A multitude of lights glared within the chamber, the runes rapidly changing their symbols. People gathered at the window in awe and curiosity. But then without warning, the runes burst, producing a blinding light. Many shielded their eyes from the light, but some did not react fast enough as they were blinded.
Slowly the light dimmed, making the room almost as dark as a void, save for the faint lights of candles. The researchers unshielded their eyes to see what had happened. Inside the chamber with the large creature, all of the runes had disappeared, save for one lone rune. The rune faded in and out, a clear sign that its power was almost spent.
One of the people spoke up, "H-hey guys, is it just me or did that thing get bigger?" All of the researchers looked to the humanoid bug to see. It's abdomen even more bloated than before, and its arms and legs appearing to have grown in length. Its head was bigger as well, with its hair touch the floor of the room. The chains looked as though they could barely restrain it.
All of the researchers now knew something without a doubt in their mind. The only thing holding this creature back were these ruins. What in the name of the chief god was this thing that they discovered?
(-)
The city was dead, Yuri and her group of kunoichi discovered this as soon as they entered. The great pyramid, that once resided at the centre of the city, was now nothing but a giant pile of rubble.
It did not take long for the kunoichi to notice the ocean of corpses throughout the town. The horrible smell making almost Yuri hurl, and the grotesque old corpses all staring at her.
Hatred, despair, sadness, confusion, and fear could be seen on the face of every corpse. This battlefield, no, this mass graveyard was beyond anything that Yami or her companions could imagine.
"This, this is far too much. how can such death be allowed?" Asked one of the Kunoichi.
"I... I don't know," Yami turned to face her fellow kunoichi with a serious look, "Everyone, search the area for survivors or potential info we can gather. After that, we are leaving immediately to report back."
The group of kunoichi all nodded in agreement and began their search of the ruins.
"Now I understand, sister, why you shutter at mentioning of The Red Hood," muttered Yami staring towards the setting sun. "But I promise you, sister, I will stop this beast, for your sake. I will not stop until I do."
(-)
A pack of mamono had returned to the war camp, dragging behind a multitude of human men who were all wrapped in chains. The chained men had not even simple rags to hide their shame, leaving themselves in disgrace.
Every single one of the men pleaded for mercy, to be allowed to be set free. But none of the mamono cared as they dragged them away one by one to private tents. Cries and moans then could soon be heard.
The sounds could be heard even from the war tent, bringing joy to Druella and the commanders under her.
"Right here is where we will set up an ambush. Dalhu, I know you just got back, but your soldiers are always...eager"
"You know us too well, Druella." Spoke up the Baphomet commander Rosia.
The commander Dalhu then entered the room with a grin on her face. "Ah Dalhu, just in time. We were about to start."
"Heh, well I am always ready to serve you, your highness."
"Indeed," Simply replied Druella. She changed her gaze on the map before continuing, "As you all know at this point, Lescatie has become a much harder target than before. However, know we at long last have enough info thanks to our friend Sasha."
One of the other commanders, a minotaur, spoke up, "Finally, been tired of waiting. Excluding those village invaders of course,"
"I am sure we can all agree with that. Now Dalhu," Druella pointed to the border between Lahara and Lescatie, "I want you to form a blockade here. I know you just returned, but you and your soldiers are always...eager."
"You know us too well, Druella."
"Excellent, now then the rest of you all will be blocking off any other potential paths travelers might be taking. We are going to bleed Lescatie dry."
(-)
Sasha closed the door behind her and sighed in exhaustion. Another day of doing almost nothing but taking care of the children. With what little free time she had, she had barely gotten any info for her the mamono. Though from what she had gathered in conversation, it was a lot more compared to the info they got themselves.
To be honest a small bit of her still doubted if the mamono were innocent. The more she tried to talk to others about it, the more she was shot down. Even God had stopped answering her questions.
Even then she was near her breaking point. She had so many things on her plate that she could barely keep it together. Either it is taking care of human or mamono children, sending info to Druella, she just felt exhausted.
The only person who was helping her keep it together was Elt. As much as she wanted to tell him everything, she couldn't. She had to keep a strong face for everyone she knew, even for elt.
Sasha looked over to the small idol of the chief god. Maybe tonight God would hear her tonight. And so, she began to pray with all her might once again.
"Dear God, even though I can no longer hear you, I still wish to ask you to help bring a smile to everyone's faces. I know I have sinned to help the mamono but I know now that their cause is just. I ask for your forgiveness, but I will still follow my heart to help everyone. Even still I will continue to pray..."
(-)
A great multitude of people were chained and dragged across the land. Their bodies were malnourished. Each and every one of them had nothing but the most torn and filthy rags to keep their dignity. All of them possessing a veining, twirling contortion of flesh somewhere on their body. Bits of their skin was missing from the constant friction of the chains wrapped around them.
One of the slaves fumbled and fell down on their face. "Get moving, slave!" Yelled one of the Way of White paladins, grabbing him by his beard to pull him up. The paladin looked at him for a moment to observe him, "I don't know what potential His Holiness sees in you wretched lot. Especially with one as faulty as you." The paladin then pushed the slave onward to catch up with the others.
The slave stumbled again but regained balance. They found themselves walking next to another undead. "This...is...hopeless...Gael...," Muttered the fellow undead to slave in a dry voice.
Gael couldn't help but to agree with that. Even as an accursed undead, everything was hurting, and his body felt too weak to go on. His fear was keeping him going, but there was one other thing as well. "I know, I know. But maybe... one day... we will finally be free. Maybe one day we will be at peace."
The undead could only scoff at that, "Sure, like...that will ever happen."
More time passed as they were pushed along like cattle. Other undead fell down to the ground exhausted, Gael soon discovered that the paladin was not as merciful to them as they were to him. Many of them receiving a quick beating before being dragged back to the group.
Eventually, something on the horizon was spotted, the largest fortress Gael had ever seen. The leading paladin spoke up, "Well, looks like you dogs will finally get some rest. Though I doubt you will get much, not like you deserve any anyway
A small smile formed on Gael's tired face. It would be nice to get some peace for once. He could only hope one day, sooner or later- An unknown feminine voice echoed in his mind, finishing his thought, "That the death and conflict would one day be over. That someday all will be right with the world. That none would be afraid of another's animosity or bitterness. In the name of the Chief God, amen."
...
...
...
Gael's eyes shot open, breathing heavily as he awoke to find himself almost buried in sand. Quickly he climbed out as much as he could and reformed outside the sand-covered ruins
He could now tell it was the dark of night, not even the moon being out. He should keep going, but now he had questions.
What was that? That memory was his own he knew this, but that voice... That voice was not of his memories. Did that mean someone was on to him? Was one of the gods of this world somehow entering and searching through his mind? No that sounded like some form of prayer, but who would be praying to him of all people.
He did not know, but now he knew he had to pick up the pace.
Even if it was the dark of night, he could still navigate far better than when he was in the storm. He could only hope that he was not far from the region beyond this dreadful desert.