The Fallen arc
TRIGGER WARNING!! Contains violence and abuse
Henro Pov
12 Years Ago
"Where am I now? I can't see anything. What kind of hell are you going to make me relive now Arkin!? Huh!?" I shouted.
"Mom? Where are we?" Young Henro asked.
My vision was made clear. I was standing in a dirty prison cell. In front of me was my mother who was in dirty rage clothes and still covered in bite marks and scratches from her fight with the draugr. Her wounds still hadn't healed. My younger self however was healed but still in those raggidy clothes. My mother was holding my younger self in her arms.
"No. No! Not here! Not here! Look I learned my lesson alright Rudy? I don't need to see this again! So you can let me out now!" I begged.
"I don't know sweetie." Mary said. She then started coughing up blood.
"MOM! What's wrong!? And why aren't you healing!?" Young Henro asked.
"This must..be some kind of poison." Mary said.
"You would be correct."
Suddenly a voice came out from behind their cell door. The cell door was began to open.
"Henro. Stay close to me." Mary ordered.
"Seriously Rudy let me out of here! I'm not playing around! Hey! Are you listening!? Rudy!? Arkin!? I know you bastards can hear me!" I kept calling and calling but didn't get an answer back.
The cell door opened and with that he came in. Silas.
"You goddamn sons of bitches! Let me out! Let me out! LET ME OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW!" I demanded.
Silas walked into the cell with his tail waving behind him. Mary hugged my younger self tightly as he cried into her arms.
"You both are awake. Good. Welcome subjects 6166 and 6167." Silas greeted.
"6166? 6167? What the hell are you talking about!? Who are you and where are we!?" Mary questioned.
"6166 that is your number now. And your son's number is 6167. Test subjects such as yourselves will not be needing names any longer. As for where you are now, I thought that would be obvious. You are within the confines of the imperial citadel of the machina empire. As for me, I am the head of the machina empire's R&D and a member of the Crimson Knights. Dr. Silas at your service." Silas placed his hand on his chest and bowed.
"Silas. It was you. You were the one who's been stalking me and my son across the country for months weren't you!?" Mary questioned.
"Well done. For a lower demon you are quite observant. Yes. I had my men follow you the moment you left Hell. At first I sent them to capture you both but they proved to be quite ineffective. So instead I placed my spies in a place where you thought you were safe. The cathedral of the holy church." Silas explained.
"Impossible! Thomas, the Pope, would have seen through any infiltrators from within his own church! Even from the Machina Empire there's no way your men would have tricked him so easily!" Mary yelled.
"Oh? Perhaps I gave you too much credit. Well, allow me to make this easy for a creature such as yourself to understand. You. Were. Sold. Out." Silas stated plainly.
My mother was in disbelief while my younger self looked at her with confusion. "Mommy? What's he talking about?" Young Henro asked.
"That's....THAT'S A LIE! Thomas is a friend! He would never sell us out! Not even to the empire!" Mary spat in anger.
"You'd be surprised of what people are truly capable of. Thomas has been under my service for a very long time. How else do you think I found you so easily? He and his men have been providing all sorts of demons and half-breeds for years." Silas said.
"That's a lie! It's a goddamn lie! Thomas....he was.. he was so kind to us. To me and my son. He accepted our kind into his cathedral. He accepted us!" Mary protested.
"Kindness is not the same as acceptance. You of all people should know that better than anyone. After all, your brother-in-law was kind to you for a time hmm? But where is he now?" Silas questioned.
My mother didn't have a rebuttal. She just glared at Silas with defiance.
"I see. Such a pity. To throw away such fine specimens like yourselves to the waste side. Especially that son of yours." Silas looked at my younger self which made him only hug my mom tighter.
"Don't you dare!" Mary threatened. But Silas was unphased. He slowly walked closer towards the two.
"I must say. I've collected many species throughout my years of service to his majesty. But I never once encountered an actual Fallen in the flesh." Silas got close and took a knee. He turned his attention to the younger me.
"When I heard of your existence, I was astounded. To think, a child born from both an angel and a demon would exist in this world. Given the thousands of years of hatred between the two races, the mere thought of it sounded impossible. Laughable even. But everything changed when the Guardians of Esos overthrew the gods and tried to establish peaceful relations between all the races in Esos." Silas chuckled.
