The soil was turned black from the blood spilled, covering the blades of grass & creating a dark purple hue. The fire crackled from toppled buildings, the smoke casting a veil of misery around the small village.
No cries for help, no sobs, nothing...
Daniel was sitting on both his knees in defeat, surrounded by bodies. Charred, half-consumed & in pieces littered across the village. Especially outside of the ruined walls.
'I couldn't save even one person..' Self-hatred attempted to take root in his heart.
Failing is always hard, but for your incompetence to lead to the deaths of more than a hundred people?.. Only a few would ever feel that burden. This burden stemmed from his goal; to save the village & its inhabitants at all costs.
*Thump*
A broken wooden beam was moved to the side beneath a small house. An old man refused to give up the ghost as his eyes shimmered with reflections & emotions.
Daniel was roused from his defeated daze. He ran over to the old man frantically & moved a wall that had fallen & split right above him.
Daniel's eyes went wide as he moved the pieces of wood around him, a wooden beam had pierced through the old man.
Daniel's heart felt ripped apart, his hopes were high for a brief moment, only to be crushed once more. Not even on Earth would this man have the time for transport to a hospital.
Daniel threw half of the broken beam that wasn't embedded into the old man to the side, slumping down afterward beside him.
Daniel's body radiated his heart-twisting sorrow, the tears flowing down his cheeks.
The old man, filled with stubble & wrinkles gazed warmly at Daniel, his eyes twinkling. He reached with the bit of strength he had left, to hold Daniel's head up for a moment.
"Ut pagus princeps, pro tuo corde tundendo benedico te nisu. Sit tibi vires permanere." He spoke softly, coughing & struggling with the endeavor.
Daniel was stunned, for the old man passed away afterward, and orange sparkles began to move from the old Village chief toward Daniel.
And as the sparkles moved, a voice echoed within his mind.
'As the village chief, I bless you for your heart-bounding effort. May you have the strength to continue, son...'
Daniel paused for a moment before reaching over & closing the old man's eyes, sighing in defeat. It was only then that he saw the soft smile the old man expressed the moment he passed away.
He was confused by the old man's death. How was it related to the death of the deer-like creature? What did it mean to fade into or give those sparkles?
'I'll bury you all first.'
And thus, he got to work.
Daniel started to dig one hundred & eighty-seven graves. He counted that many intact bodies...
Many more were scattered, eaten, or unrecognizable from the mess around the village.
After digging the graves & putting the bodies in, he made a larger one. Gathering the scattered limbs, heads & children, placing them into the big grave with mournful care.
He mourned the village... This moment, this fight had left a deep scar in his mind and heart.
He erected a gravestone, carving the story of the battle and noting his failure to save them.
By this time night had settled. Thus Daniel began searching for a tall sturdy tree. After spotting one near the southwest end of the village, he settled in. Falling asleep rather quickly due to exhaustion.
...
*Birds Chirping*
"Yawn" Daniel lifted his head.
Sunrise.
He awoke to the decaying smell of corpses & charred wood. The ruined village, & the graves he had dug for the deceased were visible from atop the tree.
'It all felt like a nightmare.. and yet, life continues so quickly.'
The indifference of the universe is sometimes comforting, but in other moments; harrowing.
Daniel rested his head on his arms, which were supported by a tree branch. His heart was hurting, and his mind was numb.
'I didn't know these people... & I'm mourning them so deeply.' Daniel sighed with overflowing emotion.
He spaced out.
'What could have I done better?.. Did I really try my best?'
His heart was searching for solace...
'Okay.. let's keep going.' Daniel slowly climbed down the tree.
After reaching the ground he stretched his stiff body, popping & cracking sounds ensuing thereafter for a few moments.
'God damn! That felt good.' Daniel felt his body loosen up, & the relief he felt put him on cloud nine.
He attempted to ball up the emotions in his chest, & cast them deep into the abyss of his heart, for he needed to focus on his journey ahead.
As he walked ten kilometers, the previous night replayed in his mind.
True emotions only last approximately Ninety seconds. Anything more than that amount of time is self-inflicted. If you let it continue for days, then it becomes a mood. Weeks? A temperament. Months or even years? A personality trait.
Emotions that are held long enough, can change you as a person, completely.
It only makes sense; failure is a hard thing to endure when it involves the lives of many.
As Daniel continued walking west, he would practice his archery. Every few steps he would shoot at a small game. Squirrels, small birds.
Occasionally he would have to fight a larger animal, such as a juvenile rhino, or even a baby forest elephant.
'I feel more & more comfortable with fighting. I can feel myself improving in terms of strategy & adaptability.' Daniel reflected on his actions during the fights he's had previously, his mind avoiding the massacre of the village.
'I'm crazy about this, but I have to find a dangerous animal. Fighting on the precipice of death is the only way I've seen myself growing exponentially.'
The world had bared its fangs for Daniel to see on several occasions. He no longer had the luxury of living a quiet life. In order to reach civilization, he had to become a monster.
He had no concern for what happened after, as that would be a hurdle he'd have to cross eventually.
Daniel was currently surrounded by wet soil, a swampy lake & vines that were hanging from large trees. The ambient sounds of the jungle were both soothing & deceiving. For within its chorus laid bloodshed in every waking moment.
He had spotted some gorillas, a couple of crocodiles & some large birds.
'I haven't fought against a crocodile yet. Let's do that first.' Daniel slowly made his way toward the swamp.
