Elementalia: The Two Sides

Chapter 08 - The Berseker Attack

Year 5023. Monday March 24. 12:47 a.m.
Despair and fear permeate the air, the cries of the villagers escaping from the horrendous creatures that attacked their beloved home echoed in the night. The screams and roars of bloody aberrations are heard everywhere. Panic is spread among the hearts of the poor victims. The blood is spilled on the grass and the earth that was so well cared for by those who now perish in fear. The great hall has fallen, a brave man has been lost and Niro's life is in danger.

Hot blood from his body covers Niro's hands as he feels the despair for the second time in his life. The heat that radiates from his body as the adrenaline that runs through his body activates the most primitive instincts of his being. However, something did not fit because the blood was on him but he felt no pain. Opening his eyes, the young man finds Gerald covering him while an arrow pierces his heart. His blood flowed through the arrow to the outside spilling over the young man whom he had protected with his own body as a shield.

- Gerald: - Niro is in shock, the Berseker who fired the first arrow prepares and aims a new arrow but Suny reacts faster throwing a needle and knocking down the greedy creature. Gerald spits blood and feels intense agony in his being but he is determined to save those he can. He pushes Niro when he hears more creatures approach as he takes his ax preparing himself to fight - Get out of here! Save others! Suny, take Niro out of here! - Niro reacts but it's too late, Suny has already taken his hand and run. Niro does not want to leave and leave him to his fate but Gerald shouts at them - I'm already dead! Save the children! Forget about me! Run! - George rushes while roaring with all his anger. Suny rushes with Niro to catch up with George. Niro cries as he gets away from Gerald. Gerald smiles as he feels the blood drain from his wounds and gums, his arms feel heavy and short of breath, but he mumbles determined to fight - Bryon, my friend... soon we will find ourselves in the afterlife... - Gerald fight with all his strength to keep the creatures, but his forces fail him and the creatures manage to finish him without pity or mercy. However, the loyal woodcutter does not beg for his life, he accepts death by begging the gods for his death to not be in vain.

George running on all fours gets ahead from the others. Desperate to reunite with his son without realizing that he left Niro and Suny behind. Suny tries to hurry, but Niro is very affected by what happened. He delays her and she begins to doubt, but something tells her that she must endure it and protect them no matter what should be sacrificed. On the other hand, Niro mourned the death of others and lamented for not having been able to save them. At that moment, Suny interrupts him for a moment by pulling him towards her while facing him.

- Suny: Niro, I know it's hard to face but you must be strong. Bryon and Gerald gave their lives for our sake. Now we have more important things to do. We have the lives of their loved ones in our hands. We must protect them, you understand? - Niro nods and cleans his tears. At that moment, a powerful explosion destroys the house next to where they were. The explosion not only sets the house on fire, it breaks down through them. Niro pushes Suny in time as he jumps back. The debris of the house separates them both and it does not take long for more Bersekers to arrive. Suny is worried about Niro - Niro! Wait there! I-

- Niro: - Interrupts Suny asking her to - What are you waiting for!? Go after George! You have to reach the others! Don't worry about me, we'll meet later! - The fire spreads, the rubble ignites and soon the flames propagate by the zone – Don't waste time! Run! - Suny reluctant to leave him to his fate resists at the beginning, but seeing the eyes of Niro, she feels in her heart that he will be fine. She nods and turns to continue her way. Niro, on the other hand, is surrounded by Bersekers who cornered him against the flames. Between the hot heat from behind and the fury that burns inside, the young man is forced to face danger face to face with a courageous smile, he prepares for the worst - This won't be easy at all. If only... - And with the arrival of an idea, hope illuminates his heart - My katana! If I get it, everything will be different. I'm sure of that... But where could it be? - The Bersekers rush against him, Niro dodges one by one, throws some to the flames while trying to stab others with the sickle either in the head or in the heart. However, the creatures are more dangerous when they are grouped and this alarms Niro as they begin to cooperate to prevent them from losing more companions. As soon as one of the creatures manages to make a slight wound in his arm, Niro's eyes light up with radiant energy. This time, he is determined to escape - Agh... thank goodness I'm alone, cuz... - Raising his arms, energy runs through his veins and from there to cover his limbs. He seems to hold the space crumpling and twisting it little by little. The creatures rush against him as a group. Before they reach him, Niro stretches and breaks that mantle of space held in his hands unleashing a powerful implosion of force around him that ends up destroying everything that was in his way. Several Bersekers are pulverized while others have lost limbs or were simply hit by the blast wave. The earth has been crushed, the stones broken and the debris scattered. Niro feels exhausted but relieved - Ha... Ha... cuz I wouldn't use that power otherwise... - More Bersekers are approaching and those who were not annihilated get up and crawl towards him because the blood thirst of these creatures is insatiable. Niro does not waste time and spends much of his energy to disappear from there. Reappearing inside a bathroom, Niro has managed to escape by transporting himself to a house nearby but at the price of a large amount of energy. Now he falls to the ground while trying to hold on to a sink. He lacks breath. His body recovers quickly but not enough - Ah... Oh... damn... not yet... I'm learning to dominate... this power... is exhausting... I need to rest a little... - Leaning against the wall next to the sink, Niro focus on thinking about an action plan while waiting for his body to recover energy to continue. After thinking and thinking, he remembers that George was the one who took his katana and kept it. Niro supposes that it should be hid in George's cabin. There is no time to think so much, he must move and find it. Only with it, he would be able to protect others without becoming a nuisance - It must be there...it has to be there... - After recovering enough, he starts to get up but it costs him - There's no... time to... lose... - As soon as he gets up and get to the door, he feels other explosions near the house. This alarms him and when he opens the door he faces a Berseker waiting silently on the other side. The creature smiles at him showing endless fangs. Niro reacts quickly and closes the door - Damn! - The creature begins to whip against the door. Niro pulls away. His eyes gleam again to disappear just before the creature knocks the door on him. The creature roars furiously as soon as it realizes that its prey has escaped it.