Rain couldn't help but be shocked. She had been in this game for only three days, and the place she had been staying in was already burning down to the ground. She took a deep whiff of the air and could only start to choke. The air was filled with the scent of iron. The pungent stench of blood had stunk up the air, and it was now the only thing that she could smell.
"By the gods," Alfred proclaimed.
"I never thought I'd see the day," Sunny could only hopelessly remark.
"Sister," Rain heard Benji silently ask himself. "Sister," Benji yelled out this time, before breaking out into an all-out sprint to Aeitha.
"Shit! Benji get back here," Sunny called to him, before also running after him. Alfred wordlessly chased them too. Rain was left alone at the border of the forest and the tall grass. Aeitha was burning in front of her, and her group was charging headlong into the flames. She could follow them, maybe save Benji's sister, maybe save someone, or at least find out what had happened. Or she could just turn around and leave. No one could stop her from doing that. It was the safest option. But Rain couldn't do it. She had grown attached to the town, she liked the people she had met, and she was going to do what was in her power to help them. Rain took in one more deep breath before she too started to run towards Aeitha.
It didn't take long for 'The Wanderers' to make it to the front gate of the town. There they could see the once proud and tall wooden gates had been blown away. Maybe dozens of the Aeitha guards lay dead on the ground. Hundreds if not more unrecognizable people also lay dead, however, they wore a deep blue uniform underneath their simple armor. The group slowly made their way through the town, passing by countless dead bodies of the citizens of the town. Along the way, Rain couldn't help but stop. She could make out the figure of the old man Miguel, to who she had given the flowers, lying dead. It looked as if he was protecting some kids from whoever had come in. The tears formed in her eyes as she quickly looked away. The sight was just too horrible. Even worse, Rain found the dead body of Liliettte, the one who had sold her the backpack. Her body was cut far too many times than what was probably necessary, and she was even missing some of her fingers. She didn't dare think about what might have been done to her.
The group silently made their way towards the Guard Building. Alfred's complexion was dark and foreboding. His thoughts were impossible to know at the moment. Benji couldn't have looked any more worried, constantly fidgeting and chewing on his nails. Sunny's face was almost as red as blood. Steam was constantly blowing out of her ears as it seemed she was trying her damndest to not pummel a building to the ground. Finally, Rain was just walking with the tears flowing. She hadn't been in the town that long, but she had known some of these people, and they were all so kind to her. Only two questions were floating in Rain's head, 'why would someone do this', and 'Who would possibly do this'.
The sound of two people battling ahead caught all of their attention, as they hastily made their way to where it was. It took but only a moment for the four of them to see two figures battling. One smaller and thinner, with a spear in hand. The way he used the spear to get around the other person's guard made it seem like the spear was a snake. The other was a giant of a man, carrying a large sword in one hand, as his other was currently limp at his side. The fight continued for just a few moments more, long enough for the group to close in on them. Yet a single slice from the spear cut the other man's leg, and he dropped down to his knee. The man with the spear then stabbed into his opponent's one working arm. The larger man could only drop the sword as both of his arms were now limp. The man that had the spear, bent over and picked up the sword, taking a few moments to study the blade. Yet when he spoke, it sent shivers down everyone's spine. The voice that was once listless before was now emotionless and cold.
"Old Fool." The man with the spear, who was now holding the sword, slashed the man's neck, cutting it off. He turned towards the 'The Wanderers' and Rain almost dropped to her knees after seeing who it was. She had known from his voice, but she just couldn't believe it, yet the man was standing in front of her, covered in the blood of his crimes.
"JOHN," Sunny howled out. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!"
"I finished what my mother had so desperately tried to do." He paused for a second, then continued, emphasizing every last word. "To fix this town." Johns's voice was cold and emotionless. Rain couldn't help but look into his eyes and all she could see was an empty pit of despair and rage. The person behind those eyes was no longer John, it was a demon.
John bent over and picked up the head in which he just cut off. He tossed the head to the group of four. It hit the ground with a splat and rolled straight in front of Rain. She looked down and when she saw whose head it was, she dropped to her knees. The strength in them had given out, and her spirit was destroyed. She couldn't help but begin to cry. She couldn't stand the thought of who the head had belonged to, and how they had died.
The head was of Kalic.
