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum
I writhed. It writhed.
BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum
Throwing my fist at where I thought the creature was.
BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum
Ignore the pain. I had to ignore the pain.
BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM
Thorns stuck to my face, in my hair, on my chest.
BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM
The creature spasmed, twisting and turning. The movements caused the thorns to dig deeper into my flesh.
BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM
I kept hitting it.
BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM
Only half of my punches landed; the other half landed in thorns.
BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM
My red blood mixed with the creature’s purple blood.
BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM
Creature slowed down.
BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM
Stopped writhing.
BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM
Tentacles unwinding.
BA-DUM
Everything slowing down.
BA-DUM
I took deep breaths.
BA
Felt how many thorns were all over my body.
DUM
Adrenaline started wearing away.
BA
I’d won. Hadn’t I?
DUM
I’d won.
BA
I’d won.
DUM
I had to have won.
Labored breathing. Eyes stinging. Chest hurt. Every thorn in my body felt so real, so painful.
BA
I felt the creature began to disappear.
DUM
My head fell a little bit, since the creature I’d laid on had stopped existing.
More thorns on the side of my head.
I got up slowly, and with no small amount of pain.
Green wispy letters informed me of the XP gain.
+75 XP
Couldn’t really appreciate that until my body stopped hurting so much.
---
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