Erik slumped to the floor, the weight of his grief pulling him down. He felt numb, his mind struggling to process the reality before him. His eyes remained fixed on his father's lifeless body, the pale skin and still chest a stark contrast to the man he had known.
A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, each one more painful than the last. He should have been faster. He should have fought harder. He should have been able to save his father. The regret gnawed at him like a relentless ache in his chest that made it hard to breathe.
His vision blurred with tears, and he felt a hollowness settle in his heart. The despair and sadness was overwhelming, a heavy blanket that smothered any flicker of hope he used to have. He had faced giant wolves, but this—this was a loss he couldn't fight against.
His mother's sobs filled the room. He reached out, his hand trembling as he touched his father's cold cheek. The touch was a reminder of the finality of death, the irreversible nature of the loss they had suffered.
"Why?" he whispered, his voice breaking. "Why didn't I go faster?"
There was no answer, only the silent room and the heavy weight of their grief. Erik felt a surge of anger, a futile rage against the cruel world that had taken his father from him. But the anger quickly faded, replaced by a crushing sense of helplessness.
He closed his eyes, the tears streaming down his face. Erik felt himself breaking, the strength that had carried him until this moment crumbling under the weight of his sorrow.
He leaned into his mother's embrace. The world outside felt distant, the fight with the wolves a lifetime ago. All that mattered now was the man they had lost and the void he left behind.
Erik's mother through her sobs felt the tremors of her son's despair.
"It's not your fault, Erik," she whispered, her voice quivering.
Erik barely registered her words, his mind trapped in a spiral of regret and self-blame. He shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "I should have been faster... I should have been here."
His mother reached out, her hand gently cupping his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze. Her touch was tender, filled with the love only a mother could give.
"No, Erik. It's not your fault. I'm glad that you are safe."
Her words pierced through the haze of his grief, though they did little to ease the pain.
"You couldn't have known, Erik. None of us could have known this would happen."
Liam and Mia stood at the doorway. They exchanged glances, each searching for words of comfort or assurance but none came. The weight of Erik's grief was clear and they were aware of the fragile moment they had intruded upon.
BOOM!
A sudden deafening thunderclap shattered the heavy silence, reverberating through the air and shaking the ground beneath their feet. They all instinctively looked up, fear and shock etched on their faces, they expect of another monstrous threat is coming to them.
Erik forcing himself to break free from the grip of his sorrow. He looked at her with a determined yet sorrowful expression.
"Mom, we need to go," he said, his voice steady but filled with sadness. "I wish we could give Dad a proper burial but right now, we have to focus on keeping you safe."
His mother nodded, tears still streaming down her cheeks. She understood the harsh reality they faced. Her gaze lingered on her husband's still form for a moment longer before she turned her attention back to Erik.
"I understand," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Let's go."
Erik stood up, helping his mother to her feet. He glanced at Liam and Mia who were still standing by the door. The thunder outside seemed to grow more menacing, urging them to move quickly.
"Let's get back to the car," Erik said, his voice now carrying an edge of urgency. "We need to find somewhere safe."
Liam and Mia nodded. They stepped aside to let Erik and his mother pass, then followed closely behind, their senses heightened and their weapons at the ready.
They made their way from the house to the car. The thunder crashing above them like a harbinger of doom. Erik's heart pounded.
Just as they reached the vehicles a sudden and powerful light exploded in the sky. It was a brilliant spectrum of colors, like a rainbow set ablaze. The light was blinding and an intense blast wave followed, knocking them all to the ground.
Erik's ears rang from the explosion, and his vision blurred for a moment. He forced himself to his feet, adrenaline surging through his veins.
"Liam! Mia! Get ready!" he shouted.
Mia and Liam quickly scrambled to their feet, weapons at the ready.
Erik could feel it—a presence unlike any they had faced before. It was more powerful, more menacing than the wolves. His heart raced as a cold dread gripped him, his body instinctively tensing as if preparing for an overwhelming assault.
From the prismatic light, a figure began to materialize. It was massive shadow, and far stronger than the giant wolves they have encountered. Its form was shrouded in swirling colors, an aura of power emanating from it that made Erik's skin prickle with fear.
Erik's mother, still dazed from the blast, looked up at her son, her eyes wide with terror. "Erik, what is that?" she whispered, clutching his arm.
"I don't know, but… Its going to be alright," Erik replied, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his insides.
He turned to Mia and Liam, who were already positioned in a defensive stance. "Stay close. We have to face this together."
The swirling, prismatic light faded, the figure emerged more clearly from the tempestuous colors. It was a massive, muscled humanoid, its imposing frame towering over them. Despite its size and strength the figure remained enshrouded in shadows, a dark silhouette against the radiant backdrop.
The muscles on its body were well-defined and exaggerated, giving it a terrifying, almost unnatural appearance. The shadow obscured finer details, but the sheer bulk and power of its form were undeniable.
"Hey, there!" a deepn, rumbling voice was heard from the figure.
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