The conflict of the east has taken over the entirety of the new land. Army apply pressure on the border and are slowly draining the resources from the east men. The conflict does not matter nor does the eventual victor of the war. What matters is what the conflict brings to the country side. Here is the tale of Reggie. The man who fought until he could not and the inevitibale conflict that occurs when one does such. Our tale starts in an importan conflict on a strategical military vantage point. The victor of this battle will have control of the imports and export throughout the entire region. The Eastman must defend their land from their invaders and to do so they are drawn in this bloody battle. 

Reggie stands at the top of a stone wall along with his small squadron of troops. They see the approaching invaders an their hearts sink into their stomachs. The see an army numbering in the thousands. Each and everyone armed with the latest steel weaponry. Compared to this Reggies army of haphazard conscripts are only armed with Bronze Age weaponry and are on the brink of starving. Even though the odds are against them, surrendering is not an option. The invaders take no prisoners and seek to erridicate the East Men's populas. Reggie lifts his sword and gives the best speech he can muster. His troops rally behind his words and filled with emotions. They ready their bows and cover the sky with as many arrows as they can. Arrows fall at a rapid rate decending on the invaders. A few manage to find themselves a nice resting spot in the gaps of the soldiers armor. Slowly the front line begins to fall. 

The East men drop oil and rocks from the stone walls attempting to stop the invaders from scaling. Eventually a few make it past and then the numbers the numbers of the invaders who make it into the fortress begins to climb. Reggie stand in the center of the Fortress ground with his closest and most faithful allies. They form a circle to protect the commanders back as he fights in a glorious battle. Reggie swings his sword at the first man to challaenge him and swiftly cuts him down. His blade weaves a a painting of gore as it slices through the next man. Reggies heart swells with pride as he slays man after man losing himself in battle. Reggie has never lost a battle, he's never lost a tournament, and he's never lost a fist fight. By all accounts Reggie could be the best warrior in the entirety of the world. 

All of that being known, its not enough. No one soldier can fight off thousands of blood thirsty invaders No mans stamina can last forever. Eventually the mighty will fall. Reggie pants hard as he rushes forward pushing his blade into an enemy lieutenant's chest. As he does the force of the blade meeting the steel results in his blade snapping in half. Reggie grabs a nearby spear and tosses it into another mans chest. He reaches to his side and pulls his short sword. He slides his foot back to take a battle stance when his foot meets blood. He loses his balance as the blood takes the grin from his boots. His foot slides so far back it brings Reggie to his knees. As he goes to stand multiple soldiers rush him from all angles. They bring his blade down hard on him as he blocks in an attempt to regain himself. 

Reggie stands tall after days of conflict. His armor covered in blood and his blade is ruined by the flesh and bone its collaided with. He screams at the top of his lungs with triumph. He has done what no man could do. He single handily slayed the the invaders forces. All of his allies have fallen in battle beside him, with weapons in hand. He is proud of their sacrifice. He takes a deep breath and allows himself to calm down. He realizes something strange, he's no longer tired. In fact he feels like he's in perfect condition. Its almost like he's been revitalized by the best sleep and food imaginable. Thinking about it critically he comes to the conclusion that he hasn't felt this good since he was in his 20s. He's now a grizzlies warrior and on his best day would never feel this sort of vitality. That's when he hears a voice from behind. 

You are a great warrior yes?

I...Am the best. Who are you?

I go by many names. I am many and I am one. Are you pleased with your victory?

It is my greatest honor to save my country. Are you here to challenge me on behalf of the invaders?

There is no invader here. There is just us and you. If you are happy then you can come with me. 

What do you mean if I am happy? Where are you attempting to take me?

I wish to take you to where all must go. I have shown you, you the life you wish to have led. Now you must leave with me. 

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Showed..me? Are you jesting that this entire battle was fake?

No, the battle was real. But you did not fight the battle. You died on the stone wall betrayed by one of your closest allies. The battle was over before it began. 

Impossible the East would never surrender. 

I grow tired of your words. You must go. You will go. 

I will not.

