Expidition III

A pungent smell of rust invaded my nostrils, as I plunged my staff into the maw of another wolf, crushing his throat, and flinging him to the side.

The cave was dyed red as I splattered the blood of the wolf, adding more to the thin crimson stream trailing down the walls.

It might have been a bit too late, but I've realized something. This is no ordinary wolf den, even if it is an Aeter beast's.

For starters, no den would have this many wolves, the amount of wolves here was outrageous, I've slain more wolves here than I have all my life!

Additionally, no den,… no naturally formed den is this big, this complicated.

The cavernous structure was deep, the ceiling high, and its interior wide. A blinding darkness covered my body like a veil, forbidding sight as if it were a sin.

The Sowilo rune was barely lighting my way as I fed it the thinnest of Aeter, trying to conserve whatever I could, its weak light barely shining on the mounds of wolf carcasses laying on the cold earth.

I dragged my feet, navigating the darkness and stepping over the breathless bodies carefully as I rested my bloodied staff over my shoulder and the hatchet in my free hand.

My eyes scanned the environment restlessly, ready to intercept another wave of the unending wolf attacks. What made it even worse was that their behaviors were erratic.

'Berserker, that's the word I've been searching for'

'Those who fight with a trance-like fury'. That was the only way I could describe the way the wolves were behaving.

They did not care for death nor life. Not their own or their pack mates.

Usually, wolves value unity. Each member is an essential element to their survival as a whole. Each life was precious, be it for the greater good of the pack, or for the familial bonds they share.

But, here?

They lunged at me crazily, their eyes bloodshot and their maws looking to tear through any obstacle. They clawed at each other, racing to claim my life and take first blood, stepping over their fallen brothers and sisters mercilessly, desecrating their sacrifice.

Marking an end to my inner monologue, was another predicament, my drained Aeter reserves.

No matter how much I tried conserving my Aeter, my pool was still limited. Between augmentation, the rune and some magic for good measure, I found myself running on fumes.

'DAMN MY BAB- CHILD BODY'

A sigh escaped my mouth as I retracted the small river of Aeter feeding the rune, and holstered the hatchet on my belt. The light flickered briefly before dying, and leaving me afloat in the ocean of darkness.

'Only my {Earth sense} to guide me now *sigh*….Hurry up Eset, I need you'

With careful steps, I advanced even slower, my arms tensing up at the faintest sound and the slightest of signals from my spell.

{Earth sense}, would send a minute pulse of Aeter would seep into the earth and act as a makeshift sonar, relying on the impact made on the ground to map the area.

With each wave, I would detect small rubble and dead bodies, moving accordingly. My body hung low, crouched close to the earth as I advanced forward. Everything was fine until a deafening silence overwhelmed my sense. Not an ant moved nor a worm wriggled in the soil Everything was silent, dead silent.

At that point I knew something big was going to happen. It had to, I've watched too many movies to think otherwise.

-GROWL

And true to my instincts, a terrifying being cursed me with its presence, a menacing growl announcing its arrival.

{Earth sense} detected something so heavy that the ground caved with every step, faults spreading about.

I jumped to my feet and retreated backwards, pressing my back against the humid and cold wall. My breathing quickened as fright triggered the adrenaline coursing in my veins.

That…thing, was emitting such thick bloodlust, that it was almost tangible. I could feel myself battling a surge of dread as it invaded my pores and overwhelmed my senses.

Suddenly my head went numb as corrupting whispers rattled my brain,

~ tHoU aRt wEaK

'W-Who are you!?'

~ tHoU aRt aLoNe

'Stop!'

~ tHoU sHaLL kNoW FEAR!

'Damn it! I said STOP!' I yelled out to the voice

I knelt down, my knees digging into the earth as I clutched my head in pain. My breathing turned rugged, and my finger nails cracked, piercing into my flesh and drawing forth a crimson sap.

I cried

I screamed.

But no one was there to hear me, to help me

Even I could not hear myself over the burning voices corrupting my mind. They were too loud, too overbearing.

'I-It's too strong.'

The battle ended before it could even start. Man was not made to flourish in darkness, we live in the light. Without it, we die…

Feelings of surrender swirled in my chest, as the tiny candle of hope was snuffed out.

'It's easier t-to just let go, right?'

Amidst the chaos in my head and the threat in the physical world, there was strange serenity when I made my mind to simply let go.

I stepped forward indifferently my staff falling lifelessly to the ground, my steps no longer carrying any caution or fear. Even the corrupting voices no longer mattered, what is the importance of anything in the face of death?

Meaningless.

I should know, I already died before.

~ ThAt's RiGhT, cOmE HeRe LitTLe LaMB. Let Me FeAsT oN YoUr fLeSh!

I came to a stop a few dozen steps later, just in front of the being's maw.

its hot and humid breath brushed past my expressionless face, saliva sticking to my skin like a dense ooze.

I am not sure why, but I opened my arms, as if fully embracing my impending doom.

'Is this it? W-will I reincarnate again? Will I exist again?'

All I could think about was what would come after. Will I go to heaven? Hell?

Was there even anything after?

Interrupting my own thoughts, was laughter.

I could hear a mocking laughter echo in my mind. One of triumphant ridicule.

'The bastard chuckled, AHAHAH it chuckled!'

It's laugh was so vile that I felt more disgusted than afraid, frustrated… Angry even

That's when it happened, something just snapped

-rage

'Huh?'

###

Unbeknownst to Elias, the anger he felt at being ridiculed lit aflame a blaze that burned in his stomach. The small blaze burned through his veins traveling all the way from the bottom of his stomach to his head, devouring the voices with its fire.

~wHaT! ImPoSSibLE!

With the whispers of surrender no longer in his head, Elias could only hear one. One calling, a calling to frenzy.

-Rage

'W-what is this'

-RAGE!

Elias's eyes became a beacon of light as swirling patterns and runes of golden Aeter etched themselves on his skin.

He snapped his head backwards as the runic patterns under his tunic made their way from his chest, snaking to his arms and climbing up his neck, ending in sharp spikes just under his eyes.

~ tHiS eNdS NoW!

Enraged, the mind controlling being opened its long alligator-like maw, looking to perforate Elias's body with its razor sharp fangs.

The bloodcurdling monster snapped its mouth shut, waiting for the feeling of sinking its teeth into the boy's flesh to. It expected a rupture of precious crimson blood and the tang of the tender and young meat.

But it never came.

There was only pain.