Pinecrest Outskirts

———Red———

I follow the trail of blood as best I can in the dim light of the moon. It's faint, winding through the trees, over moss-covered rocks, and past ferns. My broken bow hangs loosely in my left hand, useless for now, but I keep it close out of habit. Every now and then, the scent of blood mixes with the fresh night air.

"Alyse is going to kill me if I come back empty-handed," I mutter, my voice low against the stillness of the forest.

I pause briefly, pulling out a worn cloth from my pocket. With fumbling hands, I tie the pieces of the shattered bow together. It's weak, barely holding, but it'll have to do. At least it's something.

The blood trail leads me into a cave, dark, cold, and damp. I light my torch and step inside, the flames casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. The deeper I go, the more the blood seems to fade, but the metallic scent grows stronger. I slow down, my heartbeat quickening as I reach the end of the trail.

There it is, the elk, lying motionless on the cave floor, but something's horribly wrong. Its body is torn apart, mangled and ravaged. Blood pools around it in a sickening display, and yet, somehow, it's still alive. Its eyes blink slowly, glassy with pain, and its body shudders in spasms.

"What the hell? You're still alive?" I whisper, my stomach churning.

Its legs are gone, torn clean off, and its insides spill onto the stone. It should be dead. I take a cautious step closer, but something catches my eye, a glint of silver. I lower the torch and see a silver axe lying beside the elk, smeared with blood. My heart skips a beat as I notice more scattered weapons, broken swords, rusted blades, all around the cave.

I whirl around, torch in hand, and it falls from my grasp. It hits the ground with a dull thud and rolls, casting light across the cave floor. The glow reveals what I missed, a sea of bones and shredded clothing. Hundreds of them, piled high, like a graveyard hidden beneath the earth.

"Shit."

A low growl rumbles from the darkness behind me, deep and menacing. I freeze as glowing eyes emerge from the shadows, towering over me. The creature is massive, easily four times my size. Its eyes burn with an unnatural light, and its breath huffs in thick, heavy puffs. I grab an arrow from my quiver, nock it quickly, and fire at its front leg. The arrow flies but misses, clattering uselessly against the cave floor.

It snarls, the sound vibrating through my chest, and begins to advance. Panic grips me. I turn and bolt for the cave entrance, sprinting as fast as my legs can carry me. The forest rushes past in a blur of black and green. My lungs burn, my legs ache, but I can't stop. I hear it crashing behind me, its footsteps heavy and unrelenting.

I dive behind a tree, glancing out just in time to see it sniffing the ground, searching for me. Its shape is grotesque, too big for a bear, too lean. Its narrow head, sharp teeth bared in the dim light, confirms my worst fear.

I whisper to myself, "I've never seen an animal like you before. You're no bear... too big... too narrow."

Then it howls, a long, blood-chilling cry that echoes through the forest.

"Damn it... werewolf," I breathe.

I pull an arrow from my quiver and take aim. I step out from behind the tree and release. The arrow flies straight and true, hitting its side but the beast doesn't even flinch. It locks eyes with me, its growl growing louder.

"You're shitting me, right?"

It charges, faster than I expected, a blur of muscle and rage. I don't wait to see if it stops. I turn and run, heart pounding, breath ragged, the creature gaining ground behind me. The trees blur as I sprint, my legs screaming in protest. The gates of Pinecrest come into view, and I scream for the guards.

"There's a werewolf! It's coming this way!"

The beast barrels after me, relentless. The guards sound the alarm, the horn echoing across the village, and arrows fly from the walls—but none seem to slow it down. I hear its growls, deeper, more furious with every hit it takes.

Alyse bursts out of our house, her face pale with fear as she locks eyes with me.

This isn't going to end well.

"What is that thing?" Alyse asks, panic clear in her voice.

"Get inside! Now!" I shout, pulling her with me as I shove the door closed, locking it in an instant.

"Where have you been? Why is that thing—?" she starts, but I cut her off.

"I was hunting. I tracked an elk into a cave, and then... that thing was inside. It was, it was already waiting."

"Red, what the hell were you thinking?" Her voice shakes with fury. "I was sick with worry, waiting for you to come back at sunset, and now it's nearly midnight!"

"I'm here now, aren't I?" I snap, trying to catch my breath, but the words barely escape before her hand slaps across my face.

"You know what happened to Dad when he went out and promised he'd be back. He never came back—not alive." Her eyes are full of anger and fear.

