The morning was quiet as Arthur met Rowan outside the town's edge. The first light of dawn had just begun to touch the horizon, casting a soft glow on the quiet streets. A few villagers were already stirring, preparing for the day ahead, but the town itself seemed filled with tension and unease after the first human victim yesterday.
Arthur was wearing all the new equipment he had spent the last few weeks making. His leather armor with bone reinforcements fit perfectly, and he had to admit his love for the clawed gauntlet with an attached shield around his left arm. He would definitely call it his greatest work yet.
Arthur wasn't well versed in long-range weapons, so he made something to help cover that weakness. His new whip hung at his side opposite of his sword. Its length was covered in Ironclaw Behemoth teeth which had Thaelios runes to capture anything he caught in its sharp embrace. He even added a Terrak rune so he could slam anything caught as well.
The sound of boots against cobblestones was the only noise as Arthur made his way toward the edge of the settlement.
Rowan was already there, standing by the road, his bow and a large pack across his back. He glanced up when he saw Arthur approaching.
"You ready to head out?" Rowan asked, his voice calm as always.
Arthur nodded, adjusting his pack and making sure everything was securely fastened. "Just about. I finished your arrows last night."
Rowan's eyes lit up. "What did you do to them?"
Arthur grinned, handing over the quiver. "I added some runes. A bit of Virelith for sharpness and Zephyros to give them a burst of wind. It'll make them hit harder and faster. All you got to do is aim and will the runes to activate as you shoot."
Rowan took the arrows from him, inspecting them closely. The tips were sharp, but there was something about the way they shimmered in the light that felt different. "I've never worked with magic on my gear," Rowan murmured, clearly intrigued.
"It'll make a difference," Arthur said, adjusting the straps on his pack. "Aim true, and let the runes do the rest."
Rowan nodded, looking up from the arrows. "Hope they work as well as they sound. We've got quite the job ahead of us."
Arthur's expression grew more serious at the mention of the job. It wasn't often only two people took a monster hunting job, but the situation was urgent and the mayor couldn't find anyone else to join. They were hunting something more dangerous, and smart enough to evade being spotted for weeks. They figured it must be hiding in the nearby woods, coming and going during the night.
With a final check of their gear, the two of them set off, walking side by side along the narrow trail that led away from the town. The road was quiet, the trees lining the path still and silent. As they moved farther from the village, the air felt different, charged, somehow. It was as if the land itself was waiting, watching.
Rowan led the way, his eyes scanning the trees as he walked. His experience in the wild was clear; his movements were fluid, his posture alert. Arthur followed, but his thoughts were on the task at hand. The landscape was unfamiliar, but the danger they were walking into felt very real. He kept his focus sharp, his senses heightened, despite the unsettling quiet that hung in the air.
For hours, they moved in silence, the only sounds were the crunch of their boots on the forest floor and the occasional rustle of the wind through the leaves. The trees grew denser the deeper they went, but there was no sign of wildlife. No birds, no rustling underbrush. Just the eerie silence that seemed to envelop everything around them.
Finally, Arthur spotted something, a long, deep slash mark on the side of a tree. He motioned for Rowan to stop and crouched down to inspect it. The marks were recent, sharp, and jagged, as though something large and powerful had passed through.
"This is fresh," Arthur said, his voice low but clear. "Something big came through here."
Rowan glanced at the marks, his expression hardening. "Think it's the monster we're after?"
Arthur nodded, standing up and scanning the trees around them. "Gotta be. Let's keep moving but stay alert."
They pressed on, moving through the forest with careful steps. Every few yards, they found more signs, broken branches high up in the trees, faint blood trails that had already started to freeze, and more deep scratches on bark. Something large had been here, and it wasn't in a hurry. It was deliberate, moving with purpose.
As they neared the edge of a clearing, the path grew more rugged, leading up to a steep cliffside. Arthur raised his hand to signal for them to stop. This was as good a place as any to set up camp. The firelight would give them some warmth, and the cliffside would give them a good view of the surrounding area.
They worked quickly, gathering firewood and setting up their camp. Rowan kept an eye on the perimeter while Arthur prepared their small fire. They didn't want it to attract attention, so they kept the flames low, just enough to provide light and warmth without drawing unwanted eyes.
The area felt wrong, though. Even with the fire crackling between them, the silence pressed in around them. No birds, no small animals scurrying through the underbrush. Even the trees seemed too still. It was unsettling.
"I'll take the first watch," Rowan said after a while, his voice breaking the silence.
Arthur looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "You sure? You haven't had much rest."
Rowan gave him a faint smile, though his eyes remained sharp and watchful. "I'm fine. You need it more than I do."
Arthur didn't argue. The silence of the forest was heavy, and despite his fatigue, his mind wouldn't quiet. He knew Rowan could handle the watch. So, instead of arguing, Arthur settled down near the fire, his sword within arm's reach, and closed his eyes, though sleep felt elusive.
Rowan took his place by the fire, sitting cross-legged with his back to the flames, his bow resting across his knees. His green eyes never stopped moving, darting from shadow to shadow, scanning every movement in the distance. He looked relaxed, but Arthur knew better. Rowan was always alert, always on guard.