"Mommy I don't like him! I'm scared!" Young Henro cried out.
"Well I'll say this much. Their attempt at "peace" wasn't for nothing. It's thanks to them that a valuable specimen such as yourself was born. Such high mana reserves. Makes sense given your parentage. Which brings us why you are here subject 6167." Silas said.
"No. Don't do it!" I begged.
My younger self moved his face from his mother's arms and looked at Silas. "What do you-."
Silas then launched his tail at my mother, slamming her hard onto the cell wall.
"GAH!" Mary coughed up blood.
"STOP IT!" I shouted. I knew it would fall on deaf ears but I couldn't help it.
"MOM!" My younger self cried out. He got up and tried to run towards my mother.
"Don't. Move." Silas threatened. He wrapped his tail around my mother's neck and kept her pinned against the wall. She let out a strangled cry as blood dripped from her mouth.
"H-Henro. S-Stay back! GAH!" Mary coughed.
"And you stay silent. Subject 6166." Silas ordered and tightened his grip.
"Stop it! You're hurting her!" My younger self begged. Silas however didn't loosen his grip around my mother's throat and all I could do was watch.
"Why!? WHY!? WHY!? WHY!? WHY!? WHY!? WHY DO I HAVE TO RELIVE THIS SHIT AGAIN!?" I screamed at the top of my lungs and held my head.
"Subject 6167. The reason why you are here is because I want to study your Fallen physiology, biology and mana output. Every part of you down to your very atoms." Silas said.
"What are you talking about?" The younger Henro asked.
"I want you as my test subject. As I said earlier something like you is quite rare in Esos. It's the next step of not just for your species but for every race in esos. The next step of evolution." Silas proclaimed with his arms raised.
"I don't understand." The younger Henro responded.
"I already saw a small glimpse of that stage when I impaled you with my tail the other day. You lost consciousness and yet you regenerated your wounds instantly. Even with my poison in your veins your blood was just too pure for it to work. It was remarkable. Your regenerative capabilities are the best I've ever seen from any of the species I've ever encountered." Silas said with excitement.
"Poison? Wait. You were the one who poisoned my mother weren't you!?" My younger self yelled with anger.
"Correct. Demons are known for their high regenerative capabilities so I developed a poison to counteract them. Your mother won't be able to heal her wounds for quite some time. Not even taking into account the other side affects she'll face". Silas explained.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"Stop talking and let her go! NOW!" My younger self's fists began glowing black and white mana. Silas' eyes squinted with intrigue.
"Yes. Such beautiful mana. I knew you would be a fine specimen to obtain. However I would advise against such irrational behavior 6167."
"Irrational!? You call defending my mother irrational you worthless PIECE OF SHIT!" I screamed and ran at Silas trying to punch him but my fist went through him.
"Right now your mother is suffering under the effects of my poison. Soon she'll experience several symptoms a child such as yourself would not want to witness. However, if that is your choice..". The tip of Silas' tail pointed at Mary's eye and itched closer and closer. My younger self saw this and began to panic. Any anger he had turned into fear.
"STOP! PLEASE STOP IT! I'll do whatever you want just please let her go! Please!" The younger me begged. In a split second, Silas dashed towards the boy and grabbed him by his shirt with his claws. The younger me was forced to look straight into his disturbing bug eyes.
"Will you willingly be my test subject without so much as any resistance?" Silas asked in a threatening tone.
My younger self was crying his eyes out and petrified with fear. But he glanced back at my mother and saw the state she was in. E looked back at Silas and said...
"Yes. If you promise to help my mother, I'll...be whatever you want."
"N-No Henro!" Mary coughed out.
"Good. Come, we start immediately. Your mother will be treated after the surgery is complete." Silas grabbed onto my younger self's arm and began dragging him from his cell. He then released my mother from his hold.
My mother fell onto the floor and coughed more blood. She was too weak to stand so all she could do was look at Silas drag my younger self out of the cell.
"No. Please don't." Mary begged.
I bawled my fists in anger so hard blood started to drip from my palms. I just stood there and watched as the younger me looked back at my mother with a terrified look on his face as this monster dragged him out of his cell.
