Nicolas' breath came in ragged gasps, his chest heaving as the last remnants of power drained from him. The energy that had surged so violently through his veins now ebbed away, leaving him utterly exhausted.
As silence settled once again over the village, the villagers stared at Nicolas in stunned disbelief, their minds reeling from the chaos that had just unfolded. The bloodstained ground seemed to freeze time itself. No one dared to speak, too afraid to break the fragile calm that had fallen over the gruesome scene.
Nicolas' father, tears of both relief and fear streaking down his face, finally managed to rise to his feet. His legs shook as he stumbled toward his son, eyes locked on the small, trembling figure that had unleashed such devastating power.
"Nicolas..." he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.
But Nicolas didn't respond. His golden eyes, now dimming, were still fixed on the remains of the monster that had threatened his family just moments before.
The villagers watched in silent awe, knowing that something had awakened in Nicolas. Something powerful, something terrifying. Nothing would ever be the same again.
But this wasn't the end. As Nicolas' father held his child in his arms, he let out a small, relieved smile. Nicolas, on the verge of slipping into unconsciousness, watched his father—alive and well—and let out a faint smile of his own.
That smile, however, froze the next moment.
Nicolas' eyes widened in shock. A sharp, metallic tip had pierced through his father's back, bursting through his chest. Blood gushed from his father's mouth, his body jerking violently.
The smile on his father's face froze as well. His eyes lowered to the spear-like tip protruding from his chest, disbelief and agony filling his expression. Just as suddenly, the tip was withdrawn, leaving a gaping wound. Nicolas' father coughed up blood but refused to let go of his son. With the last ounce of his strength, he looked into Nicolas' eyes and whispered in a voice only they could hear.
"I am proud of you, my son. Live well."
As the final words left his lips, his body slumped lifelessly to the ground, his grip on Nicolas loosening. Nicolas, unable to comprehend the horror unfolding before him, finally succumbed to the overwhelming exhaustion and collapsed beside his father, unconscious.
The village fell into a stunned silence. For a moment, the only sound was the soft breeze blowing through the trees and the distant chirping of birds. But that quiet moment quickly shattered.
Garen, the village chief, his face pale with shock and anger, finally broke the silence with a furious roar. "Kill this bastard! We can't let anything happen to the child!"
Hearing his shout, the villagers snapped out of their stupor. They realized how vital Nicolas was to their survival. His powers could one day protect the village from future threats, ensuring their safety. Filled with determination and a fierce need to protect the boy, they threw their fear aside and rushed to attack the monster that had so silently crept into their midst.
The beast—a Wesen—was a terrifying fusion of lion and scorpion. It stood twice the size of a normal lion, its body bristling with deadly strength. Its scorpion-like tail lashed behind it, dripping with venom, and its claws were long and razor-sharp, capable of tearing through flesh with ease.
Yet, the villagers were not afraid. Armed with pitchforks, axes, and makeshift weapons, they charged at the Wesen, shouting in rage and desperation. The air was thick with the sound of clashing steel and the roars of the beast, but the villagers fought with everything they had.
In the midst of the chaos, a movement caught the eye of one villager—Elira, Nicolas' mother, who had been unconscious since her son's power surged through the village. Groaning, she stirred and slowly sat up, her head still spinning from the aftereffects of Nicolas' attack.
When her gaze landed on the scene before her—her husband lying motionless on the ground, blood pooling around him—her heart shattered. Grief and rage exploded inside her. Her scream pierced the air, cutting through the battle like a blade.
Without thinking, Elira threw herself toward the Wesen, her mind clouded with the overwhelming need for revenge. "No!" she cried, her voice breaking as she ran toward the beast. "You took him from me!"
Blinded by fury and heartache, Elira launched herself at the monstrous creature, her hands gripping the nearest weapon she could find. With reckless abandon, she slashed at the Wesen's massive form. Her attacks were wild, driven by her grief, but the beast was powerful and relentless. It lashed out with its tail, narrowly missing her, its deadly venom dripping to the ground.
The villagers watched in horror and awe as Elira fought with the fury of a mother who had lost everything. But in the back of their minds, they knew this battle would cost her dearly.
Elira's movements slowed as exhaustion overtook her, but she refused to stop. She screamed with every swing of her weapon, tears streaming down her face. Finally, with one last desperate effort, she managed to drive her blade deep into the creature's neck. The beast let out a deafening roar, thrashing in agony before collapsing to the ground in a pool of its own blood.
But it was too late. The effort had drained Elira completely. As the monster's massive body hit the ground, Elira fell beside it, her breathing shallow. The fight had taken everything from her—her husband, her son her strength, and now her life.
The villagers, bloodied and battered, stood in stunned silence. Ten more of their own had fallen during the battle. They had triumphed, but the cost was staggering. The village would never be the same again.
With trembling hands, they moved to retrieve Nicolas and Elira. Her body, still warm, was gently laid beside her husband. Nicolas, unconscious and unaware of the sacrifice his mother had made, remained cradled in the arms of those who now saw him as their last hope.
As the sun began to set over the blood-soaked village, casting long shadows across the ground, a heavy silence fell once more. The villagers knew that this was only the beginning.