The Last Nightmare

The air was thick with the stench of blood.

Nate could barely hear over the pounding of his heart. His body screamed in protest, but he forced himself to stay on his feet. Every breath burned, his muscles ached, and exhaustion crept in like a slow-moving fog. But there was no time to collapse. Not yet.

Ahead, three warriors stood between him and the scavengers. They moved with precision, cutting off escape routes, pressing the monsters into a corner. But the creatures weren't backing down. Their sunken eyes gleamed with hunger, their mangled bodies hunched as they prepared to lunge again.

Nate clenched his katana tighter. His fingers were slick with sweat and blood. His mind raced. Should I help? Can I even fight like this?

The three warriors didn't seem to notice him at first. They were too busy dealing with the scavengers.

The first was a towering man, broad-shouldered and wielding a massive battleaxe as if it weighed nothing. He had wild dark hair pulled back in a short tail, and his arms were corded with muscle. His movements were aggressive, reckless even, but undeniably strong. Every swing of his axe sent shockwaves through the earth, carving deep gashes into the ground.

The second fighter was lean and deadly, moving like a shadow through the battle. He wielded twin daggers, each one flashing in the dim light as he weaved between attacks with unnerving grace. His sharp golden eyes scanned the battlefield constantly, reading the movements of both ally and enemy alike. Where Darius relied on power, this one relied on speed and precision. Every strike was deliberate, aimed at weak points.

The third was a girl standing slightly behind them, her hands raised, glowing with soft blue energy. She was beautiful—almost ethereal. Long silver-blonde hair framed a delicate face, her violet eyes focused on the fight with quiet determination. The gentle aura around her pulsed with power, keeping the others on their feet, mending their wounds in real time.

But Nate could see the energy thrumming through her fingers, her magic pulsing in waves. A healer. And not just any healer—she was holding them together, keeping them in the fight despite their wounds.

The axe weilder swung his axe down in a wide arc, forcing one of the scavengers to leap backward.

The dagger weilder darted in immediately, his daggers slashing through the creature's tendons. The scavenger howled, its movements crippled.

Nate saw it—an opening.

Before he could second-guess himself, he moved.

His katana blurred through the air.

A single, decisive slash.

His blade sank into the scavenger's side, cutting deep. The creature screeched, staggering. Blood sprayed across the ground.

The axe weilder didn't hesitate. With a roar, he brought his axe crashing down, splitting the monster's skull in half. The scavenger's body twitched violently, then collapsed.

One down.

The second scavenger, realizing it was outnumbered, snarled and tried to retreat.

The dagger weilder didn't let it.

He moved like a shadow, vanishing from sight for a split second—then reappearing directly behind the creature.

His dagger slashed across its legs, severing tendons.

The scavenger collapsed, writhing in pain.

It was the perfect moment.

Nate exhaled sharply and drove his katana through the creature's neck.

The blade slid through flesh and bone, cutting cleanly.

A final, choked gurgle.

Then silence.

The battle was over.

Nate stood there, panting. His limbs trembled violently, his vision flickering. He had pushed himself too far. His body was at its limit.

Then, warmth.

A soft glow surrounded him, seeping into his skin. The burning pain in his wounds dulled, replaced by a gentle, soothing sensation. It felt like being wrapped in sunlight, the crushing weight of exhaustion lifting just enough for him to breathe.

His vision cleared.

And he saw her.

The healer.

She stood before him, her violet eyes calm but searching. Concern flickered across her face as she studied him.

"You're hurt."

It wasn't a question.

Nate swallowed. His throat was dry, his body still trembling from exertion.

"…I'm fine."

She frowned.

A pulse of magic spread through her hands, weaving over his skin. The warmth grew stronger, sinking into his battered muscles, knitting together torn tissue.

"No," she murmured. "You're not."

Her voice was quiet, but there was something firm beneath it.

Nate wasn't used to this. To someone caring other than his family.

His grip on his katana tightened. His first instinct was to pull away—to reject the kindness before it could become a weakness.

But his body betrayed him.

Despite himself, he let out a slow breath and let her heal him.

The axe-wielder let out a low chuckle, watching them with mild amusement.

"Not bad, swordsman," he mused, propping his weapon against his shoulder. "Didn't expect a stranger to jump in like that."

Kai, still crouched near the dead scavenger, flicked his dagger to rid it of blood before sheathing it. His golden eyes locked onto Nate, assessing.

"You came out of nowhere,alone" he said.

"No party, no backup. What the hell are you doing out here by yourself?"

Nate exhaled. He didn't have a good answer. Surviving? Running? Looking for something?

After a pause, he settled on the truth.

"Surviving."

The three exchanged glances.

Finally, The healer sighed. "You should sit down. You look like you're about to fall over."

He hesitated.

Then, slowly, he lowered himself onto a nearby rock, still gripping his sword as if it were the only thing keeping him grounded.

She knelt beside him, fingers ghosting over a deep gash on his arm.

A pulse of magic. A soft warmth.

He felt… lighter.

Stronger.

Her concern was unsettling. Not because it was unwelcome, but because it was foreign.

For as long as he could remember, it had always been just him.

But now, for the first time in a long while—

He wasn't alone.

The axe weilder chuckled. "Well then, mystery swordsman. Got a name?"

Nate glanced at them before answering.

"…Nate."

The dagger weilder smirked. "Well, Nate. Looks like we saved each other's asses."

The healer smiled faintly. "I'm Elena."

The axe weilder grinned. "Darius."

The dagger weilder tilted his head. "Kai."

Silence settled between them.

Then, with a clap of his hands, Darius grinned.

"Well then, Nate. You've got a story, don't you?" He leaned in, resting an arm on his knee. "Tell us—why the hell were you running through this forest half-dead?"

Nate inhaled slowly.

Yeah. He figured they'd ask that.

And he wasn't sure how much he should tell them.