Felarya's Nightmare

Chapter 23 - Counterattack

            As they walked out of the temple through the same door they had entered, Richard began testing the bracelet, recalling the brief practice he had with Idril by creating a bow and arrow of fire. He started to get more excited about the bracelet's power and more angry about the giants approaching, but now finally having the power he had so desperately wanted to fight back.

            He began testing new forms: a square of fire, a ball, and then more complex things. Finally, he created a 21st-century weapon: a perfect and fully functional M4A1 (an assault rifle) entirely made of fire. The group was stunned by the ease and familiarity with which Richard handled the bracelet. Nixa began observing his behavior more closely.

Pita (nervously): "R-Richard... are you... okay?" she asked as they neared the exit.

Richard (in a serious, focused voice, very different from the playful Richard they knew before): "Yes, I'm great."

Nixa watched Richard and the bracelet more attentively: "Richard... he's focused... his anger isn't random or burning out quickly... he wants to end this as fast as possible... in the most brutal way he knows..."

Richard gave a malicious smile over his shoulder at Nixa upon hearing that: "Oooohhh... you're really good, Nixa... that training of yours... was worth it..." he said in an almost malicious tone, like someone in complete control of the situation.

            A M249 (a heavy machine gun) of fire appeared in Richard's hand, strangely with no weight, as if it were made of feathers. He didn't stop smiling even wider, with a grin that showed not happiness, but vengeance, malice — a hero about to show the villains why he remains a hero.

As soon as the light from the exit invaded their faces, the tension rose even higher.

Richard (in a serious, commanding voice): "Nixa, stay with Lis and Pita." He turned to Idril. "Idril, stay with Vigara and Div."

Nixa (indignant): "Hey! Who do you think you are to—"

Richard interrupted firmly: "They'll attack and kill anyone they find. You and Idril are the only ones with great combat potential. So I need you to protect them. Please."

Nixa swallowed hard and understood what Richard planned. She quickly began leading the group back into the temple.

Idril (very nervous): "Nixa! What are you doing!? You're going to leave Richard alone out there?"

Nixa (with a hint of regret): "He's stubborn, okay!? He won't listen to me..." She sighed. "Because... he's like me... and if we insist... it'll be even worse... so let's trust him."

Idril lowered his gaze with pity but obeyed Nixa, and they went back inside the temple.

            Richard stood outside the temple, eyes sharp, heart racing, every muscle fiber in his body ready to leap and dodge blows. His senses were heightened by adrenaline coursing through every vein. Then he heard a branch snap, another, and another. Many branches and trees began to fall around him and the back of the temple, revealing countless giants of various species, ranging in size from 4 meters to over 40 meters.

            Many of them had blood dripping from their mouths and hands. Richard stood firm, fists clenched and ready to act, until one approached him with a malicious smile.

Giant Naga (ironically): "Oh... so you're the 'chosen one'?" She laughed mockingly. "How ridiculous! HAHAHAHAHA. A weak human like you with a new little toy? You'll be a seasoning in my stomach! And you know what's most interesting? We have magical stomachs that don't allow magic or physical objects to hurt us internally..."

She gave another echoing laugh that reverberated through the entire forest.

Giant Human (maliciously): "Hmm... come on! No need to swallow him so fast... let's play with him a little! What do you think? And also... I really want to play with those little friends of his..." She also gave a wicked smile while looking at the temple.

Richard noticed and tried to distract them: "And how do you plan to do that, huh? Surround me? One single human you think is so incapable? Strange... Either you all gathered here by coincidence... or someone sent you out of fear!" He stared firmly into the Naga's eye, but all the giants almost took a step back, glancing at each other. "That someone is afraid... but powerful enough to command all of you... What does that say about you? You're scared too... am I wrong?" Richard gave a malicious smile.

The giants started getting more nervous because they knew Richard had hit the nail on the head, but they acted brave. They began to surround Richard and the temple. Then he remembered the temple had a huge hole opened by the statues at the back.

Richard (muttering): "Shit..." Before he could think of anything, he heard a scream from someone in the middle of the forest. Then he saw one of the giants carrying a woman who was completely desperate in her hand.

The giants tried to hide the woman, but before Richard could react, she placed her in her mouth as if savoring a snack and sank her teeth into her limbs. Richard was horrified by the giant's action and quickly recovered. The giant began tearing off one of the woman's arms as she screamed in a shrill voice of fear and panic. That was when Richard summoned his assault rifle and began firing at the giant with hatred in his eyes.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! DIIIIIIEEEEEEE YOU DAMNED DEMON!!!!" Richard screamed with hatred and fury as the giant's body was riddled with countless fire projectiles that pierced through her effortlessly. The other giants merely watched in horror.

            Finally, the giant fell, and Richard rushed toward the woman whose arm had been torn off, but before he could reach her, an enormous foot landed on her, completely crushing her body.

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Richard screamed in pain and powerlessness. Then he summoned a heavy machine gun and began firing at all the giants in the area with even more fury and hatred.

            Many tried to react in time, but the fire projectiles pierced them with bizarre ease, forcing them to retreat or dodge Richard's aim as bullets passed through trees.

            Then he began retreating toward the temple entrance but didn't go inside, keeping them away from it. He managed to hold them off for a few minutes until one attacked him stealthily and kicked Richard away from the entrance, sending him crashing into a tree and falling to the ground, gravely injured.

            Richard fell to the ground instantly and began vomiting blood, his body now completely destroyed. He felt the bracelet keeping his heart beating, helping regenerate his body enough to breathe, but he was still severely wounded with many broken bones. The giants approached with malicious looks.

"Hahahaha... not so tough after all, huh, little shit? What a joke!"

"My God! So weak! Couldn't even take one kick! HAHAHAHAHA!"

            Richard couldn't move or react. He felt his body completely immobile and closed his eyes, waiting for the end. One of the giants picked Richard up in her hand and began examining his limp body, shaking him, causing excruciating pain. Richard screamed in agony while she laughed at his pained expressions.

"Enough playing... time to finish this..." The giant positioned Richard above her open mouth and dropped him. He closed his eyes with tears falling as his immobile body fell toward her mouth, but just as he was about to reach it, heavy and fast footsteps were heard. Then a dry punching sound! Div arrived with such a powerful punch to the giant that it dislocated her neck in one blow. She managed to catch Richard with both hands.