Niko slammed against the cement wall with tremendous force. He dropped his sword from the impact and collapsed on his knees. The fresh wounds on his limbs and torso are already manifesting an intense pain. He can’t take it anymore.
What the hell are these things? Niko tried to get up and reach for his sword. The loud screech of the unknown overpowered the screams of the townspeople, running for their lives. The screech was inhumane. Nothing like he’s ever heard before. It sounds insectoid-ish with a mix of a wild grizzly bear. It walked towards Niko, readying his black mantis-like scythes.
THWIT! THWIT!
The thing screeched loudly as it received two crossbow bolts from the torso and on the shoulder. It looked like the bolts hurt it badly, this is my chance! Niko used his last energy to take the blade from his side. He got up quickly and dashed towards it. He slashed the creature upward, from the torso up to the head, and followed a stab to the chest. A loud screeching sound emanates from it, like a dying scorpion, and dropped to the ground. It vanished into thin air, leaving black smoke that blends into the wind.
“Are you alright?!” the young crossbow soldier asked.
Niko looked at him and sent a non-verbal assurance that he is indeed okay. “You have to get out of here while you can!” He exclaimed, with fear on his eyes. “My squad needs to check if the Jarl is okay!”. The young soldier sprinted away as the street was filled in chaos, rather, blood.
Niko, suffering from his wounds, managed to get up from his knees and walk towards the castle’s huge gate, crippling. Men, Women, Children, horses. All are collectively running for their lives from the creatures that are preying on them. The Ardujar Hold is engulfed in fire. You could actually hear people screaming. Screams that they are in fact, dying. It was a complete horror. Even as the people hurried away from the Hold’s gate, the creatures leaped from out of nowhere and pounced on them. Decapitating their heads, sucking the life out of their bodies.
What is this?
Niko’s eyes began closing due to the extreme pain and fatigue he is experiencing. As the time lingers, he could see the hold from afar, engulfed in flames. Just a glimpse. He slowly realized he had been taken away from there, in a caravan horse with a few people. His eyes. His eyes are too heavy to fathom the events. Mind too blurry. Must… Rest.
