“Captain,” shouted a frantic and round, balding middle-aged man from behind a well worn desk made of pine. He was wearing a robe of stained, blue silk as he sweated profusely within what appeared to be a study room with a few shelves of books and scrolls. As he continued to sweat, a cloth was dabbed across his forehead by a petite bear-kin who had the appearance of a child of sixteen, wore a maid's outfit, and had little round nibs atop her raven black hair. The only difference between an actual maid and herself was two things.

The first being her empty brown eyes devoid of any thought or expression, whereas the second was a silver choker which was wrapped tight around her throat. For it was a slave's collar, and from the designs, the captain of the soldiers stationed within this farming community knew what she was used for, and it sickened her mind. However, slavery was common in this country, and worse were the laws. Owners were allowed to do what they will, as long as it wasn't illegal within their area. With the farming community, their age to be allowed to marry was at the young age of sixteen. Looking down at the girl's right hand, she could see that there was indeed a gold band upon the fourth finger.

“Captain Helgana,” whined the fat man in an obnoxious voice, “why haven't you mobilised your troops and found this... this... this thing; this 'Pretty Man'?” He gestured with fat and swollen fingers towards a crystal ball set within an iron vice that was currently playing what the Diviners had found over and over again.

“Because we don't know what it looks like, and took out two sergeants with one hit... sir,” she replied as cool and collected as she could whilst clenching her fist. She was wearing her standard issued soldier garb complete with the heavy hauberk and insignia depicting a green oak leaf and crown with a silver background. Her own pose, however, was the same as though a soldier of hers was giving a report; with her head tilted upwards at twenty degrees, feet spread at shoulder width, and fists clenched behind her back.

“Then they were weak,” he grunted, his voice cracking somewhat, a fist slamming atop the desk, “You need better-”

“They were both Level 20 with the Soldier Class and Guardsman Sub-Class... sir,” the captain's eyes glared at the ceiling above, and had to fight down a smirk as she heard his fat rolls quivering.

“What were their health pools?” his breathing became irregular, and the girl was sent to find the local healer to keep his blood pressure from rising too much.

“Upwards of 450 each... sir.” Now he calmed down, and slumped into a creaking chair which threatened to break for the sudden abuse. Of which granted her eyes a pleasing sight when she glanced at the large mass of a man. For he had grown pale, and was on the verge of passing out from fear.

“T-th-th-then we nee-need t-t-t-to mobilise the guard. Conscript the Hunters and Rangers, and hunt this thing down!” His body jostled as he stood up, but braced himself against the desk which also protested against the sudden abuse, “You-”

He didn't finish what he was going to say, as the captain glared at his person with hatred. “This thing slew two Level 20 Soldiers with one strike, Mayor. I am not going to send anyone after it until my request has gone through with the local Adventurer's Guild.”

“Wh-what did you ask for?” his body shook with more fear as his voice cracked from under the gaze of Helgana.

“A specialised tracker. One that'll take a couple days to get here, and doesn't rely on skills and titles to hunt down bastards like this thing,” she waved at the shadowed mass as it struck down Jeffery for the upteenth time. After which she left the Mayor's home and office just as a small woman with a Doctor's bag rushed inside with an annoyed look, whereas she turned towards her own office in order to plan for the hunt against this unknown creature who slew a Farmer's family for clothing, for extinguishing the lives of two of her best men, and for removing a family whose only crime was curiosity.

*****

A pair of black pinprick eyes watched as a male Human ran for his life wearing only tattered leathers through the dense thicket. Fear was evident in his eyes as he tried to call upon his skills to help him escape that which was tailing him. “,” he stuttered quickly, and the pinpricks flared into a crimson and violet orb as a little girl giggled insanely in the distance. Though this one could not hear it, it was ever present within the mind of the creature which tracked this Human.

For it was Karastak who had the desire to “play” with his new found toy. Though, perhaps “playing” with him would be a step too far, and it would be accurate to say he was tracking him for experimentation and nothing more.

“Where are you?” the pale giant called out in a sing-song voice, and he watched with his that the Human flinched from the tone. Whereby eliciting a smirk at the other's obvious discomfort. “Azazel, set my title to Vampire Lord, if you would?”

