In the midst of a snowy desert under the light of the blood red moon.
A monster could be seen roaming the fields of snow, killing everything that he encountered into it's journey to hell.Corpses could be seen of humans and beasts killed alike,laying on it's path.
It was the incarnation of death itself were the last thoughts of it's prey before it slaughtered them all like pigs.
But to the monster it was a different scenario.It was considered a child in the world of fallens.It has just been hatched and the first thing he notices were equipments of art crawling all over its path waiting to be used.
To the creature all of this was nothing but a art in making .It was making a painting in the snow with blood as the only colour.It was gonna make a masterpiece that this realm has never seen before, but for that to happen ,it needed blood,more blood.
So,it roamed the snow aimlessly continuing it's journey of bloodshed.Untill,one sudden night,the creature stopped as it realised that it was time for it to enter the next stage.
It let out a loud scream to warn everyone not to disturb him.It duh out the snow deep enough to fit itself in it and then put all the snow over itself to make sure no one disturbed it from ascending into the next stage.
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"This should be the exact location from where the scream originated from,I am sure of it,"Salvus said with certainty as he dismounted his horse and looked around for the traces for the fallen.
"Maybe it has already left to find its prey,"Kaizen replied after pondering for a moment as to him the fallen was a senseless predator who can't wait at a place and would constantly roam to search for more victims.
"It's not a dumb beast ,kaizen,it's a fallen and those being evolve ,the more they fight or kill. Let's just hope that it hasn't developed into the next stage yet because if it does then the whole situation changes,"Salvus said gravely as he pulled out his longsword from the circle and became ready for any surprises.
It was the first time Hadrian had seen Salvus looking scared and it intrigued him even more.He really wanted to see a fallen,to touch a fallen and if he could,kill a fallen.
Suddenly,at a distance the snow begun to rise and a creature step out of it.
A creature that Hadrian had never seen before,in Hadrian's eyes it was heavenly and disgusting at the same time.So,this was a fallen he thought as he could hardly wait to see that beast in action.
The being before him had a slender, elongated body covered in white armor or exoskeleton. This armor extended across its torso, arms, and legs.
Elaborate, wing-like structures emerged from its back and shoulders, lending it an ethereal quality.
The head was vertically elongated, featuring a crown like adornment and a mask like covering that hid his mouth area.
"Shit it has entered the next stage,you two escape while I deal with this beast,"Salvus ordered as he charged towards the fallen with his longsword.
The two traded multiple number of blows to each other.It was like watching a dance of two with each taking lead simultaneously.
The one who realised the outcome of the battle first was none other than, Salvus.He realised that he was getting overwhelmed midway during the clashes.It looked like he would have to stop holding back his strength and give it his all.
"Kaizen,take the child with you and retreat back to the ruins, I'll be there too after a while,"Salvus shouted the order as he continued to engage the monster.
Kaizen did as told by his lord.He picked up Hadrian and mounted the horse and started riding without wasting a second.He knew that they would be of no help anyway and staying here would only put his lord at a disadvantage.
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In the dimly lit area,Salvus faced the enigmatic creature. His blade gleamed, its edge honed by countless battles. The creature's elongated form twisted, its white exoskeleton shifting like liquid metal. He lunged, striking with precision. But the creature was elusive—a dance of sinew and steel.
The creature's abilities were unlike anything that Salvus had encountered. It projected shards of light, each one a deadly blade.Salvus parried them all, sweat trickling down his brow. His sword sang through the air, meeting the creature's resistance. Sparks erupted, illuminating their struggle.
As they circled, Salvus glimpsed the creature's eyes—pale orbs devoid of emotion. It moved with eerie grace, its wings unfurling. His heart raced; he couldn't afford a single misstep. He feinted left, then spun, aiming for the creature's core. But it sidestepped effortlessly, retaliating with a flurry of strikes.
Their clash echoed through the land of snow and ice—a symphony of clash and clash, blade against exoskeleton. Salvus' muscles screamed, but he pressed on. He'd faced orcs,trolls, and many other savage beast, but this creature defied categorization. Its abilities shifted—now a blur of speed, now a shield of light.
As the battle intensified, both combatants revealed agility beyond mortal limits. Salvus' blade traced intricate patterns, leaving trails of light. The creature's bird-like head swiveled, analyzing its opponent. It countered with bursts of energy, destabilizing the Salvus' holographic displays.
