In a land of broken dreams, only the brave dare to rise.
Zach, the brave leader of the Renaissance band, fights against the seven kingdoms-Drakonium, Aetheria, Sunridge, Oakridge, Solaria, Aurelia, and Elysium. Together with his loyal friends, who a...
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Haerak is bruised and battered, struggling to pull himself up as the bandits sneer and circle him like vultures.
His face was bloodied, his breath shallow and rasping as he pushed against the ground, a trembling hand clawing at the dirt.
He whispered under his breath, barely audible.
"Monsters..."
But one of the bandits caught the word, his face twisting with cruel amusement.
"Oh? We're monsters now, are we?"
He sneered, crouching down next to Haerak and grabbing a fistful of his hair.
With a mocking chuckle, he wrenched Haerak's head back, forcing him to look up, his face mere inches from his own.
"You hear that, boys? He thinks we're the monsters."
Haerak's teeth clenched, his gaze unwavering despite his exhaustion.
The bandit's grin faded, his face hardening as he slammed Haerak's head against the rough bark of a nearby tree.
Pain shot through Haerak's body as his skull met wood, but he held back a cry, his resolve unwavering. Blood trickled down from a fresh gash above his eyebrow, his vision blurring as he fought to hold on.
Another bandit mocked as he walked over and planted a boot squarely in the middle of Haerak's back, forcing him face-first into the dirt.
"Look at you, all broken up but still trying to act tough."
The stomp was hard, merciless, pressing him further into the unforgiving ground, as if he was nothing more than an insect beneath their heels.
Haerak's ribs groaned under the weight, a choked sound escaping him.
One of them taunted as he ground his boot deeper into Haerak's back, watching with sick delight as Haerak struggled to even lift his head.
"Let's see you call us monsters now."
Haerak's lips moved, the words faint but fierce.
"You...won't...break me."
"Still got some fight in you, eh?"
Another bandit said with a dark chuckle, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him down again, twisting his arm back until it felt like it would snap.
And through it all, Haerak's mind circled back to one thought, one hope—
Aina... Run as fast as you can. Run far from here... and don't look back.
The third bandit sauntered over to where his companions were tormenting Haerak, holding up the scattered contents of Haerak's bag in one hand, his expression twisting in disappointment.
