I stepped onto the mountain ledge, overlooking the sea. Sweat dripped down my face, my hands trembled at the weight of my long sword. The adrenalin that coursed through my veins, urging me to fight on, had begun to cease slowly, allowing my body to relax. We have won, the war against these creatures was finally over. Blueish-red blood dripped off my silver blade. It was splattered on my silver armor as well, leaving a subtle stench behind. This very silver, which took many years to mine, was the only thing the creature's acid-like blood didn't eat through. Before that discovery, many powerful men had succumbed to their blood splatter.
Even I, General Benjamin, one of the best swordsmen in the country, could easily be slain by their blood if I was careless.
I looked to my men behind me, there were a lot less alive than I had hoped. They were visibly exhausted, and a few had minor injuries. They would not have survived if the creatures had not retreated. A stroke of dumb luck perhaps, is what led to today's victory. As the dust settled and the threat seemed neutralized, the younger men began singing songs of triumph, with tears rolling down their cheeks thankful they survived. They hugged their brothers who made it out alive and mourned those they lost. The older men, still filled with pride for winning, counted the dead and gave mercy to those too badly wounded to continue. Their faces are still somber and their bodies tense with anticipation. They knew, after years of experience, war isn't truly over until you return home. The stench of rot was now setting in, but the sea below gave fresh, salty winds over the ridge. It felt as if the sea was applauding our victory as well, offering relief from the suffocating stench. I watched my men intently. The anxiety of battle was now gone, sweet serenity in its place. I could see the fear that once contorted their faces melt away as they shared these precious moments in triumph.
These creatures are hairless, pale, with dead black eyes. They turned to ash after being killed and their blood was like acid, that ate through even the strongest armor. Silver was the only way to kill them, the only thing their acid blood didn't eat through. This was a discovery made by my predecessor, General Sandrea, the first female General the Empire had. A woman of great renown and my swords teacher. She lost her life in a battle against these creatures. However, that very battle is how General Sandrea was able to learn how to combat their blood. With her last dying breath, she told us of the discovery, which led to many lives being spared. No one knows where these things came from, only that they appeared from the south desert five years ago. They appeared ancient or even alien. They hunted in packs and killed anything that moved, be it people, or animals. Even now I wonder to myself if they are even real, but the bodies of my soldiers tell me that this menace is all too real.
I tried to keep my attention on the positive though. We lost many, young and old today. However, our victory meant their deaths weren't in vain. This brought pride to my soul as I kneeled to pray to the old gods and the new. I prayed for those we lost, I gave thanks for our victory and prayed that we return home safely. I prayed that with this battle, we could all finally find peace and return to a time when these creatures didn't exist.
Amid my prayers, I noticed it went silent. Even the wind stopped in its tracks letting the stench of rot settle in my nose. I looked up at my men, and a cold chill ran down my spine as I saw their horrified faces. They were looking at something behind me, I noticed a few men dropped to their knees in defeat, not even willing to yield their swords. I stood, turning to see what struck fear into them.
I too dropped to my knees. Clouds rolled over the mountains, my heartbeat was pounding in my ears. I heard some of my men turn and run. The clinking of their armor told me they were running as fast as their bodies would allow them. I assumed the others were too frightened to even move, as was I. They too could not imagine the possibility of defeating such a monstrosity.
Stepping out behind the mountains as if they were mere trees, stood another pale, dead eye, creature. It stalked towards us, every step pounding the ground and shaking the very ledge I stood upon. At first glance, it seemed it had no mouth, just a smooth surface where its mouth should be, but upon seeing us dripped with the blood of its children, it began opening its mouth, tearing the skin at the very seams baring its Jagged black teeth.
For a single moment, all went quiet again, but the creature let out a screech that made our ears bleed. A few men passed out completely due to the noise. I could barely keep myself from blacking out. I only had one thought, a thought that made me feel weak as a general and as a human.
' This, creature, was the end. We will not make it out alive.'
Those who ran had sense enough to know the impending doom before us. They too had realized that this foe was not something mere mortals could handle. A god might even have trouble against something so monstrous. I'm ashamed to admit I couldn't move. Never in my years did I think I was so powerless. I just watched shaking violently as its pale hairless arm with razor-blade claws, reached for me. It picked me up rather gently in its cold hand. My men were unable to move, they could only let out cries of anguish for me. I almost wanted to curse them for allowing me to die alone like this. But how could I? When I too was terrified beyond belief. I couldn't move, or fight back in its clutches. I couldn't control my sobbing or begging either. I could hear my men apologize to me, begging me to forgive them for not saving me. I felt less than a man or warrior in the face of this creature, I am ashamed to admit I called for my mother in these moments, for some comfort to relieve me of this fear.
It brought me close to its face, ignoring my pleas. As I got closer I realized something that shook me to my core. Its eyes were not black as we once thought, they were hollow. It had no eyes, yet saw us all and was aware of us all. I felt my stomach turn and in its clutches, I vomited. Its eyes were just hollow holes upon its skull, no soul or light, just nothing. With this realization, I dropped my sword and my body went limp. I gave up. Nothing I would do could save me now. It opened its mouth wide and dropped me inside. The last thing I saw were my men, they watched in horror as its mouth closed on me. Darkness ensued my senses.
I awoke in a panic-stricken cold sweat. It took me a moment to regain myself and figure out who I was again. Not a general of an empire but a teen just figuring the world out. I had tears rolling down my cheeks and felt my heart thumping loudly in my chest. The stench was gone, there was no creature to be seen, my men were lost in time and I was in my room once again. Back to my modern life, in my modern home. My father's alarm for work went off, my mother was already up in the kitchen making breakfast calling my name to come eat. As I threw the blankets off of me I was taken aback. The silver sword I used to slay those creatures was next to me still splatted in blueish-red blood. My mother and father called me downstairs in a panic. I jumped out of bed and ran to the living room where my parents had on the television. A news alert broadcast was playing, showing videos of the creatures from my dream killing people. It showed army trucks and soldiers shooting at them. The creature's acid-like blood ate through their uniforms and flesh. I felt my body tremble, I felt my muscles flex as if they knew what they needed to do. I felt the same fear from my dream settling deep within myself. War has begun again.