"I said stop!" Mary demanded. But Silas ignored her. The cell door began to close and my anger only increased as this went on. The last thing my mother saw before the door closed was the terrified look of her son.
"GIVE ME BACK MY BABY!!!!" Mary cried out. But the cell door closed. Leaving Mary to cry alone in the dark. Leaving me to just stand there and watch it unfold.
"That's right. I was terrified back then. So much so I cried and almost pissed myself. I couldn't fathom why this was happening to me. To my mother. Why we had to be served up to this scumbag on a silver plate. What did we ever deserve to be treated like this!? For having demon blood in our fucking veins!? Is that the only reason!? Well is it!? ARKIN!?" I looked up and roared at the ceiling.
"Because I thought the oh so great Guardians of Esos tried to get rid of all this racist crap. I thought demons could now finally coexist with the other races!? Well what now!? Where's the change huh!? WHERE'S THE CHANGE THAT WAS PROMISED TO US HUH!? WHERE IS IT YOU LYING FUCKS!? ANSWER ME!!!!!" I roared at the top of my lungs but just like clockwork, no response back.
***
The Azalea Forest
The Present
"Henro".
Hiding deep inside the Azalea Forest was the hulking mutated creature known as the Draugr. With it's hulking large body, grey skin, sharp large claws, it's large tail and a large mouth that is big enough to eat a human's head off. Not to mention the large bloody sharp teeth.
The creature was currently on it's knees, holding it's head with two of it's upper arms. While it's second pair of arms were holding onto the ground. It was going through a painful mental strain.
"Henro. Henro. Must.....capture.....Henro." The Draugr winced in pain. The creature could barely think straight let alone move around. All it did was repeat the words "must capture Henro" as it held it's head while on it's knees.
"Hey! I found it!"
Despite it's headache, the draugr heard that voice loud and clear. But it didn't have it's guard up as it knew that the voice and that scent belonged to one of the imperial soldiers stationed at forest.
There were three soldiers near the draugr and all three of them had the scent of humans. So these men were clearly cyborgs. The draugr only followed the commands of Silas and as long as the soldiers stayed out of it's way they would be no concern of it.
A couple of other soldiers appear from behind the draugr. One of them approached it out of curiosity. "Sheesh look at that thing. It's bigger up close. And did it grow two new arms? I mean man I've seen some ugly demons in the past but this one sure takes the cake."
"Don't get too close man. That thing can tear you to shreds with just one swipe of it's hand." Said one of the scared soldiers.
"Relax. Unlike regular demons this thing is imperial property. It's orders are to only target people with demon blood in their veins. At least those creatures can be good for something. But even then it's done a piss poor job at that." The soldier replied as it went closer towards the draugr and stood right in front of it.
"I mean it was originally chasing that Fallen kid a few hours ago and yet that brat still got away. And all he did was through some holy light in your face. You hear me don't you? Demon?" The soldier asked.
"Must. Capture. Henro." The draugr repeated.
"Oh and how can I forget? There's also General Silas's favorite toy. You had that punk in the palm of your hands and you just let him slip through your fingers too. You were made to hunt Demons, half breed's and Fallen yet you can't even do your one job right? And now you're over here whining about a headache you dumb animal!?" The soldier ranted.
"Hey man stop it!" Yelled one of the frightful soldiers.
"Yeah! That thing can understand you! What if it gets pissed off and attacks us!?" The other soldier exclaimed with fear.
"Would you two both shut up already!? I already told you it's not going to do anything. It's just a dumb animal!"
"Must. Capture. Henro. Must. Not. Fail. Master."
"Find Henro! Find Henro! What are you defective!? Hello!? You can hear me can't you, demon? Should I remind you of where your place is in all of this? Or maybe I should call your master and have him report how much of a failure you really are!?" The soldier laughed.
Failure. That word triggered The Draugr's memories.
["Do. Not. Fail."].
Those words echoed throughout the creature's head. It's headache worsened and as such, the draugr started seeing visions.
Visions of the past.
["*****************"].
The Draugr stopped holding it's head. The words from the Draugr's memories were jumbled and confusing. It saw visions of people.
"That's right you heard me! A failure!"
["*****************"].
Those jumbled words kept pounding into the draugr's mind and the visions were only getting stronger. The draugr was confused and couldn't understand what it saw. But it did know one thing. It's headache got worse.
