The strange sound echoed endlessly through the cave, like a call from the depths of hell—eerie and terrifying.
It was as if countless restless souls were wailing in sorrow, or demons whispering low and sinister, sending a sudden jolt through my heart.
The exhaustion from my recent fight with the black panther hadn’t yet faded, and now a new wave of fear surged over me like a rising tide, threatening to drown me completely.
I forced myself to stand, my legs heavy as if filled with lead.
Clutching the branch tightly in my hand—the same one stained with blood from the battle with the panther—it was now my only lifeline.
Cautiously, I edged toward the source of the sound. With every step, my heartbeat thundered in my ears, as if warning me of my fate.
My breath grew shallow and rapid, the heavy breaths echoing sharply in the silent cave.
As I drew closer, the sound became clearer—like some massive creature shifting its weight, causing the ground beneath me to tremble faintly.
In the darkness, I caught a glimpse of a huge shadow swaying ahead, as enormous as a mountain, pressing down on me with a suffocating weight.
Suddenly, a faint beam of light slipped through a crack in the stone wall above—a fragile ray of hope, yet too weak to dispel the fear gripping my heart.
Using that dim light, I finally made out the source of the noise—a colossal pangolin.
Its massive body loomed like a hill, its tough scales gleaming with a cold, steely sheen—like an impenetrable armor. Each scale resembled a shield, reflecting an eerie, unnatural glow.
The pangolin’s head was enormous and heavy, crowned with sharp, knife-like horns that glinted menacingly in the light.
Upon seeing me, it let out a low, furious roar that reverberated through the cave, rattling my eardrums as if trying to shake my very soul free from my body.
The shockwave struck me, making me tremble uncontrollably.
Instinctively, I took a few steps back, silently cursing my luck. I had just defeated the black panther, and now faced this giant beast—I wasn’t sure if I still had the strength to fight.
With every retreating step, the stones and dust beneath my feet scattered, as if manifesting the fear swelling inside me.
The pangolin charged forward with heavy, earth-shaking steps.
Each footfall was like a hammer striking the ground, sending dull thuds echoing through the cave.
I scrambled to dodge to the side as its massive body crashed against the cave wall, sending stones tumbling down.
The tremendous impact cracked the walls deeply, showering the ground with falling debris.
Desperately, I scanned its massive form, searching for a weakness.
I spotted its belly—softer and less protected—but to strike there, I’d have to get dangerously close.
Every step toward it risked being pierced by its sharp horns or crushed beneath its immense weight.
The danger was overwhelming, but hesitation could be fatal.
I circled around the cave, using the stone pillars and rocks inside as shields to dodge its powerful charges.
Each pillar became a temporary refuge, every rock a tool in my desperate dance with the beast.
Though the pangolin’s speed was slow, its strength was immense. Every impact made the cave tremble as if it might collapse at any moment. Stones from the ceiling rained down relentlessly, threatening to bury me alive.
During one narrow escape, I slipped and fell hard onto the rough ground, scraping my palms and knees raw.
Seizing the opportunity, the pangolin lunged at me. Its massive form loomed larger and larger in my vision, bringing with it an overwhelming sense of despair.
I rolled on the ground, frantically trying to stay out of its reach.
Just when I thought it was about to crush me, my eyes caught sight of a narrow crevice on the floor—just big enough for me to slip inside and hide.
That tiny hole was like a beacon of hope in the darkness, my last chance.
Without hesitation, I crawled in, curling up painfully in the cramped space.
Outside, the pangolin clawed furiously at the ground, the sharp scraping sounds sending chills down my spine.
Its strength was terrifying—each scrape made the cave feel like it could collapse on me at any second.
I curled up as tightly as I could, barely daring to breathe. My heartbeat echoed loudly in the confined darkness, the only sound in this shadowed world.
The pangolin’s movements continued for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, silence fell. I cautiously peeked out, eyes scanning every corner.
The pangolin had left, leaving only a mess of scratched earth and deep claw marks behind.
I exhaled in relief and climbed out of the crevice.
But before I could steady myself, a sharp screech pierced the still air, sending my nerves into overdrive once again.
A swarm of enormous bats burst forth from the depths of the cave, their wings beating fiercely, stirring a powerful gust.
In the darkness, their shapes loomed like a rolling black cloud, quickly closing in on me.
I raised my hands to shield my head as the bats circled around, their wings whipping my face like razor blades.
They swiped at me with claws and teeth, each strike sending sharp stabs of pain.
I swung a branch wildly, trying to fend them off, but the sheer number of bats made my efforts seem futile.
The branch sliced through the air, but couldn’t halt their relentless assault.
One bat sneaked in and bit my shoulder. The sudden, searing pain made me cry out.
The agony shot through my body like electricity, nearly draining all my strength.
I shook my shoulder violently, desperate to shake it off. The other bats, sensing my weakness, attacked even more fiercely.
Their shrill cries blended into a terrifying symphony within the cave.
I rolled on the ground, dodging their attacks. My clothes tore, my skin scraped raw from the rough floor.
Suddenly, I noticed a pile of burnt branches nearby, and an idea sparked in my mind.
I grabbed a branch and rubbed it against the rough stone wall, hoping to ignite a fire to scare away the bats.
The coarse surface of the rock scraped against the wood, producing tiny sparks that quickly fizzled out.
After several attempts, a small ember finally appeared. I carefully blew on it, as if nurturing a fragile flicker of hope. The flame slowly caught and grew stronger.
The bats, startled by the firelight, scattered in all directions. Their shadows flickered ominously in the glow, making them seem even more menacing, yet they still feared the flames.
Holding the torch, I pressed onward. But by now, my strength was nearly gone; every step felt like a struggle. My legs had lost all sensation, moving only out of sheer will.
Ahead, the path remained shrouded in uncertainty—I had no idea what dangers still awaited me…
