I awoke the next morning before the sun had come up. The bed seemed softer than ever. I need to go before they awake! I pulled myself out of bed then readied for the journey ahead by washing myself with water from the pale and putting on my ragged clothes to prevent my new ones from being destroyed once again. With care, I proceeded to cautiously open the door. It gave a familiar low creak as it slowly hinged open. To my surprise, a bag was placed right in front of my door. Why is this here? I had heard movement through the night but did not think much of it. On top of the bag was a note with what looked like a map drawn at the back of the page.

It read:

Just in case you thought of not saying goodbye.

Some of Anna's famous rice balls for your trip. I have also drawn a map with the quickest route to the capital. Good luck my boy!

Signed,

Henry and Anna

P.S Anna doesn't know I left this but would be furious if she found out I didn't include her in the goodbye.

The message warmed my heart.

Even when I am selfish they still care.

I grabbed the bag and placed my new clothes into it, then swung it over my shoulder. I quietly made my way up the stairs and out the front door, appreciating my ability to see in the dark, as a lantern might have given away my intention. My bare feet were silent on the wooden floor. Everything seemed quiet.

Suddenly a misplaced thought flickered through my mind: "I could easily have killed everyone here without them even waking up."

I immediately shrugged. Why would I have such a vile thought? Normally my mind would only be drawn to such extremes when I am starving or consumed by anger. What if the evil is growing, able to slowly twist my conscience? I need to stay vigilant. I focused my mind and kept moving forward. As I exited the boundary of the village I stopped to look back.

I really am going to miss this place.

Burying my emotions I took out the map and returned my focus on the path ahead. If this map was right then I would have to follow this road. Within two days' worth of travel, I should reach Roserock.

Henry even wrote a note right next to the town: "Very nice this time of year. The roses will take your breath away. "

The note made me smile as I imagined Henry dramatically explaining it to me. By two days' worth of travel, I assume he means walking on foot and resting at night. If I run the whole way, I could probably make it just after breakfast.

I wonder...

This would be an excellent time to test my new body. I put the note in my bag and strapped it down tightly against my back before I started to run down the road.

Each step I released more malice to swell my muscles.

Each step propelled my body at greater speeds.

The wind felt like water brushing against my face as it was trying to hold me back. The trees on the sides of the path became a blur. My lungs and heart-expanding and contracting rapidly. Whatever I was before is nothing compared to what I could do now. I felt some of time's constraints had been lifted. I was able to achieve the same result as the Khubaza, a feat that had destroyed my body before is now something I could comfortably manage.

I ran for roughly an hour before I came to a stop just as the sun had started to creep past the mountainside. I could have carried on but my hunger had set in. Using this amount of strength took its toll. I sat on an old log to take off my bag then pulled out one of the rice balls to stuff my face. The birds started to sing as they left their nests. Amongst their melody, I could hear small animals scurry around me. This place was full of life. I even noticed a small pink rose protruding from the bushes. Mmmm, I wonder how far I had ran? I reached into the bag and pulled out the map. Using my finger I traced the route and its landmarkings. My eyes widened. If this map was right, roses only start growing roughly forty minutes walk away from Roserock. My speed had more than doubled. I looked around to make sure no one was in view.

I need to know!

I stood up from the log and walked into the center of a small clearing. I need to know how much my body has changed. Time to test how far I could take this.

I took a deep breath then began to flood myself with malice to the point where I dropped to the ground in pain. It was harder to control… I rolled on the ground slamming my fists against it. My clothes felt like a prison as they constricted my chest. Slipping in and out I could see my claws had changed drastically. They were now hollow inside and within them, a green liquid. I began to stop the transformation so as not to lose myself. The pain subsided whilst I lay still on my back.

What was the green liquid? Could this be the same paralyzing poison the Khubaza had? I did take its speed, It would make sense if I took its poison as well. Great... I am becoming more of a monster.

After I rested my body, I ate another rice ball then packed up. I continued back on the path, this time walking to avoid someone from seeing what I could do.

I began to see more roses. Wow, they really are beautiful. Their colors ranged from a light pink to a blood red and anything in between. Their delicate petals distracting you from their sharp thorns. I had wished I could have taken one as a souvenir but knowing it would die made me refrain from doing so. I wonder what the town looks like? Probably filled with roses. Maybe I should take a small rest in the town or even stay the night as Henry's map indicated the next town would be ten days further on. Meeting some new people might be fun. I grew excited at the thought. But this was not to last as without warning the smell of thick smoke filled the air. It was coming from the direction of the Roserock. The smell was strong as it overwhelmed my sense of smell. How large was the fire?

Something is wrong!

I didn't have time to waste! I ran to the closest large tree and got on all fours, with my feet placed up against the base of the tree to get as much grip as possible. My fingertips carried my entire upper body like a beast waiting to pounce on its prey. I then forced my leg muscles to swell to the point that my pants could tear at the seams. As the pressure built, I lowered the center of my gravity to get as much force on the tip of my feet. I inhaled air, expanding my lungs to their limit while fixing my gaze in the direction of the smoke. I could hear the tree beneath my feet start to yield.

NOW!

I released all my strength in a split second, shattering the tree as my body was flung forward at high speed. Using the momentum, I ran with long strides. Each step covered a massive distance.

Finally!

