Bright One | Empire of Blood and Swords Series

49. Bakayaro

-49-
-Bakayaro-

The atmosphere was too dry. The winds were too quiet. The trees—usually whispering stories from old ages—now held their breaths, awaiting something.

Crom didn't like it. Even with so many soldiers, not to mention his godly powers, he didn't feel safe. It would appear be dumb in people's eyes. With this much power, he couldn't and shouldn't fear anyone.

But these days, anything could happen. And he shouldn't be so easy to let his guard down. As the soldiers brought forth the man in line, he screamed and struggled against the firm grip on his arm.

The blood splattered all across the dry forest ground was starting to harden. Coats after coats of sacrificed blood. But he held one thought in mind. He has never killed anyone. These people's deaths was not done by him. He didn't hold a knife, he didn't twist anyone's necks, he didn't bare fangs.

The silhouette is nowhere to be seen. Probably unable to see the sight of her daughter killing and absorbing power. Crom has plans, and he isn't going to let anyone stop him. Bending his head backwards, he stared at the open sky.

"How do you like it now, Mother?" Crom asked, his voice a dark abyss. "How do you like the monster you've created now, Mother?"

Odette sat in the middle, her hands with the blood of all those she killed. And her face was a stone of boredom. No regrets, no pain, no contrition. A man was thrown onto his knees, and before him was the girl with red dripping from her lips.

No amount of crying will snap her awake. And talking to her won't get anywhere closer to her heart. There were a few who charged, shifting into deers and trying to knock her off with their antlers. But with one swift swing of her sharp tail, their antlers fell off, and so did their heads.

A new form, a more advanced form, Crom called it.

"Please, don't!" a woman in the line cried. "Take me instead!"

Odette's empty eyes held nothing but white. No irises, no emotion. At this point, the people have already given up on trying to escape. It won't be long until everyone in the line is dead. She leaned forward with a snarl on her face. And with not much of a dash, she lunged for his throat, feasting on his body live.

In his response to the pain, his intense eyes widened so much Crom was sure they would fall off. His scream was both gurgling and covered, chocking on his own blood. His fisted hands reached for her hair, tugging and tearing, but to no avail. Legs pounded on the dirt below, sullying both her and his clothes.

It took a while for him to give in. His inkings appeared, glowing brightly as they all get sucked up by the girl. The orb inkings are vital to the Achillea body. Without them, they are completely human.

Crom watched the colours drained from his face, and his body went limp.

Not his fault, Crom thought. He didn't kill him. It's not his fault.

He could've sworn the sky was falling, like a ball of flames. But because he lack in any natural instincts, he failed to see that as a person until it was too late. It fell from the sky, landing directly on Odette.

People screamed, but they were muffled out by the shockwave next. Blinded by the cloud of dust caused by the detonation, he didn't know which way was up and which way was down anymore. For he himself was blown away.

Quick, find Odette. Get the girl and get out of here.

But he stopped. He had a disadvantage. The sun was setting, the thick dust erupted is not helping him see. If he were a viper or a boa, he might hold be able to find Odette by detecting heat. But he cannot.