Samael's figure soared through the wind, his hair fluttering under its revolting rampage as he made his way towards the north. Void matter surging out of his soles.

His gaze darted back and forth, his eyes narrowed down as he scanned the horizon for any signs of Antrax.

Where is he?! He thought, his jaw clenched tight— when his eyes caught a silhouette in the distance.

"Antrax!" Samael roared as he billowed forward.

No matter what happens, he cannot let Antrax reach the villagers. Never.

Samael's grunts reverberated as he doubled the output of Void Augmentation on his soles, his figure zooming ahead.

Antrax's ears perked up as he shot a glance back, his face quivering in rage and exasperation.

To think that he will be forced to run is already such a humiliation, but being chased by a child is nothing short of disrespectful. However, that same child drilled a hole through his exoskeleton armor, a feat deemed implausible for mundane humans.

Samael inched closer by the second, his knuckles pale white under his grueling grip. Void matter seeped deep into his axe.

Dialing his arm back, Crimson Raven hummed in the air as it descended with unparalleled fury.

Antrax's hands shot forward, a bone wall erupting from his palms, his grunt leaving trails of echoes dancing in the wind.

Antrax had fought Ajax for hours; his ethos is nearly drained, and he's sustained damage far beyond what he can regenerate.

"I must consume humans. Where are they?! Where?!" He muttered to himself, his eyes shifting in a panic.

With a sharp breath, Antrax pushed the bone walls forward, sending Samael back. However, he quickly regained his footing and darted forward once more.

Antrax took a whiff of the air, his nostrils enlarging.

"They're near!" He roared, a grin creeping up his face.

Samael flinched, dread seizing his heart. No! He can't reach them! He thought as he threw a myriad of slashes.

Antrax scowled in exasperation as he shot bone darts in Samael's direction. The sharp projectiles hovered inches from him.

"Bloom," Antrax said.

Samael's eyes widened, his arms lashing up as he formed a makeshift shield.

BOOM!

The bone darts sent Samael a few steps back, his left forearm oozing crimson as fragments of the bone dart dug through his flesh.

Samael gritted his teeth, a muffled scream escaping his lips as he rose to his feet. His slightly crimson eyes spearing a glance towards Antrax.

The abomination scowled as he roared. "WHY. WON'T. YOU. JUST. STAY. DOWN?!"

Spiky bone protrusions jutted off the ground, littering the earth with holes in a flash as it marched towards Samael.

Samael stomped the ground hard, his figure dashing back as he nimbly dodged the spikes, but to no avail.

The spikes advance remained unhindered, overwhelming Samael.

He's creating distance! Samael realized. Left with no choice, he threw a swing, cleaving through the spikes hurling his way— the elongated bone protrusion he severed quivered as they regained their sharp edges, impaling Samael's left shoulder and parts of his body.

"Fool, I can regenerate these bones; did you think you could breeze through them?" Antrax mocked.

"If it weren't for that strange matter running through your veins, you would've been my dinner by now!" Antrax said, his crooked finger pointing at Samael.

"Nonetheless, once I regain my strength, you and your mentor will suffer a fate far worse than death," he resumed as he shifted his gaze back.

Samael bit his lips, blood trailing down his chin.

It was painful.

But he must stop Antrax. No matter the cost,

Samael's head stooped low, his eyes hidden under his disheveled dark hair.

He has an idea, but he doesn't know if he can do it.

No.

He must do it.

Samael raised his head, his gaze shifting north, where ruins stood waiting in time. Chances are, the villagers were residing there. He has no time.

"Void Augmentation," he muttered.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence.

Then came the darkness of the void.

Dark steam gushed out of Samael's skin, billowing forth as they vanished into the unknown.

The Void matter shrouded his entirety, swiftly burning through his Ethos. But at the same time, corroding the spikes tearing through his flesh

Little by little, the bone protrusion faded away, sending Samael's body plummeting down the earth, stirring the dust upon impact.

