That part… looks important.”
Kaizer didn’t sound certain when he said it, but his eyes stayed fixed on the smoky thread running through the creature.
The creature reacted.
Not with another attack but with hesitation.
Its tentacles slowed.
Twitched.
Its body shifted unevenly as if something inside it had been exposed.
It felt it.
Danger, real danger.
Kaizer stepped forward slowly.
The smoky lines were clearer now.
One thick strand ran through the center of its body, stretching into the cave wall behind it.
Smaller ones spread across its limbs like cracks.
He didn’t understand what they were.
But he knew what to do.
Hit that.
The creature turned and ran.
Kaizer blinked.
“…Huh?
It’s running?”
That was new.
In all of his time with the ogre tribe, he had never seen a creature run before.
They all fought, struggled till the end.
This one didn’t.
Kaizer leaned forward slightly.
Then chased.
The creature moved fast, dragging itself across the cave floor, tentacles slamming against stone to pull itself forward.
Its movement was messy now, not controlled like before.
Kaizer followed.
His steps were light, steady.
He didn’t rush, but he didn’t slow either.
His eyes stayed locked on those smoky lines.
They moved with the creature.
But they always pointed back to the same place.
The tunnel widened ahead.
The ground dipped suddenly.
Kaizer slowed as the passage opened into a large space.
A crater.
The floor dropped into a wide basin of broken rock.
Kaizer stepped down.
There were bodies everywhere.
Strange creatures, different shapes, scattered across the ground.
Some twisted, some barely recognizable.
None of them moved.
At the center stood Rujark.
Still.
Covered in blood.
Kaizer looked at him for a second.
“…You did that?”
Rujark didn’t answer right away.
“…They kept coming,” he said.
Kaizer nodded once.
“…Oh.”
He didn’t look surprised because something else had his attention.
The creature.
It was trying to climb out of the crater now, its movements uneven, slower than before.
Kaizer noticed it.
His focus returned to the threads.
They pulsed faintly.
Not like a heartbeat.
Just… unstable.
That’s it.
The creature turned suddenly and attacked
Tentacles shot toward Kaizer, faster than before, but without direction.
Kaizer moved.
He didn’t dodge everything.
He stepped through it.
One strike missed him by inches.
Another scraped past his shoulder.
He didn’t care at all.
He raised his axe.
Hack.
The blade of the axe cut through one of the smaller threads.
The creature screamed.
Not the same sound as before.
This one was sharp.
It pulled back, one side of its body collapsing slightly before forcing itself back together.
Kaizer watched it.
“…That hurt you.”
Rujark’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He stayed where he was.
Watching.
And thought…
“Is this really the work of a mere 4 year old child?!
How can he, a child, exude such confidence and growth that rivals that of the chieftain at such a young age?
Have I just fought so many creatures in this dark cave for so long that my judgment is rubbish?
His brutality is nothing like that of the other children.
Yes, we ogres learn and grow faster than any other species.
When I was his age I don’t think I was anything like he is!!” Small build but wields an axe almost the full length of him with such strength and precision.
Is he really 4?”
Kaizer stepped closer.
Hack.
Another thread snapped.
The creature’s movements became worse.
Its attacks lost timing.
Its body shifted unevenly, parts forming slower than others.
Kaizer kept moving.
No rush.
No panic.
Just step.
Look.
Strike.
Each swing landed where those smoky lines appeared.
Nothing extra or wasted.
The creature tried to retreat again.
It dragged itself backward, but one of its limbs failed completely, collapsing under its own weight.
Kaizer closed the gap.
He raised his axe again.
The main thread was right there now.
Clear.
Bright compared to the rest.
“…There.”
The creature lashed out one last time.
Kaizer shifted slightly, letting the attack pass.
Hack.
The blade of the axe cut through the main thread.
Everything stopped.
The creature froze mid-motion.
Tentacles hung in place.
Its eyes stopped moving.
Then— it collapsed.
No movement or regeneration.
Its body lost shape, folding into itself like it couldn’t hold together anymore.
Kaizer stood there, watching.
Breathing steady.
“…Oh.”
He lowered his axe.
“…That worked.” He thought to himself
The smoky lines were gone completely.
Kaizer blinked then looked around again.
This time he noticed everything.
The bodies, smells, the silence.
“…There’s a lot…” he muttered.
Rujark stepped forward slowly.
“…They didn’t stop.”
Kaizer nodded slightly.
“…Yeah.”
Rujark studied him.
“…You didn’t fight it the same way.”
Kaizer looked down at his axe.
“…I just… hit the bad parts.”
Rujark didn’t speak for a moment.
“…You saw something.”
Kaizer nodded.
“…Yeah.”
“…What did it look like?” Rujark asked curiously.
Kaizer thought for a second.
“…Like… smoke.”
He pointed vaguely.
“…Like lines.
On it.”
Rujark’s expression changed, but he didn’t press further.
“…And you just cut those?” He added.
Kaizer nodded again.
“…It felt right.”
Rujark exhaled quietly.
“…I see.”
Kaizer looked past him, deeper into the cave.
“…She’s still inside.” Kaizer said.
Rujark followed his gaze.
“…Then we move.” He replied soon after
He turned and began walking.
“…Stay close.”
Kaizer gave a small grin.
“…Okay.”
He followed.
The crater faded behind them.
The cave stretched forward again.
Dark, quiet but not empty.
Something deeper inside was still there but it was fading.