Dark clouds hung low in the sky, their promise of impending rain held it's breath for far too long, as if the heavens themselves had kept silent in response to the grimness unfolding below.

Amidst the harrowing aftermath of an unending battle, soldiers clad in mud-stained uniform and weariness, clung together like desperate survivors on a sinking ship. A frail lifeline in the agitated sea of their shattered comradeship, they could not mask the undeniable exhaustion etched on their faces. The very air tasted of metallic blood, an unrelenting testament to the battle's ongoing cruelty.

On the outskirts of the battlefield, the villagers who had been stationed behind the sanctuary of the village gate stood in morbid fascination, their eyes transfixed by the horrors unfolding before them. Soldiers, once fierce and courageous, were now being torn apart, their agonized screams cutting through the cacophonous clashes of combat. Limbs, grotesquely severed, bore silent witness to the malevolence at play, while pitiful pleas for salvation echoed as they were being devoured alive, their desperation sending shivers down the spines of all who listened.

"GAHHH!"

"MAKE IT STOP!!!"

"HELP!!"

Then, as if the heavens themselves wept for the fallen, the first raindrops descended from the darkened sky. Initially, they were nothing more than gentle, sporadic taps upon the earth, akin to tears shed for the valiant soldiers who had met their end in battle. But gradually, the rain intensified, transforming into a relentless cascade from above, as if the heavens sought to obscure the gruesome scene from the gaze of the faint-hearted villagers, offering a momentary respite from the horrors.

"I-I can't!" cried out a terrified village resident who had been witnessing the brutal scene. In his panic, he swiftly released his makeshift weapon and bolted as far away as possible, desperately hoping to escape.

"Hey, wait!" shouted another villager in an attempt to halt the fleeing man's escape. However, his pleas were swiftly ignored as others joined the escapee following suit right behind the frightened man.

Only a handful of the villagers, who had once constituted the majority, chose to stay behind, each driven by their unique circumstances and reasons for not following the fleeing group. Among them was Ethan's father, resolute in his decision to remain steadfast.

The remaining individuals refrained from questioning or complaining about the fleeing group; they understood the grim rationale all too well. They also knew precisely why they had chosen to stay. Consequently, they stood resolute in silence, patiently awaiting their own turn.

Beyond the gate, the screams persisted, haunting the air for a considerable span of time. With each passing moment, the anguishing screams conveyed through the curtain of rain grew increasingly subdued.

*Tap,Tap*

"..."

*Tap,Tap*

For a fleeting moment, the sole sounds that permeated the air were the rhythmic pattering of heavy raindrops. It was as if the world itself had momentarily come to a standstill, cocooned in an eerie calm. However, this fragile peace was violently shattered by a sudden and foreboding rumble. The very ground quivered beneath their feet, and the brief tranquility was changed by deep and unsettling screeches.

As the villagers exchanged fearful glances, their eyes widened in dread. The source of this terrifying disturbance soon became chillingly evident. Beyond the village gates, obscured by the relentless rain, numerous shadows loomed. With each combined step, the ground quaked, and the ominous silhouettes drew closer.

The villagers, their hearts heavy with fear, knew that their adversary had arrived at their very doorstep. Signaling the downfall of the villages only true hope, the soldiers and their lord.

Long, weedy legs approached the village gate with hostile grace as they effortlessly scaled the wooden barricades they called a gate. Their talon-tipped limbs gripping the walls with uncanny agility.

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As the rain-soaked villagers who had remained behind gazed upon the nightmarish intruders before them, a palpable change of heart could be seen within their very next actions. Panic swept through their ranks, their frantic voices resounding off the village walls as they scattered in every conceivable directions. However, their response came far too late, for the monstrous beings lunged forward with breathtaking swiftness, its crimson eyes gleaming ominously in the dim light that struggled to pierce the shadows cast by the dark clouds.

