JAY MYERS

The heroes' party entered a dank cave with the contingent of Royal Knights. We had travelled to Shearmouth Caves as it was a known den of weak monsters and only occasionally held monsters of a moderate threat level. The knights had previously explained the way they ranked monsters.

Weak monsters are at the bronze level. They can be killed by novice adventures but can be hazardous as they are known to appear in large numbers. This rank is reserved for monsters that are numerous but not a threat such as slimes, greenland wolves, ghouls and many more.

Moderate monsters are at the silver level. They required groups of experienced adventurers to eliminate them. They are deadly alone and brutal in packs. These can include emerald tigers, sun leopards, evolved types of bronze monsters and many others.

Dangerous monsters are at the gold level. They require the formation of a large group of adventurers with highly ranked adventurers participating. They are often at the pinnacle of their power. They can range from sea serpents to wyverns.

There were two ranks above gold but were only reserved for special cases.

Platinum was next and was reserved for extremely dangerous beasts that had the strength to level a small town. They required support from other towns and could even require the kingdom's army to assist. Any dragon was considered at least a platinum level beast but could be even deadlier.

Above that was diamond, which boasted monsters capable of levelling an entire city, and required nearly an entire kingdom to band together to face such a grievous threat. In the past, it was not unheard of for kingdoms to request aid from others to assist them. There had been two recorded passages in a book that I had read. One was of Verlgander the Dragon of Lightning who decimated an entire nation. The other was of the leviathans found in the northern oceans.

As monsters in this cave were primarily that of a bronze level with a scarce amount of silver monsters, it was a relatively safe place to train the young and inexperienced heroes in their abilities and new weaponry.

We progressed through the cave finding little resistance. Our party of heroes were strong and could take out bronze monsters with ease. We had spent well over three hours in the dark confines of the caves when we entered a large cavern with slick, damp walls.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and my eyes darted around the cavern. Just as I was about to warn my comrades that they should remain vigilant, a lithe feline darted out from behind a boulder and moved in to attack the group.

A knight shouted “Careful, that’s an emerald tiger. It’s ranked at silver!” Two members of our group ignored the knight’s warning. Grant and Jake ran in and tried to slash and stab the green tiger with their sword and spear respectively. The tiger darted past the outstretched spear, batted the sword away with ease and sank its teeth into the calf of Grant. He cried out in pain and hastily tried to move away from the tiger. Before anyone could move in to help, a loud roar was heard from behind the boulder from which the tiger had first sprung from, and the group watched in horror as two more tigers approached.

Jade, who had been on the side watching the tiger attack in fear, was singled out by one of the tigers and it bolted towards her. The rest of the group had saved Grant and had begun to retreat back the way we had come, no one was watching out for Jade.

I sprinted across, with no time to ask for help or prepare, I simply stood in front of Jade and braced myself. The tiger crashed into me and slashed with both of its claws. The claws left long and deep cuts all over my body and I was sent flying into the wall of the cave. The tiger bolted forwards a second time and attacked me mercilessly, clawing all over my body, leaving deep and jagged cuts along my legs, chest, arms and even one along my face, I nearly lost an eye. The claw dug into the area above my right eyebrow and glanced downwards, missing my eye by a hair's breadth continuing down my cheek. Blood dripped down obscuring the vision of my right eye.

I looked up at the tiger, to see an arrow spring from across the cavern and sink into its neck. It cried out in pain and quickly scurried away. I watched as another arrow sunk into the tiger's flank, along with a few more, all landing. The tiger tried to move away but instead slumped, falling to the ground with ragged breathing.

I looked back to my group but they were standing still, mouths agape. I followed their line of sight to a large group of men in matching armour standing across the cavern.

Jade ran over to my side and tried to help me but I was bleeding a lot all over. What little she could do was not going to stop the bleeding in the slightest. Jade teared up and continued to try and help me.

“Jay! Jade! Retreat! We need to leave right now!” I looked over to see Kaidan shouting to us.

