Although the wolf had previously saved him, it was unable to defend the entire village by itself. The events Zellrid knew were about to take place left him deeply shaken as they happened.
When the young Zellrid yelled, “Bandits! They’re coming to get us dead!” Already, it was too late. The bandits had brought a hundred men with them when they entered the village.
The villagers tried to barricade their homes, but the bandits were like a black tide of destruction, smashing through every obstacle in their path as though it were nothing. Screams of pure agony filled the night air as they mercilessly killed the villagers one by one. Their women and children were not spared either; they were brutally violated and tortured until they finally died from indescribable suffering. The bandits laughed at their victims’ desperation, relishing in the gruesome carnage.
Young Zellrid tried to flee with his family, but his father barked at him in a harsh whisper.
“Protect your mother, Zellrid. and look after your siblings. The world can be cruel, my child, but do not let it harden your heart. Hold onto compassion, even in the darkest of times.”
Kid Zellrid’s heart sank as he realized the severity of their situation. He knew that there was no way they could fight off this many bandits, but he couldn’t just stand by and watch his family suffer. As they huddled together in fear, Zolarice managed to find a small knife tucked away in his belt and handed it to Zellrid.
“Take this, little brother,” he whispered. “And remember what the father said compassion is your strength.” Zellrid nodded resolutely and took the knife from his brother’s hand. He knew what he had to do. With a mixture of fear and determination, they heard his father’s desperate plea as they dragged him to his home, where Zellrid, Zolarice, and the middle brother resided.
With a chilling thud, his captors slammed the door shut, trapping them all inside with whatever horror awaited. The family watched in terror as the father was snatched and dragged to the floor. The mother screamed and scrambled to his side, but it was too late; an assailant had already picked up a jagged stone from the ground and bashed his skull with it.
A sickening thud resonated through the air, followed by a ghastly splash of brain matter that stained the ground in a viscous red hue.
Kid Zellrid’s scream pierced the air, echoing in a mournful tune. His terror was so immense that thin rivulets of blood trickled from his nose as he shook with fright Urgently, his mother’s in an attempt to calm him down, tears streaming down his cheeks as his vision blurred.
Zellrid’s mother attempted to flee, clasping her children protectively in her embrace. Suddenly, a malevolent force seized her shoulder and wrenched her back around. With a menacing smirk, the figure commanded the others to pin her to the ground, their powerful hands restraining her arms and legs.
Despite her best efforts, she could not break free of their firm grasp. Desperately, Zolarice flung himself at the assailants, lashing out with his fists and teeth in a futile attempt to protect his mother. He was no match for their strength and soon crumpled to the ground as a blow sent his head smashing into the wall. Zellrid quaked with fear as another bandit entered the house, latching onto him with a vice-like grip. The bandit sneered maliciously, “You boys will have quite a bit of fun here tonight.”
His cohorts responded in unison, “Yes, this woman will satisfy us soon enough.” With a chill of terror, Zellrid realized they had already killed off all the children except for his brothers and himself, whom they had captured. With a menacing smirk, the bandit ripped Zellrid’s shirt and lifted him with ease.
He then took out a dagger, carefully engraving an evil cross on his chest over and over again. Sharp cries of pain echoed throughout the room as the same gruesome fate was inflicted upon his brother, Zolarice.
His scared eyes followed the knife as it contorted gleefully, watching his sibling slowly fade away. The sight of his hot blood slowly leaving his hands through multiple cuts made him numb with grief. Tears that once crawled down his face in fear now run down his face in regret—he loved them so much yet never got to tell them this before they left him.
In an effort to protect what is left of his family, he raised his arms in desperation, "Please don't do it just take what you want". But soon enough, a man forced Zellrid’s hand onto the blade of the dagger. The invaders showed no mercy, ruthlessly They tore off Zellrid’s mother’s clothing with brute force while he lay helplessly beneath them.
