Myrlene blinked rapidly, her mind reeling as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. One moment, she was walking home from the ecclesia, and the next, she found herself in a place that seemed both familiar and utterly foreign.
The air carried a strange, almost electric charge, and the world around her had taken on a surreal quality. Buildings she recognized from the neighborhood appeared dilapidated, their walls crumbling and cracked, windows shattered. The sky above was a kaleidoscope of colors, swirling in a mesmerizing dance that defied the laws of nature.
A wave of disorientation washed over her, and Myrlene stumbled, her hands reaching out to steady herself against the nearest surface. Her fingers met a solid, rough resistance—it was a tree. She looked up to get a better grasp of what she was leaning on, and what she saw made her stop. The trees that had once lined the sidewalk were now twisted and gnarled, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers from a horror novel.
Panic began to settle in the pit of her stomach, a cold knot of fear that tightened with each passing second. She had no idea what was happening or how she had ended up in this bizarre place. Her mind raced, searching for any logical explanation, but none presented itself.
Myrlene's breaths came in short, shallow gasps as she spun in a slow circle, taking in her surroundings with wide, disbelieving eyes. This couldn't be real, could it? It had to be some sort of dream or hallucination.
But the sights and sensations around her felt too vivid, too tangible to be mere figments of her imagination. The air carried a distinct scent, a mixture of ozone and something earthy, almost primal.
Her heart pounded in her chest, the sound of her pulse thundering in her ears as fear threatened to overwhelm her. She had to find a way out of this place, had to find someone who could explain what was happening.
Myrlene opened her mouth, her voice emerging as a strangled cry. "Help!" she shouted, the word echoing through the distorted landscape. "Can anyone hear me? Help!"
Her calls were met with silence, the eerie stillness only heightening her mounting panic. She took a step forward, her legs trembling beneath her, and opened her mouth to shout again. She almost stumbled on her first step, then noticed that the ground beneath her feet had transformed as well. The smooth, paved sidewalk had transformed into a patchwork of cracked and uneven stones.
After steadying herself, she tried to call out again. But before the words could leave her lips, a movement caught her eye—something or someone parting the bushes in the distance. Myrlene froze, excited that maybe someone had heard her plea, but the form that emerged from the bush chilled her blood.
A creature she had never seen before appeared before her. Its body was large and dark, resembling a lizard, except it walked on two feet instead of four. Even from a distance, it loomed over her, its presence exuding a palpable sense of malice that made her skin crawl.
Then, four more lizards emerged behind the first one, weaving their heads left and right, their tongues flicking in and out of their mouths, tasting the air like reptiles do when hunting for prey. One of the lizards spotted her and emitted a guttural sound, pointing its scaly claw in her direction to alert the others. Then Myrlene found herself in a situation where five sets of yellow eyes were focused on her.
Myrlene's scream ripped from her throat, a primal sound of terror echoing through the landscape. She stumbled backward in her haste to flee, finding herself suddenly seated on the ground as a looming threat advanced toward her, her mind going blank. The lizards seemed to become excited by her reaction and quickly closed in on her. Within seconds, they were upon her, surrounding her with their imposing size and an almost predatory intent.
Without hesitation, Viga broke into a sprint, his legs pumping furiously as he raced toward the direction of the scream. His heart thundered in his chest, the adrenaline coursing through his veins propelling him forward with a sense of urgency he hadn't felt in years.
He rounded a bend, his feet skidding on the ground as he came to an abrupt halt. The scene before him froze him in his tracks, his breath catching in his throat.
A girl was being carried away, her slender form cradled between the body and the arm of a large bipedal lizard creature. The lizard's body was as dark as those of previous creatures he had encountered in the past, but this was the first time he had encountered such lizard, and there were five of them. The lizard carrying her struggling form was surrounded by the other four as they headed deeper into the urban area.
Viga's mind reeled, his gaze locked on the horrific sight. The girl was Myrlene, the woman who had once held his heart, now captured by these creatures. The scream he had heard, the one that had spurred him into action, had undoubtedly been hers.
His recognition of the owner of the scream was correct, and such a scream could only mean danger. What he was witnessing now was chilling confirmation of the peril Myrlene faced. Without a moment's hesitation, Viga pushed forward, his legs propelling him toward the lizards that held her captive.
