The night hung heavy with an oppressive stillness, the aftermath of the chaotic inferno casting an eerie silence over the desolate town of Woodstone. The air was thick with the acrid scent of burnt wood and the haunting echoes of tortured screams still resonated in the air. Edward stood amidst the remnants of a once-thriving community, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and concern.

The directive to return home, a haven for most, was a cruel irony for Edward. Homelessness was now his unwelcome companion, a bitter truth that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness.

{Edward} So this is my reality for now... wandering the desolate streets like a specter.

With a resigned sigh, he sought refuge in a secluded corner, the hard ground beneath him offering little comfort. The night sky above held no solace, its vast expanse seemingly indifferent to the turmoil below.

{Edward} Time to rest... if one can truly find rest in times like these.

As he closed his eyes, hoping for a respite from the harsh reality, a mysterious figure materialized above the town. Clad in black robes, they and their silent companions exuded an aura of foreboding. Edward's keen senses picked up on the strange chant that emanated from the dark assembly, words that held an otherworldly resonance.

{Mysterious Figure} O santanas, adiuva nos libera malum de corde Domini, Diaboli Menace.

The incantations hung in the air, an ominous symphony that foretold of impending doom. Unbeknownst to the town, a black figure emerged on the West side, an embodiment of darkness guided by unholy purpose.

{Black Figure} O lauda, lauda diabolum...

The macabre words trailed from the figure's lips, each step etching a sinister path toward the unsuspecting town gate. The guard, unaware and powerless, succumbed to an unnatural slumber, allowing the dark presence to breach the town's defenses.

{Black Figure} O lucifer, occide me.

A sword swung, a brief flash of violence that ended with the figure's disappearance, leaving behind an ominous countdown. The finality of the countdown heralded a torrent of black flames that erupted with hellish intensity, consuming everything in their path.

{Child} Hey, what's this?

Innocence met malevolence as a child's curiosity led to a tragic encounter with the black flames. The town, entrapped by an unseen force, became a cauldron of despair.

{Child} HEEELP!!! MOOOM! DAADD!!!! ANYONE HELP ME! BROTHER!!!!

Desperation and agony echoed through the burning streets, but salvation remained elusive. Amid the chaos, Edward awoke to the searing pain of the flames, a visceral reminder of the nightmare he found himself in.

{Edward} AAUGHHHH! IT HURTS AHH!!!! FIRE!!!

His instinctual response, a cascade of water magic, doused the flames that threatened to consume him. As he surveyed the hellish landscape, a chilling realization took hold.

{Edward} Is this hell?

The once-vibrant town now lay in ruin, and the cries of the suffering resonated in every direction. Amidst the madness, Edward sought out others, a beacon of hope in the sea of despair.

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{Edward} Hey, are you okay?

Yet, his attempts at aid were met with muted responses, the pain too overwhelming for coherent communication.

{Edward} Water bast IV!

His incantations invoked a torrent of water, a fleeting reprieve for those ensnared by the flames. However, the temporary relief was cruelly juxtaposed by the silence that followed—the lifeless gaze of those he had tried to save haunting him.

{Edward} ...

A cacophony of screams enveloped him, a disorienting symphony of anguish that gripped his soul.

{Edward} What is really going on...

Edward's confusion mirrored the chaos around him as he navigated through the burning town, his senses assaulted by the sights and sounds of suffering.

{Edward} God, if I try pouring the flame out, it will kill them. Let's try a Holy spell.

Determined to make a difference, Edward invoked a prayer, an earnest plea for divine intervention.

{Edward}

O God, seeing as there is in Christ Jesus an infinite fullness of all that we can want or desire,May we all receive from him, grace upon grace; grace to pardon our sins, and subdue our iniquities;to justify our persons and to sanctify our souls; and to complete that holy change, that renewal of our hearts,Which will enable us to be transformed into the blessed image in which you created us.O make us all acceptable to be partakers of the inheritance of your saints in light, Amen.

The invocation echoed through the night air, a sacred plea in the face of profane chaos. A divine response manifested in the form of a celestial being, feathers cascading from the heavens to touch the suffering townsfolk, alleviating their agony.

{Edward} Good, that worked huh.

Yet, even as hope flickered, the toll on Edward became apparent. The consequences of his immortal nature, a heart strained to its limits, revealed the price of his benevolent efforts.

As the remnants of the spell lingered, Edward observed a marching contingent of soldiers, their stoic march through the East gate a stark contrast to the pandemonium within.

{Edward} Just a little more!

Determined to escape the encroaching threat, Edward navigated the shadows, seeking refuge from both the inferno and the looming military presence.

However, as he emerged, a spear aimed for his head threatened to end his escape prematurely.

The commander's stern gaze bore into Edward, demanding answers that even he did not possess. The air crackled with tension as the soldiers closed in, their weapons gleaming ominously in the dim light of the flickering flames.

{Commander} You, tell us what is going on inside.

{Edward} Like hell if I know.

Edward's defiance hung in the air, a stark challenge to the authority that sought to hold him captive. The commander, unyielding in his resolve, issued a chilling command.

{Commander} Being resistant, I see. Soldiers, kill him.

The soldiers, instruments of the commander's will, moved with calculated precision, surrounding Edward like a pack of hungry wolves closing in on their prey. The clash of weapons and the harsh metallic scent of impending conflict saturated the air.

{Edward} More trouble, huh? I don't have time for this.

As if on cue, three soldiers advanced with spears, lunging towards Edward with the intent to subdue and conquer. Yet, Edward's reflexes, honed by countless battles, were razor-sharp. In a seamless motion, his sword whirled through the air, severing the head of one soldier and sending it rolling across the ground.

The spears lodged in his chest were swiftly extracted, and with a calculated toss, they impaled two soldiers with deadly accuracy. The battlefield became a macabre dance of death, the flames casting grotesque shadows that flickered with each life extinguished.

However, the respite was short-lived. One soldier, displaying unexpected agility, parried Edward's onslaught. In a flash, he closed the distance, slashing Edward's arm and delivering a powerful kick that sent him sprawling across the ashy ground.

Two more soldiers descended upon him, stabbing viciously at his head. But Edward, undeterred, unleashed a blinding Shining Ray, a burst of radiant energy that disintegrated the two soldiers, leaving only a faint residue of their former existence.

{Edward} Black flame.

The darkness responded to his command, enveloping his sword in an ethereal, breathing fire. The blade flickered ominously, mirroring the chaos that surrounded them.

{Edward} Triple Sense, Triple Speed.

Empowered by his heightened senses and swifter movements, Edward re-entered the fray. With calculated precision, he severed the arm of the soldier who had maimed him, delivering swift justice.

A chilling plea pierced the tumultuous atmosphere.

{Soldier} Ple- please! Let us live! We were just following orders!

But Edward, his eyes reflecting none and embodying darkness, was unyielding in his judgment. As the last soldier pleaded for mercy, Edward's cold gaze turned towards the fallen commander, who lay on the ground, lifeless. The air was heavy with the stench of death, and the fiery glow from Edward's blade flickered ominously.

{Edward} Your orders led to this chaos. Your hands are stained with the blood of innocents.

The fallen commander's lifeless eyes stared into the abyss, and in that moment, Edward's demeanor remained unbroken, a testament to the unrelenting darkness that had consumed him.

{Edward} This is the consequence of your choices.

With a swift and deliberate motion, Edward's sword descended, severing any lingering breath of life from the fallen commander. The flames of vengeance danced in his eyes, casting an eerie glow on the gruesome aftermath of the battle. The air was thick with silence as Edward stood among the fallen, a solitary figure bathed in the haunting light of his own creation.

CHAPTER 8