Chapter 109: Gruesome Fates (1/2)
The captain and his small company hurriedly donned their armors and grabbed their swords and were already running through the dark hallway towards the source of the sound they heard previously when a second howl reached their ears.
The 4 guards shivered when they heard the terrifying animalistic shout. It felt like it came from some sort of wolf or similar creature. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be an issue for a group of seasoned mercenaries such as them, but the meaning behind this one meant that it already crossed the first hurdle, the two guards stationed at the doorway.
This meant that whatever creature or creatures the two met, managed to defeat them.
”C-captain…” One of them, as the realization that they might just be rushing headstrong into the unknown that could spell their demise, spoke with a shivering tone. ”...Shouldn't we ask for b-backup from the other groups?”
”Shut up!” The captain shouted with anger and frustration. ”We don't need anybody else to deal with a bunch of crazed animals!”
”B-but…” he tried to argue but one sideways look from his captain marching in front of him silenced his doubts.
After the loud howl an eerie silence set upon the dimly lit hallways. The only sound that broke this were the sounds of their boots kicking up the dust when it hit the ground.
In only a few minutes that felt like an entire lifetime for the group, the silhouette of a large humanoid creature standing above two bodies lying on the ground have drawn out in the distance, causing them to slow their pace down to a rustle of careful steps.
The shimmering, weak light provided by the nearby torch only provided a sideways glimpse at the invader. His silhouette was humanoid, but it was strangely rough around the edges.
As they slowly approached, the flickering torchlight revealed the reason for the roughness; the creature had glossy dark fur covering its body. A pair of golden glows, most likely its eyes shined through a strange, white mask that hid most of the creature's features.
”W-w-wha… w-what is that?!” The same guard at the back couldn't hold his calm anymore, and while he pointed at the monster with shaky fingers, he loudly exclaimed.
The group halted their steps, and as the captain sized-up the creature with his eyes, he kept gripping his sword.
The rest, while not expecting a definite answer, were also nervously grabbing the hilt of their swords waiting in painful silence for the order.
”What the fuck is that… thing…” The captain muttered to himself, then as if to calm down, he shook his head from side to side. Contorting his muscles, he popped the joints in his fingers holding the hilt.
Not taking his eyes off the creature, he gave the dreaded and awaited command with a low and serious tone.
”Get ready people. We will charge in together. Try your best, this thing… it doesn't look like your average beast…”
As he finished, he already had his sword raised in front of him, and with another, last battle shout he and the rest of the company charged forward, against the unknown creature.
Seeing all this play out before him, Aiden tensed his muscles and planted his feet into the ground. Taking in a deep breath, he pushed against the dusty floor, and lunged forward claws barred.
As the distance rapidly shrank between them, the group shifted into an impromptu formation: They halted their march; two of the guards jumped to the front, two remained at the back, while their captain remained between the two pairs.
As the horrific, black bloodied claws closed-in on them, the two guards in the front raised their swords in front of the bodies. They were focused on the beast's movement, ready to parry the deadly blow, protecting their own and the captain's body. Meanwhile the pair in the back stuck to the walls to the left and right, ready to thrust from their position.
Unfortunately, they were expecting the reactions of a mindless, savage beast, but this wolf-human hybrid wasn't ordinary.
Just as Aiden was about to clash with the two guards at the front, he jumped into the air, vaulting above the momentarily stunned guards. As his upper torso reached beyond the human-blockade, he swung down, ripping apart the back of their unprotected heads.
Aiden flicked his arms while still in the air in a downwards arc, effortlessly ripping the mutilated heads in half, and also throwing their blood and brain matter on their shocked captain.
As his claws were no longer barred in the right position, he crashed into the captain as gravity took its toll on his downwards arc, throwing him onto the ground several meters away from his previous position.
It all happened in a matter of seconds; two of their company were brutally murdered, and their captain lying on the ground covered in dust and bloody bits of the two guards. The remaining two stood still, standing still, their backs still stuck to the wall, nervously gripping their swords, afraid to take any action.
Feeling their frightened gazes on his back, Aiden snickered, as he stood up and casually walked to the lying captain. As he dwarfed above the seasoned mercenary, he casually struck down with his right hand, tearing through his leather chest plate and pulled his intestines out from his body.