"Alexei, if memory serves me right, that's the very direction of the village that requested the goblin extermination, the same one my brother undertook, correct?" Aldelio's voice held a mixture of concern and determination as he accelerated, the vehicle hurtling towards the distant column of smoke.
"Yes, sir. That's indeed the place."
"Then we must ready ourselves."
Vera and Galina nodded in agreement, their expressions mirroring the solemnity of the situation. Alongside Alexei, the group embarked on their journey, the vehicle racing into the horizon, bound for the Driftwood village.
=================================
Amidst the desolation, the landscape painted in shades of fiery red and the grim tableau of destroyed homes and lifeless villagers, an anguished roar echoed.
Within this nightmarish setting, the central square of the village harbored an abomination of grotesque proportions. Towering at an ominous 5 meters, its fleshy form defied all that was human. Twisted limbs, a bloated torso, and an eerie semblance to humanity turned grotesque marked this entity as a nightmare given form, a living horror of an undead.
"Ah, damn it..." Yuz, one of the two knights sent ahead for reconnaissance, bellowed in dismay, his hand gripping the broken remains of his trusty sword.
"Yuz, what in the hell is that cursed monstrosity?" Drake, the other knight assigned to this grim mission, gritted his teeth in anger. His face, the fiery hue of his hair, mirrored his burning frustration.
"Do I look like I have a clue?" Yuz retorted, his annoyance palpable as he glared daggers at what was once Cain, now transformed into this abominable creature. Notably, the other half of Yuz's sword was lodged firmly in the monster's back, a testament to their desperate struggle.
Yuz hesitated, his gaze shifting briefly toward the remaining villagers, their lives hanging in the balance.
"Does it appear we have any other choice?"
Drake responded with a resigned click of his tongue, his eyes also drifting toward the villagers who had miraculously survived this chaos.
"Yeah... You're right," Drake conceded, his tone tinged with worry, "But do you have any inkling of who or what that thing might be?"
As Yuz and Drake arrived at the village square at an earlier time, they found themselves at the epicenter of the clash between the abomination and Devant.
"Save the questions for later," Yuz decided, discarding his broken sword and adopting an unarmed stance akin to that of a martial artist. His hands began to emit a soothing blue glow. In contrast, his brother Drake raised his greatsword, which radiated an intense fiery red aura. Together, they stood ready to confront the looming threat, their unity their greatest strength in this dire moment.
Amid the tense atmosphere, Yuz began, "Get ready—"
*Bang*
A sudden, thunderous gunshot pierced the air, abruptly cutting off Yuz's sentence. Within moments, the once-mighty Cain plummeted to the ground, the earth itself trembling under the weight of his fall.
"What the hell?!" Yuz and Drake exclaimed simultaneously, their attention drawn towards Cain's fallen form after the resounding shot. A gaping hole now marred Cain's forehead, the bullet having penetrated a considerable distance into the abomination's head despite its malformed and reinforced structure.
"How... What could have caused this..." Yuz muttered in shock, his disbelief palpable. The once-indomitable monster now lay defeated before him, a creature he himself couldn't cleave with his own sword. The mysterious demise of the seemingly invincible creature left him questioning the impossible, trying to unravel the enigma that lay before him.
The echoing footsteps sent Drake into a defensive stance, his greatsword at the ready, a flash of alarm in his eyes.
"Yuz, now's not the time!" he urgently reminded his brother.
Startled by his brother's urgency, Yuz refocused, adopting a defensive stance toward the source of the approaching footsteps.
"Who are you? Identify yourself!" Yuz demanded, apprehension evident in his voice as the newcomer, Aldelio, appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
"I'm Aldelio, a G-Rank adventurer," Aldelio announced, his hands raised in a non-threatening gesture. He swiftly flashed his adventurer card for the knights to see. Despite his rush to join his brother in the crisis, he had managed to register before the emergency request was issued.
The knights now faced a dilemma, caught between the mysterious demise of the monstrous Cain and the unexpected arrival of this adventurer, Aldelio..
