The sun was high and sharp over the hilltops, casting long shadows behind them as Amukelo, Bral, Idin, Bao, and Pao marched in single file across the uneven terrain. The wind swept across the open clearing with a low, constant hum, brushing tall grass sideways and tugging at the hems of their cloaks. They'd been walking since dawn, and although no one said it outright, the group was growing tired of the wilderness.
Amukelo led with quiet steps, his eyes scanning the open field and the distant treetops. Every once in a while he would glance sideways toward the hills and the thick tree line that trailed alongside them—not too far, but close enough to feel watched.
Behind him, Idin trudged with folded arms and a deep scowl. "I still don't like this," he muttered, half to himself. "We're off the roads again. That's always a sign that Bral's about to do something idiotic."
Bral, who walked beside him, turned his head with a tired groan. "Excuse me? That landwyrm was completely manageable, and you know it. And it wasn't even me who provoked it, technically. It was... ughh... wind, yeah wind."
"It was exactly you," Idin said flatly, not even looking at him. "You flung fire at its back like you were asking for a conversation."
"You're still stuck on that?" Bral rolled his eyes. "Besides, I don't see any inns or cobblestone paths through these hills. The town we're heading to doesn't even have a road leading to it. This is the only path. So, no, we're not taking the 'dangerous route' for fun. There is no other route."
Idin muttered something under his breath. Bao, walking just ahead of them, let out a sigh. "Can you both just focus? It's quiet out here. That's the part that worries me."
Amukelo nodded. "Yeah. Let's not assume the quiet means safe."
They reached the top of the next hill and paused. From there, the terrain dipped sharply into a wide valley—green and scattered with patches of wildflowers and tufts of tall grass. But none of them noticed the flowers. What caught their attention—what made them all stop mid-step—was the creature lying still at the base of the next incline.
It was enormous, easily the size of a small house, and its massive form sunk partially into the earth as if it had been there for years. Its skin was rugged and coarse like rock, layered with cracked plates that looked fossilized. Moss had grown in thick patches across its back and shoulders, and several, broken weapons jutted out from its hide—rusted swords, snapped spears, and what looked like a shattered banner pole. It didn't move.
Pao stepped closer to Amukelo and whispered, "What… is that?"
Amukelo narrowed his eyes. "I don't know."
Idin, slower and quieter now, walked beside them. "That," he said carefully, "is a Mosshide Trampler."
Idin whispered. "They live for centuries, and some even up to millennia. They are incredibly hard to kill, and have great resistance to low- and mid-tier magic. Their hides can deflect arrows, even steel-tipped ones."
Bral let out a low whistle. "I don't think it's something we can fight against."
"Exactly. But who knows, if Amukelo's sword is really as strong as we heard, maybe, but first, he doesn't know how to use it, second, we would surely suffer casualties," Idin said. "So don't do anything stupid."
"I already said I wouldn't," Bral grumbled.
They carefully began moving around it, choosing the widest arc possible. The clearing offered a mostly open route, but the hills forced them down toward a narrow stream that cut between the valley and the next slope. Getting across it would be the trickiest part.
Bral and Bao leapt across first, their feet barely making a sound as they landed on solid rock. Idin followed behind them and cleared the gap with ease, landing softly beside the others.
Amukelo turned to Pao. "I'll go first."
He jumped the stream with a small hop, landing on a flat, wet rock in the middle before pushing off to the other side. His foot slipped slightly, but he caught himself. He turned and offered his hand. "That stone's slippery. Be careful."
Pao giggled lightly. "Noted." She took a few steps back to give herself momentum and jumped—but her foot landed on a different stone. This one was slicker than it looked. She let out a small yelp as her feet slipped out from under her. Before she could fall into the water completely, Amukelo lunged forward and caught her by the wrist.
She stumbled into him, her balance unsteady. "Ah—sorry!" she said, breathless.
"Are you fine?" Amukelo asked, steadying her.
Pao nodded, cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "Yeah, thank you."
A few small stones knocked loose by her fall clattered loudly into the stream. The sound echoed through the open space like the crack of a whip. And then silence.
Idin looked back and his eyes widened. "Ugh… I think we have a worse problem."
They all turned to look back down into the valley.
The Mosshide Trampler was stirring.
One of its legs shifted first, like a landslide of rock grinding against itself. The moss on its back rippled as it groaned awake. It lifted its massive head—its eyes like deep, sunken pits of stone—and let out a low, guttural rumble that made the ground tremble.
Bral stared at it, face blank. "Just like the last time," he said under his breath.
The ground shook beneath their feet as the Mosshide Trampler bellowed a deep, primal roar and began its charge.