A large crocodile was swimming just above the surface, looking for prey.
'It has a large head, it must be a formidable enemy. I'm sure of it!' Daniel's heart palpitated as he stared at this apex predator.
'Its biting force is naturally oppressive, so I'll have to avoid its bite. Swimming ability is second nature. Its body is tough & powerful.' Daniel thought about the advantages the beast had over him, & how he might be able to fight it.
'I've heard their jaw muscles are extremely developed in biting down, but the muscles in charge of opening are weak. If I can seize an opportunity to catch its snout after it chomps, I'll have a chance at beating it.'
With his strategy set, he sprinted forward. Jumping at the last minute, he drew a beautiful arc as he flew toward the beast.
With his feet pressed together & pointing towards his target, Daniel landed right on top of it.
'Hmph!' He mentally groaned.
He pushed off the crocodile & landed near the shore of the swamp.
The poor crocodile was minding its own business when it got shoved deep into the water.
Daniel brought out his swords, one in a forward grip & the other in a reverse grip.
Sweat accumulated on his forehead, as he intently kept an eye on the water.
'Come on come on..' Daniel lured the beast with his unheard thoughts.
*Swish!!*
*HSSSS*
The crocodile‽
'Oh shit! Why does it have a humanoid body!'
The crocodile guy stared at Daniel, spewing steam from his nostrils in anger.
It was four meters tall! Almost a full two meters taller than Daniel!
Its muscles were covered in leathery skin and its legs had reverse joints as cats did. Its whole body was thick and muscular.
'Fuck it!' Daniel sprinted towards the beast.
Yelling he jumped into the air & spun, using his left hand to slash with the reverse-gripped sword.
The beast put its forearm in front to block the blow.
*pang*
'Fuck!' The sword vibrated in Daniel's hands, causing a numbing sensation to flow through his wrist & arm.
*roar!!*
Daniel's eardrums shook from the intensity of the sound.
*pm*
Daniel was sent flying from the crocodile's kick, leaving claw marks on his chest.
He slammed through three trees & rolled on the ground for a few more meters.
*thpui*
Spitting out the blood in his mouth, Daniel stood back up. His chest was aching like hell, blood slowly oozing out from the wound.
"I didn't slash with a steady hand... No wonder I couldn't cut through its hard-ass skin." Daniel reflected on his mistake.
Unfortunately, the steadiness he spoke of only came with lots of practice & experience.
As the fight continued, Daniel lost more and more.
After getting sent flying once again he sprinted back into it. Anger was starting to build up in his chest.
"This mother fucker is so hard to kill!" He grumbled as he ducked beneath the beast's claw swipe.
Opportunity!
Daniel used his left leg to push forward, stretching his body to use as momentum for a stab, with his right arm extended the sword punctured the beast's stomach.
Daniel twisted his wrist & pulled the sword back out.
His body was coursing with adrenaline!
The beast roared in pain, deep red blood pouring out of its wound. It slumped down to one knee, as it looked up at Daniel.
Daniel didn't want to give it a chance to recover, he sprinted back towards his target.
As he neared it, the beast tried to grab him. Daniel sidestepped out of reach & stabbed again.
As he pulled the blade out of the beast's side he jumped back, kicking the crocodile beneath its jaw as he flipped backward & landed in a superhero pose.
The crocodile was left stunned for a moment, its head looking straight up.
Daniel ran forward, not thinking about his next move, simply allowing himself to fight with his instincts.
The beast roared, it dodged Daniel's slash & grabbed his arm. It threw him towards a small Boulder.
*Boom*
Daniel rested on his back as he tasted blood in his mouth again.
'Dammit. It ain't fast but every time he's gotten a hit in I'm left dazed.' He got up only to see the beast right in front of him.
It first tried to bite him, but Daniel managed to move his head to the right. The beast grabbed Daniel's legs & swung him overhead, slamming him into the ground.
*Boom*
The impact threw soil & debris everywhere.
Daniel lost his grip on the swords.
Before he could reach over for the swords the beast again swung him overhead & slammed him into the ground.
This time, Daniel was injured gravely. Several ribs fractured, his hip joints hyperextended & a heavy concussion was also due.
'Fucking.. BEAST!' Daniel twisted, originally laying on his back, he now stared at the beast.
*growl!*
Daniel flicked his legs, causing the crocodile to lose its grip on him.
Daniel got up & ran at the beast, rage filling his mind!
**BOOM**
A fist for a fist, Daniel sent the beast flying. It crashed through several trees before leaving a trench as it slid through the dirt.
"I'm going to rip it APART!!" Daniel jumped forward, his momentum was insane!
As he flew through the air, the crocodile lay on a tree.
Flying knee!
*BOOOM*
Daniel rammed his knee into its chest, causing it to cave in. The tree snapped at the base as the crocodile broke through it.
Daniel chased after, soon standing above the crocodile.
He proceeded to punch its face with rageful power.
*Boom *Boom *Boom *Boom
The crocodile's snout snapped, its jaw left unhinged, its broken skin leaked dark red blood.
Still, Daniel did not stop.
The Beast tried to grab him, but Daniel wrapped his arm around the Beast's, snapping the elbow. He then ripped the arm from the crocodile's torso.
*ROAR* The beast cried out in pain with fear in its eyes.
Daniel's rage was the inception of his journey to power.
And his vision was flushed red.