A Song for The Ages

The centipede lunged.

Feiyin barely had time to dodge as its bladed limbs sliced through the air where he had just been standing, the gust of displaced wind brushing past his face. The monstrous creature was unlike anything he had fought before, its movements were unpredictable, fluid, yet unnervingly precise.

"Damn it, !" Ren hissed as he dodged another swipe, barely managing to keep himself from being cut in half.

Yue crouched low, her feline instincts kicking in as she evaded a lunge that would have skewered her midsection. "We're not even hurting it!"

Feiyin gritted his teeth as he slammed his palm against the centipede's carapace, channeling his inner strength. A solid thud echoed, but he barely left a scratch. The beast's exoskeleton was far too tough.

'Too hard. Too fast. Too many limbs.' His mind raced as he analyzed the creature. It was armored like a fortress and moved like a storm, its dozens of legs slashing through the air at terrifying speeds. Every time they got close to attack, they were met with a wall of rotating blades.

It was an impossible enemy to approach.

Another limb lashed out, and this time, Feiyin wasn't fast enough.

A sharp pain flared in his side as the centipede's bladed appendage sliced through his robe, tearing into flesh. He grunted, barely able to jump back before it could press the attack further. Warm blood trickled down his ribs.

Yue gasped. "Feiyin, !"

"I'm fine," he bit out, but the sting of the wound told him otherwise. He couldn't afford to get caught by this thing's attacks again.

They had miscalculated.

This wasn't a fight they could win.

Feiyin's gaze darted toward the others, frightened children huddled in the shadows, waiting for someone to save them. Waiting for him to save them.

He exhaled sharply. 'There's no choice.'

"We can't fight this thing," he said, stepping back as the centipede reared up, its mandibles clicking menacingly. "It's too strong, and we're at too much of a disadvantage."

Ren scowled, blood trickling down his arm from a shallow wound. "Then what? Run?"

"Yes," Feiyin said, his voice steady. "You and Yue take the others and escape. Lead them down the side tunnel. I'll hold it off."

Yue's ears flattened against her head. "You're staying behind?!"

Ren looked at him like he had lost his mind. "Are you stupid? We barely survived last time when we split up. You think you're going to last alone against that thing?"

"I won't have to fight it for long," Feiyin said firmly. "I'll just hold it back while you all escape."

Yue looked like she wanted to argue, but she swallowed her words, gripping her fists tightly. "You better follow right after us."

Feiyin forced a smirk. "Of course."

Ren clicked his tongue in frustration but didn't argue further. "Tch. Fine. Don't die."

With that, Yue and Ren turned, ushering the children toward the side tunnel.

Feiyin took a deep breath and stepped forward, drawing the centipede's attention away from the fleeing group. He raised his arms, gathering his inner strength, and let his presence flare.

The beast shrieked, its eyeless face turning toward him.

'That's right. Focus on me.'

The moment the others disappeared into the tunnel, Feiyin bolted, leading the centipede toward another passage. It shrieked and gave chase, its long body weaving through the cavern like a river of segmented metal. He ducked and dodged, barely managing to stay ahead of its slashes.

Then, just as he reached the entrance of a narrower tunnel, disaster struck.

The centipede, in its frenzied pursuit, slammed against the walls.

The cavern trembled.

And then, the ceiling cracked. Feiyin's eyes widened. A deafening CRACK echoed through the tunnels as boulders and debris came crashing down behind him, sealing off the entrance. A thick cloud of dust filled the air.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then realization hit. He was trapped.

Alone.

With the centipede.

Ren had just finished helping the last child through the passage when the ground trembled violently.

Then came the sound of rock crumbling.

And then, nothing.

An eerie silence filled the cavern.

Ren turned sharply, eyes wide. "No, "

Without hesitation, he ran back toward where Feiyin had been, but when he reached the tunnel's entrance, all he saw was a wall of fallen debris.

Completely sealed off.

His heart pounded. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails bit into his palms. "That damn idiot, !"

Yue arrived behind him, her face pale with panic. "Feiyin?" She rushed forward, touching the fallen rocks, as if trying to feel for any sign of movement.

Ren pressed his hand against the stone, as if willing it to move. Nothing moved.

Yue's breath hitched. "No… He's trapped." Her voice was barely a whisper.

Ren's jaw clenched. "Then we dig."

He didn't hesitate. He picked up a rock and threw it aside, then another, then another. His movements were desperate, furious. His breathing was ragged.

Yue, however, stayed still for a moment before closing her eyes. She inhaled, then exhaled. 'What would Feiyin do?'

She forced herself to think clearly. If they wasted too much energy trying to move the debris recklessly, they might get themselves killed if more collapsed. Worse, Feiyin had led the beast away on purpose. If he was still alive, then they had to trust him.

Yue gently touched Ren's shoulder.

He flinched. "What, ?!"

"We need to move."

He froze, staring at her.

She swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "That's what Feiyin would say."

Ren's expression twisted with frustration, but he didn't argue. He turned back to the collapsed tunnel, fists trembling. "Damn it…"

Yue forced a weak smile. "He's strong. If anyone can survive this, it's him."

Ren exhaled sharply. His fingers twitched, but he slowly lowered his arms.

"…Yeah."

They turned away.

And for the first time since they'd arrived in this hellish place, Feiyin wasn't with them.

On the other side of the cave-in, Feiyin stood, breathing heavily.

The centipede was still in front of him, its mandibles clicking, its bladed legs scraping against the rock.

Feiyin exhaled, wiping the blood from his wounded side.

With no way out, his only path was forward. He tightened his grip.

'I guess I have no choice.'