Beyond the gate lies the ultimate Treasure

Chapter 13: Illusions of Salvation

The crackling fire had provided them a brief moment of relief, but the group knew it was a fleeting reprieve. Encircled by thousands of monstrous creatures, the oppressive weight of impending death loomed over them. The bodies of fallen monsters lay in heaps, their blood turning the ground into a crimson swamp. The air reeked of iron, sulfur, and decay, a nauseating mixture that made it hard to breathe.

Denver crouched by the car, his dagger clutched tightly in one trembling hand. His vision blurred as exhaustion clawed at him. His body ached from countless slashes and bruises, and his mind was a haze of adrenaline and fear.

Denver (panting): "We... we can't keep this up."

Kartik, slumped against the car's rear bumper, clutched his bleeding shoulder. His once-steady hands now shook uncontrollably, and his mind raced, searching for a solution.

Kartik (weakly): "Out of ammo... out of bombs... we're out of everything."

Priyanshu stood tall despite his trembling legs. His sword was drenched in black ichor, the blade dented and chipped from hours of relentless use. He glanced at Denver, his voice steady but tinged with desperation.

Priyanshu: "Denver, say the word. If this is it, we go down fighting."

Sam's unconscious form lay inside the car, her pale face illuminated by the faint glow of the moon. She hadn't stirred in hours, her fragile state a constant reminder of their dwindling chances of survival.

Denver (shaking his head): "We're not dying here. Not like this. There has to be a way out."

The flames surrounding them flickered and danced, growing weaker with each passing second. The monsters sensed the change. Their guttural growls grew louder, their glowing eyes narrowing as they edged closer to the fading barrier.

Kartik (gritting his teeth): "The fire's dying... We're out of time."

Denver forced himself to his feet, using the car for support. His voice was raw, but his determination burned bright.

Denver: "No. We're not done yet."

The fire sputtered one final time before extinguishing completely, plunging the battlefield into darkness. For a heartbeat, there was silence—a heavy, suffocating silence that pressed down on them like a physical weight.

Then, the monsters charged.

The grotesque horde surged forward, their twisted forms illuminated by the dim moonlight. Claws, fangs, and glowing eyes rushed toward them in a wave of death.

Denver (roaring): "Hold the line!"

Denver met the first creature head-on, driving his dagger deep into its eye. The monster screeched, its body convulsing as he yanked the blade free and slashed its throat. Blood sprayed across his face, but he didn't stop.

Kartik, armed with only a jagged piece of metal, swung wildly at the monsters closing in. His makeshift weapon connected with a sickening crunch, splitting a creature's skull in two.

Kartik (panting): "I'm not going down like this!"

Priyanshu was a whirlwind of steel, his sword carving through flesh and bone with each swing. He moved with practiced precision, his strikes clean and deadly. But even he was beginning to falter, his movements slowing as exhaustion took its toll.

Priyanshu: "Denver! We can't hold them off forever!"

The ground beneath them was slick with blood, making every step a struggle. Denver slipped, falling to one knee as a monster lunged at him. He barely managed to raise his dagger in time, driving it into the creature's chest.

Denver (gritting his teeth): "We don't have to hold them forever—just long enough!"

Sam's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry as the sounds of battle filled her ears. Her chest tightened as she took in the scene—the relentless horde, the blood-soaked ground, and her friends fighting for their lives.

Sam (weakly): "No... no, this can't be happening."

Her gaze locked onto Priyanshu, who was standing protectively in front of the car, his sword dripping with ichor. She saw the exhaustion in his movements, the desperate determination in his eyes.

Sam (whispering): "Priyanshu..."

He glanced back, relief flooding his face when he saw her awake.

Priyanshu: "Sam! You're awake. Stay down—we'll handle this!"

But Sam shook her head, her trembling hands gripping the edge of the seat.

Sam (hoarsely): "No... I can help."

The power within her stirred, a deep, untapped force she had always been too afraid to use. She closed her eyes, focusing on the monsters' minds.

The creatures hesitated, their movements faltering as Sam's power took hold. She reached deep into their consciousness, implanting vivid illusions—massive, otherworldly predators towering over them, their roars echoing across the battlefield.

The monsters recoiled, snarling and snapping at the illusions. Chaos erupted as they turned on each other, attacking the phantom threats and their own kind.

Denver (staring in awe): "Sam... You're doing it."

But the strain was immense. Sam's hands shook violently as she pushed her power to its limits, sweat pouring down her face.

Kartik (rushing to her side): "Sam, stop! You're going to kill yourself!"

Sam (through gritted teeth): "No... I have to keep going!

The fire they had started earlier had burned itself out, leaving them exposed once again. As the illusions began to fade, the monsters regrouped, their numbers seemingly endless.

Denver (desperately): "We need another plan!"

Kartik's eyes darted to the car's trunk. A spark of inspiration struck him.

Kartik: "I've got an idea. Cover me!"

Before anyone could stop him, Kartik sprinted to the trunk, throwing it open. He grabbed the last few canisters of petrol, dragging them to the center of the group.

Priyanshu (yelling): "What are you doing?!"

Kartik (grinning): "Making fireworks."

He poured the petrol in a wide circle around the car, dousing the ground in the flammable liquid. The monsters closed in, their growls growing louder. Kartik lit a small rag with a match and tossed it into the petrol.

The ground erupted in flames, creating a blazing wall of fire that engulfed the advancing creatures. Screeches filled the air as the monsters burned, their charred bodies collapsing in heaps.

The group stood in stunned silence, the flames casting flickering shadows across their bloodied faces.

Sam (weakly): "Kartik... You're insane."

Kartik (laughing breathlessly): "Took you long enough to notice."

For a moment, they allowed themselves to breathe, the fire buying them precious minutes. But Denver knew it wasn't over.

Denver: "This isn't the end. They'll come back."

Priyanshu: "Then we rest while we can. When they do, we'll be ready."

The group huddled together, their eyes scanning the darkness beyond the flames, waiting for the next wave.