Jade shook her head motioning to me and shouted back “Jay can’t move! Please, come back and help us!” Kaidan and a few others stopped but didn’t move towards us.

Hesitating, Kaidan shouted something that neither of us wanted to hear: “I’m sorry but we can’t risk it. You’re on your own.”

He waited a moment longer before disappearing into the dark recess the party had fled into. I watched as tears flowed down Jade’s face. I lifted my hand and rested it on her cheek, Jade started and looked at me with tearful eyes.

“My, my what a splendid showing that was young man. I have to say I am impressed” Jade and I both looked over to where the voice had originated. A burly man with a thin moustache approached us, followed by his group of armoured men.

“I am the captain of this patrol, we are soldiers from the glorious nation of Vahn.” We watched and waited with bated breath. The captain smiled and continued “You have shown us great valour and bravery in the face of danger. I see you hail from the kingdom of Altheim, although we are on opposing sides I have quite the generous proposal for you boy.”

He stopped in front of us, and we waited for him to continue. His smile hadn’t faded and he at last spoke his generous proposal. “How about you switch sides boy.” His smile widened, his teeth glinting in the cavern.

Jade stood and walked a few steps towards the captain. “Absolutely not.” She spoke with authority making her stance clear. “My brother and I will not fight in this silly war.” The captain’s smile faded. He walked a few paces towards Jade and looked over her shoulder at me.

“Does your sister speak for you boy? What say you?” I tried to speak but only a hoarse whisper came out. “What was that boy? Speak up” the captain said. I tried again with some success this time. “My sister is correct.” I croaked, “We want nothing to do with this war.” The captain stopped pacing and stood behind Jade. “I see” he stated simply. I tried to move but my body wouldn’t respond to me.

The captain smiled and said “I see… so what you’re saying is you won’t comply because of your sister?” I was surprised but cautious so I remained silent. The captain smiled again and his eyes glittered. “I suppose there’s not much more to say. I see you cannot be persuaded by normal means.” The captain unsheathed his sword and raised it, preparing to strike.

I tried to stand but couldn’t, before I could warn my sister, the captain stabbed through her back. Jade gasped and looked down to see the sword jutting out from her chest, blood cascading down her front. Jade stumbled forwards and the sword withdrew from her body, she turned around and staggered towards me.

I couldn’t believe what had just happened, emotions swirled within me as my sister stumbled towards me. Surprise and shock changed to anger, in turn, changed to sadness. Jade fell in front of me onto her knees. She leant towards me and wrapped her arms around me, hugging tight. Blood spilt from the wound in her chest and back, and started to pool around us.

The bleeding wouldn’t stop, it poured out, more and more blood leaving Jade’s body. Her breathing ragged, she started to cough over and over, blood spilling from her lips onto me. Jade leant towards me and whispered into my ear “I will always be with you brother and I will always love you. No matter what happens I will always accept you, for who you are. I … love… y—.”

Jade collapsed against me and I found the strength to hold her in my arms. She coughed a few more times and gazed up into my eyes. She lifted her hand to my cheek and rubbed the rough stubble with her thumb. I watched as my sister’s arm fell limp to her side and watched the light drain from her sapphire eyes.

The life faded from her as I held her in my arms.

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

Rage bubbled up from within and overshadowed the sadness I had felt before. Feelings of rage filled my entire body, but I couldn’t move, he couldn’t act. My wounds prevented me from releasing the rage building up inside.

I looked up at the captain and saw him smiling down at him. The rage threatened to spill over from the turbulent ocean within. It was then when I heard a voice from inside my head, from inside my mind.

Kill… Kill them all! It shouted. Rip them apart… Tear flesh from bone… Shatter their souls! It roared.

Not knowing whether the voice within was real, I whispered to myself “I can’t… I can’t move.”

