~ two

Mm.  The thing about exploring is that it's all about the little things.  Like flying out your motel window to the apocalypse.





The Killer ... suffice to say once a decision has been made ... shooting through the streets below and doing well enough for all the war cries and dying but there really are a lot of them.

One may think to help or watch when the Learner joins with a crack from the sky bringing the summoned beasts sealed along the way.  And all these in their most unleashed of forms, these who wreak havoc with the Killer and indeed one dog of war.

One could fly anywhere in this land to see the same, the people of the woods taking what's left of the towns and terrorizing these new soldiers to depletion, beasts of the swamp-lands dragging them down, dragon attacking where it feels.

But here the people rush for the boats in the moments given, while Killer and Learner seem to funnel them protecting.  The dragon breaches the wall and the natural beasts pour through to escape the bloodshed outside the walls only to find more within.

They flee amid the rest of the survivors to the only place the battle is not.  The docks.  All to be seen and nothing required, this is where the Explorer loses control and understands what the name really means.  
 
That all of this is random and no matter how many times it's been seen before and even if the ending is scripted, it will not play out the same way ever again.  Is it better to watch or to interact ? 

Does it make any difference at all ?

Moments.  Replay.  Second chances.  A whole world of one moment taking over, with more happening than could be seen in five times through or even ten.  It's everywhere.

Everywhere you go it will mean the world to where you are, what you do.  You can turn tides, choose who survives or just tear through the count and then it's done.

The ground begins to crack with the vines from Hell forcing through.

Learner - "It's free now.  The seals are broken."  For the first time looking afraid.  "And it wants a sacrifice.  The one it was promised."

~ This growing thing roars its agony as the green disappears from the nearby trees.

Killer - "Get on the boat."

Learner - "But ... I just found you."

Killer - Looks up as the dragon circles over waiting ... "Don't worry about me."  Looks into the Learner's eyes and smiles, "I've got plenty to live for.  And I will find you."

A deep groaning sound fills the world as something horrible grows in the distance from the distorted green.  A vine whips for the learner before the Killer cuts it off.

Killer - "I'll be there.  I promise you.  Just please.  Get on that boat."

...

The boat departs with the Learner aboard amid the survivors and beasts which made it.