12 Sacrifice To Protect

My team and I waited in silence as the time slowly reached the moment when it came. For some reason, Fu'er was the one that called me this time instead of Wu Die. He spoke in a wary tone as if he was trying to ask me something, but he just kept beating around the bush, but based on his questions like "how is your vacation", "are you still at home right now", and "mom, you should go home", I had the inkling that Fu'er knew that I was camping outside this forest. That really confirmed my idea that Fu'er is currently in the forest, probably in some separate dimension of some sort that prevented me from seeing him. I could say that I was proud with my deduction, just like how I was proud of the fact that I have prepared to slay the monster to protect Fu'er.

Then, the time came, and I heard Wu Die's voice as she proclaimed that the camp was under attack. I heard Fu'er's panicked voice, and he seemed to have tried to say something to me, but I dropped my phone as I looked in the direction of a familiar, loud crunch. One of the cars that we drove here had been crushed once again, but unlike last time, this time, I saw it. A tall, enormous beast with horns on its head. It's got a muscular body while gripping an enormous battle axe. The face of the beast was of an angry bull as it stood on its hind legs, glaring at us with intelligence. There was only one mythical monster than fitted that description, and it was the Minotaur.

I shouted at my teammates to snap them out of their dazes as I commanded them to open fire. Then, the war began. Our specialized bullets managed to penetrate the bull's thick hide as it howled in pain. Then with a swing of its axe, it bisected one of my teammates that had stepped too close. My heart lurched at its strength as I understood we would not stand a chance in a close up fight. As the team learnt its lesson, although we desired to mourn for our teammate, there was no time for that at the moment. We split up and began kiting the Minotaur, trying our best to keep a distance; however, the Minotaur would easily rush up to one of us to attack us. Two more unlucky members had been bisected while three had amputated body parts. Basically, I was the only healthy fighter as the researchers stayed back; however, we could tell, the bull was at its death door. As it changed its target towards me, I froze as I realized that I may end up in a state worst than death; however, one of the male teammates yelled "I love you" to someone and then he latched on to the bull, climbing towards its head with a primed specialized grenade. Before the Minotaur can toss him away, the grenade exploded and with a splatter, it was the end. At the cost of 4 lives and with two heavily injured, we finally managed to take down the monster. My legs lots their strength as I fell to the ground. Although I feared and felt guilt for the team's loss, but I was glad that the team I had collected had managed to take down the monster. Now, Fu'er can be safe I thought.

However, I had neglected a very important fact. It was such an obvious fact, but because I was too focused on the monster that killed me in my last life, I had ignored such a simple fact. One must remember that when the Minotaur killed me, the camp was already under attack. This hinted at a very obvious fact: the Minotaur we killed was not alone. Hence when I looked up again after giggling happily for my accomplishment, I saw two arrows piercing through my two living teammates, sending them to the other world. Then what seemed to be purple portals opened up as more Minotaur filed out, like an army ready for battle. In the sky were red imp-like creatures who had arrows aimed at me. I realized then and there the mistake I had made: even if I bring an army, my enemies were also an army. I knew now there was no way for me to contend against these beings no matter how much stronger or larger the army I create. Although I knew I had to die now, but perhaps since I knew I would be reborn, I did not regret my actions, I was just very depressed that I was not able to save my son. I hope that my effort had managed to stall the monsters even for a bit, so that my son could have a chance of escape.

As a Minotaur stomped up to me and raised its axe for execution, my hopes were shattered. Not by the axe ending my life, but by the familiar voice that yelled "mom" and a pitiful cry of "Nooo!"

Then, I saw as a wave of water seep out of the ground as it shoved me away from the Minotaur and onto the edge of the fog of the forest. When I cleared my eyes of water, I saw Wu Die yelling something with a panicked face next to me. I saw a pale-faced Fu'er looking back at me with his hands extended like he was using some magic, saying something towards my direction, but it was muffled by the water clogging my ears. Then, he dropped to his knee like he was out of strength. I was about to call his name wondering what type of show he was putting on, but then I heard a clear snort before I saw an axe descend upon him. Then, my mind went blank as I could not process what happened next.

I could only feel anger towards the evil person who was preventing me from reaching my Fu'er. No matter how I struggled, that evil person did not let me go as I was dragged into fog which obscured my view from my baby. I kept struggling towards my treasure, but then I felt a force struck me as my vision faded out and my mind truly went blank.