Bloodied Sands

Nacht and Ashley stood poised, facing their final opponents, the Sovereign Marksmen. The relentless sun beat down on the arena sands, casting sharp shadows around them. Ashley wiped sweat from her brow, her breaths deep and measured. The clash had been intense, a flurry of movements and gunfire, until both sides retreated to assess the situation from a safe distance. Across the arena, the riflemen eyed Nacht warily, particularly his glowing eye that seemed to pierce through the tension.

"She's something else," Liam muttered to Finn, nodding subtly towards Nacht. Finn, though visibly uneasy, steadied himself, rifle aimed squarely at their opponents. He squeezed the trigger, sending a bullet hurtling towards Nacht, only to witness him dash forward with lightning speed, slicing the bullet cleanly in half before gracefully retreating to Ashley's side.

Liam exhaled heavily, scanning the arena for any advantage. "How in the world is she slicing bullets like that? Feels like we're in one of those new films," he grumbled, frustration evident in his voice. Finn chuckled at the comparison. "Does that make us the villains then?" he quipped, attempting to lighten the mood. Liam rolled his eyes at his friend's attempt at humor and refocused on Nacht. "And what's with her eye? I've never seen anything like it," he remarked, studying Nacht intently. Finn chuckled again. "Just adds to the superhero look, doesn't it?" he commented with a smirk.

"Shut it," Liam retorted sharply, growing impatient. Finn shrugged and nudged his friend. "How do you know it's a 'she' anyway?" he asked, genuine confusion in his voice. Liam glanced at Finn incredulously. "What?" he replied, bewildered. Finn nodded towards Nacht. "I mean, he looks like a man to me. A pretty one, but still," he continued with a shrug. "No chest."

Liam shook his head in disbelief. "That's what I mean by 'you have no taste in women.' Can't even recognize one when you see her," he said teasingly, a grin playing on his lips. Finn playfully punched Liam's shoulder before turning his attention back to the battle unfolding before them.

"We can't close the distance if they keep firing at us. I can't keep slicing bullets forever," Nacht said, his voice tinged with exhaustion, his sword hand beginning to ache.

Ashley nodded, wiping away a bead of sweat from her forehead. The midday sun beat down relentlessly, casting harsh shadows on the arena sands. "We've been at this for over two hours. Every time we try to close in, they reposition and open fire again. We'll never catch them like this," she remarked, frustration evident in her voice as she glanced at their agile opponents, their movements precise and calculated.

Nacht sighed heavily and braced himself for another attempt. With a swift burst of energy, he dashed towards the Sovereign Marksmen, muscles tensed and mind focused. But as he moved, two bullets whizzed towards him with deafening bangs, forcing him to pivot and dodge one while deflecting the other with a precise parry of his sword. The arena echoed with the sharp clink of metal against metal.

He scanned the riflemen, hoping for a brief moment of vulnerability to exploit. However, they proved to be relentless in their efficiency, swiftly reloading their rifles and taking aim once more. The rhythmic clatter of reloading mechanisms filled the air, a stark contrast to the tense silence that followed each volley of gunfire.

"How fast are they with their hands?" Nacht muttered irritably, his gaze fixed on the riflemen's precise movements as they prepared for their next barrage. He retreated to Ashley's side, frustration evident in his posture as he considered their options.

"Well... the duke did warn us they were fast and dangerous," Ashley replied grimly, her eyes narrowing as she studied their adversaries with a mixture of determination and concern.

"We can't keep this up. Playing constant defense like this will get us nowhere. We have to—" Nacht's sentence was abruptly cut off by a sharp pain shooting through his head, his glowing eye flaring brighter for a moment.

Seizing the momentary disruption, the Sovereign Marksmen aimed their rifles at Nacht and took their shots. But to their dismay, Nacht quickly recovered, dodging both bullets with swift agility. 

"Damn it!" Liam cursed in frustration. "Starting to wish I was on the other side," he grumbled bitterly, while Finn chuckled, his focus still fixed on Nacht and Ashley.

Nacht grinned as he realized the significance of his enhanced eye. "The eye... Haeyse returned one of my abilities," he murmured, piecing it together. 

"What do you mean?" Ashley asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. Nacht shook his head and drew her closer. "Listen carefully... I'll immobilize the one on the right, but I can't break eye contact. You take out the left one alone. Can you do it?" he explained, his eyes locked on the riflemen.

"What's your plan?" Ashley queried, uncertain.

"Just trust me," Nacht replied reassuringly, his gaze unwavering. Ashley sighed and nodded firmly. "Alright, I'm ready," she affirmed, bracing herself to spring into action.

