A faint voice, cursing and repeatedly saying, "No. No way. No. It isn't possible. Son of a whore! Fuck! NO!" It is faint. But I can hear every word.

"What the hell? Is that the Dukri female?" How did she get down there? She had run in the opposite direction.

The world is circular. They always are.

Ufrik speaks in my mind but makes sure not to look at me. We don't need the Gnarr getting suspicious.

This has to suck for the Dukri. Running to get away, just to end up where she started—made sense, though. The point is to face the challenge of the world.

I suddenly hear something else.

It's not the Dukri. Yet it came from her direction.

I look at my companions. We nod to each other, silent agreement. We won't leave her to face whatever is down there alone.

I feel my energy collect around me, and my feet float off the ground, and instead of sprinting in the Dukri's direction, I fly. Ok then. This is new.

Thankfully, after last time, I am a little more prepared. Still, this is a little trippy. I see Ufrik running silently just below me.

He is fast, as powerful as I had imagined. I don't know how he manages to stay silent, but I like the idea of us having the advantage of surprise.

The Gnarr lumbers behind us. Not as fast as us, and in his effort to be quiet, he is slower than normal. But that is ok. He will be there if we need him. I am sure he could jump half the distance if he wanted. It just wouldn't be very subtle. Or quiet.

I hear the sound again. This time it is closer, easier to decipher. Something heavy and sharp is being dragged on the ground. It scrapes on the stones, echoing down the road.

It is the only other sound besides the dripping, creaking and leaves rustling. It occurs to me that even though I hear the leaves, I don't feel the breeze.

What the stars is moving the leaves or making the creaking sound then?

Suddenly the hair all over my body stands up. Goosebumps break out everywhere.

Both Ufrik and I slow our pace. Something evil is up ahead. The whole place feels wrong. I sniff the air.

All I can smell is damp earth, rotting wood and sewage. Not the most pleasant of smells, but it tells me nothing.

We reach the spot where the Dukri should be or had been quicker than I thought. But she is gone. My head snaps to my right. The scraping sound is getting louder. There is a small stone path between two rundown townhomes. It is too dark to see what is down there, but the sound is down there.

I hear the creaking sound again, this time right beside me, to my left. I stifle a yelp as I come to the sudden and the rather surprising realization that the store sign beside me is not a sign at all. It is a swinging corpse.

A dead male Dukri swings gently back and forth right beside me. Blood from the male's torn throat runs down the length of his body, dripping off his bare feet. One slow drip at a time. What I had thought were leaves turns out to be his torn pant legs, gently brushing together as he swings.

Ufrik glances up at my sharp intake of breath and stares blankly at the corpse. His face says he notices the same thing I did. The body is fresh.

The swinging is just the leftover momentum from being hung up there like a trophy. And not that long ago.

As I hover beside him, I quickly survey the area. I can't see any threats and the only other sound is the scraping sound.

Wait. What happened to the scraping?

"I can't hear it anymore!" I look to Ufrik. He shakes his head, confirming he doesn't hear it anymore either. Not good.

Finally, the Gnarr catches up to us. Floating up high makes me feel less intimidated by him, but I still can not get over his size.

He comes up behind us much quieter than I would have expected for someone of his mass. Looking up at me, like I have answers, he asks quietly.

"What happened to the Dukri?"

With his last word comes a huge crashing sound down the pathway. I hear a shrieking sound right after. Involuntarily I shiver.

The shriek had been a shriek of death. Something just died.

Gurgling sounds follow, and then slurping and loud crunching. Someone is being eaten.

Was it the Dukri? Fuck!

"Stay or go, Zea? Want to win yet?"

Seriously? I stare incredulously at Ufrik.

I don't know what the hell is out there, but by the sounds of the crashing and now the feasting, I don't want to know. Winning isn't everything.

It's important to know when to fight and when to walk away. It doesn't make you a coward to be smart.

Suddenly the sky opens, and a massive crack of thunder announces the downpour. I have no clothes to get soaked, but oddly enough, I don't feel the rain on my skin either. What the?

Looking at my skin, I see the rain evaporating in little tiny puffs of vapour before it even reaches the white light coming from my body. Shit, I am not just emanating a bright light, but actual energy. I should have figured. I feel a little silly not having put it together until now.

