The Hunter Becomes The Hunted

[Re-launch past.]

The gray firebolt whizzed forward. The firebolt hit the hellhound, narrowly missing Ru, who jumped out of his point. Using the hellhound's back as a gym mat, Ru did a cartwheel. He managed to grab onto another branch.

The hellhound, driven wild by the pain of the firebolt, jumped out of the tree and grabbed Big Bro Imp by the throat.

The minions ganged up on the hellhound to save their boss.

After losing its invisibility completely with the impact of the firebolt, the hellhound quickly demonstrated its superiority against the imps. It was savagely tearing them apart, making them squeal in pain as it tore them apart.

Witnessing the event pushing the limits of brutality, Ru suddenly realized that the next target, or even the main hunt, was himself.

As he struggled in the horror, he tried to speak, although his teeth chattering.

"Girls, help me! How can I be saved?" he said, his voice shaking.

<What can he do? >

<He can't do anything, I'm afraid he's going to die.>

Ru got angry, it was such a battle of nerves that the tremor in his voice disappeared. "I already knew that you were nothing but my inner voice. Fuck off, you girls!"

<Shame on you, Dad!>

<We are your daughters, DAD! Talk to us PROPERLY, NOW!>

"Blah, blah, blah! I can't hear you, you don't exist," Ru said and looked hopefully at the demons tearing each other apart in a brutal display of violence. It may be, that they were just elements of a nightmare like girls.

<You believe in our existence when it suits you, but not when it doesn't.>

<Tsk, tsk, bad dad!>

"I wish I hadn't overbred. Fuck my testicles," Ru screamed.

<Don't swear! Shame on you! You're just a child!>

"I am a child! Tell that to the hellhound. HELP!"

After smashing almost all the imps to pieces, the hellhound answered Ru's call for help by headbutting the tree. Only Big Bro still stirred, even though he was half-eaten.

"Got it," Ru said and stared at the small gray flame that was forming in Big Bro's one intact claw. He was on the trail of a new madness.

<He'll risk it.>

<Our new dad is just as lunatic as the original.>

3!

2!

1!

"Now!" said Ru and jumped down from the tree onto the hellhound. Big Bro threw perhaps its last firebolt.

With a swift and daring move, Ru landed on the hellhound's back. Caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events, the hellhound arched its back with a low growl.

Big Bro targeted Ru. Ru dodged left and narrowly avoided the gray fire arrow. The hellhound let out a howl of pain when struck in the face.

A moment later, the hellhound charged forward to finish off Big Bro.

Meanwhile, having gained some time, Ru ran away without looking at anything.

He was running towards the lake, but the hellhound was fast and had already closed the distance. Not only in speed but also in size, it was at least three times the size of Ru.

"Girls! Save me," he cried, panting.

<We can't save you.>

<Because you don't believe we exist.>

"Sometimes I believe. This is the moment! HELP," he screamed.

The hellhound jumped with a fierce growl, its powerful muscles propelling it through the air. Ru, who was rapidly on his feet, heard the resounding splash as the creature landed on the mud soil. Reacting quickly, he instinctively ducked to avoid any possible counterattack from it.

The demon dog, which was almost floating in the air, ran over him.

In the next moment, the hellhound was spinning in the air with perfect balance. The hellhound dropped to all fours, this move bringing it nose-to-nose with its prey.

As Ru stared into the creature's eyes, he saw the disaster. Inside those eyes was a gray hell filled with famine. He was seeing souls writhing in that hunger. The hunger he witnessed was unlike anything he had ever seen before. The souls gathered into a mass, were like cannibals, biting each other and gnawing at each other with great appetite.

The creature's razor-sharp, blood-stained teeth were as big as stakes, sinking deep into Ru's vulnerable soul.

"No, No, No," Ru's spirit cried over and over again. It was as if all the Ru's who had ever lived were united in rejecting such an end.

The sight was horrifying, but even more disturbing was the searing heat of the saliva dripping from its jaws. Even the cold night air wasn't enough to cool that liquid.

Ru was stepping backwards and the creature was stepping with its claws towards him.

He was saying things like, "Don't come! Stop! Don't!" He was going to punch the hellhound in the nose and turn and run, that was all he could do. But he had no courage.

<Let's whistling, Daddy!>

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

<You've got to start whistling, Dad!>

It was an absurd suggestion, but Ru gave it a try. Despite the skepticism in his mind, he decided to take a leap of faith and see where it would lead him. With a deep breath, he pursed his lips and let out a sharp whistle. The sound echoed through the air, blending seamlessly with the gentle breeze that rustled the dry leaves scattered on the ground. As if in response to his call, the leaves danced and twirled, lifted by the invisible force of the wind. Ru couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and amazement at the unexpected outcome of his seemingly absurd action.

For a moment, everything was so beautiful.

The hellhound stood defiantly amidst the beautiful chaos. The dry leaves caught fire on its smoky fur, on its glowing skin. The intense heat from the burning leaves only heightened his menacing presence, casting an eerie glow around his powerful form.

Everything was worse now, but aesthetically it was good. Ru turned his back on death and started to run... Again!

"Shit!"