You choose to stand your ground. With a deep breath, you brace yourself for the impending clash, knowing that survival in this cursed place hinges on your ability to overcome the nightmarish creatures lurking within. The beast lunges forward, a primal fury in its eyes, as you steel your resolve and prepare to face it head-on. Blood pounding in your ears, you grip your weapon tightly, ready to defend yourself against the looming threat. The battle is about to begin, and the outcome will determine not only your fate but also that of your companion, Thrasi. As the creature's claws slash through the air towards you, Thrasi leaps in front of you, taking the brunt of the attack meant for you. He lets out a gut-wrenching scream as the creature's razor-sharp claws tear through his flesh, blood splattering across the forest floor. In a moment of sacrifice, Thrasi falls to the ground, wounded and struggling to rise. The beast turns its attention back to you, its hunger for violence unabated.