The chaos In the bar-'Midnight Rhapsody', was palpable. Long gone were the chairs and tables that once adorned the bar.
The establishment ,once a place of beauty, with an atmosphere of serenity, had dissolved; the very atmosphere churned into one filled with horror and screams.
These emotions intensified as they felt movement on the roof of the bar. It seemed the other dungeon had released its own batch of monsters.The spiders thick legs poking through the steel like ceiling like knife through butter-as they frantically scrambled to their kin; which were being mercilessly slaughtered by the awakends outside the bar.
As If kicking off a movie into motion, the spider on the front bar, began its descent-albiet slowly. taking pleasure in the fear oozing out of these weak folks as they stood paralysed by its sheer aura; savouring the fear in these ordinary folk as it's gaze moved- scanning through the crowd.
Until it disappeared from their line of sight.
Although not for long as a scream rang out immediately after
"AHHH-Fuck..get...get away from me you monster!"
The monster payed him no heed though, easily digging its legs into him and webbing him entirely in thick gooey webs-before slurping him up.
The sheer horror witnessed, immediately sent some weak hearted ones straight into a coma.
The scene seemed to jolt others from their fear. The fear of death moving them to smashing each other, with the aim of reaching the exit faster.
The monster payed them no heed. It stood once more; seemingly amused, before joining the fun- Chaos erupted as citizens fled in terror. Screams filled the air, mingling with the clash of steel, as some armed individuals took it upon themselves to take down this creature even if it meant dying themselves. Perhaps they felt they were the main character or something in some novel; as the possibility of killing an awakened mosnster, as a normal human was impossible!
'pathetic- throwing their lives for nothing'. Ray thought as he observed with a brief glance.
He had almost made it to the door anyway -or what ever was left of it at this point.
Suddenly the spider landed in front of the bar. It's sheer weight splattering the unlucky ones.
The monster, had moved with such speed and calculation that it arrived before they could even react.
A group of 'noble heroes' immediately attacked - recovering from the shock as they swung their steel knives at the body of the spider.
It seemed the previous lesson it had taught to the others who tried to do something like this, had gone unnoticed due to all the chaos it had caused.
The monster moved with fluid grace not even bothering to defend; these weapons wouldn't harm it anyways. It moved it's limbs; slashing through weak and unarmed civilians as it advanced mercilessly.
A father stood defiantly before his family, gripping a crude sword as his wife and children cowered behind him, "Run!" he shouted, his voice shaking but resolute. He charged at the spider,who watched in amusement at his effort.
- Before swallowing the man in a 'sea of web' and gulping him whole- right in front of his kids.
'At least the kids won't worry about having a stupid father anymore' Ray thought as he frantically looked for a way to get the hell out of here.
The situation outside was not looking good!
The awakeneds had been drawn into a stalemate-which would soon be broken as more spiders arrived to help their fallen commardes.
An unexpected help would make or break this situation right now.
Sadly, there was no reinforcement In sight.
Or was there....
"Enough!"
"You creature of hell, be banished!"
A loud shout sounded before a heavy gust of wind blew the spider, completely destroying the walls of this bar before carrying the mangled body towards where its comrades were. Instantly, shrieks of horror were heard from the spiders as they gazed upon their injured kin.
All it took was one attack..
'Monster!'
Ray thought, gazing upon the figure that had arrived.
Adorning a staff with a big wizard cap, while levitating with the wind element.
Their saviour had been none other than the bartender - or the blabbering old man in Ray's description.
He gazed upon the crowd- a subtle smirk adorning his lips as he could see the looks of relief coming from them all. The grin on his face abruptly changed though ,as he saw the dead; sprawled on the floor - the ones who had taken it upon themselves to rid this world form "necessary evil".
"Damn monsters!
All of you leave!"
The man scowled, shooing everyone off before shooting himself off into the sky with his element the sheer force of the wind, completely obliterating the ceiling. Allowing some much needed sunlight to calm the mind.
The old man moved-going to join the awakends struggling with the new influx of monsters.
'shit! You don't have to tell me twice!'
Ray thought. And no sooner had the thought been processed before he bolted out the door.
"Finally escaped that hell hole"
Ray could see the fierce winds in the distance as he sped through the now empty street.
'From a bitchy woman, to getting almost killed today;what did I miss' Ray thought as an exasperated sigh escaped his lips.
At this point, he had made it far away- although some faint shimmers and misdirected wind blades made loud noises and caused deep gashes on the ground .
"If those spiders don't kill those people left in the bar, the loose wind blades definetly will". Ray chuckled passing by an alleyway, where a faint scream he heard made him freeze in his tracks.