Arthur's thoughts drifted for a moment, but the nagging feeling of unease never left. Something was wrong. He wasn't sure what it was, but the forest felt like it was holding its breath. Every creak of the trees, every snap of a twig, felt magnified. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them.
Rowan's voice broke through his thoughts. "I'll wake you if anything happens."
Arthur nodded, though he wasn't sure if he'd be able to sleep. The silence weighed on him, the stillness of the night pressing down like a thick blanket. He shifted slightly, keeping his hand close to his sword, his senses stretched tight.
For what felt like hours, Arthur remained restless, though his body was desperate for sleep. The fire flickered low, casting long shadows around them. The darkness outside the ring of light seemed to stretch on endlessly, and still, there was nothing. No movement. No sign of danger.
Arthur's fingers instinctively brushed the amulet at his chest. It was warm, no, hot. The heat surged through him suddenly, enough to sting his skin. His heart skipped a beat. Something's coming.
"Rowan, get ready!" Arthur said, his voice tight.
The ground trembled faintly beneath them, and before either of them could react, the air shifted with the sound of massive wings. A deafening whoosh filled the air, and something shadowed the light. The monster, some sort of giant Insectoid, was upon them.
Arthur's arm snapped up, the shield on his forearm catching the first strike as the beast descended from the sky with terrifying speed. The force of the impact rattled his bones, but the shield held, glowing faintly with the protection of the Aegis rune. The monster's massive claws scraped along the surface, testing for weakness. Arthur pushed back, his arm straining under the weight of the creature.
Rowan was already moving, but the creature's sheer size and speed kept him at bay. He quickly nocked an arrow and called out, "I've heard of these, it's called a Blightwing!" But before he could take aim, the blasted thing screeched—a high-pitched, unnerving sound that made the air feel thick, like it was suffocating them both.
Arthur gritted his teeth, trying to focus through the disorienting noise. His head was pounding, and for a moment, his vision blurred, barely able to keep his balance. The creature's call wasn't just a screech, it was a weapon, disorienting them both.
"Rowan! What's happening?" Arthur shouted, trying to steady himself.
"I don't know," Rowan said through clenched teeth, forcing his senses back into focus. "Keep moving!"
The Blightwing screeched again and took to the air. It flapped its wings with violent force, sending debris flying toward them in a deadly barrage.
Arthur twisted his body to the side, raising his shield once more. The shield absorbed most of the blows, but the force of the wind sent him stumbling. His boots and Thaelios runes tried to anchor him as he struggled to stay grounded, but the wind was relentless, pushing him back toward the edge of the campsite.
Rowan, on the other hand, was already moving, his bow drawn and an arrow speeding toward the Blightwing's glowing eyes. It barely grazed the creature before it veered away, swift as lightning. The Blightwing wasn't just quick, it was cunning.
Arthur's pulse raced. He had to think fast. The beast was circling, looking for another angle of attack. It was hunting them, testing their defenses.
Then, the creature's abdomen shimmered as it shifted, and to Arthur's horror, he saw its body split open, revealing a mass of smaller insect-like creatures crawling out of it.
The swarm poured from the Blightwing's body, swarming in all directions. Their dark bodies glistened in the firelight, and their sharp, chitinous legs clicked ominously as they scuttled toward the two mercenaries. Arthur's breath caught in his throat.
"Get behind me!" Arthur shouted, his eyes widening as the first wave of parasites came at him.
Rowan was quick, loosing a series of arrows in an attempt to try to thin the swarm as he moved, but it was clear they were too many.
Arthur acted instinctively. His gauntlet's claws flared as the Igni and Zephyros combo activated, the flames spitting from them in a sudden, fiery burst. He aimed the gauntlet at the swarm, and the flames surged forward in a roaring jet of fire. The insects caught fire almost instantly, disintegrating into ash before they could reach him.
But the Blightwing wasn't done. It gave another deafening screech and took to the air once more.
The creature launched itself toward Arthur, its wings flapping wildly to build momentum. Arthur barely had time to react as the Blightwing came crashing down. The impact sent him stumbling back, but his shield held firm. He could feel the creature's claws raking across the shield, trying to find a way through.
"Arthur!" Rowan shouted, his voice urgent. He fired another arrow, wind swiveled around the arrow as it embedded itself into one of the beast's eyes.
The Blightwing's single remaining eye glowed brighter now, a malicious fury gleaming in its gaze. Arthur's heart hammered in his chest. The creature wasn't just going to let that go.
Rowan dashed forward, drawing his dagger and slashing at the Blightwing's exposed underbelly. The creature hissed in pain but retaliated with a flurry of venom from its mouth.
A stream of acidic liquid shot toward them, spraying toward the duo. Arthur barely managed to block it for Rowan with his shield, but the acid hissed against the surface, slowly eating away at it. The Aegis rune flared with protective light, but it wasn't enough to stop the acid from slightly corroding the shield's surface.