The lizards' heads swiveled in unison, their slit pupils narrowing as they sensed the approaching threat. Viga's frantic footsteps echoed through the bizarre cityscape, a cacophony that betrayed his position.
Three of the lizards hissed, their forked tongues flicking out as they turned to face the oncoming human. Viga skidded to a halt, his eyes narrowing as he gripped the spear tightly in his hands. He had anticipated his rushed arrival would draw attention, and he was prepared for battle.
The first lizard lunged forward, its powerful jaws snapping mere inches from Viga's face. He sidestepped nimbly, the spear arcing through the air as he countered the attack. The lizard recoiled, a gash opening along its scaly flank.
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The other two closed in, their claws raking the ground as they circled Viga. He pivoted, keeping them both in his line of sight, the spear held at the ready. One feinted left, and as Viga shifted his weight, the other struck from the right.
Viga dropped low, the lizard's claws whistling over his head. He lashed out with the spear, catching the creature in the gut. It doubled over with a pained hiss, but the third lizard was already upon him.
Jaws clamped down on the spear's shaft, and Viga found himself locked in a deadly tug-of-war. Muscles straining, he refused to relinquish his weapon, even as the lizard's fetid breath washed over his face.
An intense battle ensued, the air filled with the clash of steel and the guttural snarls of the lizards.
Viga's muscles burned with exertion, but he refused to yield. With a primal roar, he wrenched the spear free from the lizard's jaws, made a short flick to point the blade, and thrust it forward, burying the blade deep in the creature's throat. It convulsed, then went limp, crumpling to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Like every other creature he had battled in the bizarre world, the lizard began to disperse into a fog-like substance. Within seconds, it completely vanished, leaving no trace behind.
Panting, Viga whirled around, spear at the ready, but the two remaining lizards had paused in their retreat. His gaze flicked to the one cradling Myrlene, and he felt a surge of relief to see her chest rising and falling. She appeared unconscious, but a faint fade in her arm reassured him that she was mostly unharmed.
Resolve hardened within him. He couldn't allow these vile creatures to whisk Myrlene away to whatever nightmarish fate awaited her. Viga needed to end this battle swiftly.
Gripping the spear tightly, he focused his energy, and a familiar warmth bloomed in his chest. It spread through his limbs, imbuing his body with newfound strength and speed. With a fierce battle cry, he charged forward.
The first lizard never saw him coming. Viga's spear lanced out, impaling it through the eye socket. As it crumpled, he was already pivoting, bringing the shaft around in a vicious arc that caught the second lizard square in the jaw. Bone crunched, and the creature went down in a spray of dark mist.
Viga stood amidst the fallen bodies that started to disperse, chest heaving, spear clutched in his white-knuckled grip. The warmth still thrummed within him, a potent energy awaiting his command.
His gaze snapped to the remaining two lizards. The one carrying Myrlene had frozen, staring at Viga with wide, fearful eyes. Its companion hissed, positioning itself between them in a defensive stance.
For a moment, the two parties simply regarded each other, an unspoken challenge hanging in the air. Then, something flickered in the eyes of the lizards – not fear of Viga, but of something else, something greater. They seemed to communicate silently, and the one holding Myrlene abruptly turned and fled.
The remaining lizard wasted no time in rushing towards Viga, its muscular body propelling it forward with startling speed. Viga braced himself, spear gripped tightly, sensing that this opponent was unlike the others he had faced.
As the creature closed the distance, Viga felt a distinct shift in the air, a palpable aura of power emanating from the lizard. Its eyes burned with a feral intensity, and Viga knew instinctively that this battle would be far more challenging than the previous one.
The lizard struck first, its jaws snapping shut mere inches from Viga's face as he leaned back, the spear whipping up to deflect the attack. The force behind the creature's strike was immense, jarring Viga's arms and sending tremors through his body.
He pivoted, using the lizard's momentum against it, but the creature was lightning-fast, its tail lashing out and catching Viga in the ribs. Pain exploded through his side, and he staggered, gasping for breath as mental tremor hit him in the wake of the pain.
Gritting his teeth, Viga called upon the warmth within him, allowing it to course through him and fortify his body. He could feel his senses heightening, his movements becoming more fluid, more precise.
The lizard attacked again, a flurry of slashing claws and gnashing teeth. Viga parried and dodged, his spear a blur as he fended off the relentless assault. He countered when he could, scoring shallow cuts along the creature's hide, but it seemed impervious to the pain, driven by a single-minded determination to overwhelm him.
