2 A Glimpse

A man led his family as they tried to escape. The only scenery they saw was the repeating embers that dyed the sky fiery-red. Countless stray screans echoed, haunting the living with imagery of their gruesome deaths. As they emerged out of the forest, ruins of bizarre structures greeted them. The rubbles that laid across ground destroyed the man's last hope for sanctuary.

He looked at his son, that royal-purple skin was cloaked by dirt and that third eye showed signs of exhaustion. The kid was obviously healthy, but his bloated physique caused him to last only a few minutes, before having his lips turn pale from lack of air. They were all like that. That foreign, neurotic chemical known as adrenaline damaged their balloon-like, frail bodies.

The jewels that lavished their bodies bumped into each other, it produced a clang that should have reminded them of their power. But their influence didn't extend to the alien beasts that chased them. A stray beam of light bounced off the blood that drenched his golden boots, the red glow reminded him of his eventual demise.

Though with his vast intellect and wisdom, death is a course that life takes. Their race were taught to accept it, then why are they running away from it now? What is this feeling in his heart. It pumps so hard, it's like a caged beast roaring to get out.

'Is this fear.' The question echoed inside his mind. Was the continuous advancement of their race caused this emotion to be buried in the past? But the time needed to contemplate about his discovery was lost as the invaders closed in.

It had a large, gaping mouth and still, ruby-like eyes. It's head was supported by a slim, pole-like body connected it to it's four insectoid legs. It had no flesh, only layers of plated armor to protect it. Every step of these gigantic monstrosities shook the earth as they got closer.

One step, two step...

The fear the child felt made his consciousness dance around a thin line, but the luxury of dying unconscious was deprived from him. The aliens got closer, until they were right infront of them. A purplish-white light were condensing at their mouths, as the only sound the family heard were their beating hearts.

"I've seen enough!" Under Alucard's right fist, the mist dissipated into smokes. As much as he wanted to help the family, they were already dead. The memory he saw was but a glimpse of the horror brought by these monstrous aliens.

"The same happened to countless more, and our's is next." Gord said. Every word gave him pain, while the spell he casted made him bone-pale. Having his entire body transformed, and his back slashed by Alucard. It was a miracle that he was still breathing. "Your the only hero that can save us, Alucard." He continued.

"How?" Alucard howled at Gord and the emperor.

"Willpower." The emperor replied. "Your foe knows that only death awaits when he decides to attack. Naturally he'll seek to weaken us. Though the method is something that renders us powerless."

"They have the ability to change the past." Gord said. "My transformation of the Conquerer, was the result of them changing my own past. If it weren't for the power of the Mystics that was burnt on my body, I wouldn't have been able to repel it. Though I knew of their arrival through whispers told in the vast emptiness."

But Gord's explanations all passed by Alucard's ears, only two words caught his attention. "Change... past..."

"Yes. Time is against us. But after experiencing it. I was able to learn it's secrets. They can only change one's past if it's traumatic enough. That's why we need you. The assassin whose willpower was harden by the torture of demons." Gord coughed blood, continuing to push himself will drain his remaining energy.

The emperor immediately went to help Gord, before looking at Alucard. "Will you accept this mission, Alucard."

"Fine." Alucard replied, the thumps of his footsteps broke the silence that came after he left. "Past." He whispered. Where was he headed, he didn't know. Like a stray lump of flesh finding his soul.

"Can he really complete the mission?" Seeing the boy's back gradually disappearing, Gord was worried about the emperor's decision.

"Who knows. Maybe he'll complete it, or maybe not." The emperor shrugged. "That's for him to decide."

Like a fish, he swam on an ocean of dim corners and secret passages to arrive at the marketplace. There life bustled as the sun shone bright, it's warm embrace gave them hope. Loud clangs reverberated as blacksmiths hammered down on red-hot metal, followed by a sizzling noise as a heirloom sword was forged. A wandering aroma travelled, the memory of enjoying a homemade dinner caused people to mindlessly enter their restaurant.

It wasn't just for business that these people strives at their profession, also the joy helping others, love, and family. These virtues pushes them to completion.

"Purpose." Like how an assassin analyze his prey, Alucard had already learned their weakness. "But what's purpose without strength."

But behind such prosperous brilliance of the Empire, hides unchecked shadows. Amidst the lively crowd, a man swiftly lurks. With viper-fast hands, pouches brimming with coins were silently stolen.