Chereads / Devil In Making / Chapter 21 - Crimson Reckoning

Chapter 21 - Crimson Reckoning

William's gaze swept across the nightmarish landscape, his eyes widening in disbelief and horror. The ground beneath him was a morass of crimson, a macabre tapestry woven with the broken bodies of fallen comrades. The sight of torn limbs and crushed forms sent a chill coursing through his veins.

The stench of death hung heavy in the air, a turbid miasma that clawed at his senses. It mingled with the acrid tang of charred debris and the metallic tinge of fresh blood. The scent invaded his nostrils, overpowering and nauseating, threatening to overwhelm him with its relentless presence.

But it was the agonizing screams that pierced his ears, drowning out all other sounds. The air reverberated with the cries of the fortunate few who had survived the onslaught, their voices laden with a cocktail of pain, despair, and disbelief. The haunting wails seemed to echo through the desolation, their resonance a chilling reminder of the human suffering that had transpired.

His attention was drawn to Henry, his companion in this harrowing ordeal. Henry's right hand, once agile and strong, now lay torn apart, a gruesome testament to the brutality of the attack. William could see the raw, jagged edges of the wound, the blood welling up and seeping through trembling fingers as Henry desperately fought to staunch the flow. The mixture of fear and disbelief etched on Henry's face mirrored the collective anguish that weighed upon them all.

As William looked down at himself, he couldn't escape the harsh reality of his own injuries. While comparatively less severe than some, the sight of his left arm, twisted and crushed, was a chilling reminder of the fragility of human flesh. Pain radiated from the shattered limb, each movement a grim reminder of the violence that had been inflicted upon him.

Just then, a horde of wolves emerged, scrambling over the remaining rocks where the city wall once stood. Their menacing presence filled William with an overwhelming sense of despair he had never felt before. Fear gripped him, and for the first time in his life, he contemplated abandoning his comrades and friend, leaving them behind.

But before he could act on his impulse, a sight unfolded before his eyes that left him awestruck. A gigantic white lotus crashed down upon the advancing wolves, freezing some in their tracks, engulfing others in flames, and causing some to vanish into thin air.

As William tried to comprehend the astonishing scene, his gaze shifted upward. There, hovering above the city, was the City Lord himself, his face marked by a grave expression. In that instance the thought of his mother entered his mind.

William's breaths quickened, his eyes darting frantically across the field.

He sprinted forward, stumbling over broken limbs, sweat pouring down his brow. "Mom!" His voice quivered, a desperate plea. Time stretched, each passing second an eternity of torment, weighing heavy on his chest.

His gaze scanned the grisly tableau, searching for a familiar face. Fear gripped him, constricting his breath. The nauseating stench of death assaulted his senses, mingling with the bitter taste of dread in his mouth.

And then, amidst the macabre scene, he spotted it—the severed head of his mother. His legs buckled, and he crashed to the blood-soaked ground. A primal cry erupted from his throat, an anguished roar reverberating through the air.

The world spun, the sky blurred by tears as he clutched his shattered heart.

"William! WILLIAM!! Wake up!" Henry's panicked voice pierced through the chaos. Trembling, he continued, "The wolves... They're coming! We have to go, now!"

Confusion washed over William's face as he glanced up, only to discover the City Lord, their recent protector, had vanished without a trace. Panic surged through his veins as he realized the impending danger—the advancing wolves.

With fear fueling his movements, he swiftly rose to his feet, his legs propelling him away from the encroaching beasts. However, before he could fully pivot, a wolf lunged at him, jaws snapping with hunger. Instinctively, he countered, striking back with his sword. Fortuitously, his left arm, already broken, served as a shield from the wolf's onslaught, while his right hand skillfully wielded the weapon.

Yet, Henry's fate took a darker turn, devoid of fortune. His right hand absent, he found himself unable to swiftly retrieve his own sword. In a desperate bid to defend himself, Henry used his remaining left arm to thrust it into the wolf's snarling maw, an act of sheer desperation. Agonizing cries pierced the air as the wolf sank its teeth into Henry's vulnerable limb, tearing it apart with relentless brutality.

Witnessing the gruesome scene, William forcefully pushed the wolf attacking him aside, determination guiding his actions. Without hesitation, he rushed to Henry's side, his blade slicing through the air with swift precision. In a single decisive strike, he severed the wolf's neck.

"William, go! Leave me!" Henry's voice strained with urgency.

