The beast tilted its massive head. Dozens. No, hundreds— of uneven eyes blinked across its warped skull.
"RADAMN!"
Its voice wasn't a Sound. It was a pressure.
The air bent around its throat when it roars. Like reality itself flinched.
Lila nodded quickly to herself, hugging her arms.
"Just… just wait. In my dreams, something always takes it before it reaches us."
"But this isn't your dr—"
Her voice cracked, but she forced a smile. "Trust me, okay? Just relax your throat… and don't break eye contact."
I raised a brow. "Wha—"
Lila snapped her head toward me.
"No—! I don't mean it like that! I SWEAR!"
"…Okay."
"I SWEAR! Please... Believe me..."
I just nodded.
"Y-yeah… thank you. Now we just wait. Something will take it."
***
Three seconds passed.
Nothing moved.
Not the wind, dust. Not even a fly passed by.
The monster stared.
All of its eyes blinked at different rhythms— some slow, some twitching.
Then every single one of them locked onto us.
And it stepped forward.
THUD.
The ground cracked.
Another step.
THUD!
The earth shuddered.
It moved slowly.
With weight.
With intention.
Each step felt like the beast itself was choosing who would die first.
Lila whispered. "…No… no, no, no. This isn't right…" Her hands began to shake violently.
"In my dream… this is where something takes it…" Her breath hitched. "So WHY IS IT STILL HERE?!"
The beast snarls. Thic black drool spilled from its jaws, sizzling where it touched the stone floor.
In front of us— Vesper stepped forward, no weapon, no mana. Only clenched fists.
Her voice trembled. But her eyes burned.
"Fear not," she whispered. "If death must take us… then I shall strike first."
She's about to fistfight a nightmare.
***
Ivy clung to my neck. Her entire body shook.
Not violently, not loudly. But like something fragile trying very hard not to break
Then—
She lifted her tear stained face and looked straight into my eyes.
Her lips trembled. And a small, Horrified, Crying voice came out. "Ahjussi… c-can I… Call you Dad…?"
My brain stopped…
"What?. Why???"
She wiped her eyes and nose with her sleeve.
"B-Because… If we survive… I want you to be my Dad…"
Her lips trembled.
"But if we don't… then I want to call you Dad at least once…"
"…But. You already called me Dad before."
"Please…"
She sobs. burying her face into my neck. Silently begging.
I patted her back… and looked at the monster.
At Vesper, bowing her head with fists clenched.
At Lila, collapsing into panic.
And I sighed deeply.
"Okay…"
I patted Ivy's head.
"Call me whatever you want."
It's not like we're surviving anyway.
Vesper and Lila froze.
Even the monster paused—its eyes narrowing, confused.
Ivy looked up at me.
"R-Really?"
"Ouch!" She slammed her forehead into my chin.
"Sorry! But really?!"
"Yes, yes… whatever! Daughter, penguin, talking potato— just cling tighter! I don't want you falling when we get eaten!"
"Promise…?"
"yes."
"Yes' isn't enough."
"…I promise."
Her tiny body finally relaxed as she hugged me like her life depended on it.
Which. Yeah… it kinda does...
The beast blinked.
All of its eyes.
It lets out a long, wet, gurgling growl.
"BRRGHKKSKS"
Lila screamed. "OKAYYKAYOKAY!!!! this is not what happened in my dreams! This is nonsense!! Why is it offended?! you can't be offended!!!"
She looked at me. "It doesn't even PAY TAXES!!!"
Vesper whispered in prayer. "Pray… pray that it chooses me first…"
She punched the air.
The air did not care.
The beast stepped closer.
Thud.
Closer.
Thud.
It lowers its massive wolfydraggy head.
Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer Closer
The ground cracked beneath us.
Its breath washed over us.
It smells like Sour. Rotten. Decays. And a dead fish left under the sun.
Black smoke poured from its mouth.
"Ew…" I muttered.
"WAHHH!!" Ivy screamed.
Lila collapsed to the ground.
Vesper clenched harder.
Hate.
SHE HATES THIS.
SHE HATE BEING HELPLESS.
The beast's many eyes slowly narrowed.
Then its focus sharpened.
Onto me. Ivy. all of us.
Its jaw opened.
Rows of jagged bone-teeth unfolded. Even inside its throat.
I swallowed.
Hard.
"Well," I muttered. "This is where we die."
"NO!" Lila screamed. "SOMETHING SHOULD'VE SWOOPED IN BY NOW!"
She looks up at the portal.
Nothing swooped.
Vesper tightens her fists.
"If destiny wills my demise, so be it— BUT I SHALL NOT FALL QUIETLY."
Ivy squeezed me.
"D-Dad…" she whispers, voice tiny. "It's looking straight at us…"
"I know."
"S-should I close my eyes?"
"Yes. No. Actually— maybe. I don't kn— JUST HUG ME TIGHTER."
The beast lunges—
A blur of claws, jaws, and too many eyes...
Its mouth opened wide
I closed my eyes.
Then five seconds passed and nothing happened. I opened my eyes.
And— Time is… stop…?
Only for me.
The world froze mid-death.
And before the beast's jaws…
A blue translucent window appeared.
[ SYSTEM NOTICE ]
NEW QUEST ARRIVED: SURVIVE.
Objective: Survive.
Reward: ALL directions movement.
[Tap for more Details]
I stared.
"You're kidding…"
I tapped Details.
The window shifted, letters rearranging themselves like they were thinking.
────────────────────────
[ DETAILS]
QUEST: SURVIVE
Objective: Remain alive.
Reward: All-Directional Movement (Locked)
Penalty: Death.
────────────────────────
I scoffed.
"Like I wouldn't die anyway if I fail…"
Then a new window appeared.
「ACCEPT QUEST?
[ACCEPT]/[DECLINE]」
"…as if I have a choice."
I pressed ACCEPT.
Time Resumed.
The beast moved.
But I felt it— My thoughts accelerating.
A yellow glow formed in Vesper's hand.
Lila missing from her spot.
Ivy screams.
The ground shaking.
Then another tiny line appeared under the window:
「Hint: The quest is always correct.」
"…What does that even—"
Another line appeared.
「If the quest is 'Survive'… you will. Even at 1%.」
My breath hitched.
"…That's cheating."
But I'll take it.
And somewhere above the sky, the reward waited— All-Directional Movement, just out of reach.
Sounds useless...
But I guess... I only need to stay alive long enough to grab it.