“[Of course!]” she giggled softly, and he could see her grin a Cheshire cat's grin, “[Done!]” The moment his title changed, his vision was no longer filled with colour, but with yellows, oranges, and reds. For such a sight was used to track a prey's heat trail, as well as their heart beat. Not only this, but he felt his canines elongate, the dragon in his gut rumbling its desire for blood, and spotted his prey almost immediately.

The Human in question had the ability to move stealthily through any terrain, however, he did not realise until it was too late that it was he and his group that was being stalked. Yes. He was a part of a group, but they were tied within a cave a mile east of their current location, and had been in their since the morning before. For they had been tasked with finding several bundles of medicinal herbs which were used in the making of the ever popular and highly addictive Healing Potions.

The reason for the addiction was rather simple. Healing Potions were made using an opiate similar to that of a Poppy, but a deep vermilion in colour. These also grew around a large water source, but a waterfall always yielded the greatest amount due to the constant refilling of the basin below. Therefore, this one and three others journeyed out towards a common site for the Poppies, only to be stalked, captured, and tortured by Karastak. Yes. Tortured, but for now, “I see you,” he hissed softly, allowing his voice to be carried over to the Human's ears. Of whom shivered, quickly searched around his position, then shook himself when he saw nothing, and tried to calm his frantic heart.

Unfortunately for himself, he failed to move in time as the pale giant called out, “.” After which a large hand the size of the man's body shot out of the ground and wrapped itself around him whilst keeping him upright.

“Ah, Human,” sighed the horror of a monster which had tortured him for almost a full day, as it appeared from around a nearby tree with a grin of his own. Of which revealed two pairs of elongated teeth as he continued to approach his captured quarry.

“M-monster,” the man struggled against his magickal bonds, only to gasp as they tightened around his body.

“Perhaps, but if none of you had dared to harm what is mine, none of this would have happened,” Karastak responded by widening his grin until it appeared more feral than not.

“We-we didn't-t know-oh,” he wailed, or tried to as he was being squeezed.

“What's done is done, and are paying for it with your bodies and lives. Now that you've tried to escape, I can finally feed on some fast food.” Before the other could respond, his head was wrenched to the side and felt four needle-like teeth sink into his flesh. Whereupon they punctured his jugular vein, and was drained of every last drop which spurted out.

After which the body of the deceased Human was held firm as he pointed a forefinger towards it saying, “,” and watched as a mote of flame darted towards the body, setting it ablaze until naught, but ash and dust remained. This also included the earth-like hand which held the body, as he did not wish for others to find such a structure any time soon.

“Now. Let's return to our little home, Azazel.” Of whom only giggled in response, and alighted herself upon his head as he continued to move forward through the thicket once more.

*

“Hurry Chase,” whispered a young woman of twenty odd summers towards a male who had just turned eighteen a few months ago, “I need my pack so I can get some more mana so we can leave this place.” This was spoken to a lithe young man with a pair of faded blue eyes that held only a speck of life within. For all over his body were marks and signs of extensive tortures with many written words upon his flesh. Each of which seemed to have been branded into him by way of a hot source of metal, but as it stands, there was no such implement within the vicinity of the cave they were in.

Instead, there was only a small pit which once held a fire, a few stones and boulders which had been molded into a chair of some sort with some pelts laid across it, and their bags. One of which had a broken Mage Staff lying atop it.

High above them, glaring down upon their position, was a small, white bat that squeaked softly every now and again. Of which they were acutely aware of due to having tried to capture it the day before. Whereupon their doing so had angered its master to the point of capturing and torturing them whilst calling such procedures “experiments” so that he may “learn words”. However, during a period of time where they believed their captor to be asleep, their Hunter had escaped and the monster gave chase.

“Hurry up,” she whispered, struggling against their own rope which had been used to bind her body in such a way that accentuated her B-cup sized chest beneath a thin shift. Not to mention moving caused her crotch and rear end to feel hot as the ropes rubbed against it.

The male, on the other hand, was finding the knots difficult to undue, and wished he had a knife to cut her loose. So much so he thought he hallucinated as one was offered hilt first over his shoulder with a, “Here.” To which he thanked and began to cut away at the bindings, only to stop when he noted the woman was staring at something behind him with a great and terrible fear.

Slowly, carefully, he turned to that which was behind him, and wished he didn't. For Karastak was behind him, and in his right, clawed hand was the head of Geoffrey who was to watch outside for the monster which had captured and tortured them. Of which was then crushed, splattering the pair with bone, snot, gristle, and brain matter, causing the woman to scream and splutter as a few bits of brain was spat out.

