In the distance, chaotic shouting filled the air. Nestled between two hills, a cluster of roughly twenty wagons formed a makeshift circle of defence. Within the circle, farmers scrambled to arm themselves with tools meant for tilling the land rather than combat. Once armed, the tips of their forks and scythes were aimed between the gaps of the bulky wagons, ready to confront the dark shapes hurtling through the rippling grass beyond.
“What are those things?”
They bore the grotesque resemblance of youngling humans, their innocent faces twisted into pig-like snouts. Yet their intentions were clear and wicked — to kill, eat and repeat.
Alec's crystalline amber eyes glimmered with purpose as he followed the approach of strange creatures, their scent of death left in their wake. Alec sprinted as fast as he could, every stride empowered by the pulsating green gem in his clenched fist.
Within moments, Alec reached three of the creatures that had flanked the caravan. But Alec was quicker. Empowered by the gem, a surge of energy coursed through him as he sprang into action. His stony foot crushed the skull of the first creature, its head exploding like a shattered pumpkin, splattering crimson gore across the bronze field. Without missing a beat, Alec continued his swift assault.
Turning his attention to the next two creatures who ran side by side, Alec bounded between them, simultaneously using the back of his hands to swat them aside with all his might. Their spines twisted, and they sprawled and wheezed, clutching at their shattered ribs.
Amidst the clash of wooden tools against the ferocious horde, Alec quickened his steps, ensuring the precious crystals held firmly in his hands were safe. Meanwhile, the pig-like creatures clambered over the wagons, tearing at their contents, while terrified women and children screamed.
Alec's gaze fell upon an old man who valiantly fended off one monster but appeared fatigued. Renewed determination surged through Alec as he leaped into the fray, elbowing the monster who had engaged the old man. The elderly fighter looked at Alec with surprise, then swiftly turned his attention to another creature that had pounced on a nearby woman, gnawing at the back of her neck as she lay defenceless.
The old man managed to kick the piglet off the woman, who, though shaken, remained unharmed. Grateful, she turned and handed the old man a green book. Alec's eyes widened in shock at the sight of it. The old man clutched the book tightly, desperately attempting to shield its contents from the relentless monsters. The woman scrambled behind him, and for the first time, looked up at Alec.
Just as Alec raised his gaze, a piglet leaped at him from atop one wagon. Reacting swiftly, he stepped back and crushed the stumbling creature underfoot. Another piglet emerged from between the wagons, ready to lunge at Alec, when a voice cut through the chaos.
"Snap."
An odd expression twisted the creature's face as a frosty mist billowed from its eye sockets. It then stumbled and collapsed to the ground lifeless, its skull and brain frozen in an instant.
Alec spun around and saw the old man, his green book open, his hand firmly planted on a page. Drawing a ragged breath, the man swaggered as he fixed his gaze on the next target.
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With the creatures caught off guard, the farmers, backed by Alec's stone-like presence, defended the wagons with renewed hope. Despite a few injuries, their combined might force the ravenous creature's back.
Just as Alec thought it was over, a shrill voice echoed from over the hills.
“Is that?” he asked.
In a single bound, Alec leaped over the nearest wagon and sprinted up the hill. On top of the second hill stood a massive, grey-skinned creature with lifeless eyes.
His heart sank as he spotted it, the familiar accursed vibrations it made in the earth with each step. Two humans, with their backs to him, scrambled away in panic as the towering beast closed in. Above them, a tiny black bird dive-bombed the Reaper, slashing at its arm. The blade passed through the grey flesh, severing the limb at the elbow. The creature simply bent down, reattached the ligament, and continued its relentless pursuit, focused on the two helpless humans.
Alec couldn’t allow this creature to survive. It had to be destroyed then and there, in case it reproduces and unleashes another catastrophe upon them all. Ignoring his own safety, he raced towards the humans, dropping the two crystals from his grasp, allowing them to roll harmlessly down the hill as he ran. Just as the monster was about to snatch up its defenceless victims, Alec intercepted it, bearing the full force of its weight.
Alec struggled beneath the creature's immense bulk. When he stared up into its gaping maw, he knew it was futile. Its mouth opened wider than he thought possible and in a split second, darkness consumed him. The monster had lunged and swallowed him whole.
Panic surged in his mind, and he kicked and punched in every direction in desperation. A few times, he managed to pierce the creature's stomach, but the holes closed almost instantly. It kept regenerating, while the stomach acid splashed against his stony form, sizzling on impact.
The acid in its stomach was empowered by some kind of accursed magic. And Alec knew It wouldn’t be long before it would get to his heart stone. He was running out of time. Focusing his mind as best he could, he attuned his core to the unnatural vibrations of the creature. He had to locate its source.
"Focus," he muttered to himself, gritting his stone teeth against the burning acid. His crystalline eyes burned with intensity as he focused in on the minute changes in pressure within its body.
“There!” he shouted.
Just at that moment, a faint blue glow appeared above him, slicing open an escape route. Alec seized the opportunity and leaped. Yet only the top half of his torso emerged from the opening before it closed around him. Making a split-second decision, he severed the connection with his heart stone and left his stony legs behind to crumble.
With a loud thud, Alec hit the ground, groaning under the weight of the monster. It loomed above him, its greedy black eyes hungry. Acid burned through Alec's stony body as he grimaced.
Kraid, witnessing Alec's struggle, swung his cobalt blade with all his might, but it cracked and shattered upon impact. The cursed creature's acidic had melted the blade.
Just when Alec believed they were out of options, a strained gurgling noise emanated from behind one human. Alec turned just in time to witness a teardrop-shaped crystal spring to life with a green gem pressed against the opening of the heart stone chamber. Within it, snugly nestled, was the clear crystal heart stone of a youngling.
A flood flowed from the teardrop, swirling into a spherical form as the woman stepped back, with surprise on her face. The youngling twisted and churned, swiftly forming limbs out of the flow of water.
The monstrous creature fixated its gaze on the new arrival and lunged. Harnessing its newfound power, the youngling summoned a vast torrent of water.
It surged uncontrollably, unable to be contained, directed solely at the beast. With tremendous pressure, the water ripped away chunks of the creature's flesh, revealing the black gem it had swallowed.
Alec rolled across the ground toward the gem, determined to reach it before the monster. The water cascaded over him, dousing the corrosive acid, bringing immediate relief. With frantic hands, he pulled himself closer to the black gem, enduring the immense pressure from the Elementlet's core. Rocks flew from his limbs as he stretched to grasp the gem in his hand.
With a feeling of triumph, he mustered all his remaining strength and squeezed.
A powerful explosion erupted from the black gem, flooding the valley with blinding light.