William's eyes widened, his heart clenching at the plea in Henry's voice. Reluctantly, he hesitated, caught between loyalty and self-preservation.

Henry, sensing his hesitation, managed a faint smile. "Go, William. Don't let me become your burden. But before you leave, there's something I need to confess... I..."

Before Henry could finish his sentence, a swift and sinister wolf lunged at him, its jaws clamping down on his head with merciless force. The horrifying crunch of bone shattered the air, cutting off his words forever.

In the instant that Henry's life was violently snuffed out, something deep within William snapped. A primal surge of fury and grief consumed him, obliterating rational thought.

His eyes blazed with a wild, unhinged intensity as he unleashed a torrent of unbridled violence upon the wolves.

With a feral roar, he charged at the nearest wolf, his sword slashing through the air with blinding speed.

Each swing carried a terrifying ferocity, driven by overwhelming rage.

The blade tore through fur and flesh, sending sprays of crimson into the air.

The wolf's agonized howls only fueled his frenzy. Bloodlust coursed through William's veins, overriding reason.

He fought with reckless abandon, striking with brutal precision. His movements were primal, lacking strategy or finesse, as he pummeled the wolves with relentless fury.

There was no mercy, no hesitation, only a raw desire to exact vengeance for his friend's stolen life and his mother's death.

The air filled with sickening sounds of breaking bones and tearing sinews. The ground beneath him grew slick with a pool of spilled blood.

The snarls and yelps of dying wolves mingled with his guttural screams of anguish.

But for every wolf he dispatched, more seemed to take its place. They surrounded him, their eyes glinting with predatory hunger, a formidable pack closing in on its prey.

Despite his undying resolve, the odds were against him.

Fatigue and wounds accumulated, slowing his movements and sapping his strength. Muscles burned with exertion. Yet, he pressed on, attacks fueled by his madness.

His blows grew savage, each strike a frenzy of slashing and stabbing. He became a whirlwind of destruction, an embodiment of torment and an undying will to avenge his fallen comrade.

But eventually, the overwhelming numbers proved insurmountable. Overwhelmed and outnumbered, the wolves descended upon him like a savage tidal wave.

Their jaws tore into his flesh, claws raked across his body, each strike eroding his strength and resolve. In the midst of the gruesome onslaught, William's body finally succumbed to the ferocity of the wolves.

Pain seared through his battered form, limbs weakened, vision blurred. Yet, he refused to yield, his defiance unyielding even in the face of certain death.

With one final surge of primal instinct, William struck out with every ounce of strength remaining in his broken body. His blade found its mark, taking down one last wolf before he himself succumbed to the relentless assault.

The world spun, consciousness slipped away as darkness enveloped his fading senses.

Death.

...

Lucifer jolted awake, his senses reeling from the shocking catastrophe unfolding before his eyes. Without hesitation, he sprinted towards Emily, realizing something he had been denying: he cared deeply for her, far beyond his guilt or need for redemption.

As he made his way to William's house, he witnessed the devastating aftermath of the catastrophe. The once sturdy structure now lay in ruins, shattered by massive rocks from the city wall. His panic soared, pushing him to the brink of madness. But amidst the chaos, his eyes fell upon Emily's frozen form near a blood-splattered rock.

Drawing closer, Emily saw Lucifer and shakily began to speak, her voice filled with fear. "Frederick... h-he..." she stammered, pointing towards the crimson-stained base of the rock.

Reacting swiftly, Lucifer harnessed his telekinetic powers, suspending Emily in mid-air beside him. They zipped through the sky, their speed exhilarating as they distanced themselves from the ravaged city. In their flight, Lucifer projected a calming aura, soothing Emily's trembling form. Through urgent whispers, he imparted the dire situation, ensuring she grasped the urgency.

Reaching a secluded area far from the chaos, Lucifer gently landed Emily. With intensity in his voice, he instructed her to remain concealed until his return, emphasizing the necessity of staying hidden. Without hesitation, he bolted back towards the city, intent on locating William and Henry, individuals he somewhat knew. Yet, despite his frantic search, they eluded him amidst the wreckage. Surveying the scene, his eyes locked onto the multitude of survivors in need. Determination sparked within Lucifer as he made a resolute decision in his mind.

"System, if I evolve into the 'Devil,' will there be a destruction similar to the one during the 'Ghost' evolution?" Lucifer asked

[Yes, there will be a similar destruction, but with greater intensity within the same area of 1 mile]