Rapid droplets hitting against the leaves of trees created a hypnotic and calming noise. The ground below was covered with puddles of water.

Very soft and muffled splashes could be heard as two distinct figures ran through a sea of colossal trees.

The figure slightly ahead had short auburn hair with fierce yet enchanting crimson eyes. He was very handsome even among his very beautiful race, the elves. He was outfitted in expensive looking black leather armor that had a tinge of dark brown where the black leather did not cover, and dark grey pants. His boots and bracers were made out of the same material as his chest piece armor.

The second figure had a very similar toned body as the other figure that was ahead of him. But he completely looked different from the elf. He had a very light grey skin color, his ears were similar to that of an elf, his eyes were as black as obsidian, but it shone when light struck it, his hair, similar color as his eyes, were short but not too short. And just like the other figure, he had striking features. What clearly defined him from the first figure was his attire. He did not have any armor. On his feet were high quality dark brown leather boots. He wore black pants. Around his waist was a black leather belt with a small pouch attached to it. On his upper body was a long-sleeved dark crimson shirt.

Both figures looked like they were in their mid-twenties. But their real age says otherwise.

The two figures continued traveling at breakneck speed. To normal people, they would be blurs. Upon a closer inspection, they made their way through the dense forest with sharp and deadly eyes.

“Ryfon,” The second figure spoke as placed his right hand on his silver greatsword that was attached on his back.

“Yes, I know. This will be tiresome. Aesar, do you think that you can take on that orthrus while I take on the other hellhounds?”

“I am not sure. I think it’d be best if we take it on together,” Aesar, the second figure, spoke.

The two were after a group of hellhounds that were closely located north of their village. They took it upon themselves as usual to exterminate incredibly dangerous creatures.

The creature they’re hunting, hellhounds, were ominous, supernatural dogs with mangled black fur, glowing red eyes, super strength or speed, ghostly or phantom characteristics, and had a foul odor. Staring into their eyes was deadly, for they can place a death curse if stared into the eyes multiple times.

They swiftly manoeuvred through the trees like the way water flows around rocks. Various creatures came into view but were ignored which established their lack of danger.

After about 10 minutes, Aesar and Ryfon unsheathed their weapons when they spotted a small clear ahead of them. With Aesar’s keen senses and Ryfon’s sensory skills, they were able to perceive reams of hellhounds located at the small clearing ahead. There was no point in surveying the situation. They figured that with so many hellhounds, even if they try to hide their presence, they would soon be discovered, leaving them at a disadvantageous situation. Hellhounds have keen senses. They could sense a single mouse in a forest 100 meters away. Their plan was to quickly dispose multiplicity of hellhounds with a surprise attack.

Upon entering the small clearing in the forest at an astonishing speed, they were greeted by a pack of hellhounds that numbered at 30. To the right area of the pack was a two-headed hellhound, an Orthrus. Their eyes widen in surprise for a brief moment, as they were not expecting so many hellhounds in one place. Calm, sharp and calculating eyes soon plastered on their faces.

In a split second, the two exploded with power. Ryfon used his mana to enhance his body to make it become more durable, faster and stronger. Like lightning, he struck a group of hellhound to his left, causing a loud boom and crunch to reverberate through the air. Bellow him, was now a mangled pile of flesh on top a crater. Soon after the impact, he bent down low and charged at the next hellhound, slicing its throat with slight resistance. His short sword did not allow him to make a deep cut so he soon followed by spinning to slash with his other short sword where the wound on the neck of the hellhound was located. The head of the hellhound slowly fell off its body. Before its head could hit the ground, Ryfon had already killed 3 more hellhounds.

Ryfon continued his fury of devastation. While he decimated more and more hellhounds, he could hear loud thunders that he did not create. In the corner of his eyes, he could see a tall figure, bathed in blood with obsidian like eyes. The rain slowly washed off the blood-soaked figure, revealing a cold and spine-chilling expression. He looked like a real monster among the plethora hellhounds. What lay waste before him was complete destruction. Black objects on the ground were littered everywhere; heads, limbs, and other body part of the hellhounds blanked the area. Blood flowing from the chopped and mangled bodies created a dark red lake. Ryfon could only shudder as he slayed the remaining hellhounds on his side.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

What once was a small clearing was now a large field. Large chunks of the forest were no more. The entire area was littered with large chunks of trees and crater-filled ground.