"YOU BASTARD," Sunny screamed out before she charged towards John. Alfred followed her instantly, and Benji, whose lost look had been replaced by rage, followed too. The three of them fell into their normal formation, Sunny leading, Benji supporting in the back, and Alfred picking the weak spots in the enemy. It was a good formation, but against John, it instantly crumbled.
John calmly dropped the sword he had been holding and yanked his spear from Kalic's corpse. Alfred and John then both acted at the same time. Alfred threw one of his daggers at John, while John took his spear and hurled it at Benji. The spear was far faster than he should've ever been able to throw it. The spear traveled the short distance to Benji in almost an instant. Benji didn't even have time to react, as the spear stabbed through his chest and threw Benji back, impaling him into a nearby wall.
John, immediately after throwing the spear, caught Alfred's dagger, turned towards Sunny who was mid-punch, dodged it, and stabbed the dagger through her neck and into her brain. She dropped to the ground, instantly dead. John then stomped the ground and shot at Alfred. He crossed the distance in just a short moment and threw out a punch. Alfred was just barely able to dodge it, yet John showed no worries. He simply shifted his weight, twisted his body, and threw out a sidekick that caught Alfred right in the side. Immediately Alfred spat out blood as he shot back and came skidding in front of Rain.
In just a few seconds, he had defeated all three of her companions. John went and grabbed the sword from earlier. He then began to make his way towards Benji. The Aeitha Guard Building which had stood so tall in her memory, looked so small compared to John's ghastly figure. John walked slowly towards Benji, each step he took felt like a thundering boom. Rain could see Benji gasping for a few small breaths as if he was on death's doorstep. John pulled his spear out of Benji's body, which fell to the floor. John then swiftly stabbed the spear into his heart. He pulled it out, but this time Rain couldn't see Benji's chest moving anymore. He was gone, just like Sunny. Rain hated to admit it, but she was glad she couldn't see Benji's face when he died. She didn't know if she would've been able to live with herself seeing his dying moments.
Just a few more steps and John had made it to Alfred. John pushed Alfred to the ground and raised his spear. At the last moment, Alfred looked up at Rain, and all she could see in Alfred's eyes was grief. It was the look a father had when they realized they had lost their child. The look of a man filled with regrets. A man who had lost everything. A face she has seen before.
The next instant John drove the spear through his back and into his heart. The eyes that held so much grief and despair in them turned empty in an instant. His body became lifeless. He was the third one of 'The Wanderers' to fall. Rain was the only one left. On her knees, she had grabbed onto Kalics head and couldn't help but caress it gently. With bloodshot eyes and a tear-stained face, Rain looked up to John's emotionless face. His eyes held no regrets, no fear, and no disappointment. They were just the dark and empty eyes of a man who had lost too much, and seen too much.
"Why," was the only word Rain was able to get out. Her throat was too tight, and she just couldn't speak.
"Aeitha had become sick. Infected by the cursed 'Emmortales'. They infected Aeitha with their malevolent plague, hidden behind a mask of deception called benevolence. They mercilessly murdered my mother, and the town still celebrated them. The guard hid the crimes and deceit the 'Emmortales' committed, but I alone possess the clarity to see through their lies and recognize their true nature. I warned the captain and Kalic, but they were fools. They feared their immortality. They feared retaliation and retribution. Blinded by their facades, they couldn't see the truth. The 'Emmortales' aren't human, they never even were, they are monsters. Every single last one of them, and monsters deserve to be eradicated. This mission has been bestowed upon me by the heavens, and I sought to accomplish it. Aeitha would not help me, but the Feldrin Dynasty would. They understand what the 'Emmortales' are. They were more than happy to cleanse Aeitha of its sickness, freeing its people from their curse. Unfortunately, so few people accepted that gift." John spoke with a voice filled with holy righteousness, and self-proclaimed benevolence. Yet Rain could feel the pain and anguish in it. Although John's face was emotionless while he spoke, she could still see he believed in his words. He had chosen his path, be it into hell or heaven, he was going to walk it.
"Who are you," Rain croaked out. Any more and her voice would've cracked.