I nod, guilt tightening in my chest. "I know. I'm sorry, but can't you save this lecture until we've dealt with the damn thing? I almost died out there!"

"Which is exactly why I'm saying this now!" she yells, her face flushed with frustration.

Outside, a scream pierces the air, followed by the clash of steel and the deep, savage growl of the werewolf. My heart races as I hear the chaos unfolding just beyond the door.

"Shit, I've got to do something."

"What? No! You are not going out there!" Alyse's voice rises in panic, but I'm already moving toward the door.

"I brought it here, Alyse! I have to try!"

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I wrench the door open and rush out, grabbing a fresh bow from the rack near the forge. Nocking an arrow, I pull back, scanning for a clear shot through the chaos.

Villagers flee in terror, their faces twisted in horror as they run past. The creature is a blur of fur and fury, surrounded by men desperately attacking with axes and swords.

But I can't get a clear shot, there's too much confusion. Cursing under my breath, I sling the bow over my shoulder and drop the arrow, sprinting back to the forge. My hand closes around a silver axe.

I turn just in time to see the werewolf tearing through a line of guards, ripping through shields like they're made of paper. Without hesitation, I charge at it, swinging the axe with every ounce of strength I have. The blade bites into its front leg, and a hiss of steam erupts from the wound as the beast howls in agony.

It spins on me, eyes blazing with rage. Before I can react, it slams me to the ground. The force of the impact knocks the air from my lungs, and the axe tumbles from my hand. I punch and kick wildly, but its claws tear through my clothes and into my flesh, searing pain shooting up my arm as its talons rip deep into my left arm.

I scream and, with trembling hands, pull a dagger from my belt. With a final burst of adrenaline, I stab it into the creature's throat. The werewolf recoils, blood spraying as it staggers back. I roll to my feet, clutching my bleeding arm, and stumble toward the house.

The door swings open, and Alyse rushes out as I collapse to the ground.

"Red!" she cries, running to my side.

"No! Get back inside!" I shout, pushing out a trembling hand to stop her. "It's not over."

"You're bleeding!" she gasps, kneeling beside me, pressing a cloth to the wound.

I glance over my shoulder. Flames lick the sky as buildings collapse around us. The werewolf is limping, but its eyes still burn with hatred. It snarls and turns toward Alyse, who's still beside me.

It charges.

"Alyse, go!" I scream, forcing myself up, but my legs won't hold me.

Before I can reach her, the beast tackles her, sinking its teeth into her leg. Her scream tears through the night.

"No!" I bellow, shaking with fury as I watch the scene unfold in helpless horror.

Behind the werewolf, a swirling portal begins to form, shimmering with dark energy. The beast drags Alyse toward it as her terrified eyes lock onto mine.

"Red! Help me!" she screams, clawing at the ground as the portal begins to swallow them.

A high-pitched, maniacal laughter echoes through the village as the werewolf steps into the portal, dragging Alyse with it.

The portal collapses in on itself, vanishing into thin air.

"No... damn it!" I slam my fist into the ground, tears blurring my vision. My sister, my only family, gone.

Grimhold Peak Foothills

———Domnik———

I step through the ancient archway, a distant torchlight flickering against the stone walls, revealing a long, narrow stairwell spiraling deep into the mountain's belly. The air grows thicker with every step, and the walls seem to close in, as though the mountain itself is pressing down on me, trying to suffocate me in its cold embrace.

As the darkness tightens, I unsheathe my short blade. The embers etched into its steel glow, casting a soft orange light that flickers off the damp stones. I descend deeper, my breath growing shallow, the weight of the mountain pushing down on my chest.

Finally, the stairwell opens into a vast, circular chamber. The ceiling stretches into unseen shadows, and the floor is submerged under a thin layer of water that ripples around my boots with every step. Silence reigns, thick and oppressive, save for the occasional drip of water echoing through the space.

But then, a sound, a low moaning drifts from a chamber to my right. My pulse quickens, and I duck behind a massive pillar, my heart pounding in my ears. I glance over my shoulder just in time to see a horde of undead shuffling out of the chamber, their rotting forms barely human.

"Creepy fucks," I mutter under my breath.

Taking a deep breath, I dash from behind the pillar, charging headlong at the horde. They shriek, their hollow eyes locking onto me as they rush forward, arms outstretched, teeth gnashing. I swing my blade in a wide arc, slicing through two of them with ease, their bodies collapsing into the water with a sickening splash.