However, blood oozed from his wounds, streaming down like a river.

Samael took out dozens of red vials, along with a few blue ones. On their travels, Ajax said to never consume more than three of the same potions at the same time. Sure, the effects are nothing short of magical, but the backlash is immense and may be fatal.

However, does he really have a choice?

Samael hurriedly uncorked the vials, swiftly gulping down their contents. Once done, he threw them to the side, only to repeat the action once more.

Eventually, he felt sick; he felt nauseated at the amount he drank, but he stood steadfast and pushed through.

Samael's hands grasped the earth, his fingers etching lines against the ground. His breathing was ragged and uneven. A small mountain of empty glass vials nestles beside him.

He had the urge to vomit everything, but he gritted his teeth.

A surge of pain swept through him, nearly sweeping him off his feet. His screams reverberated in the air as they left trails of hushed echoes.

"ARGHHHH!" Samael wailed, his figure flailing around frantically. His wounds rapidly healing under the combined effects of a dozen healing potions. At the same time, sapping through his energy even with the help of the stamina concoctions.

However, it also brought along sharp pangs of pain as his flesh continuously sewed itself shut.

Samael bit his clothes, tears and blood meandering down his cheeks. His hands drilling through the dirt.

Just... a little... longer...! He thought.

As the seconds ticked away, the holes marring his vessel were nowhere to be found, not leaving a single scar in his skin nor any signs of the injuries he sustained.

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However, his body visibly shook as he rose to his feet. He felt sluggish and fatigued, but he must go on.

Coating his foot with void matter, he darted forward once more. His figure breezing through the wind, hastily closing the distance between him and Antrax.

Meanwhile, the abomination kept tracking the scent of the frail, mundane humans. Eventually arriving at the conclusion that they resided within the ruins, Thinking they were safe from him.

Antrax crackled. In the end, he was still the winner. In the end, the last laugh was his, after all.

With a wide grin etched in his face, Antrax zoomed towards the ruins, claws ready to mutilate everyone that stood in his way.

***

Back in the ruins north of Irvel village

The grand elder stood idle above the towering pillars laying on the floor, forgotten in time and history.

No one knows the origins of the ruined fortress. It has been there long before the village did. But it has provided them safety in times of great need.

But will they survive this disaster?

He does not know.

A sigh escaped the Grand Elders lips.

"Grand Elder! You shouldn't stay out here! The wind is cold; you must go inside and warm up," a villager said.

The grand elder's gaze remained fixed far over the horizon.

Dawn was nearly upon them. Yet, the watchers have yet to return from their battles.

"Grand Elder?" The villager asked.

Shifting his gaze towards the man, the grand elder answered.

"Don't mind me; I may be old, but this bag of bones still stands," he said.

The man scratched his head. "Still, come inside, Grand Elder," he insisted.

"Now now, let this old man have his pea—." The grand elders words were cut short as a man came crashing, his voice reverberating in the air.

"RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! THE ABOMINATIONS ARE COMING!" He screamed in a panic, luring the attention of the folks residing within the fortress.

The villagers stormed out of the ruined fortress, flocking the man in a flash.

"What are you saying, Jerome?" A woman asked, a frown etching lines in her visage.

Jerome's breathing was ragged, his eyes shifting back and forth. "We have to go! NOW! The abomination, they—they are coming!" He said.

The grand elder pushed through the crowd.

"Calm down, Jerome," the grand elder said, his hands gently nesting on the man's shoulders.

With his composure somewhat regained, the Grand Elder asked the question lingering in their minds.

"Now, tell us what happened. Didn't you go out to keep watch of the situation from afar?" The Grand Elder asked, his brows furrowed.

Jerome's body trembled, his eyes quivering in fear.

"He's coming..." he muttered.

"Who's coming?" The villagers asked, tension high in the air.

"The abomination is coming!" Jerome roared.

