Amidst the moon's gentle glow, Deniz and I crouched behind a thick tree, our eyes fixated on the port's storehouse. The building's concrete walls seemed to stretch towards the heavens, and the subtle creaking of the surrounding trees was our only company in the night.

As we watched, guards patrolled the perimeter of the storehouse with vigilance, their torchlight cutting through the darkness. Our hearts pounded in our chests, matching the rhythm of our hushed breaths.

"There are more guards than I expected," Deniz whispered, his voice barely audible. "We need a window of opportunity."

I nodded, scanning the area for any sign of weakness in their defenses. Then, as if the fates had heard our plea, one of the guards took a sudden left turn, leaving a brief gap in their surveillance. The path to the storehouse's wall looked momentarily clearer.

"This is our chance," I murmured to Deniz, my eyes never leaving the storehouse. "Follow my lead."

Carefully, we emerged from our hiding place and silently approached the storehouse. I helped Deniz to climb up a nearby barrel, which gave him the elevation needed to reach one of the high windows. With his fingertips gripping the window sill, I extended my hand to him, and with a swift, synchronized effort, he pulled me up beside him.

We perched on the narrow windowsill, our breaths held as we observed the interior of the storage room. Rows upon rows of crates and barrels filled the space, their contents hidden from our view.

"The matchlock rifles should be in here somewhere," I whispered to Deniz,

"We need to find them quickly and make our exit."

The scent of wood, metal, and gunpowder filled the air as we crept deeper into the storehouse, mindful of our every step. The guards outside remained oblivious to our presence.

The dimly lit storehouse seemed like a labyrinth of crates and barrels. As we cautiously navigated its depths, I spotted a lantern hanging from a nearby beam. I reached for it and lit the flame, casting a flickering glow that revealed the hidden crates.

Rows of crates stretched before us. Deniz and I exchanged glances. We knew that time was not on our side.

We approached the first crate, its wooden lid heavy. With trembling hands, I pried it open, and to my dismay, it revealed a stash of long rifles. While impressive, they weren't the matchlocks we sought.

We moved on, systematically opening boxes and crates, searching for the matchlocks, gunpowder, and ammunition. My fingers brushed against the rough texture of the ammunition as I carefully collected some in a small pouch. We also couldn't afford to leave behind any evidence of our intrusion.

As our search continued, hope waned. There was no sign of the matchlocks we sought, and the growing realization that we might leave empty-handed began to gnaw at us. But Deniz pointed towards a stack of boxes perched high on a row of shelves. Could our prize be hidden up there?

I knew that reaching the upper rows would be a challenge, but we had come too far to give up now. Climbing the crates, I tried to ascend the shelving unit. However, in my haste, I accidentally dislodged several boxes, sending them crashing to the ground below with a thunderous noise.

Deniz sprang into action, quickly pulling two matchlock rifles from the fallen boxes. Our mission had yielded success, but it had also triggered an unexpected disaster. As we made our way back, the entire row of crates toppled behind us, creating a chaotic mess and blocking our path.

Panic set in as we heard heavy footsteps approaching from the entrance. With no other options, we hastily discarded our lantern and dove behind nearby piles of discarded clothes, with them me and Deniz covered our faces and took positions to see what happens next.

I crouched behind the fallen crates, my breath shallow and my heart pounding in the sudden tension of the moment.

As I watched, an obese but undeniably strong-looking guard entered the storehouse. He waddled through the wreckage, his heavy boots echoing against the cold concrete floor. His beady eyes scanned the disarray, suspicion etched across his face as he tried to make sense of the situation.

Moments later, another guard arrived, then another, leaving Deniz and me in awe of the number of guards stationed in the port. It seemed like an entire brigade had been summoned to deal with the disturbance we had caused. The odds of evading them now felt insurmountable.

Desperation gnawed at me, my mind racing for a way out. I knew we couldn't wait any longer; we had to act fast before more guards arrived. With a trembling hand, I raised one of the stolen matchlock rifles and aimed it at a nearby crate filled with gunpowder. I hesitated for a fraction of a second, knowing the risks of igniting gunpowder in an enclosed space, but it was our only chance.

I pulled the trigger, and the gunshot rang out, shattering the tense silence. However, what followed was beyond our expectations. The explosion that followed was not a mere gunshot; it was a cataclysmic blast that sent shockwaves through the storehouse. The gunpowder crate erupted in flames, and the force of the explosion blew apart the concrete wall, sending debris flying in all directions.

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The deafening roar of the explosion was accompanied by the unmistakable sound of bells ringing frantically outside. Panic spread like wildfire among the guards stationed in the port as they realized the magnitude of the disaster unfolding within the storehouse. It was as if a sleeping giant had been awakened, and the entire port was now in a state of alarm.

