Suddenly, Renrou let out a low, guttural groan. His whole body began to convulse violently, and Nicolas watched in horror as Renrou's skin started to ripple and stretch unnaturally. His bones cracked audibly, and his muscles swelled grotesquely. Renrou fell to the floor, writhing in agony as his hands began to morph into large, clawed appendages, his face elongating into a beastly snout. His clothes tore apart as his body expanded, fur sprouting from his skin.
Nicolas backed away, his heart racing. "Renrou!" he shouted, desperation in his voice, but it was too late. The transformation was complete. Where his friend had stood moments ago, now stood a massive, terrifying creature—a Wesen. Renrou's eyes, once full of life, were now empty of any recognition. His face was contorted with rage, and his breath came out in harsh, snarling growls. The only thing left in him was bloodlust.
The creature that had once been Renrou let out a deafening, bloodcurdling howl that shook the walls of the house. The sound reverberated through the village, and within moments, the villagers who had heard it scrambled for safety, fleeing into their homes and barring their doors. Shouts of panic echoed through the streets as people rushed to hide from the monster that now stalked the night.
Nicolas was frozen in place, his mind unable to process what had just happened. His best friend, the person he had grown up with, was gone, replaced by this nightmarish beast. He felt helpless. There was nothing he could do, no way to save Renrou from whatever dark force had taken hold of him.
The Wesen lunged at Nicolas, its claws swiping through the air with deadly speed. Nicolas barely managed to dodge, tumbling to the ground as the creature snarled and snapped its jaws. The room shook as the Wesen's massive frame collided with the wooden furniture, smashing the small table into splinters. Nicolas scrambled to his feet, grabbing a poker from the fireplace, his hands shaking as he brandished it in front of him.
"Renrou, stop!" he shouted, his voice cracking with fear. But the creature didn't even pause. It charged again, its eyes glowing with a murderous hunger. Nicolas swung the poker wildly, catching the beast across the snout, but it barely flinched.
The fight was brutal and chaotic. Nicolas was no match for the monster's strength, and he knew it. Each swipe of the Wesen's claws was powerful enough to tear through flesh and bone, and Nicolas struggled just to stay alive. His heart pounded in his chest as he dodged and stumbled, trying to avoid the creature's relentless attacks. The air was thick with the scent of blood and sweat, the crackling of the fire the only constant sound in the chaos.
Outside, the village remained eerily silent, the villagers huddling in their homes, praying that the monster would not find them. But in Garen's house, the battle raged on. Nicolas knew he couldn't keep this up for long. He was exhausted, his muscles burning with effort, and the creature was still as relentless as ever, driven by an unquenchable thirst for blood.
And as the Blood Moon shone down on them, casting the village in a crimson light.
***
The air in the room was thick with tension, every breath Nicolas took labored and heavy. His muscles ached, his vision blurred, and his heartbeat pounded in his ears.
The Wesen that had once been Renrou growled low, its eyes gleaming with malice. Nicolas could barely keep his grip on the fireplace poker, his hands trembling from exhaustion. Each strike he managed was weaker than the last, and each dodge slower, more desperate.
'I can't keep this up much longer…'
The thought clawed at the back of his mind as the monstrous creature advanced, its hulking form casting a looming shadow over the wrecked room. Nicolas stumbled backward, the poker slipping from his grip and clattering to the floor.
With a snarl, Renrou lunged at him, claws outstretched, and Nicolas threw himself to the side at the last second, narrowly avoiding the beast's deadly swipe. He landed hard against the wall, pain shooting through his ribs as he struggled to catch his breath. His vision swam, and for a moment, all he could hear was the ringing in his ears and the heavy, guttural breathing of the creature that was once his friend.
The firelight flickered in the hearth, casting long, erratic shadows across the walls, and the scent of sweat, blood, and burning wood filled the room. Outside, the village was eerily silent, the villagers cowering in their homes, no doubt praying the beast wouldn't find them. But inside, it was only Nicolas and the nightmare that Renrou had become.
His limbs felt heavy, too heavy to move, but he forced himself to push off the wall, staggering to his feet as Renrou growled and stalked toward him.
'This can't be happening… I have to stop him. There has to be a way…'
But no matter how many times he told himself that, the truth gnawed at him. He was no match for the strength of the Wesen. He was just a man, and Renrou had become a creature of rage and power beyond anything Nicolas could hope to combat. He was tired. So tired.
The beast's eyes locked onto him, and Nicolas felt his heart race, fear gripping him tighter than ever. Renrou let out a deep, guttural growl, saliva dripping from his fanged maw, and in a flash, the creature lunged.
Time seemed to slow as the claws descended, ready to tear into him, to end him once and for all. There was no escape this time. Nicolas braced for the blow, his mind screaming in panic.
' Am i going to die again?'
But just as Renrou's claws were about to strike, a strong hand yanked Nicolas out of harm's way, pulling him to safety. He stumbled, falling backward onto the floor, his head spinning with the sudden movement.
"Get back, son !" a familiar voice roared.