Monsters

Author's Note: This novel contains strong language, torture, abuse, manipulation, extreme violence, self harm, and talks of mental disorders. If any of these topics trigger you, it would be best to not read. Read at your own discretion.

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The sounds of blood dripping on the floor echoed throughout the dungeon. Pandora's victim, a soldier who had went turncoat was chained up, unable to escape...unable to move from where he was. She looked down at him with her soulless red eyes.

"You...insane...bitch of a princess...You think this is going to stop us from trying to take you down..? You are not like us, you are not a human...you will never be treated as such..!" The soldier bellowed.

Pandora looked at the soldier and blood rolled down her face. She smiled sadistically at him then placed the blade of her sword at his neck. "You're absolutely right. I am not supposed to be a human in your presence.."

The soldier looked at her and noticed her flames had begun to spiral around her. He glared at her then smirked. "Once everyone knows you're corrupted by the Corrupt Ember, once everyone knows you are a vessel to a monster...everyone will turn their backs on you."

Pandora raised her blade to the air then slashed, slicing the soldier's head clean off. She took his lingering aura then added it to hers. She turned around and walked away, her dark aura and her sinister look had disappeared.

Pandora Mei, the daughter of one of the most powerful royals in the world. Her kingdom has been known to destroy any foe to come face to face with them. Pandora being the strongest out of her siblings gave her more leadway into being the next crowned royal. No one knows the secrets she hides within, but she seeks for someone who can truly understand her inside and out. She wants the perfect marriage with someone just as twisted as she is, her monster seeks another just as powerful as her.

"My Lord! We have received news that the Xovian Army is preparing to strike! We need to march now!" An Aestrean Soldier reported to the king.

"Xovia. So it appears that King Xavier now plans to conquer us. His kingdom is full of powerful soldiers. We must prepare accordingly! Soldiers, gather my officers and prepare them all for battle! We have war coming up." The Aestrean King said then stood up.

"Dad! What's going on?" Pandora asked as she hurried into the throne room.

"My beloved daughter, it would appear that the Xovian Kingdom has decided to strike. Would you like to assist in leading the Aestrean Army?" Pandora's father asked.

"Would I? I would be delighted to! I can show you all how strong I've become! I can show the world...who they are messing with exactly." Pandora said with a slightly devious smirk.

Her father looked at her and smiled then handed Pandora his sword. It was a beautiful silver blade crafted from the toughest materials in the world. The sword was called Aestrea, named after the first Queen of Aestrean. The blade radiated a mythical aura and caught the eye of Pandora.

"You're really giving me this? This is a sword that's been passed down from generation to generation. Am I truly worthy enough to wield such...perfection..?" Pandora said, shuddering heavily from the pleasure of holding such divine weaponry.

"I am sure, Mei. Wield it and bring our kingdom victory." Her father said.

She nodded then bowed to him then hurried off. The soldier followed behind and they all met up with the army. Her army. She stood on the podium and looked at her units. She pointed her sword at them.

"Listen up my army! We are preparing to march to Xovia to eliminate a king who wants to take us down! We will be marching for a while as we will have to march through neighboring kingdoms and if they attack, we will simply strike then down as well! King Xavier is no slouch in battle. We must be at our best at all times! Failure is not an option! So as we march today, we will bring glory to Aestrea!" Pandora announced.

Her army roared and a spirit appeared behind her and she looked back at her. She noticed that Ruination was looking at the army.

"Your brother and sister. Protect them. Only use my power when absolutely necessary. If you let your darkness slip, their trust.." Ruination said. .

"I know." She whispered and looked back at her army. "They are precious to me, I won't let anything happen to them."

Ruination nodded and disappeared then the tiny flame within dimmed out. Pandora smiled at her brother and sister who was smiling at her. They decided to head off and march towards the Misty Woodlands.

[Meanwhile.]

"Brother. What are you looking for in the Misty Woodlands? You know how these woods are. Your flame can not work in these woods. There's a special effects set by the Gods to make any and all flames of corruption-"

"I know, Ishia. I'm just searching for something..more like someone. I need to find them and eliminate them immediately. After what he did to our uncle." Ashen said and kept walking forward.

"Uncle Draco..." Ishia said and looked down.

The two kept walking around then Ashen sensed a magic arrow heading straight for Ishia. He used his draconic aura to deflect the arrow. Ishia looked surprised and quickly looked at her brother.

"Target spotted!" One of the generals said.