His brother Zinorc looked on in horror as they began to ravage her right before their eyes. The level of savagery was so immense that a dark, berserker rage filled the air. They raped their mom in front of them, and they beat her. The brothers were frozen in shock and terror, unable to comprehend the depravity of the situation.
the attackers continued their assault, Zinorc felt a surge of anger and helplessness wash over him. He wanted to protect his mother, but he was powerless against the overwhelming force of their attackers. The sound of her screams echoed through the air, piercing his heart with every cry for help.
Crying as she was violated, his mother suddenly stopped. Her expression turned blank, and she looked down at her battered and defiled naked body. Talc’s face became pale, covered in tears and sweat.
She looked at the men with dull, lifeless eyes and slashed her throat with the knife that had been planted at her side. Two of the bandits
laughed as they watched her fall, blood spilling out onto the dirty ground beneath her. The third bandit, a man with a scar running down his cheek, shook his head and spit on the woman’s lifeless body. “Stupid whore,”
Zellrid gazed upon his mother with teary eyes, and for one second, a faint smile danced across her face as she passed away.
as she fell to the ground. Without hesitating, Zinorc grabbed his brother’s arm and tried to sprint away. The siblings’ legs burned as they sprinted through the dense forest, but the barks and snarls of the dogs grew ever closer.
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Zinorc felt his brother’s panicked breath on his neck and knew he had to act fast. Without a second thought, he shoved Zellrid with all his might and turned to face their pursuers.
“I know you’re scared, Zellrid, but we can’t let fear control us. We have to find a way to fight back, even if it feels impossible. stay alive for us revenge us”
The pack descended upon him mercilessly, fangs tearing into flesh as he fought to buy enough time for his brother to escape. The last thing Zinorc saw was the look of horror and gratitude on his brother’s face before everything went black.
Kid Zellrid sprinted with all his might, yet fate intervened in the form of a crumpled shack wall, suddenly toppling and smashing into him. His limp body crashed to the ground, every bone fracturing under its weight. He lay motionless, his breath shallow and labored. A cold chill ran through him as he felt consciousness slip away from him.
The bandit leader who had caused misery and chaos knelt before Zellrid’s lifeless form and began to mock him. “You did well, the last survivor, but your brothers didn’t make it. The dogs tore them apart.” zellrid whispered, “What’s your name?” The bandit leader glared down at Zellrid and said, “What, do you want to know my name?” “What would it benefit you?” Zellrid’s eyes focused on the ruthless bandit leader, and he replied with a faint whisper,
“I want to know your name so that everybody who sniffs the air this day in my village will get a horrible death. I will kill you all, I will tear you apart, and I will make you suffer.”
The bandit leader was taken aback and then smiled and said, “My name is Farkas.” He then rose up, and with a menacing laugh, he walked away. "I am afraid you won't fulfill your promise you are already dying"
Zellrid lay there for what seemed like an eternity, his body shaking as he fought against his mortality. Just before he passed away, Zellrid’s tears began to roll down his cheeks as he vowed that he would live for all of them and get revenge for their plight. “I’m sorry,” he choked out before breaking down again.
As he passed away, Zellrid stood still, unable to speak, while all these horrid events unfolded around him. When he began to drift away, a whisper escaped his lips: “Don’t worry, we will be all right—for you are me and I am you.” With that thought, he drifted out of the nightmare realm and slowly started to wake up.
after hearing a loud scream, he quickly regained his senses and saw the vampire woman he had fought rise from her ashes, still struggling to gain balance. Her eyes were now darker than ever. Filled with hatred for him, she slowly approached him. His injuries were terrible, which prevented him from fighting back.
The vampire said nothing as she stood over him, her sharp fangs bared menacingly He thought for a moment that this was it—the end of his journey. That he was going to die at her hands, as she had planned all along. The vampire woman paused and hesitated for a brief moment She stopped when she heard Zellrid’s voice, her eyes wide with surprise when she listened to his last voice echoing in her mind. “Remember who you were before this curse consumed you.” Zellrid’s voice whispered in the vampire woman’s mind.
