Chereads / Thou Shall Kill / Chapter 10 - GREENED

Chapter 10 - GREENED

[Night had fallen over the kingdom of Crniu, casting the land in shadows as a restless wind howled through the streets. In the distance, the castle loomed against the darkened sky, its towers piercing through the heavy blanket of clouds. The air carried an electric charge, thick with an unspoken tension that seemed to vibrate through the very bones of the kingdom.]

[Spike stood on one of the castle's upper balconies, staring out into the night. His breath formed small puffs of mist in the chilly air as he leaned against the stone railing, lost in thought. The training had gone as expected—slow but steady progress for most of them, but something about tonight felt… wrong. He couldn't quite place it, but his instincts, honed through years of military training, were screaming at him to stay alert.]

[Suddenly, a flash of green light sliced through the sky, illuminating the kingdom below. Spike's eyes widened as he squinted against the glare, trying to make out what had caused it. The light was accompanied by a low, thrumming sound—almost like a heartbeat—and then, silence.]

SPIKE"What the hell…?" [He muttered, his gaze snapping upwards.]

[A shadow moved in the sky, something large and winged circling above the castle. It was no ordinary bird—its wings crackled with green lightning, casting eerie shadows across the ground as it swooped lower, almost grazing the rooftops. A sudden screech filled the air, sharp and shrill, sending shivers down Spike's spine.]

[His heart pounded as he turned on his heel, sprinting down the stone corridors. He needed to get to the others—warn them of whatever was out there. But as he rounded a corner, he skidded to a halt. There, perched on the castle walls, was the creature. Its wings spread wide, glowing with that unearthly green light. It was almost beautiful, in a terrifying way.]

"A Call of Green Lightning…" [The words escaped him in a breathless whisper. He'd heard legends of such creatures—beasts that brought storms and devastation wherever they flew. The mere presence of one was said to herald disaster, chaos that could reduce a kingdom to ruins.]

[Without thinking, Spike reached for the sword at his waist, drawing it with a swift motion. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. The others weren't here—he was alone. But he couldn't let this thing rampage through the castle. He had to stop it.]

[The creature's gaze locked onto him, its eyes glowing with the same vivid green hue as the lightning coursing through its wings. It let out another piercing cry, and Spike felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as energy crackled around it.]

SPIKE"Come on, then," [he growled, raising his sword. The blade glinted in the moonlight as he took a step forward.] "Let's see what you've got."

[The bird-like beast spread its wings and took to the air, circling above him in tight, controlled loops. Spike narrowed his eyes, tracking its movements. He could feel the air pressure shifting as it flew, as if the very atmosphere was bending to its will.]

[Then, with a sudden burst of speed, it dove towards him. Spike threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding a strike of green lightning that scorched the stone where he'd just been standing. He rolled to his feet, adrenaline flooding his veins. This was going to be harder than he thought.]

SPIKE"Okay… gotta think. If it's a Call of Green Lightning, then it draws power from the storm…" [He murmured to himself, eyes darting around as he tried to come up with a plan. The wind was picking up, swirling in a tight vortex around the creature. He couldn't fight it head-on—not like this.]

[The creature screeched again, and Spike gritted his teeth. He tightened his grip on the sword, watching as it began to circle lower, green sparks trailing from its wings. He needed to lure it away from the castle, away from everyone else.]

SPIKE"Hey!" [He shouted, waving his sword in the air.] "Over here, you overgrown pigeon!"

[The creature's head snapped towards him, its eyes narrowing. With a deafening roar, it launched itself in his direction, wings flaring wide. Spike turned and ran, his boots pounding against the stone floor as he sprinted towards the outer edge of the castle grounds. He could feel the wind whipping around him, the creature's energy building with every second.]

[He glanced back over his shoulder just as it unleashed a bolt of green lightning. He ducked, the bolt searing through the air above him. The heat singed his hair, but he didn't stop. He skidded to a halt near the edge of a courtyard, breathing hard as he turned to face the creature again.]

[It hovered above him, wings crackling with power, and for a moment, Spike felt a twinge of fear. This thing was far beyond anything he'd faced before. But he couldn't back down—not now. He took a deep breath, channeling every ounce of courage he had.]

SPIKE"Alright, you want me? Come and get me!"

[The bird let out a final, earsplitting screech and then dove towards him at breakneck speed. Spike stood his ground, eyes locked on the creature as he shifted his stance. He could feel the energy building around it, green lightning crackling through the air.]

[Just as it was about to reach him, Spike moved. He sidestepped the creature's attack, swinging his sword in a wide arc. The blade connected with the bird's wing, a burst of green light erupting from the impact. The creature shrieked, veering off course and crashing into the ground a few feet away.]

[Spike didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, sword raised high. The creature thrashed, trying to get back on its feet, but Spike struck again, aiming for the base of its wing. Another burst of light, and the creature let out a pained cry, collapsing onto the ground.]

[For a moment, everything was still. Spike stood over the fallen beast, breathing hard. The green light flickered and then began to fade, the stormy energy dissipating into the night. He stared down at it, heart pounding, and slowly lowered his sword.]

SPIKE"You're done," [he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. The creature twitched once, then lay still. The Call of Green Lightning, a creature of myth and legend, had been defeated.]

[He took a deep breath, staring out at the darkened forest beyond the castle. This victory—small though it was—was just the beginning. There would be more battles to come, more dangers to face. But for now, at least, the kingdom was safe.]

[Spike sheathed his sword and turned back towards the castle, his thoughts already drifting to the others. They needed to regroup—there was so much to discuss, and this creature's appearance raised more questions than answers. But one thing was clear: they weren't dealing with ordinary threats anymore.]

"Better tell Gigi I just saved the kingdom," [he muttered to himself with a wry grin, and headed back inside.]