Chaos seized the villagers in its palm, fear taking roots deep within their hearts as their murmurs and screams filled the air.

"It's coming! Get the kids! Run!"

"What happened to the watchers?! Did they lose? FUCK!"

"No, no, no! This has to be a lie."

The Grand Elder slammed his cane into the ground, breaking the villagers from their stupor.

"Calm down!" He said, luring their attention to him.

"What do you mean by this, Jerome?" The Grand Elder asked.

The man, drenched in cold sweat, replied. "I was watching over the horizon when I saw it. That thing... Whatever it was, it's marching towards us. I don't know what happened to the watchers, but he's coming, and he isn't too far off."

Jerome jolted up. "WE MUST GO. NOW!" he bellowed in fear.

The villagers erupted into panic once more. If Jerome did see the abomination, then what he said is indeed the truth. He wasn't too far off.

That also means one thing.

There's nowhere to escape.

They have children and elderly within their group. Injured people who can't stand up anymore. Even if they could go, the abomination would catch up to them in no time.

Simply put, it was over. There's no more place to take refuge. There are no more safe walls to protect them.

This realization dawned on the villagers.

Some wanted to run; others cried in fear. The mothers hugged their crying children, promising them everything would be alright. And some folks gave in to despair and accepted their fates.

The Grand Elder kept silent, his grip tightening.

He knew it himself that there was indeed no time to run. They weren't combatants, nor were they physically equipped. They were also injured and fatigued; what else can they do but wait?

Steeling his resolve, the Grand Elder made his way outside of the ruined fortress. His eyes peering over the vast expanse of the night.

They were so close. So close to dawn.

He just wished he could see the bright golden sun once more. Even for a mere moment.

Yes, he must do what he must.

The grand elder slammed his cane down for the last time. Taking the attention of the villagers once again

"Carry the old and weak, help the injured, and go. I will hold the abomination back and buy you some time to escape," he said.

The villagers eyes widened.

"You can't do this!"

"We'll stand with you!"

"We can't accept this!"

The Grand Elder sighed. "SILENCE!" He roared.

"I am old now. My prime has long passed, and I'm merely waiting for my time to come. Will you deprive me of the choice of where I wish to breathe my last?" he asked, silencing the murmurs of the crowd.

He could see the tears glistening down their cheeks and the pain in their eyes. But it's because of that that he wishes to give it his all for their survival.

He is the Grand Elder. This is his duty.

***

In the mist of the cold, dark night, a twisted silhouette came into view. Its scarlet eyes glimmering within the shadows. A wide grin etched on its face.

He was a harbinger of death, a plague, and a being of great evil. One born out of betrayal and pain.

He came here for one thing and one thing alone.

Blood.

Antrax's eyes shifted forward, his brows arching upward.

"How kind of you to present yourself on a silver plate," he said, his eyes fixated on a man blocking his path.

The Grand Elder stood unfazed, his eyes closed, as he felt the wind caress his skin.

"Another silent one, eh?" Antrax remarked as he inched closer, anticipation dancing behind his crimson pupils. He can almost taste the warm blood gushing in the man's veins.

"So you're the abomination who caused all this," the Grand Elder said.

Antrax's steps halted, his grin spreading even wider. "Yes, it's quite the work of art, isn't it?" He replied.

A sigh escaped the old man's lips. "I'm afraid I cannot let you pass," he said.

Antrax chuckled. "You? Stop me? Are all humans delusional now?" he mocked.

"Perhaps it's our ambitions that make us humans," the grand elder replied.

"My, how brave," Antrax said, his laugh reverberating in the air.

"Human, tell me where the villagers are and I might just spare you..." Antrax demanded.

The Grand elder opened his eyes, fixating them upon Antrax. "I am Savant, the Grand Elder of Irvel village, and I..."

"I do not answer to the likes of you," the grand elder replied.