Salvus' blade met the creature's armored hide, sparks flying. Each strike reverberated through his arms, threatening to break bone. But he pressed on, fueled by determination and the memory of the fallen's victim.The creature retaliated with blinding speed. Its claws sliced through the air, leaving trails of luminescent energy. Salvus dodged, rolled, and parried, but fatigue gnawed at his resolve.
'It's superior than me in terms of strength, speed and stamina while am holding back but it lacks experience of fighting someone skilled'—Salvus thought of a plan as he confirmed that the monster as yet to develop critical thinking.
Salvus decided to gamble.
He intentionally left a opening in his chest area and waited for the fallen to take the bait.Salvus gave a sigh of relief after he saw that the fallen had taken the bait and was lunging forward to rip his heart with it's sharp claw.
"Authority over ice:Slash of winter,"Salvus' command caused a momentarily quietness in the battlefield.
A moment later, the fallen's arm was laying in the embrace of snow.The arm was severed in such a speed that the creature didn't even realise it for a moment.It was puzzled,it stopped attacking and rushed backward due to it's natural instinct.
"Now,now don't tell me you're scared"—Salvus smiled as he enjoyed knowing that even a fallen had instincts of a mortal—"Well now that you have forced me to reveal my authority, it's only fair that I take your life,"Salvus finished as he rushed forward with a intent to finish things.
But there was a ominous feeling that wouldn't leave Salvus' heart.If the fallen had wanted it could just try to fly away to retreat or atleast show some desperation after being backed at a corner.Instead it just stood at it's place at looked at it's severed arm like it was waiting for something to happen.
And then it happened,the fallen had advanced again.The severed arm grew back in mere seconds.After seeing that the arm was back,the creature raised his head and dashed towards Salvus' with an intent to finish the deathmatch.
"Hold your horses,you mindless monster "—Hadrian parried the attack with his blade and jumped high enough to kick the monster's head with a loud thud causing the beast to fly and fall at a distance—"You don't get to decide when this ends;I do."Salvus said coldely as he rushed forward towards the fallen who had yet to regain his balance and attacked him with a fury of kicks and punches that cracked the fallen's exoskeleton that even a blade previously couldn't Slash through .
It was at this moment that the fallen realised something crucial.If it wanted to continue making its art then he needed to escape from here.It needed to survive from this monster.
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"We have reached the ruins,"Kaizen informed Hadrian before lifting him up and jumping from the horse.
"Will your lord be alright fighting against that monster?,"Hadrian questioned Kaizen as he looked up to examine Kaizen's facial expression and felt surprised to see him looked relax.But how?he certain that the monster would've killed Salvus by now.
"Ohh, you've regained your sight and voice huh,Well it doesn't matter and as for my lord,you don't need to worry,if he stops holding back then the monster should be dead by now,"Kaizen said those words with absolute certainty as he was aware of Salvus' true strength and while the fallen was strong but it was still too young and would need time to grow.
Although Hadrian was still doubtful,he decided not to pester him.He decided to ask kaizen questions related to this new world after sometime.
Kaizen carried Hadrian back to the house in the ruins were he treated him before.He put down Hadrian gently on the floor and proceeded to light up a fire.
"So,you remember about your life in here before the fallen attacked?,"Kaizen decided to ask a simple question to make the awkward silence disappear.
'Dafuq,I do not have any memories of the life this boy lived ,hell,I don't even know what this body's name was before I took over.I need to just bullshit my way out and hope he ain't that sharp,'Hadrian thought of an appropriate scenario and decided to gamble it.
"It hurts, everytime I think about the past ,I am greated with an excruciating pain in my head"—Hadrian put a hand above his head to make it more believable—"The only thing I remember is the screams of my people and how the fallen massacred them and then also nearly killed me,"Hadrian mimicking sadness in his voice.
"I apologise,that was an insensitive question on my part,"Kaizen cursed himself for not knowing such an obvious thing.
"No need to apologise,I know it wasn't intentional,"Hadrian replied with understanding but internally he was laughing at how he fooled him.
"Well,if I may,Can I ask you about your life?,"Hadrian decided that it was now his turn to ask questions.He needed knowledge about this world and what betterway than to ask a traveller.
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