The First Death (Prize Reveal)

Even now, Gunner would sometimes remember that distant evening before his grandmother died, when she took him hunting Kordo Giant Crocodiles. The sun had looked just as it did now, a trace of blood seemingly staining its dim yellow afterglow.

His breathing came fast, his lungs burned, and his heavy armor hung on him like lead, making it hard to move his legs.

He ran with everything he had, but the wild men behind him, their faces crusted with salt and their mouths roaring in strange tones, refused to let up.

"Keep up! We'll be safe once we get through that pass!" Delis's anxious voice came from ahead.

Gunner was already nearly spent, but a moment later, he felt Nun suddenly pull him along while slashing through the armor clasp on his shoulder. His armor fell away, and strength surged back into him.

Without the armor weighing him down, Gunner abruptly picked up speed. Just then, however, the ground began to shake.

He instinctively glanced back, and his heart skipped a beat.

As though sensing its prey was about to escape, the monster formed from wild men, white salt, and shriveled wicker suddenly sprouted several human arms beneath its shell, jointed like spider legs. Dozens of faces under the wicker screamed in unison as it hurtled toward them like a spider hunting insects!

The earth trembled. Flying gravel and ash struck Gunner, stinging his face.

Savage, piercing roars swept closer, echoing through the mountains. Several wild men failed to dodge and were instantly flung away by the raging amalgamation. Shattered limbs fell with warm blood, and the other wild men hurriedly scattered to either side. Even so, many were knocked down, then seized by shriveled arms writhing like maggots' fleshy legs. Dragged inside, they screamed as they became new body