Reggie readies his blade. He squints his eyes to get a better view of the enemy in front of him. That's when he notices the man he was speaking to was not a man. He had not noticed due to the distance the man was away. The man sat on the wall as he talked down to Reggie. But he was not sitting. His body just did not look as it should. He was not wearing black armor, that was his skin. That was not a horned helmet it was actual horns. His legs weren't covered in fur armor, his legs were covered in for. The creature before him was a horror to see. Its eyes glowed red at the sight of Reggie readying his blade. Its twisted face turns into a smile with sharp canines showing. Reggie is feels fear for the first time in his life but he does not back down. 

The creature jumps down from the wall. The fall should have killed any living thing or at least broken their limbs. But this...Thing.. Stood as if nothing happened. It towered over Reggie and was even more terrifying up close. We likes to hunt. We were hoping you would not come peacefully. Show us the warrior spirit. The laugh that erupts from this creature seemed to be even more horrifying than the creatures monstrous appearance. Reggie ignores what he feels and presses forward. His blade dancing around in the light and he begins to gain ground. He swings wide and every attack is parried by the creatures dagger like claws. Reggie goes low among for the hooves of the monster with and arching swing. The creature lifts its foot out of the way and kicks Reggie in his chest. The force from the kick knocks Reggie back at least 100 feet. The only reason he stopped flying back was he collided with the Fortress wall. Reggie loses the wind from his lungs on impact and can feel blood oozing down his head. 

His entire victory was a lie and now he must fight this...beast? He uses what little strength he has to pick his blade up. He presses forward as he had in every battle before this one. His blade hums as it slices the wind itself. Each attack a beauty and each on deadly. But no matter what he does his blade never finds its mark. The beast was just too strong, it was too skilled. Reggie turns his back and swings with all his might. The creatures claws fail to make it up in time and finally his blade hits the monster. He feels it as it slides across the monsters chest. He feels his victory coming. He knew not giving up would be enough. Then for the second time he feels fear. His blade had made contact, but it did nothing. It didn't cut him, it didnt scratch him. The beast stood there still with a piercing gaze. Reggie could not defeat this monster. He couldn't hurt this monster. Reggie in every way was defeated. 

Is it time to hunt? The beasts lips curl into a smile.

Reggie throws his blade full force at the monsters throat. The beast knocks it to the side as if it were never a real threat to begin with. Reggie then does something he has never done before. He runs. He turns around and sprints towards the gates at full speed. He doesn't attempt to look graceful or to save face. He just wants to get away. His boots sink into the blood soaked ground as he pushes the gate doors to the side. He doesn't hear the beast chasing behind him. He feels as if nothing of that size could possibly be fast on the ground. As he sprints across the open field outside the garrison, he makes a break for the wooline in the distance. Finally after an exhausting run he makes it into cover. He ducks behind the trees and confirms the monster is still far behind. The monster is sluggishly running and had just made it to the gate off the Fortress. He breaths a sigh of relief. Today he will not fall in battle. He will return to the capital and bring back an entire regiment to slay this beast. all he had to do was make it back. 

For days he eludes the beast. Matching through to woods and avoiding the main road. He never uses a fire at night for fear of the invaders locating his camp. After weeks of travel he makes it past enemy lines and into the East Men controlled territory. He can finally see the capital in the distance but its late and he needs rest. That night for the first time he made a real camp. He started a fire and he ate a nice rabbit that he had caught nearby. He laid his back against a tree and closed his eyes. He dreams of his beautiful wife and kids. This was his last battle. He would retire after slaying the monster. He would finally give his kids the life thy deserved. He would spoil his grandkids and spoil his family. He smiles as he dreams. When he opens his eyes what he saw was earth shattering. Two red eyes standing over him staring directly into him. Teeth glinted in the light of the fire as the came crashing down into his throat. He felt no pain as his life gushed out of his veins. He felt no fear as his arms were tore from his torso and his intestines were ripped from his stomach. He did not cry as his head left his body. He realized finally he was already dead. Nothing he could do would stop what was happening and he gave in. 

The hunt is over. You are with us.