A Story of Evil

Chapter 113: Unfortunate Creatures

"Were finally here!" Hendrickson announced, jumping off his mound and into the base of the camp.

"Come on everyone faster! I'm starving!" He announced, with everyone laughing at the hopeless musclehead.

"Well at least we know that Hendrickson is still lively." Alice jested.

"Yeah that would be good if we encounter any problems." Sol said in reply, smiling just a bit from the energetic entrance of their reliable vanguard.

The team finally arrived at their next location. With everyone starving, they quickly set up camp. 

As always, each soldier acted according to the roles assigned to them. With some taking care of the tamed monsters while others cooked. Some raised the tents. Some were on guard duty. And some were in charge of setting up a barrier. One which covered the entirety of the encampment, protecting them from any potential ambush.

In no time at all , everything was finally prepared. Everyone was motivated by hunger after all and, they got this exact reward as it was time to eat once again. With Hendrickson leading the charge, calling upon everyone as they began to dig in.

"Come on if you're a real man you should be able to eat a while steak in one sitting!" Hendrickson declared to a group of soldiers. Forcing them to do just this, while one soldier tapped on his arm in total surrender.

"You'd kill me even before I get that whole steak in my mouth!" The soldier exclaimed, making everyone else at that table laugh.

"Yeah Rick. If that is your definition of being a real man then I don't want to take part of it." Another soldier said, ganging up on the big man who defended himself.

"What? This is perfectly reasonable! A true man eats his steak whole!"

It was a calm evening. With things flowing like a gentle river. With every soldier filling their bellies. With all their belongings and materials safe and secured. Indeed, everything about it was perfect. Yet, Sol couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. 

As if they have never truly escaped from danger but instead, danger came preying on them. Like a famished Lion prowling in wait for a festive meal.

"Sol, are you okay?" Alice asked, feeling the unease of the commander who stared at the night sky,

"Alice, my hunch hasn't disappeared yet."

"What do you mean? Wasn't the purpose of moving out to avoid that same danger?"

"Yeah you're probably right. Let's just rest." Sol said, but instead of seeing calm on Alice's face, there was something entirely different drawn on it. Fear.

"EVERYONE RUN!" She screamed. An order all too late as things accelerated rapidly from that point.

Three figures crashed down in the middle of their camp. Breaking the barrier as if it was nothing but thin ice. Blowing away all the tents and releasing the leash on the monsters. The monsters were supposed to attack yet, they all cowered away. Running for their lives and trusting their instincts.

Fragments of the barrier glimmered in the darkness. With dust covering the whole area. Showing nothing but three pairs of red eyes. Glaring at everyone. 

Sol didn't even need to command the soldiers anymore. They moved all on their own. Preparing all their weapons and their spells. Waiting for the enemy to make a move so they could finally strike.

Soon enough their opponent did so. Creating the sound of wings being extended and, flapped this just as quick. Releasing a gust of win that finally cleared out all the dust and, revealed the opponent they had at that moment.

A tall man with reddish skin. Having four arms instead of just two. With his upper body exposed, and having black markings all over it. His hair is white and unkempt, long, loose, and somehow still spiky. Two horns grew at the side of his temples having the same shade as his markings. And, on his back were four crimson red wings.

On his left and his right were attendants wearing a traditional seeming attire. With sleeveless shirts as their top. With the upper half of a kimono tied to their waist down, as its sleeves are hidden over large red ropes tied to their hips. These creatures also had two wings each.

Sol and his whole team froze in place. Not because they wasted their chance to strike but because, there was no chance at all. Their enemy had no opening. Everything about him was just overpowering to the point that, Sol's head got dizzy from thinking of a way to win.

Meanwhile, Herald looked all around. Observing all of the warriors within the area and finding nothing but an unpleasant feeling. Deciding to make an introduction nevertheless.

"I have come to preach of the great darkness! I will be the harbinger of your souls!"

"That's a funny thing to say. You think you can handle us?" Sol calmly replied, getting the interest of Herald.

"To speak so casually in the face of a greater force. You are either brave or a fool."

"Isn't there any other choice available?" Sol said jokingly. 

Sol was risking his life for one thing. For the soldiers to somehow break free from the fear that paralyzed them at that moment. Thinking that the best way to do this was to show that he himself was unfazed. Both in words and in actions.

"And I assume you are their leader?" Herald concluded. With Sol answering right away.

"I am." This made Herald stare at him a few more seconds. Finally deciding what to do.

"Good. Then you will be the first to die." Herald said, releasing a blazing inferno that shot at Solomon. A mistake which Herald soon regretted.

"Delta!"

Sol screamed, with a wall of water encasing everyone inside. This is followed by water tentacles slamming at Herald. All being nullified by Mathilda and Nathaniel who used nothing but their spears.

The water used for the tentacles poured as heavy rain on Herald and his attendants. With the ground getting wet as well, it was time for the next part of this combination. With two lightning users striking down bolts of lightning from the sky. Running through the water and fully delivering damage to the three enemies.

"Epsilon!" Sol commanded next.

A rain of ice shards soon followed this. Herald tried casting a skill to melt the ice but, he was interrupted by green flames suddenly hitting his skin. Stinging him and making him look for its source. Seeing a teen make a middle finger at him with a tongue of fire on top of it.

The barrage hit the three with steel spikes shooting up from the ground. The combination was executed perfectly despite everyone's fear still lingering. However, it was going to take more than that to finish off Herald.

With just a flap of his wings, two tornadoes of blue flames rose. Extinguishing everything and forcing the team to back away as, the flames continued growing larger and larger.

Something else came up during this time. A firework was fired by one of Sol's comrades. Covering a large part of the sky with its light momentarily. The same firework, illumined the faces of their foes. Getting out of the attack virtually unscathed and fine.

"Is this all you are capable of insects?" 

"What do you want?" Sol said, being the sole thing surprising Herald at that point.

Even though the frail looking boy was covered in blue flames, nothing was burnt on him. Herald wasn't able to see how this happened but, he was nevertheless invested.

"Is my intention not clear? Do you need another shot boy?" Herald released even more of his aura. Making the air denser which made it difficult for Sol's team to breathe. Each struggling just to remain standing as even their legs got weaker.

"You clowns have been meddling with our lands. Desecrating it and turning it to a horrendous state."

"Their lands?"

"What does he mean their lands?"

These were the murmurs of the soldiers. Not understanding what the words of their opponent meant. For all they knew, the humans only existed within the ten domains. Living and thriving outside it has never been possible nor did anyone ever attempt it.

"Yes. We, the first generation of humans have complete and total control of this place. By coming here you have openly declared war against us. And now, you will suffer the consequences."

"Can't we reach an agreement?" Sol said. But instead of getting an answer, a surge of flames devoured him again. Leaving everyone shocked as the flames that time scattered even more. Burning everything in sight and forcing the soldiers to go in the defensive as Herald took control of the whole field. With scorching blue flames everywhere.

"I am not here to make any negotiations with inferior creatures." Herald said, setting the battlefield even hotter as a hundred infernal soldiers rose from the field of flames he created.

Wails of the summoned creatures echoed in the battlefield. With Herald in the middle of it all, raising his hand as a ball of flame the size of a two story house was generated. Making it burn even hotter as he declared:

"None of you will be spared tonight."