The creature loomed over them—a writhing mass of shadows, bone, and tangled tendrils, its jagged maw leaking an unnatural fog that poisoned the very air they breathed. It was neither beast nor ghost but something ancient, something that felt plucked from the nightmares of long-forgotten lore. Thorned limbs stretched from its body, slashing and thrashing with horrifying precision, each swing leaving an echo of darkness in its wake.
Among the many, only ten remained, scattered across the scorched earth, their once-bright armor caked in dust and blood. The sky was bruised a sickly green, casting an unnatural light on the battlefield, and the moans of the wounded faded in the distance as the survivors limped together.
Their bodies battered and gloomy eyes cast in despair. They know what's at stake, the odds at their feat. The little town pressing on their shoulders. One of them who faced the monster in a loud bellow, was hammered hard against the earthen wall her figure creating a crater upon the solid earth.
"We can't keep this up!" panted Keira, a warrior with a shattered shield and her limbs hanging limp. She limped out of the crater with a bloodied back, a dislocated right arm and a broken leg. She spat out blood, her eyes wild with the desperation of a cornered animal.
"That thing… it's draining us."
Or, even worse, just treating us as its toys.
Keiras' remaining hand clenched, the pain dissipating her remaining hesitation.
The words that remained at the tip of her tongue fueled her resolution.
Tarris, their captain, barely turned to her when the creature reared back, its jagged maw splitting open to reveal rows of obsidian teeth. A guttural snarl rumbled from deep within, followed by a screech that shattered stone. The air itself rippled, and the few who are still alive, scrambled to their feet. Earning themselves a few more fractions of the minute. While those who were paralyzed could only await their demise, clinging to the ground as if to escape the weight of the creatures'presence. Tarris, closed his eyes in pain, seeing the mangled bodies beneath the creature mix together until it's own mother couldn't recognize them anymore.
"Stand!" roared Tarris, his voice somehow steady amid the chaos. "Stand your ground! We're not done!"
His blade raised high, slashing at the thick tendrils that whipped towards him.He saw his men follow his orders, one by one fall at his command. He charged forward with all his might, but tears streaked from his eyes, when even the last one couldn't stay by his side.
His angered roar reverberated through the battlefield, blood and grime drenched his armor. He striked again with valor. But, when his sword struck, then recoiled, as if the shadows themselves deflected steel. Tarris staggered back, jaw clenched, eyes grim with a fire that defied his battered body.
The creature lunged at him its tail, an eerie laugh sounded as it watched asTarris spurt a mouthful of blood. It's long vertical bone heaving up and down, amused by the ants below him.
"What is this!!!", Vayne dogded another blow.
"We've hit it a dozen times! More!" Vayne snarled, his words seeping with frustration. His own weapon trembling in his grip. "But it's like stabbing at smoke!"
Keira's eyes narrowed, determination replacing fear. "Then we burn it."
She said succinctly. Her body ready to move, when a bloodied hand stopped her. The rough panting attracted her and a grim pair of eyes looked at her.
Tarris shook his head. Keira wanted to object but Vayne stiopped her. He shook his head he knew after a few blows that they haven't even touched this creature's bottom line.
From start to finnish, they had been caught off guard by its sudden appearance.
Then, It danced them to its tune. Afterwards, their brothers fell one shortly after the other.
Keira and Vayne, exchanged glances. They nodded in agrerment, their eyes focused on the target.
One last time.
Gripping their weapons hard, Tarris charged without hestitstion followed by the two.
The last few soldiers helped eachother, the soldiers unleashed what remained of their enchanted oils, flinging them at the beast in a desperate arc. Flames exploded across the creature's body, casting strange, flickering light as the shadows burned. It writhed in pain, the tendrils thrashing wildly, but the fire's grasp was fleeting, snuffed out as the creature's dark essence swallowed it whole.
A moment's silence fell—a silence filled only by the panicked heaving of those remaining, the weight of futility pressing down upon them. They waited in bathed breath as shoulders hauled their injured brothers ready to make a run for it.
They already knew it, but hope prevented them from running away. They stared red-eyed at the creature.
As expected, they couldn't avenge their brothers, Tarris lamented.
"What… what is this thing?" Alistair muttered in horror, gripping his crossbow.
Alistair, had been high on the ridge all this time. Helping his teammates defeat this monster and saving them from time to time but even with a skillful aim. A man couldn't shoot without an arrow, he was useless.
Alistair gripped his crossbow hard, his fingers raw, blood seeping into the weapon's steel. He watched Tarris block the creature mighty comeback.