"Get it demon!? It's your fault they got away!"
["*****************"].
The Draugr growled.
"Are you deaf!? Do as you're told!"
["*****************"].
The Draugr snarled even louder.
"Hey man stop! It's getting pissed off!" One of the soldiers protested. But the ranting soldier ignored his pleas.
"HURRY UP AND FIND-."
"HENROOOOOOOOO!!!"
The Draugr's roar was just as loud as before when it fought Ziera. The soldier who was mocking the draugr was caught off guard.
"What the fu-."
CHOMP
Before he could finish his sentence, the Draugr chomped off the entire head of the soldier that mocked it.
"HOLY SHIT!"
"DARREN!"
Blood poured up from the neck of the decapitated soldier's corpse. The draugr chew but spit out the metal parts from the head it just ate. Then licked the blood off it's lips.
"Damn you! Die you monster!" The soldier's fear turned to anger and grief as he shot at the draugr.
The Omni-bullets left no effect on the draugr's tough skin. However what really hurt the creature, was the severe headache it was experiencing. As it's headache increased the visions become more frequent and as such it's anger grew.
["*****************"].
"RAAAAAAAAH!" The Draugr roared at the soldiers. The visions wouldn't stop and so the draugr's anger only grew to the point where it would kill anyone it would see.
The Draugr picked up the decapitated corpse of the soldier it killed by his leg. It then blitzed over to the soldier shooting at it and then swung the corpse at the soldier like a club.
Since all the soldiers there were androids, the force of the impact from the draugr using the dead soldier as a club, plus the draugr's own Fallen strength, sent the shooting soldier flying through a tree and hitting the ground hard. The Draugr looked over to the third soldier who yelped in fear.
"Holy shit! Fuck this!" The soldier threw his Omni-Rifle onto the ground and ran for his life. But as the soldier turned to run, the draugr was already in front of it.
["*****************"]. Another vision but the headache hurt twice as much compared to the last one.
"RAAAAAAAAAH!" The Draugr roared.
"No wait! We're sorry! Please don't hur-!" The soldier couldn't finish as the draugr plunged it's gigantic fingers into the soldier's stomach impaling him. It then picked up the soldier over it's head and ripped the soldier in half blood and guts raining down over the draugr. It threw the body's lower half on the ground while keeping the soldier's upper half in it's hand. It ate off the head of the deceased soldier.
The draugr then dropped the corpse and picked up the body of the first soldier he killed and stomped over to the one soldier that it sent flying. The soldier was laid out on the ground with oil dripping from his head. He groaned and grunted roughly as he tried to move but he was then greeted by the draugr standing over him. The draugr held up the corpse of the soldier's deceased comrade over him. The soldier was petrified.
"N-No! No!" The soldier shouted in fear as he raised his hand at it. As the Draugr heard those words, it's head began to ache again.
["*****************"].
"Please stop!" The soldier begged.
["*****************"].
"S-Stay away! Stay away from me!" The soldier ordered.
["*****************"].
"YOU MONSTER!" The Soldier exclaimed.
["*****************"].
"RAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The draugr raised the corpse of the soldier above it's head and then slammed them down hard onto the crying imperial soldier who begged for his life. Then the draugr brought up the corpse and slammed it down on the nearly unconscious imperial soldier again. Then it brought up the body and did the same thing again to the now bloodied half dead soldier. And it did it again.
And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again.
Until finally there weren't any parts that remained of the soldier the draugr brutalized outside of his core. And the corpse it used as a weapon was albeit nothing but scrap parts now. The draugr took a step back and looked at the blood from it's hands. The draugr was afraid.
It didn't understand why this was happening to it. Did that fight trigger something it pondered? The draugr thought back to it's fight with Ziera. How it was so terrified of failing it's master. Was that it? Was the thought of failing Silas is what triggered some of it's memories to resurface? The same thing happened when that soldier brought it up. The creature didn't understand. But it did know one thing. Somehow the one he was sent to capture was connected in some way to it's suffering.
"Henro." The Draugr grumbled. It stopped being scared and was now filled with rage and hate. It grew it's four wings and flew off into the skies.
"Must capture...No. Must kill Henro. RAAAAAAAAAAHH!" The Draugr roared.