Amukelo: The Burdened Path

The terrain had shifted as they traveled, the forested paths giving way to rockier, uneven ground. The mountain they were crossing wasn't part of a large range—just a single, towering peak rising above the surrounding landscape. It wasn't particularly steep, but the terrain was treacherous, filled with loose stones, jagged outcrops, and unexpected drops that made every step dangerous.

Bral, walking ahead, suddenly raised his hand.

"Shh…" His voice was low, firm. The entire group stopped in their tracks. His expression was tense, his eyes scanning the path ahead. "This is an area where landwyrms roam."

At that, Idin muttered a quiet curse. Pao gripped her staff a little tighter. Bao glanced around sharply, her muscles coiling like a predator ready to react.

Bral continued, keeping his voice low. "Let's be extra cautious. If we come across one, it could be over for us—even with five of us."

Amukelo nodded instinctively, though he wasn't familiar with the creature. He had faced monsters before, but he had never even heard of a landwyrm. Still, if Bral said they were that dangerous, he wasn't about to question it.

They moved forward, their steps slower, more calculated. Then, Amukelo caught something strange in the air. A scent. Blood.

The metallic tang hit his nose, sharp and unmistakable. Then came another sound—an unsettling crunch. Not the breaking of twigs or stone—but of bones.

His eyes snapped to the side, following the noise. Just beyond a patch of twisted shrubs, in a slight clearing, he saw it.

A massive, lizard-like creature, its scales deep crimson, gleaming dully in the fading light. Its body was long and muscular, its head broad with a serpentine jaw filled with jagged teeth. Its limbs were thick and powerful, each foot ending in razor-sharp claws that dug into the earth. Along its spine, spiked ridges ran from its head to its thick, coiling tail.

And it was feeding. A half-devoured carcass lay beneath its claws, bones splintered and flesh torn. Its long, forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air as it crunched down on another mouthful.

Amukelo's stomach twisted slightly at the sight.

He tapped Bral's arm, his voice barely above a whisper. "Hey… is that the creature?"

Bral turned his head, following Amukelo's gaze. The moment his eyes landed on the beast, his entire body went rigid.

Then, in a hushed but urgent voice, he said, "Good. It's eating." He swallowed, then added, "And it's a red one."

Amukelo furrowed his brows. "Is that bad?"

Bral exhaled quietly. "They're not the most dangerous type, but still—if it senses us, we're done."

He turned to the others. "Listen, we need to circle around. They have insane senses, so move quietly."

Everyone nodded. No one needed to be told twice. They adjusted their path, moving carefully to the side, making as much distance as they could. 

Amukelo took the lead at some point, though he barely noticed. His focus was on the terrain ahead.

Then, something nearly made him misstep.

Just ahead, hidden beneath thick undergrowth and vines, was a fissure in the earth.

A jagged, narrow split in the rock, about one and a half meters wide, but stretching deep into the mountain. Amukelo stared down into the darkness. He couldn't see the bottom.

If someone fell in—they weren't coming back.

He exhaled slowly, then took a few steps back before leaping over it, landing softly on the other side.

Turning around, he warned, "Watch out. If you fall in, there's no coming back."

Before he even finished speaking, Bral and Idin had already jumped over. They landed with ease, nodding in acknowledgment.

Bao followed next—graceful, precise.

Then, just as Amukelo was about to check on Pao, her foot slipped. She ghasped sharply and then screamed.

Amukelo's eyes snapped toward her just in time to see her body tipping backward, falling.

Time seemed to slow down. Before his mind could even register the danger, his body moved on instinct.

He lunged forward, throwing himself down toward the fissure, arm outstretched.

His fingers caught Pao's wrist just as she began to plummet.

For a second, they hung there—her body dangling over the abyss, her breath coming in quick, terrified gasps.

Her wide, fear-stricken eyes met his.

Then, he felt his footing slipping.

The weight of her fall was pulling him down. He could feel himself sliding forward, his body tilting dangerously over the edge.

For a brief, horrifying moment, he thought they were both going to fall.

Then he felt somethings strong grabbing him.

"I've got you!" Idin's voice.

A strong arm wrapped around Amukelo's torso, pulling him back just enough to steady him.

"Don't let go of her!" Idin grunted, planting his feet firmly.

Amukelo tightened his grip on Pao's wrist. He could feel her trembling.

Slowly, Idin began pulling them up.

Amukelo gritted his teeth, regaining just enough footing to shift his weight.

Then, with one decisive motion—he heaved Pao up, dragging her over the edge.

She collapsed onto solid ground, gasping for breath.

Amukelo sat back, his own breath heavy, his arms trembling slightly from the effort.