"Fear not, noble Knights, I assure you my intention is to aid," Aldelio declared earnestly. But just as his words settled, the once-presumed dead Cain suddenly stirred, rising slowly with newfound vigor.
"Ah, hell."
Cursing softly, Aldelio found himself dangerously close to the revived menace. Yuz and Drake's eyes widened in despair, desperately reaching out to shield him.
"No!"
"We won't make it!"
The knights' cries fell on a tense atmosphere, yet a sudden burst of gunfire pierced the air, halting them in their tracks once more.
"Haaaaa! Take this!"
Vera, swooped the entire battlefield with ease leaving a behind a black trail a indirectly correlation to that of a grim reaper, after reaching Aldelio, Vera advanced with dual sub-machine guns gripped firmly. Despite the assumed recoil, she handled the weapons with mastery, letting loose a stream of bullets that riddled Cain's already wounded form.
"Goooh!"
Cain, riddled with holes, roared with undying vigor, the sound reverberating through the air. Yet, in a swift and elegant motion, Vera defied the odds. A mesmerizing flip brought her within arm's reach of the colossal creature. Ignited Molotov in hand, she deftly evaded Cain's retaliatory strike, landing on his immense yet twisted limb.
"Here I go!"
Infused with unwavering energy, Vera propelled herself forward, using Cain's arm as support to approach his head.
"Graah."
"Woah...," Yuz remarked, acknowledging the cunning strategy.
With a gleeful cry, Vera seized the opportunity, Cain's angered roar creating the perfect opening. With a slender arm and a heart full of courage, she forcefully shoved the ignited Molotov into Cain's gaping maw. The flames licked and danced, a defiant challenge to the undead behemoth.
"With that, dinner is served," Vera quipped, a wry smile on her face as she landed safely, her eyes fixed on Cain, who continued to burn and smell of roasting flesh.
"That's one hell of a barbecue," Aldelio agreed, his gaze locked on the gruesome spectacle before them.
Despite the engulfing flames, Cain refused to falter. The abomination charged relentlessly towards Aldelio and his allies, seemingly undeterred by the searing inferno within its mouth.
"Finish it," Aldelio's voice rang out with a cold determination, his hand gesturing to Galina to bring the confrontation to an end.
*Bang*
The resounding gunshot echoed through the air, a new hole finding its mark in Cain's head. The bullet pierced through the thick flesh and bone, finally bringing the creature down. His massive body fell with a deafening thud, the earth itself trembling under the weight of his collapse.
"W-what..."
Yuz and Drake stood in astonishment, their jaws agape. The once-formidable enemy had been vanquished with seemingly relative ease. The unexpected twist of events left them bewildered, their minds struggling to process the rapid turn of fate that had unfolded before them.
"Yuz, when did a G-Rank adventurer get this strong?" Drake mused, his fanged tooth flashing as his eyebrow twitched in amazement. Yuz, on the other hand, sighed in a slightly defeated manner.
"I have no idea, but at the very least they don't seem as abnormal as him."
Both Yuz and Drake exchanged a glance before turning their attention to Aldelio, who stood beside Vera. Her once dominant and commanding presence had shifted, and now she appeared cheerful, her smile capable of melting hearts as she engaged in playful antics, clearly seeking Aldelio's attention.
"What? They've got more people?" Yuz marveled as Alexei and Galina joined the group. While Vera was the vibrant green-eyed girl, Galina emanated an air of calm methodicality, her golden blonde hair adding to her composed demeanor. Alexei, in contrast, seemed to fade into the background, his presence eclipsed by the dynamic trio before them. The unexpected additions left Yuz and Drake in awe, a sense of mystery surrounding these formidable individuals who had entered their world.
"Ehem."
Alexei cleared his throat, signaling for Vera to rein in her enthusiasm. She quickly composed herself, adopting a disciplined demeanor that contrasted her previous playful antics. Galina, however, shook her head in disapproval at Vera's antics, her disappointment evident in her expression.