Its hooves crushed the earth like meteors falling from the sky, each step flinging loose stones and dirt into the air. The group didn't hesitate—Bral, Idin, and Bao immediately turned to flee. But Amukelo didn't move. He stayed rooted in place, his eyes narrowing, judging the beast's speed and path. Beside him, Pao had already raised her staff.
She shouted something under her breath and waved her staff in a wide arc. Three massive slabs of earth shot up between them and the oncoming monster. But as the Trampler made contact, the walls didn't just crack—it simply erased them from its path, shattering them like brittle glass.
"Idiot! Didn't you hear me!?" Idin's voice tore through the chaos. "We can't face it! Run to the forest—we need to lose it!"
Amukelo didn't need to be told twice. The second he saw the beast shatter Pao's walls like twigs, he pivoted and pushed off the ground. But just as he turned, the Trampler's shadow was already looming over him. Its head tilted, horns catching the sunlight, and it lunged forward with earth-crushing force.
He dodged, but as he did he felt something pulled him.
His body jolted unnaturally fast sideways—Bral had thrown a wave of telekinetic force, yanking Amukelo clear from the monster's path just as its massive skull collided with the spot he'd stood.
The impact cratered the hilltop. Stones flew in every direction, and a shockwave spread out through the clearing. And Amukelo landed to his feet.
Thinking that he might be able to dodge its moves, he charged back slashing the beast. But as his sword connected it made a sound of steel clashing against steel.
Amukelo took a step back in disbelief, but the Mosshide Trampler just waved his head lazily at him, but the impact was tremendous. Amukelo tumbled hard, rolled several times, and only stopped when his back collided with a rock. He groaned, trying to move—his right arm hung uselessly. It was broken.
He looked down at it, blinking with disbelief. "It just… nudged me," he muttered through clenched teeth.
Bral's voice echoed across the chaos. "You idiot! What do you not understand!?"
Pao raised her staff again and cast a healing spell. A soft light enveloped Amukelo. His ribs realigned with a painful twitch, and his legs stopped shaking—but the arm remained fractured, only barely usable.
Then she, rushed up with wide eyes. "I'll distract it," she said, raising her staff again. "We have to run."
Water surged around her. From the swirling flow, three perfect water clones formed, each an identical copy of her. They sprinted into formation and scattered.
Amukelo nodded and pushed himself up, ignoring the throb in his shoulder. "Let's go!"
The clones surged ahead, blasting basic water spells at the beast as they ran. The Trampler paused, confused for the first time. One of the clones darted left and hurled a bolt of water directly into its eye. The creature grunted, stomped, then charged. Its bulk slammed directly into a clone, which burst into a column of water.
The Trampler roared, swinging its head side to side, but Pao's remaining clones didn't give it time to recover. One sprinted in front of it, firing water bolts into its legs, while the other flanked it. The real Pao ran with the group, blending among her illusions.
It charged again. Another clone dissolved in a crash.
"That's two," Pao whispered, sweat pouring down her face.
But the third clone lasted longer. It pulled the creature further off course, pretenting running away like real her.
Then the clone vanished, leaping over a rock and popping into water upon contact with a tree.
The Trampler froze. It sniffed. Looked around. And spotted the rest of the group.
Its breath came heavy. Then it snarled and launched itself after them again.
"Shit!" Idin cursed. "Now it's coming after us!"
Amukelo didn't hesitate.
"We need to split," he said. "I'll lure it. You all head around and vanish into the forest. We'll meet up later once I lose it."
Pao turned to him, eyes wide. "But your arm—!"
"I'm not running on my arm, am I?" Amukelo said with a grin, eyes fierce. "Besides, I'm still the fastest."
"You better not die," Bral snapped, already moving. "If you die, I'll kill you myself."
Amukelo let out a breathy laugh. "Thanks."
They reached the edge of the trees.
The group veered off in different directions—Bral and Idin to the left, Bao and Pao to the right. Amukelo slowed just enough, letting himself become the Trampler's primary target.
The monster took the bait.
Its bellow cracked through the forest, and it crashed through the underbrush after him.
Amukelo dashed between trees, ducking under low branches, leaping over roots and rocks. The wind howled past his ears. Behind him, trees collapsed as the Trampler tore through them.
He reached a clearing, pivoted sharply—just as the beast charged again.
"Come on, you bastard," Amukelo growled.
He drew a dagger with his left hand—his only usable hand—and hurled it behind him.
The blade spun through the air and struck the creature in its cheek. It didn't pierce deep, but the sting caught its attention. It roared and chased after him with renewed fury.
Amukelo grit his teeth and ran harder.