Pao turned her head toward him, still visibly shaken. Then, in a quiet, genuine voice, she whispered, "Thank you…"

Amukelo exhaled sharply, nodding once.

Bao, still shaken from watching her sister nearly fall to her death, grabbed Pao tightly in a brief, desperate hug. Pao was still trembling, her breathing uneven, and she barely responded, but Bao whispered, "You have to be more careful, Pao." Her usual sharpness was softened, her voice strained with worry. Pao nodded weakly, but there was guilt in her eyes, knowing full well how close she had been to disappearing into the abyss.

Bral exhaled, glancing around uneasily. "I don't want to be annoying," he said, voice low and urgent, "but we have to keep moving. We're still too close to that landwyrm, and who knows—it might hear us."

As if summoned by his words, a deep, guttural rumble echoed through the mountains.

Everyone froze. The sound was low, menacing, something massive stirring from stillness. 

Bral's eyes widened, and his voice dropped to a whisper. "That doesn't sound good…" Then, louder, "Run!"

No one hesitated. They turned and sprinted, their feet pounding against the rocky terrain. The narrow mountain path made their escape difficult—loose stones shifted under their boots, some tumbling down into unseen depths.

But Pao was struggling. Her earlier fall had weakened her. Her steps were uneven, her breathing labored. She stumbled, and Bao reacted instantly, throwing Pao's arm over her shoulder and practically dragging her forward. Amukelo and Idin took the rear, keeping a close watch on their surroundings, their steps sharp and purposeful.

Bral, slightly ahead, was scanning the path in front of them, making sure they wouldn't run into another deadly surprise. They couldn't afford to slow down.

Then, the stomping began. Massive, heavy footsteps—each one making the earth tremble beneath them.

Amukelo's heart pounded violently against his ribs. He could feel the presence behind them growing closer, the sheer weight of it making his body tense instinctively.

He turned his head, and saw the landwyrm.

Up close, it was a nightmare given form. Its scarlet scales gleamed under the light, thick as armor, rippling with raw power. Its elongated snout was lined with jagged teeth, each one capable of biting through bone. The ridges along its spine flared slightly as it tracked them, its reptilian eyes flickering with cold intelligence.

But it wasn't attacking yet. It was watching. Studying.

It was patient, unlike the mindless beasts Amukelo had fought before. It didn't rush them—it simply followed, waiting for one of them to falter.

Its gaze shifted between them, calculating.

First, it focused on Amukelo and Idin, the two closest to it—both armed, both aware of its presence.

Then, it locked onto Bral, who had turned slightly, clearly preparing to reinforce them.

Finally, its gaze settled on Bao. She had just released Pao from her hold, her hands moving toward her bow.

And then, it saw Pao. Weak. Injured. Struggling to stand. A perfect, easy kill.

With a deep, rumbling snarl, the landwyrm lunged.

Its muscles coiled like a spring before it launched itself forward, claws outstretched, maw widening.

But before it could reach her, Amukelo was already moving.

His feet dug into the ground as he threw himself forward, swinging his sword.

And then he realized. It was too fast.

The difference between them was massive. He had no time to properly react before the landwyrm's massive front limb came crashing down.

He barely managed to twist his body, avoiding a direct hit, but the sheer force of the impact sent a wave of debris flying. He stumbled back, barely keeping his balance.

Then its tail swung. Amukelo tensed, ready to move—but Idin was already there.

He planted his feet, raising his broadsword defensively. The impact was brutal. Idin gritted his teeth as the force pushed him back several feet, his boots carving trenches into the dirt.

Amukelo pushed back, steadying himself just as the landwyrm lunged at Bral next.

It snapped its massive maw open, going straight for Bral's torso—but Bral ducked at the last second, rolling to the side.

For a brief moment, Amukelo thought they had evaded the worst of it.

Then, the landwyrm's tail came again.

"No way—!" Bral barely had time to brace himself. His stance wasn't as strong this time.

The tail slammed into him. Bral was sent flying towards Bao and Pao, his body tumbling across the ground before finally coming to a stop.

The landwyrm turned its head toward Amukelo again.

But before it could strike, an arrow whistled through the air.

It struck just above its eye, bouncing off its thick scales.

The beast snarled in irritation, whipping its head in the direction of the attack, to Bao.

She was already nocking another arrow.

The landwyrm let out a low, guttural growl, preparing to strike, but then, a sudden flash of light flew towards it. A fireball slammed into its face.

The explosion sent a burst of heat rippling through the air. The landwyrm flinched slightly from the impact, its head tilting just barely from the force.

But it wasn't harmed.

Pao was standing weakly, staff raised, breath heavy.

The landwyrm's eyes locked onto her, and it let out a slow, rumbling huff.

It wasn't fazed. If anything, it was getting angrier.