Chapter 109: Gruesome Fates

The captain and his small company hurriedly donned their armors and grabbed their swords and were already running through the dark hallway towards the source of the sound they heard previously when a second howl reached their ears.

The 4 guards shivered when they heard the terrifying animalistic shout. It felt like it came from some sort of wolf or similar creature. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be an issue for a group of seasoned mercenaries such as them, but the meaning behind this one meant that it already crossed the first hurdle, the two guards stationed at the doorway. 

This meant that whatever creature or creatures the two met, managed to defeat them. 

"C-captain…" One of them, as the realization that they might just be rushing headstrong into the unknown that could spell their demise, spoke with a shivering tone. "...Shouldn't we ask for b-backup from the other groups?"

"Shut up!" The captain shouted with anger and frustration. "We don't need anybody else to deal with a bunch of crazed animals!"

"B-but…" he tried to argue but one sideways look from his captain marching in front of him silenced his doubts.

After the loud howl an eerie silence set upon the dimly lit hallways. The only sound that broke this were the sounds of their boots kicking up the dust when it hit the ground. 

In only a few minutes that felt like an entire lifetime for the group, the silhouette of a large humanoid creature standing above two bodies lying on the ground have drawn out in the distance, causing them to slow their pace down to a rustle of careful steps.

The shimmering, weak light provided by the nearby torch only provided a sideways glimpse at the invader. His silhouette was humanoid, but it was strangely rough around the edges. 

As they slowly approached, the flickering torchlight revealed the reason for the roughness; the creature had glossy dark fur covering its body. A pair of golden glows, most likely its eyes shined through a strange, white mask that hid most of the creature's features.

"W-w-wha… w-what is that?!" The same guard at the back couldn't hold his calm anymore, and while he pointed at the monster with shaky fingers, he loudly exclaimed.

The group halted their steps, and as the captain sized-up the creature with his eyes, he kept gripping his sword. 

The rest, while not expecting a definite answer, were also nervously grabbing the hilt of their swords waiting in painful silence for the order. 

"What the fuck is that… thing…" The captain muttered to himself, then as if to calm down, he shook his head from side to side. Contorting his muscles, he popped the joints in his fingers holding the hilt. 

Not taking his eyes off the creature, he gave the dreaded and awaited command with a low and serious tone.

"Get ready people. We will charge in together. Try your best, this thing… it doesn't look like your average beast…"

As he finished, he already had his sword raised in front of him, and with another, last battle shout he and the rest of the company charged forward, against the unknown creature.

Seeing all this play out before him, Aiden tensed his muscles and planted his feet into the ground. Taking in a deep breath, he pushed against the dusty floor, and lunged forward claws barred.

As the distance rapidly shrank between them, the group shifted into an impromptu formation: They halted their march; two of the guards jumped to the front, two remained at the back, while their captain remained between the two pairs.

As the horrific, black bloodied claws closed-in on them, the two guards in the front raised their swords in front of the bodies. They were focused on the beast's movement, ready to parry the deadly blow, protecting their own and the captain's body. Meanwhile the pair in the back stuck to the walls to the left and right, ready to thrust from their position.

Unfortunately, they were expecting the reactions of a mindless, savage beast, but this wolf-human hybrid wasn't ordinary. 

Just as Aiden was about to clash with the two guards at the front, he jumped into the air, vaulting above the momentarily stunned guards. As his upper torso reached beyond the human-blockade, he swung down, ripping apart the back of their unprotected heads.

Aiden flicked his arms while still in the air in a downwards arc, effortlessly ripping the mutilated heads in half, and also throwing their blood and brain matter on their shocked captain.

As his claws were no longer barred in the right position, he crashed into the captain as gravity took its toll on his downwards arc, throwing him onto the ground several meters away from his previous position. 

It all happened in a matter of seconds; two of their company were brutally murdered, and their captain lying on the ground covered in dust and bloody bits of the two guards. The remaining two stood still, standing still, their backs still stuck to the wall, nervously gripping their swords, afraid to take any action.

Feeling their frightened gazes on his back, Aiden snickered, as he stood up and casually walked to the lying captain. As he dwarfed above the seasoned mercenary, he casually struck down with his right hand, tearing through his leather chest plate and pulled his intestines out from his body.

The man, still dizzy by the powerful impact, couldn't react in time, as he heard the sound of his leather chest being ripped apart, and then shortly after as the electrifying shock and burning pain informed him of his gruesome fate. 

With great difficulty he raised his head, only to see his own intestines spilling out from his lower stomach area, being unfolded onto the ground around him. With its job finished, the furred beast didn't even bother with him any more, he turned back, facing the last two of the ill-fated group.

Watching their proud and powerful captain mangled in mere moments, both guards were shaking in fear, looking at the slowly approaching nightmarish creature. 

The guy on the right, the same person that had voiced his doubts previously dropped his weapon to the ground and raised his hands into the air. As the monster turned its head to face him, he tried his best at begging.

"P-please, spare me! I-I didn't do anything! L-let me go, I beg you…"

Although also scared for his life, his last remaining partner looked at his 'friend' incredulously. Still grabbing hold of his weapon, he kept it raised towards the black-furred creature.

"What are you crying for? It's not like this stupid, mindless thing can understand you! It's just a mindless bea…. AAAAAARGH" Halfway through his rant, his voice turned into a gurgling groan. Immediately dropping his weapon, he clasped on the remains of his torn neck, the creature he just called stupid and mindless, ripped his trachea into shreds along with most of the accompanying front muscle.

Blood oozed out from the gaping hole, as the man slowly slid down to the ground with a face stuck in eternal disbelief. He died in seconds. 

A foul stench reached his sensitive nose, coming from the last remaining, unarmed guy. Turning around he almost laughed out, the proud, experienced mercenary actually pissed himself in fright. 

Aiden took a deep sniff, he wanted to memorize this smell. This was the stench of man who knew his inevitable death was coming for him. This was fear in its truest, purest form.

Arriving in front of the sobbing adult, he gently grabbed both of his hands and placed it around his own neck. 

Leaning closer into his right ear, he growled. As the animalistic low-toned groans entered his ear canal, and his brain processed the words, his tear and snot covered face morphed into a shocked fright.

He asked, hoping he misheard the words the beast spoke.

"What?"

Snickering, Aiden slowly repeated his words, this time changing his tone to the clearer, majestic draconic one.

"Kill. Yourself."

Hearing the very same words, the guard couldn't help but repeat them one last time, hoping for some miracle.

"K-kill myself?"

Grabbing his hands and exerting a tiny fraction of his immense strength, Aiden exerted some pressure and slightly blocking his ability to breathe. As the guard was gasping for air, he relaxed his grip and leaned in again.

"Yes. Kill yourself. Unless you want me to rip you to shreds… Like I did with your friends."

His eyes snapping wide, almost falling out of their sockets upon hearing the words he dreaded, the man knew there's no other solution. There's no escape, there's no one that will save him.

His only saving grace is that he was given the option to die by his own hands. Taking his last bits of resolve, he tightened the hold around his own neck. As his breathing became increasingly hard, his hands instinctively started to lessen their grip, but before he could relax in his breathing, the monster's hand tightened around his own hands, further increasing his own hold. 

The monster leaned in on his face, looking deep into the man's dark brown eyes. 

"Look at me! Look me in the eye as your miserable, worthless life leaves your body. I want to be the last thing you see in this world. Burn my image into your soul, and remember it in your next life…" 

As his breathing became increasingly hard, and his vision blurred, the last words he heard before his mind was engulfed by the welcoming darkness was the beast's taunt.