"I was a Nobody. I was no one. But now, I am vengeance that has brought itself into this world. A holy crusader born to crush the plague of 'Emmortales'. I am a vanquisher of monsters. I am John, son of Selene." John brought the sword up and went to stab it into Rain's neck. Rain could only close her eyes, accepting her fate. Yet, when nothing happened she opened her eyes. He stopped the sword just millimeters away from her neck. His hands quivered as if he was fighting his own decision. John dropped the sword in front of Rain. It rattled as it clattered to the floor. John turned around, no longer looking Rain in the eyes.
"I thought I told you to go far into the forest. So far as to never return. You could've saved yourself from this." His voice was weak and filled with emotions. A stark contrast to just moments ago. John then began to walk back towards the Guard building. He grabbed a torch and threw it into the building before it promptly caught on fire. He started to walk off, towards the south, towards the Feldrin Dynasty. Yet before he got too far he paused. Without turning around he spoke.
"Goodbye Rain. I pray we don't meet again." John then continued walking, never turning back, never looking over his shoulder. He walked and kept on walking, leaving his past behind him, burning to the ground. His past was burnt to ashes by his own hands.
"I'm sorry Kalic," Rain said to the bodiless head. "I failed you, I failed 'The Wanderers' and I failed Aeitha. Worse, I even failed John. I guess we all failed John." Rain lightly put the head back onto the ground, and closed its eyes. Rain could only watch the building in which she had fond memories of burn to the ground. However, she felt something happening around her. From Alfred's body, a white mist began to flow out of his ears and mouth. It then snaked its way over to Rain, before soaking into her body. Seeping through her clothes and her skin. She could feel her -White Mist- hungrily devouring it. It didn't take long for the area to be flooded by the white mist.
The hollowed white mist of the damned and dead.
Rain raised her hands, and began to actively take in the hollowed mist. Controlling the mist around her, and forcing it inside her. She didn't like that she had such an 'edgy' power, but she accepted the curse. She would carry on what happened here and would avenge the people. She would avenge Lilliette, Han, Miguel, Sunny, Alfred, Benji, and Kalic. She would avenge them all. She would avenge all those who had died here, betrayed by one of their own. She would carry their souls with her, and use them to get stronger, use them to get back at the Feldrin Dynasty. She would get back at John. It didn't take long for the mist to surround her. Swirling around her like a cyclone, slowly being absorbed into her.
When she had absorbed all the mist, she looked down in front of her, at the blade that John had dropped. She picked it up and studied it. It looked rather simple, a dark multi-shaded steel-colored blade, a copper-colored t-cross guard, and a dark green leather grip, yet it felt like the blade was calling to her. She picked it up, and the blade shrunk to fit into her hand. The blade was still considerably longer than what she had practiced with, yet it wasn't too long or heavy to use in one hand. It wasn't as long as some of the other weapons she saw other people use, but it was still longer than what she was used to. It bordered on the limit of what she could do with one hand. Soon after she received a notification.
*Ding*
------------------------------------
You have collected -Selene's Heirloom-
Rating: D+
- Increased Damage
- Increased Bleed
- Special: Can be Improved
- Note: The blade hungers for revenge. It has called and chosen its champion to carry out its wish. If its wish is fulfilled a special event will take place.
------------------------------------
*Ding*
--------------------------
=New Quest Unlcoked=
Revenge
-You witnessed John, Son of Selene, kill Kalic, your mentor, and murder your three party members, your friends. You alone, have survived John's wrath and found the blade John so unceremoniously used to kill your mentor. It jas called to you, and you answered. Now you carry a special burden.
Objective
- Fulfills the Blades final wish
Rewards
- Unknown
Failure Conditions
- Willingly forgoing -Selene's Heirloom-
---------------------------------
Rain quickly read through the two notifications, before closing them. She wasn't happy about the things she gained from this encounter. She had lost too much, and nothing would be able to replace the things she lost. Rain solemnly stood up and picked up a leather sheath that looked the size of her blade. After, she made her way back out of the town. She mindlessly walked to a cliff that overlooked the water. The moons above lightened her way and illuminated the dark world. She sat and looked out into the world, she had no thoughts and was just numbly staring out into the world. A notification disturbed her, and she read it.
*Ding*
------------------------------------
Atlas will be shutting down to support the newest update. All characters will be forcibly logged off, and all data will be saved. Thank you for your understanding, and we apologize for any inconveniences.
------------------------------------
With that, Rain's consciousness faded from her.