Tenberis Mundus (The Dark World)

Chapter Nine: Violence and Survival

7:00PM The third day, the human group had found a small clearing,

and lit a large bonfire, the sun was setting, the wind was blowing.

Moralius stood, cross in hand, eyes closed, praying with the club over his shoulder, facing upwind, his cloak and hair blowing on the wind behind him.

Haden and Helus we're back to the wind, eyes locked onto the treeline,

ready for anything. The wind was to the side of magnus, blowing his cloak to the left, he was focused on the treeline. Vladen was still less tense, he was again looking to the sky, mumbling. The forest filled with the goblins' noises, this time there were more of them. Moralius fell silent, and opened his eyes, they glowed a slight red.

As the fire roared, the noises stopped, the humans readied themselves for the fight of their lives. The first line charged through the trees, a tide of goblins charged at them.

Haden held out, moving as fast as he could, he unleashed a flurry or stabs and slices. For every one they kill, ten more charge. Helus and Magnus were struggling, but keeping up. Vladen and Moralius we're struggling. There seemed to be no end to their numbers and aggression.For several hours the humans held out, Goblin's heads we're crushed, ribcages shattered. The violence carried on, the goblins piled up

at their feet, half-dead, clawing and biting. The humans

smashed and cut their way through the goblins' numbers.

3:00AM Vladen was tiring out, the goblins overwhelmed him, and dragged him into the forest. Moralius was still fighting, his eyes glow an intense red, smoke rose from his weapon as he swung it effortlessly. dead bodies had piled up to above the fire, it was smoldering under the mound, they kept coming. Minutes later Moralius was overwhelmed, there was just too many of them, the goblins dragged him away,

He struggled to get them off. They dragged him deep into the forest, but he didn't make the mistake of dropping his weapon, he ripped the club from the goblins' grasp, and slammed it onto one's head. They dropped him, Moralius got up and held out against their forces. Haden, Helus, and Magnus we're still fighting.

4:00AM Moralius was fighting for his life, his eyes were glowing an intense red, he hit one on the head with enough force to burst it open,

blood and brain matter flew through the air. the weapon broke in half,

Moralius cracked his knuckles, "Bring it on fuckers!" he said, exhausted.

One of them lunged at him, he stuck his hand out at it, electricity arcing between his fingers, the blood that coated him dried, and flaked off. He grabbed it by the face, it let out a pained scream, Moralius threw the scorched goblin aside, and kept fighting, his veins started faintly glowing. Tides of goblins lunged at him from all sides, one landed on his back. Moralius let out an enraged scream, as he pulled the creature off, scorch marks covered the creature as he slammed it into the ground, and stomped its head in. Blood was pouring from his neck and shoulder, the creature's head flattened,

and the ground under him combusted,

flames surrounded Moralius, as he caused absolute carnage.

5:00AM Haden noticed the sky getting brighter, he was running out of energy.

Something was different now, the goblins seemed hesitant, they were scared.

Moralius was panting, hunched over the pile of corpses, he was getting tired.

The ground engulfed in an inferno, the goblins were scared, hesitant, and he knew it.

Electricity arced across his body, fire surrounded him. "Come on fuckers!" he yelled, as one jumped on his back. the goblin screamed in pain, he grabbed it by the leg and swung it around like a flail, he poured fury into his attacks, and caused damage. Moralius didn't really know what was happening, but he did know that it was helpful.

6:00AM The goblins were starting to retreat, their noises filled the forest, Moralius stopped. Fire burned the corpses that surrounded him, a terrible smell filled the air

Now that he had enough time to think, he noticed that the fires didn't hurt him, he took a deep breath, and looked back to the camp. Moralius started running, wounds on his legs, and neck. Magnus stopped bleeding, Haden, and Helus stopped, the goblins were retreating, the sun was rising on the horizon. Moralius appiered. "Moralius! What the hell happened?"Helus said. "I-I don't know..."Moralius said, looking down at his hands,eyes still glowing, electricity cracked between his fingers. Helus didn't notice the electricity, or the glow, he was focused on the plumes of smoke rising from the forest.

"Don't even question it."Moralius said, staring at his cross necklace.

"Shit! Vladen!" Haden said. A moment of realization, then everyone ran off to find him.

6:30AM "Over Here!" Magnus yelled. When they arrived, they saw what their enemies would do to them. Vladen's corpse was leaned against a tree, mangled.

He suffered a slow death, as the foul creatures ripped him apart, and ate him while he was still alive. His corpse was unrecognizable. Magnus shuttered, Moralius put his hand on his shoulder to try to comfort him. Electricity arced to Magnus's shoulder, a jolt of pain shot up his arm."Ah! What the hell was that?" he said, holding his arm.

"It's time to go..." Haden said. "I'll...Need some time,"Magnus said.

"Ok, we'll leave when you're ready."Moralius said.Everyone except Magnus returned

to the mound. Magnus grabbed Vladen's mangled hand.

"I'll see you in the beyond, Vladen... Goodbye, Brother." Magnus said sadly.

The group was thirsty, and hungry, Haden was cutting off pieces of goblin meat,

and cooking it. Moralius was trying to find water, all they had

for the last few days was condensation from plants.

8:00AM Magnus was back, the storm clouds were approaching.

Moralius and Helus we're resting."About time you got back." Haden said.

Magnus remained silent. Haden stood over the two."Wake the hell up!" He yelled.

Moralius and Helus jolted awake "Gather what you need, we're leaving." He said.

8:30AM The sky darkened, as the thunderclouds were upon them, the wind blew through the trees, as the rain fell.

Thunder loudened the sky and lightning illuminated it.

The group anxiously walked through the forest,

drinking water that dripped from fern leaves.

9:30AM They came across a river, it was shallow, only a few ft deep.

Haden was in front, he spotted the river, and stopped.

"Helus, look."Haden said, pointing to the river.

"Should we cross it?" Helus asked. "It's either that, or we stay here."

Haden walked to the grave riverbank, He was about to cross when Magnus jumped in, and started walking across. Followed by Moralius, and Helus.

"Well, no going back."Haden said, then stepped into the river.