Everyone in the village gathered and was preparing to leave for the forest. Ryuji also went to them to wish them luck, but he could see on their faces that they were scared. It was not something that happened before and they knew they had to do something about it for their families.
*Chattering*
(Itsuki Toya) - Ready, everyone?
(Villagers) - Yes!
(Mitoshi Fugaku) - I wish you luck and a safe return.
(Itsuki Toya) - Thank you!
Toya noticed Ryuji staying aside from the crowd. He came to him and told him that everything will be fine. But for some reason, Ryuji could not believe him, because he have seen what the creature is capable of.
As they were leaving the village, the more they advanced towards the forest, the worse the weather got. The wind was blowing from the forest as if the forest did not want them to enter. The rain started pouring. The sky was trying to tell them to leave with thunders, but everything was in vain. The villagers were stubborn and focused on what they had to do.
They reached the forest and witnessed the horrifying picture of their people slaughtered. Some of the villagers got so scared that they passed out, and some even ran away, abandoning their cause. And the rest they started to question if this was the right choice.
The more time passed, the deeper they went into the forest. And as they were walking they saw a lot of trees fallen, but they were Fenbogs, not any normal trees. They fought with the creature and lost. Ryuji's uncle saw the cottage and went in. In the cottage, there were a lot of papers and maps, left behind by Ryuji when he left.
Ryuji was waiting at the village entrance from the forest, hoping that they would return and not encounter the creature. And as he was waiting, some villagers appear in sight.
*Step*
*Step*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - What happened with the rest?
(Villager) - They continued, but we could not, it was terrifying.
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Did anything happen?
(Villager) - No, not while we were there, but we don't know afterward.
*Step*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I have to go.
And Ryuji got up and left towards the forest. He could not just stay idle and wait for everyone to perish.
As he was walking towards the forest, he started feeling dizzy and hearing the same voice repeatedly.
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Awaken. . .
My poor child. . .
Ryuji fell to his knees and started crying.
Why? Why does this have to happen now? Let me do something about it!
He was arguing with himself but in vain. He was not able to move. And then a malicious voice told him what he truly wanted to hear.
Power. . . All you need is power. I can offer you the power. . . Come. . . Come to me, my poor child. . .
Everything felt familiar, every word, the intonation, everything. It was the same voice that Ryuji tried to resist and not give in to after his father's injury. But this time was different, Ryuji felt powerless and needed this so-called power more than anything. As the two voices were fighting in Ryuji's head, a familiar pat on the shoulder brought Ryuji back to reality. It was Olaf. He returned to the village, but not alone this time. Olaf was aware of the dangers of the forest, and he went to seek help, not abandoning what he truly came for.
(Hitashi Olaf) - Come, I heard from the villagers what happened and I came to help you.
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Thank you!
*Sigh*
(Hitashi Olaf) - Don't worry, we will help you.
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - We?
(Hitashi Olaf) - I lied about going back home. Truth is, I went to seek help from others.
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I - I - I don't know what to say.
(Hitashi Olaf) - Keep your word for later, now we have to rescue everyone that is currently in the forest.
(Hitashi Olaf) - I left the rest in the village to protect it.
*Step*
*Step*
As they were walking towards the forest Olaf told Ryuji about the people he brought to help the village. One of them was a young skilled Paladin, more skilled than Olaf was at his age. One was an elf Archer, that served as a guard on many occasions. And one was a renowned Mage, who knew at least 100 other mages.
Ryuji with a trembling voice, asked Olaf if they were enough to defend the village against the creature in the forest. But what Olaf did not know was that the threat was not the trees it was something else, much stronger, much bigger, and even more bloodthirsty.
As they entered the forest, Ryuji started telling Olaf about Raiden and the curse. Olaf was shocked to hear such things, and as Ryuji went on, Olaf realized that the situation they were in it was far more dangerous. Earthquakes and yelling made the forest agitated, but there was no more howling, which meant every Fenbog was gone from the forest.
The other villagers were at the border between the forest and the dark side of it, but they did not know such a thing and they continued in search of the creature. Ryuji and Olaf were not so far behind, but they did not know where to go.
*Rocks falling*
*Loud thud*
*Shake*
*Loud thud*
A walking mountain appeared before the villagers. There was nothing they could do. Everyone froze, they were speechless. And as they were witnessing such a horrifying creature walking around, Ryuji and Olaf catch up with them.
(Hitashi Olaf) - It can't be.
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - What? What is it?
(Hitashi Olaf) - A rock Elemental.
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Elemental? What is that?
(Hitashi Olaf) - An elemental is nature taking the shape of a creature. In other words, a creature is made from a single or multiple elements.
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - That means there are more out there?
(Hitashi Olaf) - Most likely.
(Hitashi Olaf) - We need to get everyone out of here.
But the villagers did not know what a fearsome creature an Elemental is, and some started to charge in. The Elemental turned around and one by one he eliminated the villagers. The others started running and yelling. As we were running away from the creature, earthquakes started to happen, trees were falling blocking our way, and more and more villagers were dying from the Elemental.
Only a few of us were lucky to make it out alive. And as we were approaching the village, we did not expect that the Elemental will follow us out of the forest. But when Ryuji took a look behind, the Elemental was crawling out of the forest.