Leap of Faith

As they stepped out, a cool breeze brushed past their faces, bringing with it the scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers. The trio took a deep breath, savouring the sensation of being outside after being cooped up in the Ruin for so long.

"...Finally" Kai sighed

"We are out..." Fred was also savouring the feeling of being free of worries of their life being in danger at every moment.

Gerald surveyed their surroundings, trying to get his bearings and saw their trusty carriage.

They finally relaxed after seeing it standing where they left it.

But suddenly the moment of tranquility was shattered as a loud roar shook the ground, making it tremble beneath their feet.

"ROOOAAAR..."

The trio immediately looked at each other with wide eyes, fear etched onto their faces.

"it seems the monster has also found the exit..." Kai gulped nervously.

The ground continued to shake as the roar grew louder and closer and cracks became visible on it. The trio looked at each other, knowing that they had to act fast if they wanted to make it out alive.

"We need to get in the carriage and get away from here," suggested Fred.

Gerald nodded in agreement and they quickly made their way to the carriage, adrenaline pumping through their veins.

But it was too late now, as the cracks in the ground became more pronounced and the first one to be the prey of the abyss beneath was their carriage.

The trio gasped in horror as they watched their trusty carriage get swallowed by the expanding abyss. They were left standing on a small patch of land, surrounded by the ever-growing cracks on the ground that threatened to engulf them too.

"We need to move, now!" yelled Gerald, his voice barely audible over the deafening roar.

The trio ran towards the nearest tree, hoping to find refuge there. As they reached the base of the tree, the ground beneath their feet gave way and they stumbled, barely managing to hold on to the trunk of the tree.

Panting heavily, they looked around, trying to come up with a plan. The monster's roar was now so loud that it felt like it was right beside them.

But it seemed like today was not the day they would be favoured by lady luck as the tree which they were clinging to suddenly started descending.

The trio held on to the trunk of the tree for dear life as it slowly started descending into the expanding abyss. The ground shook violently beneath their feet, and they could hear the monster's roar growing louder and more intense with each passing moment.

"We can't hold on for much longer!" shouted Fred, his knuckles turning white from gripping the tree so tightly.

"We need to find another way out!" added Kai, his voice trembling with fear.

Gerald quickly surveyed their surroundings, trying to find a way out of their precarious situation. His eyes fell upon a narrow ledge, jutting out from the side of the abyss, a few meters away.

"Over there!" he yelled, pointing towards the ledge. "We can make it if we jump!"

The other two followed his gaze, and their eyes widened in shock at the distance they would need to cover. It seemed impossible, but they knew they had no other option and had to take this leap of faith.

"Let's do it!" said Kai, determination in his voice.

Without wasting any more time, the trio leaped from the tree towards the ledge. For a moment, it felt like they were suspended in mid-air, and their hearts were in their throats. But then, they landed on the narrow ledge, their bodies jolting from the impact.

But to their dismay the ledge's structural integrity was questionable as cracks started forming on it.

They looked down and saw the same monster who was chasing them earlier with its tentacles thrashing about everywhere.

Its maw was open, showcasing its huge deadly razor sharp teeth in a greedy bid to to crush and devour everything.

The trio looked at each other in despair.

"S-So this is it, huh," Kai sighed

"Any last words....Anyone?" Gerald asked with a crestfallen expression.

"I will start... So I had two little brothers when I was small but both of them got killed and I could not do anything to stop it, so I chose a strength and defense type enhancement... Pretty childish right?"

Gerald blushed and said self-deprecatingly and then looked at Kai.

*Crack*

"Well I am not a scout, sorry for swindling you, maybe this is all my fault"

Kai averted his eyes from meeting theirs in shame.

Gerald and Fred looked at him and laughed.

"Hahaha..."

You think we didn't know that from your antics, you sure are stupid!" Fred smirked.

*Crack*

Kai looked down in shame and then saw the monster's maw and looked up again.

Gerald and Fred were amused despite the grim situation.

"Well, this trip wasn't supposed to be this dangerous by any means and it had just one purpose" Fred spoke up on his own.

"I wanted to tell you both that we all are..."

At that moment a whistling sound came, what followed it was a tentacle which wrapped around all of them.

They started descending at higher pace towards the deadly maw of the monster.

And when all of them were near the deadly teeth of the monster did Fred utter with a carefree smile etched on his face:

"...Brothers...and this was the best time of my life!"

Gerald and Kai were filled with a mixture of shock and realization as the creature's sharp teeth closed in on them. And then, suddenly, everything went black.

Kai was left feeling shaken to his very core by the earlier revelation, unable to shake the memory of what had just happened.

As Kai's mind slowly adjusted to his surroundings, he realized that he was still alive. He tried to look around frantically, attempting to figure out where he was and what had happened.

But realised he could not move and see anything and was just...hovering or floating in space.

After a few seconds, the Psion announced:

[Trial Complete]