The voice took form inside of my mind in the shape of a beast, one with long fangs, and sharp claws. The beast laughed and said, do not worry, I will lend you my strength. However, there is a price…

I whispered back to the beast, “What is it you want?” There was a pause and I waited. The beast answered, many things but they will make sense in time… for now though I will lend you my strength and guide you through what is about to happen.

I gasped as I felt a rush of power and strength course through my broken body. An intense burning sensation flowed through my body cauterising all of the wounds that covered me. Barely staying conscious through the pain and sound of my sizzling flesh, I noticed black lightning crackling around my body.

A hand that was mine, moved without me guiding it and rested on Jade’s wounded chest. The power surging inside me moved through my body. Guided by the beast, it flowed up to my shoulder, down my arm and out through my palm.

There was a reaction.

Light and shadows poured from the wound and surrounded me and my sister’s still body.

The soldiers shouted to each other “What the fuck is going on?” Another cried “Where did he go?” Another called out “What is that darkness?”

The captain silenced them all with a wave of his hand. “Quiet men, weapons at the ready.”

The beast continued to guide me and the light shot up in a straight line. A single pulse disrupted the serene beam of golden light. The shadows swirled around me and started to enter my body through my nose and wounds. I opened my mouth to breathe and it entered through there too. It entered my eyes and ears, I couldn’t see and couldn’t hear.

A rush of sound like the roaring of waves and swirling darkness obscured all of my senses. I began to panic, but the beast simply laughed and said I will help you slaughter those who have stoked the fire within you. The furnace of rage within you has been lit and is burning with hatred.

The darkness dissipated and finished entering my body. Swirling shadows continued to obscure us from the soldier’s view.

The beam of light shrunk and began to fade away, but before it disappeared completely, a beam shot out perpendicularly and hit me in the chest where my heart resided.

The beast growled from within but didn’t say a word.

The light disappeared and the swirling storm of shadows dissipated into the air a moment later, and the soldiers stared at me. The captain shouted something but all I could hear was the beast. KILL!”

⬦

All I could feel was the power that surged through every vein in my body. It filled my entire being and it burned. All of the pain felt from my wounds disappeared and all I could feel was the burning power within me, the burning rage. With an animalistic roar that was not my own, I stood up straight.

The soldiers took a step back, but the captain held firm, shouting. Visions of my sister being impaled played in my mind nonstop. I saw it happen hundreds of times within a second.

Over and over, it played.

Rage filled me and my body acted so quickly that I didn’t even know what I had done.

My left hand held the head of the captain and my right was stained in crimson. Claws that weren’t there previously dripped with the blood of my enemy.

The soldiers backed away and held their weapons up. A single soldier charged and thrust his spear towards my throat. In a blur, I had dropped the severed head from my left hand and caught the shaft of the spear with it. I squeezed and the wood splintered and shattered. The spearhead dropped to the floor and the soldier blanched at his failed attack. He tried to back away but my right hand swiped at his neck and three deep and jagged slashes destroyed it.

He gagged on his own blood and stumbled away, falling on his rear as he held his neck. Crimson blood spilt through his meager attempt to stop the bleeding and cascaded down his front, dripping ceaselessly to the floor. I stood over my victim and delivered the killing blow.

A few soldiers threw down their weapons and knelt with their hands raised in surrender, one soldier charged while others ran. I wasted no time killing my attacker and chased the fleeing soldiers, killing them each with a flick of my wrist. My claws delivered mortal wounds with each swipe. I stalked back to the soldiers who stood with their weapons raised.

An arrow shot towards my head. I blew it away with a swipe of my hand. A powerful gust of wind hit the arrow and sent it flying into the wall of the cave where it shattered.

The soldier's eyes were wide with fear and backed away towards the corner of the cavern as I stalked closer. With each fall of my feet I drew closer to my prey. I stopped a few feet away from the huddled group of soldiers. There were fifteen in total. I looked at their frightened faces and their shaking weapons.

In the corner of my eye, I saw the kneeling soldiers and smiled. I barked a guttural laugh. A mix between my own and the beast within. I mercilessly killed every soldier in the corner save one, who had ran when my attack missed his chest. Instead I slashed off his arm.

