Emperal stepped into the inn, his gaze narrowing as he spotted Grimblaze sprawled across the floor. The pygmy hippol lay on his back, legs twitching faintly, his round belly rising and falling like a bellows. His snores echoed through the room, so loud they drowned out the muffled conversations from the other patrons.
Without a hint of hesitation, Emperal approached and delivered a sharp kick to the hippol's side.
"WHO? Who dares to wake this daddy up!?" Grimblaze roared, springing upright with a startled look. His ears flopped as he whipped his head around, searching for the offender. When his eyes landed on Emperal, his expression shifted to an awkward grin. "Oh, Boss! It's you. Heh... I wasn't sleeping! I was just, uh... meditating!"
"On your back?" Emperal raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"Of course! That's the Divine Reclining Posture! Only beings of supreme power like myself can master such advanced techniques," Grimblaze declared, puffing out his chest and striking a ridiculous pose.
"Right," Emperal said flatly. "Get up. We've got work to do."
Grimblaze blinked, his dramatic confidence giving way to visible dread. "Work? Oh no. Don't tell me it's manual labor! My glorious physique isn't designed for such mundane activities."
"We're investigating disappearances in the forest," Emperal explained, his tone neutral. "Some merchants have been looted, and elves have gone missing. The village head asked me to look into it."
Grimblaze groaned, dramatically collapsing back onto the floor. "Boss, don't you think I'm too young for such stress? I mean, I've barely finished growing my tail!"
"You're coming. That's not up for debate," Emperal replied. He grabbed the hippol by the tail and began dragging him toward the door.
Grimblaze squirmed and flailed. "Alright, alright! I'll come willingly. But for the record, age does matter, especially when you've got flawless skin like mine!"
…
Once Grimblaze finally stopped complaining, the two set out to prepare for their journey. They stopped by the village square, where Emperal picked out three sharp knives, a compact blade, and a sturdy pair of boots. Grimblaze, on the other hand, made a beeline for a vendor selling dried fruit, snatching up a pouch of mixed slices with far too much enthusiasm.
"Boss, you're wasting your money on all that boring stuff," Grimblaze said, munching on a slice of dried pear. "You should invest in the essentials—like snacks!"
"We're heading into dangerous territory," Emperal replied, testing the balance of one of the knives.
"Exactly! And what if we get stuck out there? Who's going to save us? Snacks, that's who," Grimblaze declared, stuffing another piece of fruit into his mouth.
"Just try to keep up," Emperal said, slinging his pouch over his shoulder.
The sun hung low in the sky as they approached the forest. Towering trees loomed overhead, their thick branches weaving together to form a canopy that dimmed the light.
"Do you think these bandits will have treasure?" Grimblaze asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Maybe," Emperal replied, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Heh, I hope so," Grimblaze muttered, quickening his pace slightly.
…
A low, guttural growl stopped them in their tracks. From the dense underbrush, two sleek, shadowy beasts emerged. Their fur shimmered like oil under the fading light, and their glowing yellow eyes locked onto the pair with predatory intent.
"A Shaldar," Emperal muttered, gripping his blade.
"Shal-what now?" Grimblaze squeaked, his earlier confidence vanishing as the creatures began to circle them. "Boss, I think they're looking at me like I'm their next meal!"
"They're probably just wondering how a talking pig ended up here," Emperal said without missing a beat.
"Hey! I am not a pig! I'm a proud descendant of the—AHHHH!" Grimblaze's protest turned into a high-pitched yelp as one of the Shaldars lunged, sinking its sharp teeth into his rear.
Grimblaze scrambled away, rubbing his sore backside against the ground. "Boss, help me! My delicate behind wasn't made for this!"
"Stop yelling and fight," Emperal said, dodging the other Shaldar's attack with ease. His blade flashed as he countered, the movement swift but restrained. He was deliberately holding back, testing his limits in this new body.
Grimblaze staggered to his feet, his face a mix of fear and irritation. "Fine! Watch this!" He charged the Shaldar, headbutting it with surprising force. The beast yelped as it was sent crashing into a tree.
"See that? This daddy's got moves!" Grimblaze declared, striking a triumphant pose.
"You might want to look behind you," Emperal said with a faint smirk.
Grimblaze barely dodged the second Shaldar's lunge, retaliating with a wild kick. "Take that! Nobody messes with the Great Grimblaze!"
…
After dispatching the Shaldars, Emperal crouched to examine their bodies. His eyes narrowed as he noticed a faint, glowing mark etched into the fur of one of the creatures. It resembled a chained leaf, its faint light pulsating in eerie intervals.
"What's that?" Grimblaze asked, peering over his shoulder.
"A sigil," Emperal replied, tracing the mark with his fingers. "It's not natural. Someone's controlling these creatures."
Grimblaze gulped audibly. "So… there's someone out here turning innocent forest puppies into murder machines?"
"Looks like it," Emperal said, his expression unreadable. "And we're going to find out who."
"Of course we are," Grimblaze muttered, shaking his head. "Why can't we ever have a mission that doesn't involve getting bitten or mauled?"
"Grimblaze, go ahead and search for more cues. I'll join you after some time."
He said his lips were curving evilly.
"Alright Boss" Grimblaze hesitated but eventually trotted off, grumbling under his breath about unfair working conditions.
Emperal crouched over the corpse, his eyes glinting with a primal hunger he could no longer suppress. Without hesitation, he plunged his hand into the beast's chest, the sound of tearing flesh echoing in the silence. He ripped out its still-warm heart, crimson ichor dripping from his fingers.
Bringing it to his lips, he sank his teeth into the quivering organ, the rich, metallic taste flooding his senses. A twisted smile crept across his face as he devoured it, his body surging with newfound strength.
"This one was Cycle One, early stage," he mused darkly, licking the blood from his lips. His eyes burned with a cold, calculating light as he glanced at the glowing sigil etched into the beast's fur. "This world hides more secrets than I expected—and I'll devour every one of them."
Straightening, he wiped his bloodstained hands on the beast's fur, his smile deepening as he turned to rejoin Grimblaze. The faint glow of the sigil lingered in his mind, a whisper of the chaos yet to come.
…
s Emperal and Grimblaze vanished into the forest, a hooded elf emerged from the shadows near the village square. Reaching into his cloak, he pulled out a circular leaf. Its veins pulsed faintly with an unnatural light, casting eerie shadows on his face.
He brought it to his lips and whispered, "Boss, a Blood Elf has appeared in this village."
The veins of the leaf glowed brighter, pulsating like a heartbeat, and a deep, guttural voice resonated from within. "Observe. Do not engage. This one… requires special attention."
The elf nodded, his grip on the leaf tightening as the glow began to fade. But before it could vanish completely, the voice rumbled again, softer this time, yet filled with a sinister weight.
"And if he strays too far… you know what must be done."
The elf's eyes gleamed with cold resolve as he pocketed the leaf and melted back into the shadows, his presence disappearing like smoke in the night. Far away, a faint, unnatural howl echoed from the direction of the forest—a sound that promised danger far greater than bandits.
…