A piercing scream cut through the deluge of panic as one unfortunate soul was ensnared in the creature's lunge, their body writhing helplessly. The creature's razor-sharp teeth bared as drool dripped incessantly from it's quivering maw, rancid stenches wafted from the creatures mouth, a nauseating blend of putrefaction and decay weaving at the individuals nose, twisting at the individual's stomach.

"N-No... Someone... Help-AGHR!!!"

The creature descended with merciless intent upon the banquet of flesh, its gnashing jaws tore into the flesh with savage ferocity, wet sounds of blood being splattered all around, cartilage and tendons snapping like brittle twigs beneath its relentless grate.

The soul, forcibly drained from the individual's body, was etched with their unbearable agony, their pupils transcending the bounds that held it in place as it strained beyond the confines of his eye lid. Their voice stifled by the gaping maw, rendered speechless, unable to seep out a single noise from their widely open mouth as though their very voice box had been cruelly cut off.

"We're all going to die!"

"Oh, God! Have you forsaken us?"

"Why us? What have we done to deserve this?"

Complaints and disbelief reverberated throughout their ranks. Just moments ago, they had been enjoying their meals with loved ones and diligently working for the days ahead. But In the blink of an eye, they were thrust into a nightmarish realm beyond their comprehension, a place where unadulterated malevolence reigned supreme. Faced with this unfathomable horror, some made the grim choice to end their lives on the spot, opting to escape the gruesome fate of being devoured alive and sparing themselves the agony that had befallen the first victim.

Some resorted to cutting their wrists bleeding out to death, while others implored the person beside them to end their suffering swiftly. Yet, the most heart-wrenching sight was the horrifying sight of parents extinguishing the vibrant flames of life in their own children's, only to follow suit in the tragic and haunting process.

*Blargh*

Ethan's father couldn't help but vomit uncontrollably as he bore witness to the unspeakable scene unfolding before him, from the gruesome dismemberment inflicted by the creatures to the heart-wrenching sight of people choosing to end their own lives. Anyone who had the misfortune to witness such horrors would struggle to maintain their sanity, let alone stomach the meal they had enjoyed just moments earlier. Tears of fear and sorrow welled up in his eyes, leaving him paralyzed and uncertain, grappling with the overwhelming sense of helplessness.

In the midst of his emotions, as Ethan's father struggled to regain his composure, a sudden, screech cut through the chaotic noises, a screech closely behind him. He barely had time to react before said grotesque creature lunged at him, its malevolent intent clear in its bloodshot eyes and gnashing, serrated teeth.

Caught off guard and unable to react in time, the creature successfully pinned him down. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he desperately scanned his surroundings for any means of defense. The dismembered remains of other victims lay scattered around him, his desperate eyes fell upon a severed arm still clutching what appeared to be a spading fork.

With trembling hands, he seized the discarded weapon, its jagged end tainted with the blood of its previous owner. His heart raced in his chest, his survival instincts urging him to muster every ounce of strength and determination to fight for his life.

Summoning every last ounce of strength, he thrust his arm forward with all his might, driving the spiky end of the spading fork into the creature's eye—the softest and most vulnerable spot in its monstrous form. The creature let out an ear-piercing shriek of agony, releasing its hold on him as it writhed in torment.

The rush of adrenaline snapped him out of his despair, and in that crucial moment, the severity of the situation downed on him. The village was already doomed, that much was certain, and he had no sense of delusion about his ability to protect it. However, he could still protect his wife and delay the approaching monster from reaching or at least entering the Inn. At this very moment, the village was no longer his problem, his sole focus became the safety of his wife.

With resolve, he made his way toward the inn, paying no heed to the screams of despair and help from his anguished neighbors. In the blink of an eye, he stood before the inn still untouched by the vile creatures. Positioning himself between the looming creatures and its entrance. His plan was clear: prevent them from entering the inn and ensure they passed through without touching it. If he could accomplish this, then his sacrifice would not be in vain, and at least he could spare his wife from the same gruesome fate that had befallen so many others and most likely himself.

"My wife will remain safe, no matter what."