Nacht smirked confidently and stood upright. He covered his glowing eye momentarily, focusing intensely on Finn before removing his hand. An invisible, pulsating purple beam connected Nacht's eye to Finn's, freezing him in place as Nacht maintained his unwavering stare.

"Now!" Nacht's command cut through the tension. Ashley wasted no time, sprinting towards Liam who raised his rifle in anticipation. But to his confusion, Finn remained immobile, unable to react as Ashley closed in swiftly.

Each passing moment felt like an eternity as Nacht maintained his intense gaze on Finn. Finn's emotions, fears, regrets, and memories surged through Nacht's mind, a chaotic flood of thoughts. "I don't want to die. I have to go back to take care of my daughter. I have to return." The desperate plea echoed in Nacht's consciousness, an attempt to weaken his resolve. But Nacht remained relentless, his determination unwavering despite the onslaught of Finn's inner turmoil. Suddenly, another voice cut through his mind. Haeyse's. "Command him," a simple demand.

Ashley charged toward Liam, ducking under his rifle swing and quickly retaliating with a swift kick to the gut, knocking the wind out of him. He dropped his rifle and fell to the ground, clutching his side as he tried to reorient himself. Before he could get back to his feet, he felt the cold steel of Ashley's blade at his throat, ready to end him. He stared into her eyes and saw a flicker of uncertainty and doubt. A smirk played on his lips as he realized she was afraid to kill, to snuff out the life of her opponent in cold blood.

His smirk quickly vanished as he looked toward his brother. Finn knelt on the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably as he pointed his rifle at himself. Tears streamed down his face, mingling with the sweat and grime, as he struggled to regain control over his own body. The helplessness and despair etched across his features were palpable. 

But Nacht remained unyielding. BANG! The rifle discharged, the sound echoing throughout the arena. Blood sprayed violently from the exit wound, mingled with fragments of bone and brain matter, painting the sand in a gruesome display. Finn's body convulsed briefly before crumpling to the ground, lifeless, a pool of dark, viscous blood spreading rapidly beneath him.

The spectators gasped in shock, some averting their eyes from the horrific scene. The air grew thick with the metallic scent of blood and the palpable tension of the arena. Ashley, stunned by the gruesome display, softened her grip on her sword as she stared at Finn's corpse. Liam quickly saw his opening and pushed her off of him as he grabbed his rifle and pointed it at his friend's killer. 

"You monster!" Liam shouted, his voice trembling with fury as he glared at Nacht, who clutched his head in agony. Everything Finn had seen and felt—every physical and mental torment—coursed through Nacht's own body and mind. The searing pain of the bullet tearing through Finn's brain was felt by Nacht as if he had been shot himself. He felt as if he was paralyzed or held in place by some unknown force. Darkness engulfed him and his vision went dark.

"I will end your life, demon!" Liam roared. With a burst of adrenaline, he shoved Ashley aside and fired multiple rounds in quick succession at Nacht. The bullets found their marks: heart, leg, shoulder. Each wound bled profusely with dark, viscous blood for a moment before rapidly closing up, the black veins around the injuries writhing like living serpents.

Nacht's form began to change, black veins spreading like a web across his face. The transformation was swift and terrifying; Haeyse emerged, a twisted smirk curling on his lips as he relished his newfound control. He glanced at the bullets that had pierced his body just moments before, now lying harmlessly on the ground. His snow-white hair billowed in the wind as he took a slow, deliberate step towards Ashley and Liam, the sand beneath his feet seeming to freeze with each movement.

Ashley's eyes widened in terror as she slowly backed away from Haeyse, fully aware of the horrors he could unleash. The crowd, gripped by a collective gasp, fell silent, their eyes glued to the monstrous figure now dominating the arena. Haeyse's presence was chilling, an embodiment of death and destruction, as he advanced towards his remaining opponent.

Liam, though consumed by rage, couldn't hide the fear that flickered in his eyes. He fumbled to reload his rifle, his hands shaking, sweat dripping down his face. Haeyse's smirk widened, his eyes glowing with a malevolent light as he closed the distance, each step an omen of impending doom.

Ashley, regaining her composure, tried to formulate a plan, knowing that Haeyse's wrath was imminent. She glanced at Liam, who seemed paralyzed by fear, and then back at Haeyse, whose icy gaze promised nothing but death. The arena, once filled with the roar of the crowd, was now a silent witness to the unfolding nightmare.

As Haeyse neared, his gaze locked onto Liam, the rifleman's defiance crumbled, replaced by sheer terror. The arena held its breath, the tension so thick it was almost tangible. Haeyse raised his hand, black veins pulsating with dark energy, ready to deliver the final blow, the crowd's collective gasp echoing in the suffocating silence.