I could see the town. It was larger than I had expected. The buildings were made from fine wood with grass roofing. There was a small chapel in its center. To my dismay, it was all engulfed in flames. There was a smell of cooked flesh in the air. If I hadn't already eaten, I might have enjoyed it. I plunged my feet into the ground to prevent myself from crashing into the buildings. Skidding, I stopped just outside town. I could see burnt corpses lying all over the streets.

The site was horrific…

The flames must have come down whilst every one was asleep. I could see the panic edged onto their chared faces as they tried to crawl out of their houses. I could even see mothers' corpses holding their burnt babies as they shielded them from the flames to no avail. With the rose bushes burning all around me, I fell to my knees.

I was too late...

If I just kept running…

If I didn't stop…

With my hands gripping my chest, I began to sob like a child. I did not know any of these people, but I could feel their sorrow, their remorse, their regret. I could feel their pain.

The sound of an old man shouting echoed past me. With my eyes red and filled with tears, I looked towards the noise. It was two men and a large dead lizard-like abyssal behind them, in the open field just left of Roserock.

Leaving my bag behind I got up and walked closer to see what was going on.

One was wearing iron armor with a prior's crest on the right shoulder. The other, an old man dressed in religious garbs, almost that of a priest's. I looked across at the abyssal which was red with large scales across its entire body. It resembled the dragons which filled my mother's stories just much smaller. What really caught my eye was the many sharp stone spears that had impaled it. The men did not seem to notice me yet.

I focused my hearing on them as they seemed to be arguing: "We paid you to kill the udrako, not lead it into town! How could you stand there whilst it burned all my friends to death?!" The priest screamed in agony.

"It was a bit more powerful than I anticipated, and letting it focus on the town kept it busy long enough for the sun to rise, allowing me to strike while it was blinded. The creature would have burned down multiple towns if I hadn't stopped it. Your town was, unfortunately, a small sacrifice." The prior said calmly, with a grin on his face.

"How dare you! You are not a Hero...! The priest, unable to complete his sentence, as the prior had cut his head off in a single horizontal strike.

His head rolled to the side and without a second glance, the prior turned around facing the abyssal. He then proceeded to walk to the corpse and bend down to cut trophies from its body.

You did this!

YOU KILLED THEM!

I could feel my Rage pulsate! I bit down on my teeth as my face became twisted with hatred. My body shivered in anger as I walked to the knight, whose back was facing me.

The feeling of losing myself, like I was stuck in a river and fighting its current. My restraint getting weaker and weaker.

Take control!

Stop yourself!

Be better than him!

Killing is not the answer!

My body pressed forward. My fists were clenched so tight, my nails pierced the skin on my palms. I started to grind my teeth together as I got closer.

The prior must have noticed me because he stood up and glanced in my direction: "Young man, I am so sorry... I couldn't save your town. I did my best to stop the Abyssal but, I was too late. I discovered that the man lying over there was a demon worshiper. He betrayed his people by leading that creature into the city. After I finally slew it, he tried to attack me!"

These words broke the last thread holding on to my humanity as I let the malice swallow me.

YOU dare lie to meeeee!

He started to walk closer to me in a relaxed demeanor, sword strapped to his side. His words, drowned out by my hatred: "Don't worry. I will take you to the capital where you will be safe.UGH...!"

He looked down with widened eyes to find my hand had broken through his cheap armor and penetrated deep into his stomach.

"I'll KILL YOU" He shouted as he pulled the blade from his side.

His sword was raised above his head, ready to strike down at me. And then it happened. I could see his body go limp as anguish filled his face. He tried to scream through his numbed jaw but, only a gurgling sound could escape. His sword acting as a counterweight, made him fall onto his back.

So it was as I thought. My nails now have a paralytic property.

I walked calmly and sat next to him whilst he carried on squirming, trying to break free from his own body. I could hear faint cries as if he was begging me for mercy. I stretched my legs out on the grass and arched backward with my hand on the ground.

With an innocent smile, I looked up at the sky and said: "My mother used to tell me tales of heroes. Warriors blessed by the Great Spirits with the power to defeat the evil roaming this world. After many years of laying down their own lives for the greater good, they finally banished the demon lords from this realm. Those stories always gave me hope as my father kicked the life out of my mother and me. I always hoped such a hero would save us but, I have come to realize they no longer exist."

The prior squirmed more aggressively as he heard those words. I moved closer to him and whispered in his ear as my claws dangled just above his neck: "Thank you... Thank you so much for showing me the way. I am going to purge you all from this world. Every false lion shall experience true fear, as they realize they are not the strongest predator."

My claws slowly moved down into his throat. Tears streamed down the knight's face as he realized he was about to die. They pierced his skin and then crushed his throat. The sound of him drowning in his blood carried through the air.

With a bewildered smile I whispered: "Shh... It's okay. It's Okay. Your death is a gift to all those you have wronged. Know that your suffering brings comfort to them."

With my other hand, stroking his hair as I stared into his eyes. I could see the light go out, just as my father's did. And then there was silence. I pulled my hand from his throat and wiped the blood off on the grass next to his body. I got up then proceeded to go back to the village where I dropped my bag. The roaring flames were getting higher at this point. As I grabbed the sling on my bag, a faint cry reached my ears.

Wait!

Someone is still alive!