There is actual heat pouring from my body along with the light. I guess that's why I hadn't felt cold or wet. I literally have my own little bubble. Looking down, my companions are not fairing so well. They are soaked.

I want to laugh at Ufrik, looking like a drowned, overgrown beast of a man, but a sound stops me.

A "whomp" and then a soft thud. Just behind the Gnarr, I see the Dukri pick herself up. She had run right into him and bounced off like a pebble hitting a mountain. The Gnarr probably barely felt her.

"Buddy, you are seriously solid. I am back here? This is so fucked up."

She is too loud. Voice coming fast, full of nervous energy, squeaking loudly at the end of almost every word. Hadn't she heard the scraping earlier? Or had she taken off before that? It isn't exactly wise to attract attention at the moment.

I train my ears again. Fuck.

The crunching and slurping has stopped. Whatever was making all the eating sounds has heard her.

The scraping starts again. Moving towards us. The Dukri hears it this time. I listen to her take in a shaky breath, cursing softly and saying, "We are so dead. I don't wanna die. Shit, shit shit".

Guess she isn't going to be a lot of help. I watch her hide behind the Gnarr, shaking uncontrollably. She suddenly bends down, curves into a ball and starts praying incoherently.

Either my language translator doesn't work in the game, or it is some ancient language no one knows. I look at Ufrik.

"How about you win this one. Or should we run?"

"Zea, this is all in our minds. It's not real, remember? Why run? Don't you want to win? Or are you just looking forward to all the compliments you'll get to rain down on me?" The crazy make actually winks.

Mother of stars, he is cocky and arrogant. I try not to find it amusing. But it kind of is. A little cheesy considering he's used "rain down" as we stand, well, everyone else stands, in a downpour. However, I still have to fight a smile.

His point, though, is valid. I can not forget that none of this is real. No matter how real it feels.

I am almost done convincing myself this isn't a big deal. No fake monster will scare me - then the scraping sound suddenly stops again.

Whatever it is, it's close now. The Dukri is still in her little ball, but no longer praying, just sobbing. I guess this is her nightmare after all.

Suddenly I hear a huge crashing sound come from down the road. The earth and buildings shake around me. Ufrik bends his knees, bracing himself. The Gnarr is like a bloody tree and barely seems to feel it. Granted, his feet are enormous, giving him a lot more anchorage.

I am not sure how, whatever it is, has gone from the alley to the road fast. It either jumped, which would explain the crashing and earth-shaking, or there are two. I am hoping my first guess is right.

Through the rain, I hear the scraping again. It is right in front of us. With it comes the sound of heavy breathing, nails clicking softly on the stone and an odd swooshing sound.

I still can't see what it is, but I get the impression it's massive. Bigger than the buildings. A deep, hissing voice creeps down the road.

"My, mmmmy. Sssoooo mannnyyy. The Godsss of Dessstruction mussst be enjoying my ssssshow if they ssssent me alllll of you."

Its voice hisses with a low rumble. It feels like darkness itself comes with it. Licking at my skin, tasting me. What the hell is it?

What the stars did Dukri legends say? What was the one monster they feared the most?

It was right there, but I can not bring it to the forefront of my brain. They have a story of an epic monster who almost wiped out their entire race until a lone warrior came and saved them. What the hell was it called again?

"Jakal!" Ufrik whispers the name with bated breath. That's right! The Jakal!

Ohhh, fuck.

By the look on Ufrik's face, it is hard for even him to remember this isn't real right now. At least now, I know why I can't see it.

They can cloak themselves. Be invisible. Handy for them, brutal for us. The scraping gives it away, though. It has been marked somehow so people would know it is coming.

My breath catches in my throat. I hear it chuckle low at the sound of its name. It thinks we don't stand a chance. I hope it isn't as big as I think it is.

Suddenly a vast dark shape appears before us. Right fucking in front of us. It could have reached out at any moment and killed any one of us.

There are small puffs of steam coming from its large nostrils with each breath. The fucking thing is a lot bigger than I had expected.

Holy mother of stars!

