The ground trembled beneath their feet.
Not a simple tremor. A deep, steady pulse. Almost alive. As if something enormous was breathing beneath the earth.
Each vibration crawled up Ryuji's legs, settled in his chest, and threw off his rhythm. Subtle… but impossible to ignore.
Something was alive down there.
Ahead of them, the forest entrance stretched wide open. The trees formed a twisted arch, their branches interlocking like skeletal fingers. The darkness within wasn't natural. Too dense. Too thick. As if even light refused to enter.
— So this is it… Liora murmured.
She gripped her staff so tightly her knuckles turned white.
— Feels like it's waiting for us, Soren replied with a strained smile.
Ryuji said nothing.
Something had felt off ever since they left the palace. Nothing obvious. Just… everything. The looks that lingered too long. The silences that stretched. The smiles that didn't reach the eyes.
And now this.
The soldiers had stopped far behind. None of them had argued. None had insisted on coming along.
As if they already knew.
Except them.
Ryuji took a slow breath. It didn't matter. In his old world, he had been nothing. Invisible. Replaceable.
Here, he had a chance.
And he wasn't about to waste it.
— You're not moving? the woman asked.
Her voice was soft. Almost gentle.
Which made it worse.
Arven frowned.
— Aren't you coming with us?
— Our role ends here, one of the priests replied calmly.
Silence fell.
— You're joking… right? Soren muttered.
The priestess raised her hands, as if reciting a perfectly rehearsed prayer.
— Oh heroes summoned from another world…
— May you return safe and sound…
— And defeat this Calamity… by the grace of the goddess.
Every word was flawless.
Too flawless.
Ryuji felt a chill run down his spine.
This wasn't a blessing.
It was a farewell.
And yet… they stepped forward anyway.
Because turning back… wasn't an option.
---
The forest swallowed them whole.
The air changed instantly.
Heavier. Thicker. Laced with a metallic, almost sweet scent.
Like old blood.
Silence ruled everything.
No insects. No birds. Not even the wind.
— Formation! Arven shouted.
The mages raised their staffs.
A magic circle flared beneath their feet, runes spinning slowly. A warm light enveloped them.
Ryuji felt strength surge through his body. His muscles tightened. His breathing steadied.
The fear faded.
Just enough to lie to him.
For a second…
They believed.
---
The ground pulsed again.
Stronger.
Closer.
Then came the roar.
Not a sound.
A force.
It crushed the air, bent the trees, and rattled Ryuji's very core. His ears rang. His vision blurred.
— It's coming…
A shadow shifted.
At first, just movement between the trees.
Then—
Eyes.
Green.
Glowing.
Watching.
The Basilisk emerged slowly, as if savoring their terror.
Massive.
Its body slithered between the trees, crushing roots and branches without effort. Its dark scales reflected a sickly sheen. Every movement carried weight. Presence.
Around it, life withered.
Leaves blackened. Grass shriveled. The air itself seemed poisoned.
— ATTACK! Arven roared.
Chaos erupted.
— Fireball!
— Lightning strike!
— Wind blades!
Spells tore through the air.
A blazing sphere slammed into the Basilisk's head, exploding in fire. Lightning crashed into its flank. Invisible blades carved through the space around it.
The forest shook with the impact.
— It's working! a mage shouted.
Illusion.
The Basilisk stepped out of the flames.
Unharmed.
Not a single mark.
It watched them.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Then it moved.
Its tail lashed out.
A sharp crack echoed.
Four fighters were sent flying. One smashed into a tree with a sickening impact. Another hit the ground and didn't move again.
— Hold formation! Arven shouted.
A mage raised his staff, trembling.
— Light barrier!
A dome of glowing energy formed around them.
The Basilisk advanced.
One step.
Then another.
It pressed its head against the barrier.
Silence.
Then—
CRACK.
The barrier shattered like glass.
Light scattered into fading fragments.
— That's impossible… someone whispered.
The Basilisk lifted its head.
And looked.
Just one glance.
Two people froze.
Their eyes widened. Their skin hardened. Fine cracks spread… deeper… wider.
Their bodies turned to stone.
— DON'T LOOK AT IT! Liora screamed.
Too late.
They collapsed into pieces.
Panic spread instantly.
A warrior charged, screaming, sword raised.
— Die!
His blade struck the Basilisk.
It shattered.
Like glass against a mountain.
The creature barely reacted.
Then crushed him in its jaws.
Effortlessly.
A mage summoned chains of light. They burst from the ground, wrapping around the Basilisk's body.
They held.
For a moment.
Then exploded.
The Basilisk opened its jaws.
A thick green breath poured out, spreading like a living cloud.
— Fall back!
Too slow.
A man screamed, clutching his face. His skin blackened, cracked, decayed.
He collapsed.
The poison wasn't just deadly.
It devoured.
Ryuji stumbled backward, shaking.
His heart hammered violently.
— Move…
His legs wouldn't obey.
— MOVE!
Soren grabbed him and dragged him back.
— We have to run!
But Arven was already charging.
— FOR THE KINGDOM!
His body glowed with radiant energy. He leapt, blade aimed at the Basilisk's eye.
For a moment—
He vanished.
Swallowed whole.
Silence followed.
Worse than the battle.
---
The group broke.
No tactics. No order.
Just prey.
Ryuji gripped his spear.
His hands shook so badly he could barely hold it.
He didn't want to die.
Not like this.
Not here.
In a world that wasn't even his.
— Ryuji!
He threw his spear with everything he had.
It struck a scale.
And bounced off.
Useless.
The Basilisk turned its head.
Slowly.
As if noticing him for the first time.
A shadow moved.
Soren was gone.
A scream.
A crunch.
Then nothing.
---
Ryuji collapsed to his knees.
The world felt unreal.
Sound had vanished.
Only bodies remained.
And the truth.
The priestess.
Her smile.
Her words.
Not a blessing.
An offering.
— We… were sent…
His voice trembled.
— To feed it…
The Basilisk approached.
Each step echoed like judgment.
It stopped in front of him.
Watched him.
Ryuji couldn't move.
— I'm… scared…
Tears filled his eyes.
— I don't want to die…
The Basilisk opened its jaws.
Then stopped.
It stared at him.
For a long time.
Too long.
Something passed in its gaze.
Not mercy.
Not exactly.
But not just hunger either.
Something else.
Then—
It turned away.
And left.
---
Silence returned.
Absolute.
Ryuji remained there.
Alone.
Alive.
Why?
His hands trembled.
His mind screamed.
That wasn't a king.
It wasn't even a creature.
It was a disaster made flesh.
A force.
An inevitability.
And they…
Were never heroes.
Just…
A feast.