The soldier ran holding the stump of his missing limb with his free one. He stumbled and fell to the ground. He rolled onto his back and saw my face centimetres away from his own. The soldier was horrified and prayed to the gods as my bloody face curved into a gruesome smile.

The last thing the soldier saw was my blurred claws approaching.

I stood and slowly turned to the soldiers who had surrendered. I counted them. There were five soldiers who had thrown away their weapons and looked to me pleading for their lives.

Their eyes shone with fear, I could smell it. They had pissed themselves and were begging to be spared. I started walking towards them when the beast spoke.

Wait a moment. Allow me to do something for you. I waited patiently for the voice within. The beast's presence faded and he felt another.

A cold presence entered my veins and permeated throughout my body. If the last presence was that of a beast, this was one of a corpse, long faded to the will of time. It was that of a skeleton, long passed from this world. I heard a raspy voice from within.

The reaper whispered, before you end their lives, I have a suggestion for you.

“Who are you!” I shot back in an angry tone. “Where is the beast? I feel his power fading.”

The reaper chuckled and replied in his raspy voice, Xeria has returned to the recesses of your soul, so I could help you with what comes next.

I hesitated before asking the question that had come to mind. The raspy voice beat my own and simply stated, I will activate your ability. Xeria used it on your sister to retrieve me. It is the art of dissolving the souls of the dead.

⬦

The reaper explained to me that I indeed had an ability. It was to capture the souls of the dead and dissolve them into my own soul. He told me it would taint my own soul in darkness but would grant me tremendous power. Enough to kill those who stand in my way and who have betrayed me.

My rage bubbled to the surface, but the reaper stilled the crashing waves of anger within. Be patient, the reaper said.

I asked the single question the reaper had not addressed. “Why couldn’t I use this ability when I first came to this place?” The reaper chuckled and answered, because this is a power born from darkness and you were previously balanced.

Still unsure, I went to ask another but the reaper stopped me.

More will become clear to you over time but let’s not tarry lest the souls of the dead will disappear. I quelled the storm of questions that raced in my head and waited for the reaper to continue. I will now activate your ability.

I felt a burning pain throughout my entire body and as soon as it had come it was gone. I was now filled with a freezing feeling, that of a blizzard which snaked through my limbs and to my core.

Time slowed as my eyes adjusted to the immense light that filled my vision. I gaped at what I saw. Swirling balls of light coalesced and floated in the cavern above those I had killed.

Balls of various colours shimmered and pulsed around the room. I heard the reaper whisper, Open yourself and absorb the souls of your enemies. Make their power yours. Make their knowledge your own. Make their abilities serve you.

I did as instructed and spread my consciousness out to the souls. Tendrils of myself reached out to the souls of the dead. Once a tendril latched onto a soul, the ball of light started to melt away. I felt power surge into my body.

I smiled as my strength increased. My smile faded when the torrent of knowledge entered my mind and overwhelmed me. I grasped my head in my hands and screamed. The pounding and pain in my head subsided as the information burned itself into my skull. As knowledge filled my mind, I brushed it aside and pushed it to the back. I will sort it out later. I thought.

The reaper spoke, Excellent, I have never seen one such as yourself. You will serve as a worthy vessel. Now finish what you have started.

I felt the presence of the reaper withdraw. As he did, the suppressed rage bubbled to the surface and the stilled anger rose, forming a tsunami of anger which roared in my mind. I picked up a cracked sword from a fallen soldier. I walked over to the surrendering soldiers and slit their throats. I watched as their crimson blood spilt to the floor. I watched their writhing bodies as they slowly stilled, the life fading from their eyes.

I went to absorb their souls but the pain from my wounds the beast had previously suppressed, caught up to me and I collapsed. As my vision faded, I thought of my sister and a single tear ran from my left eye. It ran down my crimson stained face and landed in a puddle of blood that was a mixture of mine and and not my own.