Viga's muscles burned with exertion, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He had never faced an opponent like this, a being whose sheer ferocity and power seemed to defy the natural order. Yet still, he refused to yield, his indomitable will pushing him forward, inch by agonizing inch.
By the time the first lizard fell, Myrlene had nearly regained her senses. The sounds of battle echoed around her—the clash of steel, grunts of exertion, and bestial snarls. Her surroundings were a blur, but glimpses of movement gradually resolved into the forms of someone and two monstrous lizards locked in a deadly dance.
She remained speechless, paralyzed by the surreal scene unfolding before her. As that someone engaged the two lizards in combat, Myrlene watched in awe through her hazy vision, her voice caught in her throat, unable to scream for help.
Even with her hazy vision, that someone’s face was a mask of grim determination, his muscles taut and glistening with sweat as he wielded his spear with unparalleled skill and ferocity. Myrlene's eyes widened as her vision cleared. She started to recognize that someone, her heart pounding as she realized who he was and that he was fighting to protect her, risking his life against these formidable creatures.
In that moment when she recognized who that person was, the fifth lizard was already running away with her, leaving that person to battle the remaining beast alone with a desperation evident on his face.
Viga refused to let the relentless lizard gain the upper hand. His spear clashed against its claws, the sound of steel on bone echoing through the bizarre cityscape. Gritting his teeth, he searched for an opening, a momentary lapse in the creature's defenses.
There! The lizard overextended, its guard dropping for a split second. Viga saw his chance and seized it. He feinted left, drawing the lizard's attention, then pivoted sharply, bringing the spear around in a vicious arc. The blade sliced through the air, finding its mark in the creature's exposed flank.
The lizard howled in pain and rage, staggering backwards as mist dispersed from the slash. Viga pressed his advantage, raining down a flurry of blows, each one driving the creature further back.
With a final, desperate lunge, he buried the spear deep into the lizard's chest. Its eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, it seemed frozen in time. Then, with a shuddering gasp, it collapsed to the ground, unmoving.
Viga didn't even pause to catch his breath. His gaze snapped to the remaining lizard, the one still clutching Myrlene. It had managed to put some distance between them during the heat of battle, but its retreat had been slowed by the added weight.
Adrenaline surged through Viga as he took off in pursuit, his legs propelling him forward with renewed vigor. He closed the distance rapidly, the lizard's lumbering gait no match for his speed.
As he drew near, the lizard let out a piercing screech, a sound that seemed to reverberate through Viga's very bones. He faltered, his steps momentarily slowed by the disorienting cry.
In that brief window, the lizard made an act of throwing Myrlene skyward. Given its remarkable strength, the consequences of such an act were inevitable – Myrlene would come crashing down to the ground.
Gripping his spear tightly, he hurled it with all his might, hoping to stop the lizard from what it was about to do. The blade whistled through the air towards the lizard. But even as the projectile found its mark, burying itself in the creature's back, Viga knew it was too late.
The lizard managed to hurl Myrlene skyward before the spear buried itself in its back.
"Aaaahhhhhh!" Myrlene screamed in panic.
Viga's eyes widened in horror. Myrlene had already regained consciousness, he thought, his heart leaping into his throat as he watched her trajectory, helpless to intervene. Despite this, he still tried to chase where she might fall.
Myrlene was lobbed high and far. Viga continued running as fast as he could to try and catch her, not losing hope. He pushed his warmth to its limit, but it didn’t seem enough to reach her in time.
"Vigaaaa!" Myrlene shouted in a desperate plea.
Out of nowhere a massive silhouette appeared in the sky, blotting out the bizarre world's twisted skyline. Viga squinted against the glare, his breath catching in his throat as the form resolved into that of a massive, winged lizard – a creature straight out of novels.
The flying beast banked sharply, its leathery wings beating the air with powerful strokes. It swooped down, its talons outstretched, snatching Myrlene's falling form with ease.
"Aaaahhhhhh!" Viga heard Myrlene's final scream before she lost consciousness for the second time.
Viga stopped in his tracks and could only watch, helpless, as the creature clutched its precious cargo and soared back into the sky, disappearing into the distance with powerful beats of its wings.
"No! Myrlene!" Viga shouted