Race against time

The bell echoed through the forest, sharp and clear. Ethan froze for a moment, heart pounding. He turned to see a group of Illagers marching toward him, their red eyes locked on him, weapons ready.

"Not good... not good at all," Ethan muttered, fear rising inside him.

There were too many of them. He couldn't fight them all. If they followed him home, his base would be overrun. He had to lead them away, fast.

He sprinted into the trees, weaving between branches and leaping over roots. The Illagers chased him, their shouts getting louder. His legs burned, but he pushed on, refusing to slow down. The underbrush scratched at his skin, but he barely noticed.

*Thwip!*

An arrow zipped past his ear, so close he could feel the wind from it. Ethan ducked instinctively and kept running. He had to think of something, and fast. Running blindly wouldn't save him.

"The stream!" Ethan gasped, remembering the small river not too far ahead. The water might slow them down, give him a chance to escape.

He veered right, heading for the sound of rushing water. His breath came in ragged gasps as he ran, his muscles aching, but he couldn't stop now. Not with the Illagers so close behind.

Finally, he reached the stream. Without hesitation, he plunged into the cold water, swimming through as fast as he could. The icy water soaked through his clothes, chilling him to the bone, but he didn't care.

The Illagers reached the stream seconds later. Some tried to follow, but the water slowed them, just as Ethan had hoped. Their heavy weapon weighed them down, unlike Ethan, they cant save item in inventory and they struggled to keep their balance.

Ethan scrambled up the opposite bank, using the brief delay to put more distance between him and his pursuers. He pushed himself harder, knowing he couldn't relax yet.

The forest grew thicker as he ran deeper into it. The trees were denser here, the paths winding and uneven. Ethan used this to his advantage, zigzagging between the trunks, trying to confuse the Illagers.

He glanced back. The sounds of pursuit were getting quieter. He was losing them.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Ethan stopped behind a large tree, panting hard. He leaned against the trunk, listening. Silence. The Illagers were gone, at least for now.

He allowed himself a moment to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He'd shaken them off, but he wasn't out of danger yet. The sun was setting, and night was falling fast.

Ethan had to get back to his base, but he couldn't lead the Illagers there. He needed to be sure they weren't following him anymore.

He took a few more minutes to rest, then carefully made his way through the forest, this time more cautiously. Every snap of a twig made him jump, every rustle of leaves set his heart racing.

The forest was dark now, and every shadow felt like a threat. Hostile mobs would be out soon, and Ethan wasn't prepared for a fight.

Finally, through the thick trees, he spotted the outline of his base. Relief washed over him, but he stayed alert, checking his surroundings before approaching.

It seemed clear. The Illagers hadn't followed him.

Ethan slipped inside his base, locking the door behind him. He leaned against it, finally letting himself relax.

He sank to the floor, exhausted. His muscles ached, and his mind was spinning from the chase. But at least he'd made it back. Tomorrow, he'd need to be more prepared. The Illagers had been too close this time.

As he sat there in the quiet of his base, Ethan realized this was only the beginning. The world outside was getting more dangerous, and next time, he might not be so lucky.