The Blightwing surged forward again, determined to break through. This time, it aimed for Arthur directly. But Rowan's quick thinking saved them. He dove in, drawing the creature's attention with a well-aimed shot that pierced one of its wings. The Blightwing let out an enraged shriek as it veered off course, giving Arthur the opening he needed.
With a fierce roar, Arthur lunged forward. His sword was already in hand, the blade glowing with the fire of Igni. He slashed across the creature's side, the flames catching its exoskeleton. The Blightwing shrieked again, the heat of the flames burning through its tough shell.
Arthur didn't give it a chance to recover. He swung again, this time targeting its head, driving the sword deep into the creature's skull. The Blightwing twitched violently, its wings flapping once more in a final attempt to escape. But with a last screech of agony, it collapsed to the ground, its body twitching before going still.
Arthur stood over the creature's lifeless body, panting heavily. His gauntlet and shield were scorched, but he was alive.
Rowan, panting beside him, nodded toward the Blightwing's remains. "What a fucking monster."
Arthur wiped the sweat from his brow. "A damn nightmare it was. And we're lucky we survived it." The battle had drained him, but there was no time to rest. The Blightwing's massive body lay in front of them, a twisted heap of blood and carapace. The creature had nearly taken them both, but now it was their turn to take something from it.
Rowan was already at work, his knife cutting through the Blightwing's thick hide with practiced precision. "Sharp enough to cut through stone, this thing," he muttered, running a hand over the serrated edges of the creature's forelegs. "We should be able to make something useful out of it."
Arthur nodded absently, his attention fixed on the creature's head. Its mandibles were jagged and lethal, but its real strength lay in its forelimbs. He moved toward them, grabbing one of the blades and feeling the weight in his hands.
"I'll harvest the armblades," Arthur said, looking over at Rowan. "You take some of the carapace. It's tough enough for armor or tools."
Rowan didn't argue. The parts of the Blightwing would fetch a high price, or they could be put to more practical use. The two worked in tandem, slicing off the Blightwing's limbs with careful precision. The first armblade came free with a satisfying snap, its sharp edge gleaming in the torchlight. Arthur moved on to the next, while Rowan began stripping away the creature's carapace.
Minutes passed, and the work continued in silence, their hands moving with practiced precision. The forest around them felt oppressive, the shadows flickering in the torchlight, and the wind carried the faint scent of blood. Despite the tiring battle they had faced, they worked quickly, carving the Blightwing into useful pieces.
Finally, Arthur gave a grunt of satisfaction as he severed the last bladed part of the creature's body, coming free with a sharp crack. "That's the last of them. Now let's get the head and get out of here."
Rowan wiped the sweat from his brow and crouched beside the Blightwing's massive head. With a few sharp strikes, he severed it, the gruesome task done with practiced efficiency. He hefted the head, inspecting it briefly before nodding to Arthur. "We'll need this to prove we took it down," he said, his voice grim. "Should bring some peace of mind to the village."
Arthur wiped his hands on his trousers, glancing at the pile of Blightwing parts. "Aye, we should move before we are unlucky enough for something else to show up."
They gathered the spoils, loading up the armblades and carapace into their bags. They'd make good use of it. Arthur had already decided he'd forge Rowan something new from it. The sharpness of the armblades could make a great weapon, and the carapace could form solid armor.
After some time, they reached the Blightwing's nest, a twisted tangle of broken branches, shredded foliage, and rotting remains. The stench hit them before they even saw it, an overwhelming mix of blood and decay. Arthur's gaze swept across the scene, his eyes narrowing. The remains of several cattle lay scattered around the nest, their bodies picked clean and only their bones left behind. Flies buzzed around the carcasses, a sign of how long the creatures had been here.
But what caught Arthur's attention wasn't just the livestock. It was the body lying in the center of the nest, partially hidden beneath a mound of shredded leaves. Rowan's face tightened as he approached it cautiously.
"That must be the missing farmer," Rowan said, his voice tight. Arthur didn't need to confirm it. The body was too mangled to identify at first glance, but the clothes were familiar. The torn remnants of the missing person's clothing were enough to tell them this was the person they'd been looking for.
The sight of the person's remains sent a chill through Arthur. It was clear that the Blightwing hadn't just killed the man for food, it had toyed with him, and the brutal nature of their death made the situation even worse.
"We should report this to the mayor," Arthur said, his voice low. "The townsfolk need to know it's over."
Rowan nodded, his hand tightening on the hilt of his knife. "Let's make sure nothing else comes sniffing around before we leave."
They moved through the nest carefully, stepping over the remains of the cattle. The forest felt unnaturally quiet as they searched for any signs of other creatures. The Blightwing's nest felt suffocating, a reminder of the deadly predator that had been stalking the town.
After a tense few moments, Arthur gave a small nod. "Nothing else. Let's go."
Rowan glanced around one last time before turning back to the path. The air was thick with the stench of death, and the journey back to the village felt even longer now. The Blightwing was dead, its terror at an end.
As the two of them made their way back to town, the forest seemed quieter. The shadows weren't as menacing anymore, and the stench of the creature's death hung in the air, almost comforting in its finality.