Ryfon observed the fight between Aesar and the Orthrus. The fight was intense and he feared the he may hinder Aesar if he were to just interfere. So, he decided to wait for the right moment to assist.

Aesar’s long sleeve shirt was torn to shreds. He was now topless, only a necklace was on his upper half. Although his shirt was shredded, not a single scratch was on him.

With a single strike, the Orthrus severed a large tree 15 meters in circumference from its stump, sending it flying 100 meters away. Its large body thrice the size of a horse was nimble and incredibly fast. In a swift motion it charged at Aesar who was able to dodge the last strike. Nearing Aesar, the Orthrus swiped downwards to where Aesar was at. Aesar dodged the strike with paper margin and took its miss as his chance to strike diagonally at the neck of the Orthrus. With his strike, he managed to cut deep on the right side of the monstrous dog’s neck. But it did not finish it off; as it briskly shifted its entire body away from the swing preventing Aesar’s slash from doing critical damage.

During the entire battle, the Orthrus landed several strikes on Aesar with its sharp, dagger like claws. But Aesar’s wounds would soon heal after receiving it. The Orthrus could tell that the opponent before him was not someone it could defeat. As if it was acting on instinct, the Orthrus quickly bolted away from danger, the man that it could not do any harm.

Ryfon, noticing the monster’s intention quickly intervened and tried to land a strike. The Orthrus sensed his approach and swiftly jumped up, avoiding the strike. The creature no longer had any footing which prevented it from effectively sifting its body. Taking this chance, Aesar, who made his way in front of the beast to cut off its escape, swung his large silver greatsword.

With a large yet quick swing from Aesar’s silver greatsword, he managed to slice off the front left of the Orthrus’ leg as it tried to pounce on him while in mid-air. A loud howl of agony could be heard from the Orthrus. But it was soon silenced when its head was removed from its body.

“Phew. Slicing its head off was incredibly hard. I had to infuse a great deal of mana on my weapon to cleanly slice it off,” Ryfon said with a big smile across his face.

“Yeah, those hellhound furs are impressively tough. To think, that all of our village’s soldiers have them.”

“Definitely. And as I’ve said before, those furs are very rare outside of our village. Having an army armored in hellhound leather is a sight to see.”

“It’s still hard to believe that not many can get its hide. Hellhounds must indeed be very rare outside this forest.”

‘Well nephew, they are certainly rare outside this forest, but one of the other main reasons is because not many can kill them. Sheesh, you’re truly powerful, dear nephew,’ Ryfon thought to himself and did not respond to Aesar’s ignorant statement.

The two then gazed around the devastated area and stared to contemplate. Both knew what each other were thinking. How and why were there so many hellhounds appearing – not to mention the appearance of a legendary creature, the Orthrus.

After a brief silence, the two looked at each other, only to find the same concluded face; they did not know the answer.

There have been times when Aesar and Ryfon would attempt to delve deeper north into the forest to find information, but dragons from the mountain ranges and various other powerful creatures deterred them. Not to mention Amara forbade them.

15 years ago, when the two attempted to go further north, they met a colossal hydra. Its body could be called a small mountain, and its heads were as large as houses. The fight lasted an eighth of a day (4 hours). They wore out the multi-headed serpent drastically while they were constantly bombarded by smaller hydras, 1/6th the sized of the larger one. Eventually, Aesar and Ryfon retreated at a sight of an even larger hydra appearing.

They haven’t attempted to try again since that day, but they were confident with their current status in trying again. What prevented them was Amara.

With the task done, they made their way back home where a certain someone was constantly worrying.

Behind them was now a very horrifying, large bald spot in the forest littered in large black, mangled bodies of hellhounds.