Chapter 25 - Merge
The mercenaries march through the coniferous forest as soon as they landed on the nearby shores. Shaykard laid down orders immediately upon landing; to trek carefully in the bustling forest.
Shaykard: "What the hell is this?"
The path through the forest is heavily decorated with dried blood. The remains of defeated foes lay scattered everywhere. Some mercenaries with weaker stomachs immediately discharge the meal they have eaten earlier. The sheer gruesome horror that displays itself in front of them shakes even Shaykard, a hardened veteran.
Evie shields her eyes away from the scene. Fiona stares motionlessly. The trees have been decorated with Fomor organs. Leaves splattered red. The ground littered with incomplete corpses of both Fomors and wild beasts. One gnoll had its eyes ripped out and slouched against a tree. Another with its own spiked club smashed through the inside of its brain. Some of the dead wolves are hanging limp above the branches.
The mercenaries warily walk past and over the inhumane result of battle. Their movements are slow and sluggish around the piled gore and filth. Many unanswered questions are floating above their heads but none has the guts to bring forth their doubts.
Thankfully, the dead are Fomorian, not human.
My physical limit gnaws at the extent of my expenditure. My body can't keep up with what I want to do. The constant wake from restless sleep devours my mental strength. I find myself becoming more and more agitated these days.
My nightmares haunt me relentlessly.
This time I find myself weak and clumsy in my dreams, surrounded by the same goblins that attacked my village. I could only watch as they once again slaughter my family and friends one by one. I watch as they slowly dominate the village...while I stand there dumbly, unable to move.
Even though it's just a dream...
Even though the outcome has already been decided...
I still wish to save them.
But I'm powerless here.
I can't control myself well.
I can't move the way I want to.
"Lethita."
My brother appears in front of me in the same way before he died, the same spear pierced through his ribs. I can't bear to look at him in the eye. The scene pains me greatly. Why must my dreams be so cruel?
"Why didn't you save me?"
My brother asks me in a stern tone of voice. My mouth feels too dry to open.
"I-"
"Is it because you're weak?"
My words won't come out. I don't know how to answer him. I simply nod. My brother calmly walks up after seeing my response.
"But Lethita, you have POWER!"
His hands grasp my neck. The cold sensation of his pale flesh sends a bad premonition down my body.
White light covers my eyes and my consciousness slowly drifts to a different scene. I find myself alone in the clearing where I first met the giant polar bear in Hoarfrost Hollow. A thunderous roar brings me to full alert. I no longer feel physically restricted.
The white terror descends in an instant and dives towards me. I struggle against the violent rumbling of the floor. The tyrant beast crushes past my defenses and thirsts for my blood. I swiftly dodge to the side but its speed exceeds my reaction and I'm left with a huge gash on my left side from its swipe.
I reflexively ready a potion in hand of which I splashed the entire content on the open wound. As expected, it closes up immediately but the pain is still lingering behind. At least I won't have to worry about bleeding out.
I dive away from my position as soon as I finished healing up as the polar bear slams its paw on where I was briefly resting. I'm being pressured back into a corner.
This isn't how it's supposed to go. But then again I had no idea what to expect when facing an enemy that's 30 times my size.
The white tyrant stands before me in a menacing manner. It roars in the very large and open area in the Hoarfrost Hollow. Thankfully this area allows me to move around freely as compared to the tightly packed cavern tunnel. I'm not as pinned down here.
"Haa... Haa... Haa..."
"Grr... Grr..."
My scrambling has left me exhausted. My stamina can't keep up with its relentless assaults.
See my gasping for air, the bear gets on its fours in preparation for a lunge. It seems to have picked up on my vulnerability. There is about 10 meters in between the two of us. I just need to dodge to the sides with my swords acting as a shield.
I press against my swords and slice towards my left with a dash in the moment it charges forth. The heavy impact forces me to lose my balance as its entire body knocks me away. But my blades manage to dig into its flesh from the heavy momentum and we suffer injuries simultaneously. My organs take a beating once I hit the floor hard. The polar bear turns around to reveal two clean cuts on the side of its face. In addition to those new wounds, there are dozens of my blades' marking all over its body.
The bear certainly is not happy with the cuts I've left. It charges a second time within seconds of the previous rush. However, I was not ready for the second time. I manage to block its paw as I'm pushed far back but I crash into a pile of icicles as a result. The impact sends a wave of shock through my back and the ice shatters in several pieces. I taste a rush of iron in my mouth and hurriedly spit out a mouthful of blood. I groan from the dizziness and somehow shrug them off as I endure the ongoing waves of pain.
That blow has lefts me completely defenseless. I can't even stand without wobbling.
The sudden realization hits me just now.
I'm going to die here...
As if the bear heard my inner voice, the giant pins me down under its paw and crushes my throat without hesitation.
My vision fades away from my last moments of death and once again brings me back to the dark. My neck is still held by my brother's cold hands.
What was that just now? My foreseeable death sends a shiver down my back.
"What's holding you back?"
His hands tighten and begin to turn. His words tainted with hate.
"You've been blessed!"
His words ring continuously in my ears. I tear myself away from his hold and give my brother a depreciating glare.
"You're not my brother."
I unsheathe my swords and ready for battle.
"Who are you?"
Darkness scatters throughout my vision. I find Berserker bound up before me once again. My swords slowly reach over to the dark figure.
"It's you..."
It's dead silent this time to my voice tainted with spite. Contrast to its imposing form, Berserker seems to be backing down before me. I withdraw my blade after seeing his movements.
'I know your desire. I may be of assistance...'
"Stop your bullshit. Did you really think I would just listen to you a second time?"
'It's true that I doubt you would listen. But at least let me guide you in using my powers. I won't lift even a finger.'
I stand motionless against his impulsive words. As much I hate to admit it, Berserker has the expertise in itself. It would be greatly advantageous to learn to control his powers.
"Alright. But you're staying chained up here."
'Fine by me.'