"What a shame," Antrax said in dismay as he took a step forward.

"Then again, this is futile. If you think I don't know what you're doing, then you're mistaken. This puny talk will not buy your precious people time. They have nowhere to run to. I will hunt them like dogs," Antrax said.

The grand elder Savant remained silent.

"Fine, enough of all this talk," Antrax said, his figure darting forward.

BANG!

Savant looked Antrax in the eyes, the hideous visage of the abomination glimmering in his pupils.

"You're not afraid of death, old man?" Antrax asked, his arm impaling through the Grand Elder.

"Death comes for everyone; it's only the natural cycle of life," he answered.

Antrax's lips curled up. "What a splendid answer," he said as elongated bone protrusions latched unto Savant, absorbing his vitality at an alarming pace when a voice bellowed in the air.

"NO!" Samael roared, his figure zooming ahead, his axe Crimson Raven in tow.

With a wide swing, the link between Antrax and Savant was severed.

The abomination dashed back, a frown distorting his face. His meal was interrupted by a brat.

Samael swiftly caught Savant's body before it struck the ground, his arms trembling under the brewing torrent of emotions.

"Why?! Why are you here?" Samael asked.

"I told you! Go as far north as you can!" He roared.

Antrax scowled as he pounced forward— A shadow tendril halted his steps, forcing him to take a few steps back.

From the darkness, Ajax's figure ascended, his aqua blue eyes fixated on Antrax.

"You bastards..." Antrax spat in pure rage.

Ajax shot a glance at Samael and toward the old man laying in his arms.

"...I'll buy you time; make it quick," he said.

The grand elder gave a stiff nod as he gazed at Samael.

"You want to know why I'm here?" The grand elder asked.

"Sometimes, it's not just about survival. It's about protecting my family," he said.

Samael gritted his teeth, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

He hated farewells.

All his life, everyone he loved had to leave.

Perhaps it was his weakness.

But that's the reason he yearned for power.

Yet, even with such great power, he failed again.

And it hurts.

It hurts so much.

Why does he have to bid farewell?

Why does everyone he cherishes leave him?

What did the Grand Elder do to receive such a destiny?

Once again, fate has stolen something from him.

"Don't blame yourself, Samael," the Grand Elder said, his hand caressing Samael's cheeks as he wiped away the lone tear meandering down his face.

"I chose this. I chose to save my only family. They were there for me; now it's time for me to be there for them," he said, blood trickling down his lips.

Samael felt a pang of pain seize his heart.

Family.

A part of him he lost a very long time ago.

A word foreign yet familiar.

"I understand," Samael said, his head stooped low.

"Good, boy... very good," the elder said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"However... I do have a regret," he blurted out.

Samael shifted his gaze toward the man.

"I wish... I could've seen the dawn for the last time..." he said.

Samael's grip tightened.

"But I chose this. I, Savant, chose to fight for those for whom I care. Do not pity me; honor me. Honor my wish and witness the dawn in my stead..." The grand elder muttered.

Samael bit his lips hard, the familiar taste of blood invading his senses.

"T-The... dawn..." The grand elder muttered under his breath as the glimmer in his eyes faded.

Samael fell silent as he laid the man down, carefully placing his cane beside him.

Antrax.

He caused all of this.

All the destruction.

All the pain and suffering.

All the deaths

He was the cause of all of this.

He will pay.

He will not get away with this.

"Grandpa Savant, rest easy. I, Samael, will honor your final wish."

"Your death will not be in vain."

Samael rose to his feet as he shifted his gaze ahead. His bloodshot eyes brimming with unadulterated rage.

Screw fate.

Screw destiny.

Screw this damned world.

Right now, the only thing lingering on his mind is one thing.

Defeat... No.

Kill Antrax.

Onyx-dark steam jetted out of Samael's body as he spoke, his voice distorted and deep enough to send fear into the hearts of his adversaries.

"Overdrive."