'How did this happen to me?'
That was the thought on Odd's mind as he ran across the rocky surface that was the Mountain Sector. He was on all fours, pushing himself to go faster. He ignored the dizziness and tried to focus running in a straight line.
Behind him, something large and heavy was thundering after him. He knew it was still after him. He dared not look back to see how much distance this thing was closing in on him.
Despite being on Lyoko, he could feel his mind going numb and he felt a pain in his chest. He wanted to stop running. That was not an option. He had to go faster. He had to push himself harder. If he could just make it behind one of the boulders ahead, maybe he could counter attack. One hit on the XANA symbol would do it, right?
Behind the boulder he managed to go. His friends were nowhere in sight. Where could they be? He would have to deal with this menace himself. He pressed his back against the boulder, heavy pants coming out of his mouth. He dared to take a look over the boulder.
The monster was heading straight for him now. Odd steadied himself. "Laser Arrow!"
The arrow hit its mark. He smiled as a glowing flash stretched across the monster's head, and then suddenly it dissipated. Odd's eyes widened in shock. The monster was still coming for him.
"What? That should have worked!" He cried out.
He made a leap away just as the monster's claw struck down, barely missing him and scraping the boulder. He jumped on the monster's head and slid down its back. He jumped off and ran in a new direction, down a new path. Up ahead, he could see an unactivated tower. If he could make it there, he could use the tower as a shield. The monster wasn't that fast.
Purple electricity suddenly wracked his body. He screamed as he was thrown to the side. His body twitched painfully.
"Odd! You're down to forty life points!"
He groaned as if Jeremie's voice was hurting him. He struggled to his feet and brushed himself off. He tensed up when the monster lashed out again with its claws. It barely grazed him, causing him to lose one more life point.
"I could really use some backup here Jeremie!" Odd cried.
"Yumi's on her way!"
"Tell her to hurry!" Odd shouted. He readied his arm. He pointed it at the monster in front of him. "Okay, you want some of this? I will be happy to fulfill your order! Laser Arrow!"
It struck the monster in the shoulder. It seemed to stagger ever so slightly. But it was still moving forward, still coming directly at him. Purple electricity sparkled menacingly.
Normally, Odd would be able to run circles around this kind of monster. What it had in power, it little to show for in agility. But something was wrong and he knew it. His head, the chest pains, they were making it impossible for him to fight at his full power. He fired another arrow before making a run for it towards the tower.
He heard the clanging sound, the same sound he and his friends grew to hate, the clanging sound that meant the monster was going to unleash one of its more powerful attacks. Odd tried to ignore the pain and move faster.
It was not enough.
Odd screamed as the electricity danced and arched all over his body. He fell to the ground in a loud thud. He looked up and gasped in horror. The monster was upon him now. He scrambled to his feet and took a fighting stance. The monster stared at him before lunging its body at him.
He leaped to the side, feeling the monster's body rush past him. He wobbled, holding his head, and fell to his knees. 'Okay, maybe that wasn't the best idea.' He told himself.
Odd felt something snag his tail. He cried in surprise as he felt himself being dragged backwards. He looked behind him. The monster had him by his tail. It didn't take long for Odd to realize where it was dragging him to. They were going right over the edge. His eyes widened.
"Jeremie, help!"
"Odd!"
As the monster continued to pull Odd backwards, towards the Digital Sea, Odd began to think of the events that led him to his current predicament.