Chapter 24
Zeth sat at the edge of the clearing staring at the demon as it glanced around at its surroundings.
And then, just moments after it appeared, he got a notification.
[Influence check failed.]
Instantly, the most intense sensation of fear he’d ever felt flooded Zeth’s mind. He gasped in horror, kicking away from the source of his terror, feeling his heart pounding in his ribcage and his entire body trembling as he did.
The appearance of the demon seemed to twist and morph to fit the needles of fear stabbing into his mind. The scowl screwed into its humanoid face became a hungry snarl on a bloodthirsty monster’s. The calm, indifferent stance it held became one ready to lash out and slaughter the first living being it spotted. Drool dripped from its sharpened teeth, ready to tear into Zeth. It was going to kill him. It was going to kill him!
The demon’s eyes met Zeth’s, seeming to carry with them the murderous intent of an enraged god. Even the slightest moonlight glaring off the white in its eyes was like a beam of energy, piercing his heart and preventing him from moving a single inch more. Its red irises seemed to glow a fiery light, like Zeth would instantly catch aflame the moment the thing decided he should die.
In the back of his mind, Zeth knew something was wrong. He knew he’d failed a Stat check and what he was feeling was clearly an artificially enhanced sense of fear, but that knowledge did nothing to change the dread clutching his chest, closing his blood vessels and petrifying his muscles. He felt like he may black out if this kept up. The fear was so intense it was painful.
As shaky breaths escaped his lungs, Zeth watched the demon take a step forward, toward him. Instantly, the feeling doubled. The entire earth fractured and crumbled beneath its feet. Its murderous gaze was fixed on him. Its drooling mouth was open, ready to swallow him whole.
Zeth had no idea what was real and what wasn’t. The beast took another step, and he felt like his heart might stop beating. It was pumping as hard as it could, pushing energy through his body to escape from his imminent death, but he couldn’t move. He sat and stared, gasping for air as the demon continued in its stride toward him.