บท 4: Dark Forest
One swipe was all it took to clear away a path, but behind it were more layers upon layers of branches. But exhaustion wasn't a word taught in the Temple of Light. A loud rumble shook the surroundings as Alucard sliced a boulder in half, and twigs snapped with every step. Every sound alarmed all wildlife, causing them to sprint in a frenzied shock.
"Your target is the ruins of village buried deep inside the Dark Forest." A ball of light swirled around him, it telepathically transmitted Gord's voice inside his head. Though his voice only passed by Alucard, as the Demon Hunter was focus at a rustling bush.
It shook increasingly violent, while a pair flickering red glow eyed Alucard. Though threatening, he could smell the fear the poor beast gave. The snarling slowly became whimpers with every step the Demon Hunter took.
Knowing death was striding towards him, the desperate wolf pounced. It's once silvery fur became a dirty brass as the mud and blood formed a sludge on it, with several wounds clawed on it's body. Small cracks slithered across it's once razor-sharp teeth, while some were already shattered. But the wolf didn't retract it's claws nor bare it's teeth, it just jumped at Alucard.
A faint, thread-thin red line halved the wolf. Once it reached the Demon Hunter, it was already in two pieces. Blood showered the surroundings, as it's intestines were splattered on the ground. It's heart pumped one last time before it eternally stopped. A chilly breeze swept across the scene, as the emerald-green leaves grew dim. The forest mourned it's lost, but the decision had already been made. Alucard left, he had already gave it it's death, there was nothing more he could do.
The symphony of sonorous chirping and the rythmic rasps and strums of the insects slowly faded as he got deeper. When utter silence came, the faint quaking of the ground sent an alarmed jolt into Alucard. Looking at all direction, he saw nothing. Until by narrowing his eyes, did he saw a large horde heading straight towards him.
The vegetation that stood in their way were reduced to squashed limps beneath their stomps, only the thick-hided trees stood firm at their stampede. Alucard was long gone, putting his survival at the hands of a branch. It was barked with a coarse surface, but it couldn't leave splinters on his iron-clad right hand. It wobbled slightly, unable to bare the weight.
Deers leaped pass anything ahead of them, larger animals such as bears swept through the area with their massive bulk, while monkeys swang using branches. Alucard noticed a white critter hopping around. It was a bunny, but its life was ended by a sea of stomps. The critter was reduced into a bloody pile on the ground.
A cloud rose from the ground, carrying a dusty taste of blood with it. The animals became fewer with every passing moment, until they only a handful. One bear desperately moved forward, but chunks of flesh were missing from it's back. It let out a loud groan before finally falling to the ground.
Alucard landed safely. Countless footprints sank to the ground and mushed carcasses were littered on the ground. He focused his on the dead bear. Seeing the bite marks all over it, he could only conclude what had happened. He stared off into the distance, a monster is lurking somewhere, hunting the animals to the point they'll retreat from their habitat.
Days passed by. With the lack of animals and the all-embracing silence, the forest felt dying. Still, Alucard ventured deeper. He was entirely focused on finding the village, until he noticed it at the corner of his eyes. It was a human remains. Weathered by the changing seasons, cracks were all over it.
Seeing it, Alucard knew he was getting closer. But the sound of footsteps brushing pass grass, sent him hiding. It was two wolves. The outline of their ribs were visible on their thin skin, while their stick-like legs wobbled, unable to hold their weight.
"Why does he forces our pack to protect this area?" The wolf lamented.
"Our food already left the these parts ever since that purple light." The other replied while laying on the ground.
A bush rustled before having all it's leaves sent flying off. All the wolf saw was a blue streak, before he felt a sharp tip pointed at his head. Hearing the worried snarling, the Demon Hunter further pressed his sword on the laying wolf.
"Worried?" He taunted.
The snarling got louder, but he knew one wrong move will reduce his friend into a corpse. "Grrrr. What do you want, human?"
"Two questions." Hearing his reply, the wolf could only look at his friend. The wolf was whimpering, his courage was not as harden as his companion.
"What's this purple light? Also, where can I find a ruins of a village?" The demon in front of him asked.
He shot a murderous glance before answering. "One night, a purple light flooded the entire sky. Ever since then, our prey started leaving while our alpha started forcing us to roam these parts. He just stays in his den, never leaving." He seems hesitant, but he still continued. "Just go straight this path, and you'll find our village."
Hearing this, the other wolf's eyes widen. Unable to believe that his friend just revealed the location. While the demon seems appeased as he released his hostage, then he stared off into the path he was directed to.
The wolf crawled away from the man. He wanted to smack his friends head for telling where the village was, but fear made him silent as his body trembled.
Realizing his mistake, he looked at the man's back. "Please, sir. The village is where our pack lives, spare us from your wrath." Being smarter than the average wolf, he tried to reason instead of flanking him.
The Demon Hunter looked at them. It was when the wolf felt a chill on his spine, as the grass started to falter. At that moment, the fate that awaited them started to sink in.
"Killing is always better than giving mercy."
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