As I neared the volcano, I heard what sounded like a very loud heartbeat.

Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum

It was going in a syncopated beat, and it only got louder, the closer I got to the volcano. Made me feel like I was in a really weird club, for some reason.

Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum

I looked all around me to figure out what was going on, but it was no use. Leaves of every color blocked my line of sight, and the smoke was so thick, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to see where the sound was coming from anyway.

Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum

Was this just part of the soundtrack of the game? Or was it something else entirely? It could be coming from the volcano, but why? I kept moving forward, but as I did, I was cognizant of the fact that something was very, very--

Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum

Something landed on my head.

Ba-dum ba-dum

No chance to see it.

Ba-dum ba-dum

A slimy appendage wrapped itself around my neck.

Ba-dum

Thorns started growing on my knuckles.

Ba-dum

Was it too late?

Ba-dum

My ears hurt. My head was vibrating.

Ba-dum

This creature had suckers on it.

Ba-dum ba-dum

The beat was coming from the suckers.

Ba-dum ba-dum

I dug my thorny knuckles into the creature’s slimy skin.

Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum

It began pulling at my neck.

Ba-dum ba-dum

I was running out of air.

Ba-dum ba-dum

Had to work fast.

Ba-dum ba-dum

Slid my thorny fist down the creature’s slimy appendage.

Ba-dum ba-dum

Blood pouring out

Ba-dum ba-dum

Its blood, not mine.

Ba-dum ba-dum

Couldn’t see a thing. Couldn’t see a damn thing.

Ba-dum ba-dum

The pressure on my neck released a bit, but more appendages were trying to wrap themselves around me. A couple were going for my arms.

Ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum

I threw myself to the ground on purpose. My head landed in a thorny bush.

Ba-dum-Ba-dum-Ba-dum-Ba-dum-Ba-dum-Ba-dum

The beat was getting louder, faster.

BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum

No screams from the creature -- nothing recognizably pained. Just the loud incessant beat.

BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum

Thorns lined my face, hurting like hell. The haptics in this game were good -- too good.

BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum

I writhed. It writhed.

BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum

Throwing my fist at where I thought the creature was.

BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum-BA-dum

Ignore the pain. I had to ignore the pain.

BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM

Thorns stuck to my face, in my hair, on my chest.

BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM

The creature spasmed, twisting and turning. The movements caused the thorns to dig deeper into my flesh.

BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM

I kept hitting it.

BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM

Only half of my punches landed; the other half landed in thorns.

BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM

My red blood mixed with the creature’s purple blood.

BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM

Creature slowed down.

BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM

Stopped writhing.

BA-DUM-BA-DUM-BA-DUM

Tentacles unwinding.

BA-DUM

Everything slowing down.

BA-DUM

I took deep breaths.

BA

Felt how many thorns were all over my body.

DUM

Adrenaline started wearing away.

BA

I’d won. Hadn’t I?

DUM

I’d won.

BA

I’d won.

DUM

I had to have won.

Labored breathing. Eyes stinging. Chest hurt. Every thorn in my body felt so real, so painful.

BA

I felt the creature began to disappear.

DUM

My head fell a little bit, since the creature I’d laid on had stopped existing.

More thorns on the side of my head.

I got up slowly, and with no small amount of pain.

Green wispy letters informed me of the XP gain.

+75 XP

Couldn’t really appreciate that until my body stopped hurting so much.

---

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