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At the City Gates
"He's here. I know it," a figure clad in a silver cloak whispered, standing atop the towering walls of the bustling city. The wind tugged at the edges of the cloak, revealing hints of a black mask beneath it.
"Who are you? Identify yourself now!" A guard patrolling the wall caught sight of the figure. His voice was sharp, cutting through the stillness of the night.
The figure remained silent, unmoving.
"State your business, now!" the guard commanded again, his voice growing firmer as footsteps approached.
Within moments, more guards gathered. Magic rifles gleamed in their hands, humming with an eerie light as they surrounded the intruder. The air grew tense, their weapons aimed directly at the mysterious figure.
The cloaked figure sighed, the sound laced with disdain. "Humans," it muttered under its breath, its voice muffled by the mask.
One of the guards, perhaps braver than the rest, took a step forward. "Enough games! By the authority of the city, surrender now, or—"
The figure tilted its head ever so slightly, cutting him off with a single, unimpressed gesture.
Provoked by the gesture, the guards fired. Magic bullets streaked through the air, but as they neared the figure, they dissipated harmlessly against an invisible barrier. Sparks of energy flickered and died, leaving the figure unharmed.
"Such feeble creatures," the figure said, disappointment heavy in its tone.
With a blur of motion, the figure moved. Before the guards could react, they fell one by one. Blades sang through the air, and muffled cries escaped their lips as their bodies crumpled to the ground.
"Now I have to find him," the figure murmured, leaping effortlessly from the walls into the shadows of the city below.
---
Inside the Dungeon
Darian gripped his sword tightly as he stood in the dimly lit cavern. The air was thick with the stench of damp earth and blood, and the ground beneath him was littered with bones. Before him stood a horde of beasts—hulking minotaurs with blood-red eyes and crude weapons clutched in their massive hands.
His lips curled into a grin. "Come on. Let's see what you've got," he muttered, his voice low and laced with anticipation.
One of the minotaurs stepped forward, snorting angrily. Its hooves thundered against the ground as it charged, swinging a jagged axe the size of a human torso.
"Looks like you'll be the first to fall," Darian said, leaping into the air. His sword gleamed in the faint light as he swung it in a wide arc, releasing a wave of energy that slammed into the charging beast.
The minotaur roared in pain as the attack tore through its chest, sending it crashing to the ground. But it wasn't dead. Slowly, it rose, blood dripping from its wounds, its rage burning brighter.
Darian landed gracefully, his feet barely touching the ground before he moved again. The minotaur swung its axe in a wide arc, but Darian was faster. He ducked, twisted, and brought his blade up to meet the monster's weapon.
CLANG!
The clash of metal echoed through the cavern, the force of the impact sending a gust of wind rippling outward. Darian smirked, twisting his sword to disarm the beast. Its axe clattered to the ground, and for a moment, the minotaur froze, staring at its empty hands in disbelief.
"Too slow," Darian taunted, driving his blade through the creature's forehead.
The minotaur collapsed, lifeless, its massive body hitting the ground with a dull thud.
The rest of the horde hesitated. Their red eyes flickered with uncertainty as they watched their comrade fall. But their hesitation didn't last long. With a collective roar, they charged, their fury overriding their fear.
"Finally," Darian said, his grin widening. His muscles tensed, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he met their charge head-on.
Steel met flesh, and the cavern filled with the sounds of battle. Darian was a whirlwind of motion, his blade flashing as he cut down one beast after another. Blood sprayed across the walls, and the ground grew slick with the bodies of the fallen.
Each kill sent a thrill through him. His senses sharpened, his movements grew faster, and his strikes hit harder. There was something primal awakening within him—something dark and powerful.
The beasts fought with unrelenting ferocity, but they were no match for him. He ducked beneath their wild swings, sidestepped their clumsy charges, and countered with precision. Three more fell, their bodies torn apart by his relentless onslaught.
Darian laughed, the sound echoing through the cavern like a sinister melody. The beasts faltered, their rage giving way to fear as they felt the sheer weight of his bloodlust.
"Is this it?" he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "I expected more."
But even as he mocked them, Darian could feel the change within himself. Scales began to emerge on his skin, their black sheen glinting in the dim light. His claws lengthened, and his teeth sharpened into fangs.
The beasts took a step back, their once unshakable courage crumbling under the oppressive aura radiating from him.
"Run," one of them growled, its voice trembling with terror.
But it was too late. Darian lunged forward, cutting off their escape. His sword moved with inhuman speed, slicing through flesh and bone as he brought them down one by one.
Their cries echoed through the cavern, a symphony of despair and agony. Darian showed no mercy, his grin widening with every kill. He was lost in the thrill of the hunt, the rush of power that surged through him with every drop of blood spilled.
When the last of the beasts fell, the cavern grew silent. Darian stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving as he surveyed the aftermath. Blood dripped from his sword, pooling around his feet.
And yet, he wasn't satisfied.
The scales on his skin began to retract, his claws and fangs shrinking as he regained his human form. But the hunger lingered, a dark craving that refused to be sated.
He glanced deeper into the dungeon, where shadows stretched endlessly into the unknown. The beasts hadn't run until the very last moment, even when they had the chance. Something had held them here—something powerful.
Darian's grin returned, a twisted mix of curiosity and anticipation. Whatever lay ahead, he couldn't wait to face it.
With his sword in hand, he ventured deeper into the darkness, the faint echo of his footsteps the only sound in the vast, empty cavern.
"Let's see what else this place has to offer," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the distant drip of water.
The dungeon welcomed him with its silence, as if it, too, was waiting to see what he would do next.