"Killing a few Cryptids and already feeling boastful?" the chieftain taunted, his finger pointing emphatically. "Charge, you worthless Cryptids!"
Some of the cryptids exhibited signs of inner turmoil, as if restrained by some unseen force. A strange calmness enveloped me, rendering me weightless. Perhaps my movements had become exceptionally fluid, giving me a sense of weightlessness.
Adopting a stance that propelled me forward, sword held close to my chest with its end directed at the chieftain, I lunged once more. The moonlight danced on the ebony blade of my sword.
Two ghouls lunged at me, and with a swift swing to my left, I cleanly severed the head of one. A perfectly timed turn allowed me to cleave the other ghoul in a single, seamless motion, all within the span of a split second. The ghoul's body thudded against the ground, accompanied by a wet squelch.
It was evident that the cryptids were experiencing more hesitation than before. I decided to take the offensive to them.
Ten meters away lay a cluster of cryptids: a Kapre, an Engkanto, and ten ghouls. Realizing I had singled them out, the Kapre and Engkanto promptly turned their backs and attempted to flee. Leaning toward the approaching cryptids, my knees flexed, and a surge of power coursed through my leg muscles. In a display of agility, I launched myself forward, my sword held at my side.
The ghouls and the two unique cryptids had little time to respond as I spun my body along with my sword in a circular motion, resembling the whirl of a Beyblade. With each rotation, my blade sliced through one of them, a symphony of blood splatters and anguished shrieks filling the air. This entire sequence occurred in the blink of an eye, their lifeless forms now adorning the ground, their blood reflecting the moonlight in glistening patterns.
Gazing at the chieftain, I could discern his intense agitation, his face etched with a mixture of frustration and distress. "I've had enough," he exclaimed, his fingers producing a wooden staff from thin air. This staff was adorned with three black skulls, teeth encircling it from top to bottom.
The eye sockets of these skulls emitted a sinister crimson glow, and every cryptid in the vicinity roared in unison, their eyes aglow with the same eerie red hue.
"Eliminate him! Slay him! then turn your attention to everyone in that cave!" the chieftain commanded, pointing his finger at me. Cryptids closed in from all sides, encircling me.
From the cave, I could hear the sound of gunfire, a testament to Sam and Hannah's efforts. However, their attempts were futile, as more cryptids emerged from the forest, pouring forth without restraint.
I cast my gaze skyward, beholding the defiant radiance of the moonlight. Despite the dire circumstances, fear was absent, replaced by an unshakable calmness. Holding the sword aloft, I caught a glimpse of my reflection. What met my eye, even if it could be a mere illusion, was the undeniable glow of blue aura emanating from my right eye.
"By the blessings of the moonlight," I whispered, my voice steady, as the cryptids leaped toward me, poised for their attack.
~~~~~~~~
With a final, resolute swing, the last cryptid succumbed, emitting a final shriek before collapsing onto the terrain—or what remained of the terrain, now buried under heaps of diverse cryptid forms.
My body was drenched in a mosaic of blood, varying in shades from blue to red, orange, purple, and more. The array of odors assaulted my senses. To rid my blade of excess gore, I executed a swift swing to my right.
As I pressed my foot down, a wet squelch accompanied the motion. "It appears your horde has proven futile," I remarked, the weight of the cryptid mass making itself evident. If I were to quantify their numbers, it might extend to thousands, or even tens of thousands.
Abruptly, a barrage of fifty needles hurtled toward me at breakneck speed. Employing multiple expert swings, I deflected each projectile, observing the threads glinting in the moonlight. An approaching tendril, reminiscent of a drill crafted from thread, sought to pierce me as it swayed in a circular motion.
"Where has that wretched woman went to?" Ayesha's voice echoed from above, her figure manifesting in the sky. Ten tendrils, distinct in appearance, propelled themselves towards me. One tendril outpaced the others, yet with a quick kick, I deflected it, altering its course. Evidently, it could only move in a straight line, unless influenced by an external force.
Wasting no time, I took action. My sword sliced through the threads, causing the tendril to lose its form, the severed threads cascading down onto the pile of lifeless bodies.
It varied from the tendril that struck Vendith; this one exhibited a piercing nature.
"Oh? The insignificant man from earlier is taking action?" Ayesha's chuckle carried a sinister undertone.
Like a spider poised on high, she occupied the sky, an illusion of flight sustained by streaks of white—threads illuminated by the moonlight. At this juncture, the threads resembled a web more than anything else.
"I wouldn't say 'useless,' especially after single-handedly dismantling your entire army," I retorted with a smile, my gaze alternating between the chieftain and Ayesha.