"Careful Mei, your Corrupt Ember can't work in this forest. This is like a sacred ground. Monsters like me are unable to use our power." Ruination said.

Pandora nodded and looked ahead, seeing Ashen and his sister. She squinted a bit then her heart thumped. "M-Mmph..! That feeling...no it can't be."

Ashen looked at the army and held his arm out and summoned his sword. He glared at them all then noticed the archers taking aim at the two.

"Brother..!" Ishia squeaked in fear. "Let's retreat! We can search for the killer another time!"

Ashen stared at Pandora and his heart thumped hard. He felt a cold presence behind him and looked back.

"Boy. Retreat is not an option. They are marching to your kingdom. It is your duty to protect it." Ashen's monster said.

"I know, but that woman.." Ashen said then looked at Pandora.

"What about her? I can't sense anything from her. Maybe if you battle her, something will spark." Ashen's monsters said.

Ashen looked at the army one last time. He was critically outnumbered. It was 30 against two. He lowered his arm and got into his battle stance and his eyes shined. Ishia looked at Ashen like he was crazy.

"Ishia, you run back home, if things become too bad I'll follow. One of us has to go back. Mom will worry if we're both dead." Ashen said.

Ishia looked at Ashen sadly then nodded and ran off back to her kingdom. Ashen looked at the army and they prepared to go into battle against Ashen.

"I don't know who you all are, but I refuse to allow you all to pass this forest to the bridge leading to my kingdom! I will strike you all down!" He bellowed and his aura surged powerfully.

"His aura is so strong..! Who is he?!" One of the generals said.

Ashen dashed toward the army then began deflecting the arrows with his sword then dodged another arrow. A dark aura surrounded his blade and he rapidly slashed, sending dark cutting waves at the army and striking them. Their bodies began dropping one by one and Pandora froze at the sight. She wasn't scared, but was delighted by how savagely he fought.

Ashen dodged one of the soldier's stabs with their lance then gripped his neck and his eyes shined. He snapped their neck then used their body as a meat shield for the next few attacks that were directed at him. He threw the body aside and his eyes became soulless.

"My turn again.." Ashen said and his darkness surrounded his body. He couldn't use his Corrupt Ember to turn into his Monster Form but his darkness gave him the necessary boosts.

"Pandora..?! What are we supposed to do?! He singlehandedly took out our entire squad!" Pandora's sister asked, terrified.

"Don't worry Cecilia. I will handle this...With the power of Aestrea, nothing will stop ME!" She said then dashed toward Ashen.

Ashen watched her then blocked her first slash then pushed her back then kicked her side, causing her to groan then he struck her stomach, blowing her away with a small dark blast. She rolled backwards then recovered onto one knee and looked up.

"Those soulless eyes...that wicked smirk...he definitely has a monster hiding within him..! He's like me...! He...has a monster...that darkness...hah...hah...my mind..." Pandora said and began to pant, barely able to keep her composure.

Ashen got into different stance then his purple eyes began to shine brightly. He dashed to her and slashed, but her mystical aura pushed him away. He slid backwards and looked at her.

"I need to keep my composure...I have to win so I can get to my destination!" Pandora bellowed and dashed to him once again.

He dashed toward her and slashed, but she parried his attack then punched his stomach. He grunted lightly then a hand made from her aura uppercut him, sending him flying then she jumped up with an axe kick, sending him back to the ground. He recovered quickly then dark particles began to appear around him.

His heart began beating quickly and he smirked widely. He began to lose control of himself. He panted and grunted then stood up. He heard his monster tormenting him then gripped his head and bellowed. He began to find his composure then his dark aura disappeared. He looked at Pandora then panted.

Pandora looked at Ashen and smirked. She watched him retreat and was a bit surprised. "Why is he running..?"

"Sis! We have to chase after him, what if he's allied with Xovia?!" Pandora's brother said.

Pandora didn't even have that in mind but it made it so much more exciting. "A monster...within enemy ranks..? This has to be interesting..." She mumbled.

Pandora looked back at her brother and sister then nodded. They began to chase Ashen through the forest until they exited the forest. Ashen stopped and looked back at them.

"Persistent aren't we..?" Ashen glared.

"You might be with enemy ranks. We can't let you live." Pandora's brother said.

"Hmph...My kingdom is not your enemy but if you want to fight so badly...we are no longer in the forest so I will show you my power. The power of the Dragon Within!" Ashen roared and his draconic aura surged powerfully.