“Remember the love and kindness you once had in your heart.” The vampire woman faltered, her eyes flickering with recognition as she struggled against the curse that had turned her. He adds, “What’s your name? I didn’t get the chance to know it.”
The vampire woman stared down at the wounded arcanist in front of her when his words registered in her mind. She hesitated for a few seconds, unsure of what to do. The memories of her past flooded her mind, making her feel things she had not felt before. She tried to remember her name, repeating, “My name is Serana.”
in a desperate attempt. But the overwhelming thirst for blood refused to let her recall who she was and instead sent her into a frenzy The vampire woman launched herself into a frenzied attack, her fangs bared and ready to strike.
She lunged towards Zellrid with all the strength she could muster, but he was prepared for this moment. He braced himself as she lunged toward him, her fangs glinting in the light.
In one swift motion, zellrid managed to fend her off, but she severed his arm instead, leaving him screaming in agony the blood began to pour. The arcanist’s life was quickly slipping away But as life began to leave Zellrid, a strange power surged from his body. A barrier of fire started emanating from him and kept Serana at bay, her screams echoing through the night.
The light was so bright that she had to shield herself with her hands in order not to get burned. In a few seconds, it disappeared, leaving Serana lying on the floor, her limbs broken, and her entire body covered in bruises. The vampire woman stared at Zellrid in shock and awe, realizing that he was not only an arcanist but something she couldn't explain, Something greater than she could ever imagine Zellrid turned to face serana, his eyes burning with fierce intensity. zellrid could feel the power coursing through his veins—the same power that would make her regret it.
He felt like he was no longer in control of his body, but he felt like his brother’s soul was responsible for this power. He spoke firmly, asserting his dominance. “You are dead,” he said, rage emanating from every word. “You hurt my brother, Zellrid.” Fear surged through Serana as the body of Zellrid moved toward her, radiating power and hatred. She knew that Zellrid was no longer in control of himself and that something sinister had taken over completely Serana tried to crawl away, but Zellrid’s hand reached her and grabbed her by the ankle. He lifted her up with ease, a dark smile playing on his lips. “You thought you could get away with hurting him, didn’t you?” he spat.
His fire aura consumed the room, and Serana could feel her strength waning. “But I won’t let you get away with it.” He continued, tightening his grip, and the fire started burning her ankle Serana’s heart raced as she looked up at Zellrid, the man she had once thought she could control. She had underestimated him, and now she was paying the ultimate price. Zellrid’s brother had instilled a merciless side within him, and Serana realized that she was nothing more than a mere insect in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face. “Please, I didn’t mean it. I deserve to die for what I did.” At that moment, Zellrid made his decision. He dropped Serana to the ground and began to torture her, viciously exacting revenge for the pain she had inflicted on his brother.
He channeled his newfound firepower into each blow, bodily punishing her until she was no longer able to move When he was done, Zellrid rose above Serana, his body trembling with anger. He watched as her life slipped away from her Zellrid’s consciousness slowly returned to him as the pain of his injuries set in. He had no idea where this
newfound power was coming from or how it had appeared within him, but he could see Serana lying motionless on the ground. His mind raced for a way to save her, but he didn’t know if he was powerful enough to do it.
The arcanist gritted his teeth and took an action he never thought he’d have to take: he offered Serana his own disembodied arm. He knelt before her and presented it to her, pushing it against her lips until she began drinking the blood from within And, just like that, it was done.“Redemption is a difficult path, Serana. But you have a chance now. Use it to make amends for your past actions.”
Serana had been saved. But at what cost? Zellrid was now in an immense amount of pain. He felt his life slipping away from him as he lay there on the ground, and he uttered his last faint words: “The world can be cruel, but do not let it harden your heart. Hold onto compassion, even in the darkest of times.” His father’s words echoed in Zellrid’s memory, and with those words, he passed out.