I forget how to breathe. I just stare open-mouthed, eyes wide, frozen. Pretty sure my heart has forgotten how to work too. I hear Ufrik curse, and the Gnarr suck in a breath.

Ya. We are so fucked. Now I know why some die in the game. Fear is real no matter where you are.

The Jakal stands, in all its horrifying glory, snickering at our obvious fear. I know he tastes it in the air. Again, I feel the darkness caress my skin. This beast has immense power—more than I have ever encountered in my life.

I watch small clouds of steam escape its giant nostrils with each hissing breath. He isn't frightened in the least. He knows he has us.

My stomach twists with knots. How the stars are we suppose to fight this?

The Jakal is over 20 feet tall, with a long spiked tail, skin made of scales thicker than any Armada armour, and teeth as long as my fucking arm! It breaths in deeply again, tilting its large head back, savouring the smell.

Two large horns protruded on either side of its skull. It's like a giant horned man-lizard. Legs similar to the Dukri, backwards, made for speed and strength. They are long and agile. Body slim and lithe, long arms ready to reach out, with its massive claws, at any moment.

I watch blood drip from its jaw, streaming down its neck, over its collar bones and down its front. It drips off its torso to mix with the puddle below.

The rain isn't washing off the signs of the carnage he has just left. The air, even through the rain, is heavy with a sickly sweet metallic taste.

This isn't good. According to the stories, I remember they don't have any weaknesses. They have ravenous appetites and eat anything living, preferably while it is still alive.

It takes another step towards us as it breaths in again, almost like it is in a trance from our smell. That's when I notice the huge heavy metal bracelet clamped to its leg. A large chain, about five feet long before it brakes off, dragging in the beast's wake.

We need some serious artillery here. Where the hell do you get weapons in a dreamland?

I look down at Ufrik. Now that the initial shock is gone, he seems strangely calm. Like this mammoth of a beast, with blood dripping from its claws and teeth is no big deal.

How in the stars is he not afraid? He must feel me staring at him because he looked up, shooting me a glance.

"Open your Eye, Zea."

What? Whatever. It isn't a bad idea. I should get a feel for the beast's power. Maybe if I let myself absorb enough energy, it can be a fair fight.

Maybe I can absorb the Jakal's power. I hate to say it, but the thought is rather exciting!

Inhaling deeply, I let my Eye open to the world around me.

What the?

This can't be right. I can not see anyone's energy. Not one damn thing has an aura or an energy signature, except Ufrik and the other two.

This makes no sense. My heart rate picks up. I am about to start freaking out. Have I lost my sight, or has my K'ai left me?

But that doesn't seem right. I feel more connected to my K'ai than ever. My head swivels around like a spin top as I try to find anything with an energy signature. Why doesn't the beast have one? I felt his power! I know I did.

"Don't have an aneurysm, Zea." Ufrik sounds exasperated with me yet again. "This is a computer representation of the Dukri's deepest fear. There is nothing to see with your Eye because there isn't anything real here."

"I think I will start with you, my glowing star fairy." The beast's tongue flicks out as if to taste me, or maybe my fear. However, I find it hard to be afraid now.

The realization of what I am seeing and what Ufrik just said washes over me like warm sunshine. My muscles relax, my breathing calms, and my fear vanishes.

Suddenly I know. I can win this. This is all bullshit. No wonder it was so easy for Ufrik. He never had some colossal epiphany that the Universe was all-powerful. He just simply accepts his fate here in the game.

Easy to do when you understand nothing is real. And you have actual visual confirmation.

The question is, how does he make it look good so that the spectators, and game operators, don't catch on?

Cocking my head to the side, I look down at the Dukri. She has past out in her fear. Some strange emotion plays on the Gnarr's square face. Ufrik is staring at me. Seeing understanding bloom on my face, he nods to me, turning back to the Gnarr.

"The trick is not to win every time. You have to let some things play out. Sometimes you win by accident. It ends up being unavoidable. But then there are times like this," he nods at the Gnarr, "when you can tell that one of the other players is about to make a choice. You let them win."

Just then, the Gnarr steps forward, bending on one knee, head bowed forward.

"If you are hungry beast, eat me. I am a meal more befitting a beast your size than the scrawny glowing female."