Apocalypse Baby

Chapter 103 Fatal Misstep

"What is that thing?" one of the players asked, their voice trembling as they pointed at the creature.

Above the beast's head floated a label: Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

[Baranga ????]

The question marks sent a wave of unease through the group.

"What does it mean?" another player muttered, confused.

Ezekiel's sharp gaze lingered on the ominous aura surrounding the creature.

He didn't answer immediately, his mind calculating every possibility.

"Are we supposed to defeat it to move to the next round?"

Before Ezekiel could respond, a loud scoff broke the tension.

Dorion stepped forward, his scythe gleaming wickedly in the torchlight.

"I say we get this over with!" he said, gripping his weapon tightly. "Kill the beast and move on immediately."

Ezekiel stepped in, placing himself between Dorion and the creature.

"Let's not be rash," he said, her voice calm but firm.

"The question marks above its name mean this thing isn't your average monster. It's dangerous, and if we mess up, we'll all end up dead."

Bart rolled his eyes, his impatience boiling over.

"Well, unlike the rest of you, I only have a day left. I don't have time to wait around while we play detective."

"Wait!" Freya suddenly shouted, her eyes locking onto something carved into the wall. "Guys, come see this!"

Her urgency drew their attention, and the group hesitantly approached the wall, their focus shifting away from the beast.

Freya pointed at a faint inscription etched into the stone, weathered but still legible under the flickering torchlight.

"It's writing," she said, tracing her fingers lightly over the grooves. "Looks like instructions or…a warning."

"Read it," Ezekiel ordered, his tone tense.

Freya nodded and took a deep breath. With the rest of the group leaning in, she began to read the text aloud.

Once you step into the platform follow the rule.

When the monster's gaze is on you try not to change position or you'll be a dead fool.

You cannot do this alone do not try.

Lest you fall under Barangas hand and end up fried.

Freya's voice trailed off as she finished reading.

"What is this...a poem?" Dorion asked, confused.

"No," Freya said sharply, her tone brooking no argument. "It's the rules, and we have to take them seriously if we want to survive."

"Rules? Screw the rules," Dorion growled, gripping his scythe tighter. "I say we take it down now and move on. This is a waste of time."

Freya shot him a withering glare, frustration bubbling beneath her calm facade.

She wondered, not for the first time, how she'd ended up surrounded by such reckless idiots.

Ezekiel, meanwhile, was scanning the room.

His sharp eyes settled on a faint line etched into the stone floor, just before the creature.

It was subtle, easy to miss in the dim torchlight, but it matched the instructions.

"That must be the line," Ezekiel said, pointing at it. "Crossing it triggers the rules. If we don't follow them, we're dead."

Dorion snorted. "Or we could just kill the thing and be done with it."

"This isn't about brawn, Dorion," Ezekiel said firmly. "This trial is about strategy. We need to plan before making a move."

But before they could even begin to strategize, the group froze.

Bart stepped forward, moving toward the creature.

"Bart!" Ezekiel hissed. "What are you doing?!"

Bart ignored her, his steps slow and hesitant.

"We're wasting time," he muttered. "I'll check it out."

"Get back here!" Ezekiel barked, his voice like a whip crack. "You don't know what you're doing!"

But Bart kept going, crossing the line without hesitation.

The moment his foot touched the other side, Baranga stirred.

The monstrous figure in the lotus position shifted slightly, its head tilting to the side.

Its eyes were shut—not just two, but three, with the third centered ominously on its forehead.

The air turned icy, and the tension became suffocating.

The it opened the third eye which made Bart flinch.

"Bart!" Freya yelled, panic lacing her voice. "Don't take another step!"

Bart froze, his breathing ragged as the creature's eyes bore into him.

The room was so silent that even the flicker of the torches seemed muted.

Bart's knees buckled as the immense pressure from the creature's gaze threatened to crush him.

"Don't move, Bart!" Freya repeated, her voice trembling.

Bart's lips quivered, and his wide eyes darted back toward the group, desperation written all over his face.

"I—I can…" he stammered, his body shaking.

"Don't do it!"

Ezekiel yelled reading Bart's intention.

Bart's hands trembled as he stared at the beast, its massive form radiating an oppressive aura.

Fear clawed at his insides, but he clenched his jaw, gripping his sword tightly.

"I can take it down," he muttered to himself as if saying it aloud would make it true, and without hesitating, Bart let out a shaky battle cry and charged toward the beast.

The room seemed to hold its breath as Bart closed the distance.

The monster, still seated in its meditative lotus position, showed no reaction—until its third eye snapped open.

The blood-red orb locked onto Bart with a chilling intensity.

Then it moved.

The creature didn't rise or attack physically.

Instead, it raised a clawed hand and snapped its fingers.

Snap.

Bart's forward momentum stopped dead as his body ignited in a sudden burst of crimson flames.

"AAAAARGH!"

Bart's scream pierced the air, a sound so raw and agonizing it sent chills down everyone's spine.

The flames weren't ordinary—they danced and twisted unnaturally, licking at his armor and skin with a relentless hunger.

His screams grew louder as the fire's intensity seemed to increase with every passing second.

"Help me! PLEASE!" Bart shrieked, his voice cracking with desperation.

The group stood frozen, paralyzed by the horrific scene.

Ezekiel's jaw clenched, his fists balled at his sides.

He could do nothing but watch.

"Bart!" Freya cried out, tears streaming down her face.

But there was no way to save him.

Within moments, Bart's screams faltered, his strength giving out as he collapsed to the ground.

The flames didn't stop.

They continued their merciless assault, consuming his body until there was nothing left but ashes.

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint crackling of embers.

The group's expressions were a mix of shock, fear, and horror. No one dared to move or speak, the reality of the situation crashing down on them like a tidal wave.

Suddenly, a female player broke the silence with a bloodcurdling scream.

"WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT IS THIS PLACE?!" she wailed, tears streaming down her face as she stumbled back.

Bart's gruesome death was a brutal wake-up call.

This trial was no joke.

It was life or death, and every decision from here on out would have consequences.