The portal was close.
So close that Akari could almost feel the strange dimensional energy brushing against her body.
'We're going to make it.'
For the first time since the abomination had emerged, a faint glimmer of hope appeared in her heart.
If they could just cross that portal, perhaps they could escape this nightmare. There was a chance after all.
WHOOSH!
The ground ahead erupted.
More tentacles emerged from beneath the corrupted earth.
Their blackish-red flesh split open.
One after another, grotesque red eyes appeared within them. They stared directly at Akari and Noah.
Their gaze were hungry, murderous, waiting. Then the flesh surrounding those eyes tore apart.
SQUELCH!
Countless mouths opened. Rows of irregular teeth emerged from the rotten flesh.
And then something released from them.
"HEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEE!"
Laughter echoed across the forest, not from one mouth but from dozens, hundreds.
The sound overlapped until it became an unbearable chorus of madness.
