章 4: UTTER DESPAIR

Boom!!!

Suddenly, the grim silence of the night shattered with a thunder boom as Fernando fired his shotgun directly at the leader of the space Kaijus, the force of the blast illuminated the clearing in a flash of light.

"Go!!" Fernando exclaimed, his voice filled with urgency and a fierce determination.

Ashiro who seems quick-witted and agile by nature, instantly darted through the only opening left in the Kaiju's formation, not hesitating for even a second. With a pounding heart and sheer instinct guiding him, he sprinted through the trees, slipping just beyond the creatures and fortunately loosing them in the lush greenery.

'Thank the Gods'

Watching Ashiro disappear into the dark forest, Fernando felt a brief, flickering sense of relief. His purpose was clear at this point, and his mind resolute– he would give everything he can to buy Ashiro time to escape. "Come one!!" With a fierce resolve, he exclaimed while he reloaded his shotgun and stood his ground, firing round after round, each blast ringing through the air and causing some of the Kaijus to stagger back. But the monsters were relentless, advancing with an eerie patience, their cold, lifeless eyes locked onto him as if savoring their prey

'Damn It, am out' Gradually, his ammunition ran dry as he thought grimly, and just then, the monsters seized their chance. The leader lunged forward, and before Fernando could react, he felt the searing pain of claws tearing into his shoulder, pulling him down. More of the Kaiju piled onto him, their claws and teeth ripping through flesh and bone. Agony overwhelmed him as he fought with every ounce of strength, but the creatures were too many, too brutal, each movement tearing away more of him.

'Seems like this is a goodbye, Ashiro'

"Ahh!!!"

As his vision dimmed and his strength faded, Fernando's final thoughts were of Ashiro, of the faint hope that the boy would live on. His last scream echoed through the clearing, a raw, heart-wrenching sound swallowed by the shadows.

Once Fernando lay lifelessly on the cold forest grounds, the leader of the Kaiju stood over him, eyes unblinking, before it raised it's head and let out a series of guttural sounds. The remaining creatures snapped to attention, understanding the command immediately. In a swift, coordinated movements, they turned away from Fernando's lifeless body and vanished into the forest, moving as one to pursue their next target: the boy who escaped.

...

'Uncle Fernando said I should always run at my best speed and never look back'

Ashiro sprinted through the dense trees of Okutama Forest, his small, nimble feet pounding against the rough forest floor. Branches scraped his arms, shadows darted across his vision, but he didn't stop. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his mind was a blur of fear and confusion. He didn't know where he was going—only that he had to get away.

Then, piercing through the night, came Fernando's scream—a raw, agonized sound that echoed across the forest. Ashiro froze mid-stride, his heart skipping a beat as he turned in the direction of the scream. A wave of heartache and disbelief washed over him, his chest tightening as he understood what that final cry meant. Fernando, his protector and last remaining family, was gone.

'Uncle Fernando.....'

But Ashiro couldn't stand there for long. His sharp ears picked up the rustling and snapping of branches as the Kaiju closed in. His heart hammered in terror, and with a strangled gasp, he forced himself to keep running. Tears blurred his vision, and sobs built in his throat, but he pushed forward, deeper into the forest, his legs moving on pure instinct. Fear drove him, the primal urge to survive, but despair gnawed at him, dragging him into a hopeless state.

'Don't look back, don't look back, don't look back!'

His frantic run led him to a sudden, jarring stop. The path ended abruptly at the edge of a rocky drop-off, a steep cliff cutting off any route forward. Ashiro's chest heaved as he stood there, frozen, his mind scrambling for a way out. Desperation clawed at him, and he quickly turned to look back, hoping—praying—the monsters were far enough behind.

'Oh no...'

But they were there, emerging from the shadows between the trees. One by one, the Kaiju slipped into view, their dark, twisted forms framing him on all sides, their cold eyes gleaming with an unnatural intelligence. Ashiro felt his heart plummet, fear choking him as he realized there was nowhere left to run. His legs gave way, and he stumbled backward, pressing himself against the cold, unyielding rock behind him.

Grrrr....

His breaths came fast and shallow as he met the gaze of the Kaiju leader, its milky eyes fixed on him. He braced himself for the worst, feeling despair settle heavily in his chest. But as the creatures closed in, something unexpected happened. Instead of attacking, the leader raised a clawed hand, signaling to the others. Ashiro felt a jolt of confusion mix with his terror as one of the Kaiju stepped forward, its clawed hand swinging toward him with a calculated, precise motion.

Bang!

The impact struck him hard, a sharp pain exploding behind his eyes before darkness swept over him. His small body slumped to the ground, unconscious, as the monsters stood over him. And right after, the leader himself suddenly lifted Ashiro up from the floor and placed him on its eeriely shaped shoulders.

Graaa!!!!

In the next moment, the leader of the Kaijus suddenly exclaimed in a strange tone as shockwaves began emitting out of its mouth. Right after that, The night sky above the forest crackled with an unnatural hum as a colossal, darkened spaceship descended in eerie silence, its sleek, angular form casting a shadow over the Kaiju surrounding Ashiro's unconscious body which is above the leader. The Kaiju leader tilted its head upward, emitting a series of guttural clicks. In response, a beam of cold, bluish light descended, enveloping them all.

One by one, the Kaiju lifted off the ground, floating into the light with Ashiro's small, limp figure among them. They ascended smoothly, drawn toward the ship's ominous underbelly, disappearing into its dark maw. And just as suddenly as it had arrived, the ship blinked out of sight, leaving no trace in the star-studded sky, as if it had never been there at all