"Sir?"
Aldelio's gaze remained fixed on Cain's lifeless form until his subordinate's call snapped him back to attention.
"This could very well be the work of [Black Dragons] members," Aldelio mused aloud, deep in thought as he considered the evidence at hand. Eventually, he turned to Alexei, and a subtle exchange of words took place.
"Hey, what do you think they're discussing?" Drake whispered to Yuz, his curiosity piqued. Yuz squinted his eyes, hushing his brother and reminding him of the need to remain vigilant.
"Now's not the time for that, Drake. We must stay alert," Yuz urged, gesturing for his brother to be prepared for anything. Casting a glance toward the villagers they were protecting, Yuz took a deep breath, his focus shifting back to Aldelio and his companions.
"Sir Knights, may we ask why this village has fallen to such a state?" Yuz and Drake remained vigilant, not daring to lower their guard. But unexpectedly, Aldelio approached them without any apparent ill intent, catching them off guard.
"Huh?"
They exchanged dumbfounded looks, ready to fight at a moment's notice. However, their senses failed to detect any malicious intent from Aldelio, leaving them momentarily perplexed and unsure of how to respond..
- A Few Minutes Earlier -
"Kuhaha, incredible. I've already heard how intriguing their methods are, but witnessing it firsthand is an exhilarating experience," Devant cackled maniacally. He deftly evaded every one of Cain's thunderous attacks, sidestepping the sweeping arcs of Cain's colossal arms. With each motion, Devant capitalized on the openings, launching swift counterattacks by using his arms to slice through the air with monstrous force.
"What in the world?"
Drake's confusion and bewilderment were palpable as he watched the surreal spectacle unfold before him. Devant caught wind of their presence and turned his head briefly.
"Tch, they've arrived already. I suppose it's time I conclude my business here," Devant muttered, his tone shifting to a more serious one. In a sudden twist, he began to chant something under his breath, and in the next instant, he transformed into a dark mist that enveloped Cain.
"This [Monster's Calling] is too valuable to squander on this occasion," Devant remarked, retrieving the knife that had been lodged in Cain's back through some unknown means, despite lacking a physical form in that moment. The mist dissipated rapidly into the air, leaving no trace of its presence.
"Farewell, ruffians! HAHAHAHA!" With his maniacal laughter echoing, Devant vanished from sight.
"Raah!"
Cain's deafening roar reverberated through the air as his erstwhile opponent vanished, leaving the hulking abomination agitated. His gaze swiftly shifted toward the approaching knights.
"Oh no!"
"Ahhh!"
Alarmed, Yuz exclaimed while Drake let out a startled cry. Their horses reacted instinctively to Cain's menacing presence, their survival instincts overriding their riders' control.
"Oof!"
Yuz managed a graceful dismount, releasing his grip on the reins as he recognized the futility of trying to control the panicked horse. In a rather comedic turn of events, Drake tumbled off his horse face-first, rubbing his injured face as he stood up.
"This is about to get messy," Yuz remarked, drawing his sword from its sheath at his waist. Drake, now back on his feet, massaged his aching face, both knights readying themselves for the imminent confrontation.
"Graah!"
Cain's deafening roar filled the air once more, his full attention now locked onto the knights, who had steeled themselves for the impending battle.
"Aahhh!"
"!!!"
However, the screams of terror jolted Yuz and Drake's focus away from Cain and toward a different direction. In a twisted turn of events, they were met with a horrifying sight: villagers in dire distress. Some had grievous wounds, their stomachs torn open, while others bore gruesome burns, their skin charred black.
"...Bruh"
Yuz muttered under his breath, encapsulating the mixture of frustration, disbelief, and exasperation he felt in that moment. The once seemingly straightforward mission had spiraled into a nightmarish scenario, with the villagers' lives hanging in the balance and Cain, the grotesque threat, closing in on them. The knights now found themselves trapped in a harrowing situation, forced to navigate the intricate balance between defending the villagers and confronting the looming abomination.