But then, three of them leap onto me, driving me to the ground. My sword clatters away, disappearing beneath the murky water as they claw at my clothes, their decayed fingers tearing at my skin. Their rancid breath fills my lungs, their mucus and bile dripping onto my face. I gag, struggling beneath their weight.

"Dammit!" I growl as my body responds, the transformation beginning.

My horns burst from my skull, and my vision blurs as my eyes turn a deep crimson. Heat floods my chest, building like a furnace until it bursts through my throat. With a guttural roar, I unleash a torrent of fire, the flames tearing through the air and consuming the zombies in an instant. They shriek, their bodies disintegrating into ash, leaving only charred remains behind.

I push myself to my feet, wiping the ash from my face as I retrieve my blade from the water. My gaze shifts to the center of the room, where a sword is lodged within a stone pillar, its hilt gleaming in the dim light. Something about it calls to me.

I approach, studying the ancient script etched into the pillar:

"'He who holds this blade must be one of purity. For it was crafted by the All Father and holds the power of Naurus. One night, when the moons rise and the sun sets, the fate of the world will hang in the balance. The blade will merge with the moon and the light of Naurus will be snuffed out.'"

I blink, stepping closer. "It can destroy Naurus? How...?" My voice trails off, confusion mingling with dread.

I grip the hilt and pull. It doesn't budge. Adjusting my stance, I tug harder, flames flickering from my hands as I pour my strength into the effort. Finally, with a sharp crack, the pillar shatters, and the great sword comes free. I twirl it in my hands, marveling at the blade's weight and balance.

But the moment of triumph is short-lived. The ground beneath my feet begins to tremble.

"Shit!" I curse, sheathing the blade across my back.

The walls around me start to crumble, rocks falling as the chamber collapses. I sprint back toward the stairwell, the steps crumbling beneath my feet as I race upward. The light of the moon grows brighter as I near the exit, and with a final leap, I hurl myself out of the cave just as the entrance seals shut behind me.

"Too close," I pant, catching my breath.

I pull the sword from my back, studying the engravings along its length. "Is this really... DragonsBreath? It certainly looks like a blade that could be called that." I wonder aloud.

A hissing sound cuts through the silence, and I spin around. From the shadows of the trees, orange eyes glow, watching me.

"You carry the blade," a voice rasps, echoing through the trees. "Give it here, child."

My horns throb, extending further from my skull. "Stay back," I growl. "You have no idea who you're dealing with."

The creature steps forward, revealing itself, a vampire, its fangs glinting in the moonlight. "Oh, we know exactly who you are. Son of Zul, prince of Hell. We are followers of Muthos, here to gain your allegiance."

I scowl. "Allegiance for what?"

More vampires emerge from the trees, surrounding me. "We know what you intend to do with that blade. Lord Muthos wants to offer his... assistance."

I shake my head. "Tell Muthos I'm flattered, but I don't need his help."

"He won't take no for an answer," one of them hisses, baring its fangs.

"I know." I swing DragonsBreath in a wide arc, its black flames erupting from the blade, disintegrating three vampires instantly. The others charge me, and I manage to strike one before another tackles me to the ground, fangs sinking into my neck.

"You'll regret this day, Domnik. Lord Muthos will have your head!" the vampire snarls, blood dripping from its mouth.

"I highly doubt that," I say, watching as it stumbles back from me and bursts into flames, its body crumbling to ash.

I scramble to my feet, grabbing DragonsBreath just as the last vampire lunges for the sword. We engage in a tug-of-war, both of us pulling with all our strength. A low, menacing howl echoes in the distance, growing louder with each passing second.

"You'd better let go," I taunt, grinning. "The wolves are coming."

The vampire glares at me. "You should be the scared one, demon."

But I feel the sword pulsing in my hands, its power surging. With a final pull, I wrench it free, swinging it in a fiery arc. Black flames erupt from the blade, vaporizing the vampire in a burst of light.

I collapse to the ground, laughing breathlessly. "Holy shit... this thing is amazing."

I pull myself to my feet. I sheathe the sword on my back and, with a flick of my wrist, tear open a rift in the air. Flames roar around the edges as the portal opens.

"Back to Malice," I mutter, stepping into the dark, swirling energy. A purple light engulfing me as I descend into the abyss.