"Somebody help!!"
'huh? what was that'
"Help!!"
This time a bit clearer, Ray could make out the voice of a woman.
'what? am I imagining things?'. Ray thought
Skidding to a halt.
Wouldn't hurt to check though
He concluded.
Quickly approaching the alleyway he had previously passed before. Although dark, he could quickly make out the structures of six to seven burly men- all towering over a seemingly defenceless woman who has sprawled on the floor; her hands clutching her knees in a defensive manner.
"Hey shitfucks! What do you think you're doing!". His shout and brazziness shifting the attention of the men towards him, providing him their full attention.
Now Ray was able to make out their structures properly-and a...and a weapon?
'shit'
'too late to back off now ' . Ray thought
He had gotten himself into this situation,and noe he had to find his way out. Although, on the outside and with the somewhat dim environment, he hoped they won't be able to make out his face - incase he wanted to book it.
As the worst thing he did was bump and meddle into the affairs of a gang. It was common knowledge that most people, while not being able to awaken would struggle, live a bit , suffer, and then die off.
But that....was the conventional means.
Why struggle and die average when you can become one with a gang- normal humans with enough wealth and influence to posses some awkeneds as lackeys.
Why would the gifted, beings of power join gangs?
Was it for pleasure?
For the money?
No one freaking knew!
And now, Ray had done the unthinkable- directly challenging them! He even dared call them shitfucks!'
The audacity!
The balls!
"Grab him"
Two words were all he heard and it took, before Ray found himself on the ground. How the hell it happened, he had no idea. But one thing he did have an idea on though, was how he got in this situation in the first place!
His fucking dumbass!
"You know kid, you shouldn't really meddle in gang affairs..you know that much right?" A blonde haired man, who Ray assumed to be the leader spoke. Before a swift punch connected with Ray's face.
Shattering his teeth- causing a few to fly off into the distance. Blood pouring from his lips.
"He's still young, let's give him a light lesson boys!" The blonde haired man said, as two burly men held Ray by his arms. Forcing his face up to the blonde haired man- who signalled to the rest of the group to teach Ray a lesson.
After 5 minutes of constant beatings, they suddenly stopped to take a break and assess the situation. Ray had 2 broken ribs and many bruises all over his body. The blonde haired man, seemingly unsatisfied grabbed one of Ray's fingers and broke it. Ray let out a loud scream as he could no longer feel his finger
"It looks like I might have to take a different approach." The blonde haired man smiled...his smile as twisted as his nature.
'The blonde psycho' as Ray had nicknamed him,ended up breaking every single one of Ray's fingers. And Ray couldn't even struggle, the men holding him, not planning on budging one bit!
Ray thought it couldn't get anymore worse than that right?
'he did say he was going to let him off easy ' Ray could only hope at this point.
Until the blonde dude took a knife from one of his lackey.
'A knife?...wh..wha..'
"AAAAHHHHHHHHH!" A shrill scream reverberated as Ray writhed and twisted! Fiercely trying to break free.
This blonde fucker!
He pulled out a knife and ripped out one of Ray's nails! Although he can no longer feel his fingers, the pain still remained. Ray let out a sharp scream even louder than ever before. Before he knew it, all his fingernails were gone.
When Ray's last fingernail was torn, he thought that it would be the end of the torture.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he felt the arms holding him loosening up. Finally allowing him a moment of peace.
Until he felt hands running through his pockets!
'After this torture, they dare still try and extort me?' Ray bellowed inwardly. His breath heavy and laden, with his consciousness drifting..
"Tsk he's broke only ten bronze coins" a sharp gingerly and womanly voice resounded.
One that snapped Ray into consciousness despite the pain he was feeling.
After all, it was a voice he recognised- the same one that was calling out; no! Screaming! in this very alleyway. The voice of that woman- the 'damsel' in distress.
"Whatever, ten bronze better than nothing I guess" . The woman said, chuckling sadistically as if this was all just a game to her.
Quickly putting two and two together, Ray understood!
He had been played!
'i really deserve death at this point' Ray couldn't help but wallow in self pity. As he gazed at the retreating backs of these eight individuals who had lowkey killed him off. His gaze lingering on the large scorpion tattoo across their arms..
But before he could think further, pain engulfed him, his breathing even more laboured now. It seemed even his lung was punctured. As he embraced his death though,
[Qualifications for the X-Rank Attribute Extraction System has been met]
[Synchronizing with the host]
'what?..what is this?'
Ray couldn't keep his thoughts though, before falling unconscious -or dead?
[Synchronization status:1%]