The creature rose faster than it fell. The scorched skin healing as if it was never there, faster than a blink, it's limb whipping out like a scythe. Tarris threw himself in the way, his battered shield raised. The impact shattered it, throwing Tarris back. Fortunately, the beast's attack slowed, even just for a heartbeat.
"Move, Alistair!" Tarris shouted, spitting blood as he scrambled to his feet. "Pull back—everyone, to the ridge!"
As they stumbled backward, Alistair loosed one final bolt. An arrow he had been saving , all this while.
The arrow flew true, striking the creature between what passed for its eyes. For a brief moment, the shadows split, revealing a dull, golden light—a flicker of life beneath the horror.
The beast howled, reeling from the blow, its tendrils retreating momentarily to shield its face. The fighters didn't waste a moment, retreating up the slope, stumbling over broken ground, dragging their wounded as they went.
"We're almost there!" Keira shouted, half-limping, half-steadying herself up with a makeshift spear. The ridge loomed ahead, a narrow line between safety and oblivion. She looked at her brothers beside her as they stumbled together.
"We've got to make it!"
Behind them, the creature gathered itself, its fury now palpable, pulsing in waves that crushed what was left of their resolve. It began to rise, a twisted behemoth of darkness, surging forward in a tidal wave of fury and shadow. It searched around for the figure that struck him with that arrow.
When it noticed the desolate battlefield devoid of the toys it played with. A roar echoed in dissatisfaction. The ground tremors as it frantically searched the earth when a few annoying stones actually hit his eye.
Alistair, bringing up the rear, gave a ragged laugh, his voice tinged with defiance. "You haven't won! Do you hear me?" His voice encompassing, strained but unyielding, as he struck another stone accurately at its face.
The stone struck, finding the center of its eye, only for a second. The creature squinted, a horrible, ear-wrenching noise tore the skies as it's attention was pulled by Alistair.
"Run!" he yelled, his voice strained. "Don't look back!"
They scrambled up the ridge, one by one, the ground trembling beneath them as the creature's rage erupted. The final, furious shriek sounded behind them, cutting through the air with a keening howl that would haunt their dreams. They didn't look back, didn't dare, until they crested the ridge and the beast was blocked by the mists below.
They fell to their knees, breathing heavily, their wounds searing, each one exhausted but somehow still alive. Keira sprawled on the grass, looked back at the others, her face streaked with blood and soot, and a bitter, weary smile tugged at her lips.
" back," she whispered. "Let's go back",
her voice hoarse,tinged with understanding relief and everlasting sorrow. "Next time, we'll finish it."
She covered her eyes with her arms, the sky felt too bright for the lives it took for her to survive.
Tarris nodded, his gaze grim as he surveyed his remaining comrades. "Next time," he repeated, his voice a promise despite the grief that hung heavy around them.
"Damn it!"
An old soldier punched the nearby tree leaving a mark on the rough park. His knuckles thightly clenched and bloodied.
No one went to comfort him , everyone watched as blood dripped from his fingers,
in their eyes was a glimmer—a resolve that the creature's shadow could never extinguish.
...
The bustling bazaar, market, shops and streets was a large contrast to the desperate battle. The stretching mountains still silent, maintaining the peaceful facade as the people believed it. Not knowing the storm brewing inside.
Meanwhile, Liz was alone. Walking around the streets while surveying the shops and the culture of this world. The buildings wasn't that much different from her old world. She also observed the equity of women and men, however the observation was cut short as she reached her destination.
Objectively speaking, there wasn't much to call it the same, Liz paused as she got lost in her thoughts. Just this morning, Rosalind prepared a hearty breakfast for them. After that Liz vanished, she left early leaving the others baffled at the sight. Her expression softening at the scene this morning.
She continued her way through the interlaced streets. She had made sure to change her clothes this morning to something less extravagant. Liz sat on the corner of the street. She had been waiting here all morning.
Doctor Sue had been busy all morning making money and because she found the lodging, she excused herself from such menial labor.
Before leaving for work, Rosalind had offered something at breakfast. If Liz wanted to, Mariel could tour her around but,
Would Liz allow herself to be accompanied by her?
Of course not.
Still, Rosalind took it upon herself to give the child a bit of bronze pennies. Yes. Money.
Liz thought of Rosalind and couldn't help but say a few more words about her in her head.
Isn't she too naive?
She had already given us too much, Liz muttered but it isn't because she is ungrateful rather it was the opposite.
Liz licked the the cold ball of sweets, something she is entertaining herself with right now. Apparently, it is called,"ice cream". She came to know it by wandering the streets. It was the first day of a week celebration and last night was the first night.
She was just about to take another lick when she caught sight of a vague figure.
A figure, she had been looking for~~~