Vale summoned his weapon artifact—the Ordinary Katana.
In less than a second, light particles twirled around his arm, and in what felt like an instant, the katana materialized in his right hand. He gripped it tightly, preparing for the fight ahead, though he wasn't entirely sure how he was supposed to kill the monster.
Right in front of him stood a towering, arachnid-like creature, its size far beyond what any single human could hope to confront. The sheer force behind its every step sent an unsettling shiver down Vale's spine, as the ground trembled beneath its weight.
"Should I just run away?"
Doubt crept in.
He lingered at the thought for a moment, but he quickly dismissed it. There was nowhere to run—the other exit was blocked, and his goal was so close. At the far end of the cave, the Tree of Life shone brilliantly, calling to him.
Gritting his teeth, Vale refused to run. He couldn't let the monster strike first. With a burst of speed, he dashed forward. His katana cut through the air with a sharp whistle, the blade finding its mark against one of the creature's massive legs. But instead of slicing through, it merely scraped past, failing to leave even the faintest scratch.
Before he could recover from his swing, the monster shifted. Its glowing eyes locked onto him, and with a powerful motion, it scraped the ground beneath it, sending a shower of rocks flying in all directions. Vale maneuvered between the debris, dodging as best he could. But before he could react, one of the creature's enormous legs slammed into the ground with devastating force, sending a shockwave through the cave. The earth beneath him erupted, launching him backward into a nearby boulder.
His vision blurred. Darkness crept in. When he finally regained consciousness, he found himself slumped against the jagged rock, blood trickling from his mouth. Pain wracked his body, every movement was a struggle.
"This isn't good."
The heavy thud of approaching footsteps echoed through the cave. The monster was drawing closer. Luckily, it was slow—or at least, it appeared so.
Vale forced himself upright through the pain, using his katana as a cane to steady himself.
"Change of plans." he thought as his gaze flickered between the monster and the glowing tree on the other side of the cavern. There was no chance of winning this fight. His only option was to make a run for it.
Without hesitation, he sprinted—not toward the Tree of Life, but away from both the monster and his goal. He needed to create distance before making his move. A quick glance back sent a chill down his spine. The creature was crushing massive boulders underfoot as if they were mere pebbles.
"There's no way I can fight that abomination."
Reaching the far end of the cave, Vale knew this was the most dangerous part of his plan. He had to circle around the monster and dash toward the tree. Steadying his breath, he focused on the beast, waiting for the perfect opening.
Then, he saw it—a slight twitch in the monster's massive leg.
Without wasting another second, he bolted forward, sprinting with everything he had. Just as he predicted, the creature raised its leg, and the moment he ran beneath it, the limb came crashing down.
Vale had anticipated this. He dove into a roll, narrowly avoiding the impact, then sprang back to his feet without losing momentum. Now, his eyes were locked onto the Tree of Life.
He ran as fast as his battered body allowed, never looking back. The rhythmic thumping of footsteps behind him grew louder—slow at first, then faster. He had no time to waste. He had to reach the tree before it was too late.
The ground trembled beneath him under the weight of the monstrous creature giving chase. But Vale had grown accustomed to the unsteady terrain, his body adjusted as he pushed himself harder. His surroundings blurred as he closed in on the Tree of Life—once distant, now so close he could almost touch it.
Then, something unsettling happened.
The thunderous stomps behind him…suddenly stopped.
For a split second, he hesitated, debating whether to look back. He decided against it.
"Just a few more steps!"
The Tree of Life's blinding glow was right there. The radiant fruit was nearly within his grasp. But before he could seize it, a deafening crash erupted behind him. Instinct took over, forcing him to spin on his heels.
Vale's already pale face drained of what little colour remained. His breath hitched as his eyes took in a horrifying sight.
The monster was mid-air, its massive form hurtling toward him.
"What th—"
He had no time to react.
The beast came crushing into the ground beside him, the sheer force of its landing shattering the earth. The impact sent Vale flying. A deafening ringing filled his ears, momentarily stealing his hearing.
He flailed desperately, trying to grasp anything to slow his fall—but there was nothing within reach. Suspended mid-air and utterly defenceless, he locked eyes with the creature for a single moment. Then, without warning, it lunged.
Its enormous jaws snapped open, moving at an unnatural speed. Vale had no time to evade, no cover to shield himself and no way to avoid the attack.
His grip tightened around the katana as he braced for impact.
A sickening crunch filled the air.
The sound of bones shattering echoed throughout the cave. Blood sprayed from the creature's maw, splattering onto the ground. Below, a pair of severed legs, cut off at the knees, lay in a growing pool of crimson.
Vale, barely conscious from the overwhelming pain and blood loss, tumbled deeper into the monster's gullet, spinning uncontrollably. His katana slashed wildly at the surrounding flesh, slicing through the creature's soft insides. Unlike its impenetrable hide, the interior was weak—his blade cut through everything it touched.
But it wasn't enough.
Before he could react, he plunged into the putrid acid pooling at the bottom of the beast's stomach. A searing pain spread across his body as the corrosive liquid consumed him.
Squeezing his eyes shut against the burning sensation, his vision faded into total darkness.