25 Awakening

Flying straight ahead with jet-like invoking speed, a human figure who was covered with dark light and oozing with death-like pressure sped past the vast land that was overgrown with life, over the mountains, and finally through the dark depths of the verdant forest.

Meanwhile, beneath the sky. A deer was carefully foraging for food when its ears twitched, then raised its head as it noticed the world was turning dim and hazy...

Black streamlined followed wherever it passed thus leaving and turning the space behind into a river of darkness, which left some of the beasts below shivering with fear, anxiety, and urges to flee as far and as soon as could.

It was still noon, and the sun was supposed to be blazing the prairies, mountains, and forests with light and heat. The phenomenon left the creatures trembling with fear as they never faced something so unknown and so dangerous.

Frightened and petrified, they carefully hid and holed themselves wherever possible that even the restricted lands of the kings weren't spared; thus, it became one of the many hiding places. They were so scared the creatures forgot absolute death would come to those who step their foot in the lands of the kings.

***

Meanwhile, somewhere within the dark depths of the forest, for the first since the last dying cry of a king, sparks of buzzing lightning brought light to the ever-darkness that shroud the forest. The innocent creatures that were planning to go inside the forest stopped for a while, looking at their surrounding place. And then when they thought that it wasn't safe and sound, they proceeded moving forward. Slowly and carefully as they could, never bothering to make a single noise, but what they did not know was that they were actually unknowingly plucked from the flock. One by one they fell, covering the ground with blood and gore.

At first, there was the only pair of eyes like lightning, then it was followed by another, then another followed the other, feasting on the flesh of fools who came to seek refuge to the coming of darkness. The sound of some creature which was eating crunchy bones crept through the surroundings as blood flowed down unto the ground bringing rancid smell on the air, which was then followed by another awakening of another monstrosity of the same kind. "I smell blood in the air!"

In the end, the awakened creatures were too many.

The beasts that were much stronger and much mightier than the other small and insignificant creatures were releasing killing intent. While the smaller and weak ones were busy running away from the invoker of the river of darkness. Some stood up and roared as they looked at the humanoid figure who was flying away. Their eyes lit alight with hunger and rage. These creatures were different from the rest. They weren't afraid to face the unknown. They were bigger, more vicious, and braver. If they die, then they would accept death wholeheartedly. It was as simple as that. But ruining the peace in the vast land was something they couldn't bear to watch. They could hardly wait for the hunt to start.

Gathered and prepared, they started to move to the center of the forest. They arrived at the base of the gigantic tree, and right beside it was an altar made out of bones of different kinds of beasts and human-looking creatures. The rest stayed at the base of the altar. They were not making any sounds. It was as if they were trained soldiers--human soldiers. Looking closely, the creatures all looked different except for the glowing light in their eyes, which resembled lighting itself, and the raw red juices and grey matter all around their bodies.

After waiting for a long time, below the altar, an old ape with eyes closed was escorted by a bunch of monstrous beings. The ape was small, and it looked very weak and old compared to the one that was on its side. When the group finally reached the base of the altar, the ape climbed up alone, but the rest stayed at the bottom looking at the ape with respect present in their eyes. With its eyes closed, the ape reached the peak of the altar which had only a complete dark knightly armor.

The ape caressed the armor with its crooked-looking finger while the ape slowly was opening eyes—it was cloudy white and nothing more. Whoever looked unto its eyes would be sucked into oblivion. It was the ability that its master had bestowed upon him.

"Master, where are you?" It smiled. "We are still waiting here for you to come and save us."

He carefully looked at the creatures at the bottom of the altar and at the skies, waved his hand and a staff made of unknown wood flew unto his hand. Smiling, he looked at it and said, "It's been a long time, old friend. " He struck the ground with it. "Boom!" Shockwave traveled from where he was to the surrounding area, causing a little disruption to the creatures that were waiting like soldiers down below.

"Hoho." Looking at the fierce glow on the creature's eyes then at the skies above, he said."It seemed like we still have it, partner. Seems like we have been sleeping for a long time."

He looked around and shouted, "These lands belong to our master, and whoever sets their foot on these very lands without invitation will suffer the cruelest pain. Now, my children clear the way because I know see the coming of our master." His eyes were glowing yellow bright light while the beast soldiers roared reverberated to the skies.

"The time has come for us to leave this empty place, and to be with the master who gave us life," he said. "We will bid our time. In the prophecy, it was said that he will to us. We will do what the prophecy dictated. For now, train. All of you should train. For it was said that war is the time that our master will need us. We will not fail him!"

The beast roared to the skies and the dome of light above them trembled as bloodlust took form in a form of a demon with gigantic wings and shadowed body.

***