The scream ripped through the tense silence like a shard of glass, its echoes bouncing off the wooden walls of the cottage. Gorn's eyes widened in horror, his grip tightening on his spear. "Elara, Maya, stay here!" he barked, his voice laced with urgency. "William, protect them!"
And with that, Gorn was gone, bursting out of the cottage, his spear held high, his movements a blur of determined purpose. William felt a surge of responsibility, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword. He met Elara and Maya's terrified gazes, offering a reassuring nod, though his own heart hammered against his ribs.
Minutes stretched into an eternity, each second filled with a gnawing anxiety. William paced the small cottage, his senses on high alert. He strained to hear any sound from outside, any indication of what horrors might be unfolding in the village.
Then, a crash. The front door splintered inwards, and a creature unlike any William had ever seen lunged into the room. It was a grotesque parody of a wolf, its fur matted and stained with blood, its eyes glowing with an eerie green light. Its limbs were elongated and twisted, its claws razor-sharp, and its jaws gaped open, revealing rows of jagged teeth.
A wave of fear washed over William, but he didn't hesitate. He charged forward, his sword raised, his movements fueled by a desperate need to protect Elara and Maya.
He swung his sword, the blade slicing through the creature's flesh, drawing a hiss of pain. The creature retaliated with a swipe of its claws, raking across William's chest, tearing through his tunic and drawing blood.
William gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain. He parried another attack, his movements surprisingly fluid despite the fear that clawed at his throat. He lunged, his sword finding its mark, sinking deep into the creature's flank.
The creature roared in pain, its attack faltering. William pressed his advantage, his sword a whirlwind of steel. He dodged a snap of its jaws, then lunged again, his blade finding its mark, piercing the creature's heart.
But the creature was stronger than he anticipated. It lashed out with a powerful blow, sending William sprawling to the ground. He cried out as its claws raked across his back, tearing through his flesh. He tried to rise, but his body wouldn't obey. He was pinned beneath the creature's weight, its fetid breath hot on his face.
"William!" Maya's scream pierced the chaos, her voice filled with a terror that mirrored his own.
He closed his eyes, bracing for the final blow. But instead of pain, he felt a surge of power, a burning energy coursing through his veins. A translucent blue screen flashed in his vision.
[New Ability Unlocked: Hero's Limit (S-Rank)]
[Temporarily enhances all attributes by 50% for 1 minute. Significant physical strain will follow.]
He opened his eyes, a newfound strength surging through him. He roared, pushing the creature off him with a force he hadn't known he possessed. He scrambled to his feet, his sword a blur of motion. He attacked with a ferocity born of desperation and newfound power.
The creature, caught off guard, stumbled backward. William pressed his advantage, his strikes relentless, his movements fueled by the adrenaline coursing through him. He felt the strain of his enhanced abilities, his muscles burning, his vision blurring. But he couldn't stop. He had to protect Elara and Maya.
He lunged one final time, his sword finding its mark, slicing through the creature's neck. The creature's head rolled across the floor, its body collapsing in a heap.
William staggered back, his vision swimming, his body trembling with exhaustion. His enhanced abilities faded, leaving him weak and vulnerable. He collapsed to the ground, his consciousness slipping away.
The cottage door burst open again, and Gorn rushed in, his face etched with worry. He surveyed the scene – his home in disarray, his family cowering in fear, and William lying on the floor, battered and bloodied. His eyes then fell on the monstrous creature lying lifeless on the floor.
Gorn rushed to William's side, his voice filled with concern. "William! What in Aethel happened here?"
William managed a weak smile. "I... protected them," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Gorn looked back at William, his eyes filled with gratitude and respect. "You saved my family," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You are a true hero, lad."
But William couldn't hear him. Exhaustion finally claimed him, dragging William down into a darkness deeper than any he had known. The echoes of battle faded into a distant hum as unconsciousness took hold.
He awoke to the scent of herbs and the soft touch of bandages against his skin. Blinking, his vision blurred, his body heavy and aching. A wave of dizziness forced him back onto the bed as he tried to sit up.
"Easy there, William," Elara's gentle voice soothed him. "You've been through quite an ordeal."
William's gaze settled on Elara and Maya, their faces etched with concern. "How long was I out?" he croaked, his voice raspy.
"Almost a full day," Elara replied, her worry evident. "We were worried sick."
"Maya and I tended to your wounds," she explained, a hint of pride in her voice. "We used the strongest healing herbs we could find. You'll be right as rain in no time."
A smile tugged at William's lips, but the effort sent a jolt of pain through his battered body. "I feel like I've been trampled by a herd of wild boar," he groaned.
Maya giggled, a welcome sound in the otherwise somber atmosphere. "You look like it too," she teased gently.
A weak chuckle escaped William, followed by a wince as the movement sent another wave of pain through his ribs. Still weak, his body protested every attempt to move. He lay back against the pillows, his gaze drifting towards the window, where the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the floor.
"What happened to the creature?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Gorn took care of it," Elara replied. "Dragged it out of the village and burned it. He didn't want to risk any further contamination."
"Gorn is a brave man," he murmured, a wave of respect washing over him.
"He is," Elara agreed. "But so are you, William. You saved us. You saved our home."