Adrian lay on his back, a heavy boot pressing against his torso, the cold barrel of a gun aimed directly at his head. The cloaked figure standing over him radiated a menacing aura, a silent promise that death could come at any moment. Adrian knew better than to make any sudden movements.


    With deliberate slowness, the figure pulled back his hood, revealing the face of a man with strikingly distinct features—a pale complexion, disheveled purple hair, and a lazy right eye. But what drew Adrian’s gaze the most was the black eyepatch covering his left eye.


    “Who are you?” the man asked, his voice as sharp as a dagger.


    Adrian clenched his jaw. “I should be the one asking that question. You attacked us out of nowhere!”


    The man responded by pressing the gun harder against Adrian’s skull. The pressure sent a chill down his spine, and he exhaled sharply, relenting.


    “My name is Adrian Frihet.”


    “Why are you here?”


    “I don’t know! We just woke up here!” Adrian snapped, frustration flaring in his voice.


    For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, without warning, the man withdrew his gun, lifted his foot from Adrian’s chest, and turned away, walking toward a nearby tree.


    Seizing the opportunity, Adrian attempted to slip away. But before he could move, a sudden, jarring sound rang through the air.


    Bang. Bang. Bang.


    Adrian turned sharply, searching for the source. His breath caught in his throat as he saw the man repeatedly slamming his forehead against the crystallized red tree. The force of each impact sent small shards of the strange material falling to the ground.


    “Hey, man… are you okay?”


    The figure stilled, pressing his fingers against his now-bleeding forehead before slowly turning back to Adrian. A grin stretched across his face—far too wide, far too sudden.


    “No need to worry. I’m fine,” he said, his tone completely different now—casual, almost playful.


    Adrian hesitated. This man, who moments ago exuded a terrifying presence, had suddenly become… bizarrely lighthearted. Had he knocked something loose in his own head?


    “My name is Fredrick Newborn,” the man continued. “Sorry about earlier—it’s just been a rough couple of days.”


    “I can imagine,” Adrian muttered, his wariness unshaken.


    Though Fredrick’s demeanor had shifted, Adrian couldn''t ignore the unsettling unpredictability in his eyes. But his curiosity outweighed his caution.


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    “You said you’ve been here for two days. What happened?”


    Fredrick’s expression darkened. His smile faded, replaced by a haunted look. His fingers twitched at his side.


    “I woke up here. No idea how I got to this damned island… but the moment I arrived, I felt it.” His voice lowered. “Something—someone—was watching me.”


    A cold shiver ran down Adrian’s spine.


    “I tried to escape. Over and over, I set sail… but no matter how far I went, I always ended up back where I started.”


    Black sand. Crimson trees. A force that prevented escape. And now, a silent watcher in the shadows. The island felt less like a place and more like a prison.


    Then came the scream.


    A bloodcurdling cry of sheer terror shattered the uneasy silence.


    Emily.


    Adrian’s heart pounded as he recognized the voice. Without a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed his Trinket and sprinted toward her. He was fast, but even at full speed, it would take at least seven seconds to reach her. Seven seconds too long.


    “I’ll cover you,” Fredrick called, raising his sniper rifle with practiced ease.


    In a single fluid motion, he steadied his hand, loaded two bullets, and fired.


    Bang!


    The gunshot thundered through the forest like an explosion.


    Fredrick’s shot flew past Adrian, aimed straight for the unseen assailant. The bullet found its mark—striking something massive in the face. But instead of piercing flesh, the round merely dropped upon impact.


    Adrian’s stomach twisted as he arrived at the scene.


    Emily lay sprawled on the ground, her face frozen in horror. And standing over her was… a monster.


    A grotesque colossus, towering at nearly eight feet tall. Four massive arms, each as thick as tree trunks. Two heads—one stitched at the mouth, the other stretching its lips into a sinister, unnatural grin. Its blood-red eyes gleamed with malevolent hunger. Claws, long and jagged, glistened like sharpened obsidian.


    And its skin—


    Adrian’s gaze flickered to Fredrick’s bullet, lying uselessly at the creature’s feet.


    It was bulletproof.


    Adrian positioned himself between Emily and the beast, every muscle in his body tensed like a coiled spring. He could feel the creature''s gaze burrowing into him. He knew—one wrong move, and it would strike.


    Then—


    “Hey, guys! You okay?!”


    Fredrick’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.


    Adrian barely had time to turn before the beast lunged, its four monstrous arms swiping at Fredrick with lethal precision.


    Adrian moved instinctively, his dagger flashing in the dim light. He barely managed to block one of the beast’s claws—but the second?


    Too fast.


    Fredrick had no time to react. The monstrous fist collided with his chest, sending him hurtling through the air like a broken doll.


    He crashed into a tree. Hard.


    His body crumpled to the ground. Motionless.


    Emily stifled a scream, her trembling hands covering her mouth. Adrian’s breath hitched as he looked at Fredrick’s unmoving form.


    Then—pain.


    A searing, white-hot pain tore across Adrian’s torso as the beast’s claws raked through his flesh, leaving behind a deep, jagged wound. Blood soaked his sweater, dripping onto the black sand below.


    His vision blurred. His knees wobbled. The beast loomed over him.


    Was this it?


    All that training, all those battles, all the pain—for what?


    A cruel, bitter thought crept into his mind.


    “I’m useless.”


    Time seemed to slow. The beast raised a claw, ready to deliver the final blow.


    Then—


    “That’s a lie! You’re not useless!”


    Emily’s voice rang out, trembling yet defiant.


    Adrian’s eyes flickered toward her.


    She was shaking. But despite the fear gripping her body, she stood her ground.


    “If it weren’t for you, I never would have saved my master! If it weren’t for you, August would have died in that cavern! So don’t ever say you’re useless again!”


    The beast turned its gaze toward her, drawn to her sudden outburst.


    But what it failed to notice—


    Was Adrian rising.


    The doubt in his mind shattered. The weight in his chest lifted.


    His deep blue eyes ignited with fierce determination—and within them, stars began to shine.