After which the young man was gripped by his neck and hoisted into the air, his hands gripping the white arm attached to the strange, blackened hand in an effort to keep from choking. Whereupon he felt five needle-like pin pricks enter his flesh, releasing something warm, and was tossed away. Quickly, he tried to scramble away, only to shriek with pain as his body literally melted on the spot.

For within the black hands were hollow, needle-like claws which each had a tiny sac of acidic poison. Each drop was enough to slay a few hundred Humans, but to have five drops within a single body? The process was unimaginable pain and suffering as everything from flesh, organ meant, nerves, and bones were set aflame as their structure was liquefied until only a puddle remained.

Thus was the consequence of the Human which dared to escape, and the only one left was a bound female who could not process what had occurred as she was lifted into the air by her bindings. “W-what?” she stammered, as the white creature said something above her head, then heard the sound of flesh being penetrated by a pointed object made of something cool.

For a moment, her brain could not discern what made the sound, then it hit her, and she screamed with pain. An earthen spike, much like a stalagmite, had erupted from the ground. Whereupon it tore through the bindings of her feet and legs, then penetrated within the area betwixt her legs.

The monster, on the other hand, just watched as he saw this, a demented smile etched upon his beautiful and pristine face just as his eyes flared with a crimson and violet orb. He drank in the sight of her screaming, and released his hold upon her bindings, causing her to slide further down the spike. Here, she wiggled from the pain, which only caused it to travel further, digging closer to the chest cavity.

Only when he noted the spike piercing into her more vital cavity, did the screaming stop. For the body had released too much of its blood upon the cave's floor to sustain any more of her screaming. Thereby releasing her from her mortal coil and drift away into the next life.

Whereas he himself simply called out with his hand outstretched towards the ceiling, “Come, Little Mother. It is time we begin to leave this place, but to where is the question.” Of whom then squeaked and fluttered down to lie upon his hand, whereby receiving a short and soft rub of her back which caused her to squeak some more whilst wiggling her body.

“Do you desire some food, Little Mother?” Who was then given a puppy-eyed stare, causing him to chuckle as he moved them to the outside where the light was slowly dimming towards the east behind them, “There's the body,” he pointed towards a cooling, headless corpse, “It should still have the heart intact.” After which the little bat released one more squeak as she fell upon the body, wiggling inside in order to eat that which she desired most.

“[Torture, huh?]” came the voice of Azazel who, although enjoyed the sight of what he'd caused, even going so far as to follow her instructions on binding the woman, was still confused.

“Yes,” came his response as he watched the body bulge up every now and again from the movement of his little pet.

“[All of that just because they wanted to capture Little Mother?]”

“Of course,” he turned towards her ethereal self with a raised eyebrow, “How else am I going to teach others not to touch what is not there's?”

“[By... cutting off their hands and telling them not to do it again?]”

“Now why would I want to do that when they could still run away and tattle upon my whereabouts? Besides, I've 'learned' so much since they came yesterday, and you said it yourself that I gained quite a lot of stats and skills from subjecting them to my methods.”

“[Well, yeah, and you also gained the title because of it, too.]”

“Really?” his eyes widened from the revelation as he then took a ponderous pose by cupping his chin with his right hand, “Huh. You learn something new every day.”

“[Yeah. Also, why do you go down to that farming village for the last two mornings? You don't do anything, but stare off towards the distance before retreating back into the forest.]” This had baffled her since the beginning, and she just couldn't figure it out.

“I just like watching the sunrise every day,” he shrugged as he spoke, “It's surprising that the sun rises in the west. Guess I really am someplace new, huh?” Slowly, Karastak brushed the back of his hair, then ruffled the whole of it before taking a deep breath and sighing, “Well, now we just have to figure out where to go.”

“[Hmm?]” Azazel turned towards him with a questioning look.

“I want to see the world, Azazel, not be cooped up in one area where I can meet my end quickly. Therefore, I wish to move and explore, but I don't know where to start,” he then turned towards her ethereal self with an outstretched hand in a pleading motion, “Will you help me to explore, grow, and enjoy this world?”

To which she grinned and laid her hand upon his own, allowing him to truly feel it there as she responded with a small smile, “[Of course.]”