Deniz and I huddled behind the fallen crates, our ears ringing from the blast, our hearts heavy with the realization that our daring escapade had not only attracted the attention of the guards but had also put our own lives in peril. We knew that our chances of escaping the port unscathed were dwindling with each passing second.

Without a second thought, I made the split-second decision to rush through the newly created opening. Deniz nodded in agreement.

As we sprinted toward the jagged hole, my heart raced with adrenaline, and we had to reach the cover of the forest before the guards could regroup and close in on us.

But in the midst of our desperate escape, something caught Deniz's eye. It was the glint of steel, a sword that I had been carrying all along, concealed beneath my cloak. Deniz hadn't noticed it before.

Just as we were about to burst through the hole in the wall, a guard, hidden in a blind spot, seized Deniz by the nape of his neck. Deniz let out a startled cry, his face contorted in pain as the guard's grip tightened.

I couldn't let Deniz be captured. With lightning speed, I drew the concealed sword from beneath my cloak and swung it in a sharp, slicing arc. The blade cut through the air with a deadly precision, severing the guard's hold on Deniz's neck. The guard stumbled backward, clutching his wounded hand, his eyes filled with pain and fury.

In that moment, as the guard reached for his matchlock, I didn't hesitate. I had already switched to the second matchlock I carried. Time seemed to slow as both the guard and I fired our shots simultaneously. The bullets tore through the air, leaving a trail of smoke and thunder.

The guard's aim was true, and the bullet he fired grazed my side, a searing flash of pain lancing through me. But our combined shots found their mark, striking the guard square in the chest. He let out a choked gasp, his body convulsing with the impact, before he fell to the ground.

Deniz and I didn't pause to check on the fallen guard. we turned and ran as fast as our legs could carry us, leaving the chaos of the port behind us. The forest loomed ahead.

Deniz and I had been running through the dense forest for what felt like an eternity. The sounds of pursuing guards had gradually faded into the distance, and a sense of relief washed over us. We slowed our pace to a brisk walk, our breaths coming in ragged gasps.

"That was... intense," Deniz panted,

I nodded in agreement, my chest heaving as I struggled to catch my breath. "Yeah, it was. I thought we were done for back there."

But just as we began to relax, a strange phenomenon unfolded around us. It started as a subtle change in the air, a gradual thickening of mist that seemed to seep in from all sides. I couldn't help but recall the eerie sensation I had experienced earlier that morning.

My heart sank as I felt the mist enveloping us, like an unseen force closing in. It was as though the very air was sapping my energy, draining me of strength. I stumbled forward, my legs suddenly feeling like lead. Desperation clawed at my throat as I struggled to breathe.

Deniz glanced at me with wide, fearful eyes, his movements sluggish and unsteady. "Aries... What's happening?"

I could only manage a weak reply, my voice strained and hoarse. "I don't know, Deniz... It's the mist... Something's not right..."

I dropped to my knees, clutching at my own throat as if trying to prevent the life from being sucked out of me. The world around us blurred as the mist thickened, and I could feel my energy waning, like a candle flickering in the wind.

In that moment of desperation, I could only hope that whatever force had ensnared us in this eerie mist would release its grip before it was too late. But it didn't.

With every ounce of strength left in me, I summoned the power of Perucolysis from within. It surged through my body like a torrent, pushing back the encroaching mist. I could feel the steam-like energy emanating from my being.

But I knew I couldn't maintain this defense for long. My energy was depleting rapidly, and I could feel my body growing weaker with each passing moment. Deniz, too, was struggling to withstand the oppressive mist.

Then, from the depths of the forest, a horrendous scream pierced the air. It was a chilling sound, like the wail of a vengeful spirit, and it seemed to be drawing nearer.

Deniz and I exchanged frantic glances, our eyes wide with fear. Without a word, we knew we had to run, to escape whatever presence was pursuing us. But as we sprinted through the dense underbrush, the mist seemed to take shape behind us, forming into a grotesque, ethereal creature that flew through the air with unnatural speed.

I felt an intense pain in my throat and chest as the creature closed in on me, its presence overwhelming. My vision blurred, and I stumbled, falling to the forest floor. Deniz, oblivious to my plight, continued to run for his life.

In that desperate moment, I released all restrictions, channeling the full might of Perucolysis. Waves of energy radiated from me, shaking the very ground beneath us.

Tavern:

In the tavern people were startled as their food and glasses of drinks started to shake

Market:

The fruit vendors were confused in their attempts to pick up the fruits and vegetables that fell on the road because of the tremors in the land.

ARIES:

The mist began to dissipate, retreating before the sheer force of Perucolysis. I gasped for air, my throat raw and hoarse, blood seeping from my eyes. As the mist finally dispersed, I collapsed to the ground, my body numb and spent.

Deniz, who had finally realized what was happening, rushed to my side. He knelt beside me, "Aries, are you okay?"

I could only manage aweak nod, my energy completely drained.