Haeyse's black claws emerged, glistening with malice as he advanced on Liam. "What are you?" asked Liam. In one swift, brutal motion, Haeyse tore the skin from Liam's face, eliciting a bloodcurdling scream that echoed through the arena. Liam collapsed to the ground, clutching his mutilated visage as blood poured down, drenching his face in crimson. 

Haeyse's smirk widened, a chilling display of sadistic pleasure as he watched Liam writhe in agony. "Death." he replied malevolently. Without hesitation, Haeyse wrapped his clawed hand around Liam's neck, lifting him effortlessly to eye level. Liam's eyes, wide with terror, met Haeyse's cold, merciless gaze.

With a savage bite, Haeyse sank his sharp canines into Liam's neck, the sickening sound of tearing flesh and gurgling screams filling the air. He drained Liam's blood with a terrifying hunger, his eyes glowing brighter with each passing second. 

Liam's body convulsed as his life force was siphoned away, his struggles growing weaker until he was nothing more than a lifeless husk. Haeyse, his thirst momentarily sated, callously discarded Liam's body, tossing it aside like a broken doll. Liam hit the ground with a sickening thud, his blood pooling around him as the last remnants of life ebbed away.

The arena was deathly silent, the crowd too horrified to make a sound. Ashley, witnessing the gruesome spectacle, felt a wave of nausea and fear wash over her. She knew Haeyse was a monster, but the sheer brutality of his actions left her shaken to her core. 

Haeyse turned his gaze towards her, his smirk never fading. He took a step forward, the promise of more violence in his eyes. Ashley knew she had to act quickly, or she would be the next to fall victim to his insatiable bloodlust.

Haeyse approached Ashley, his eyes locking onto hers with a predatory intensity. She gripped her sword tighter, her hand twitching with anticipation. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," his wraith-like voice pierced the silence, a chilling blend of Haeyse's menace and a faint echo of Nacht's own voice. 

Ashley's eyes widened in shock and confusion. Haeyse's hand moved slowly towards her face, the air around him growing colder with each step. She braced herself for an attack, but instead, his hand gently touched her hair. The unexpected tenderness left her momentarily stunned, fear giving way to bewilderment. 

He turned away, leaving her standing in the midst of her turmoil. It was clear now—Nacht may have lost control, but his influence over Haeyse still remained, preventing him from attacking Ashley.

With a confident stride, Haeyse faced the crowd, his presence radiating a dark power that silenced any murmur of dissent. The spectators, who moments ago were buzzing with excitement, now stared in stunned silence. The transformation they had witnessed left them both terrified and mesmerized.

Ashley, regaining her composure, watched as Haeyse's gaze swept over the crowd. The air was thick with tension, each person in the arena holding their breath, waiting for his next move. She knew she had to remain vigilant, ready to act if necessary, but for now, she sensed that Haeyse's focus was no longer on her.

Suddenly, the arena gates clanged open, and a swarm of weaponized soldiers poured in, carrying an array of firearms and blades. They swiftly surrounded Haeyse, Ashley, and the lifeless bodies of Finn and Liam, their formation tight and unyielding. The atmosphere grew even more tense as the duke entered, flanked by his personal guards. His eyes glinted with an unsettling mix of obsession and triumph as he took in Haeyse's formidable form.

"My dear Nacht, you have finally accepted yourself," the duke said, his voice dripping with satisfaction as he stepped closer to Haeyse, coming within arm's length. His gaze was fixed, unblinking, as if he were studying a rare specimen.

"My lord! Back away! He is dangerous!" the captain of the guard shouted, raising his rifle and aiming directly at Haeyse. The warning was barely out of his mouth when Haeyse moved, blindingly fast, appearing before the captain in an instant. With a single, fluid motion, he bent the barrel of the rifle sideways, rendering it useless.

"I don't like to be threatened," Haeyse said, his voice eerily calm. Without another word, he plunged his claws into the captain's abdomen, ripping out his innards with a gruesome, wet sound. He threw the bloody entrails to the ground, the horrific sight sending a wave of shock and revulsion through the assembled soldiers. A silent and chilling laugh rang through the arena as Haeyse looked at the captain's dead body before him. "You cannot contain me. You are too weak. What a waste. That captain had quite some delicious looking blood. Almost exotic if you will. I wonder what yours would taste like." he said, staring at Sebastien. 

The duke, undeterred by the display of brutality, stepped even closer, his fascination with Haeyse only deepening. "Impressive," he murmured, almost to himself. "You truly are a marvel, Nacht."

Ashley, standing just a few paces away, tightened her grip on her sword, her mind racing. She knew the situation was spiraling out of control, and Haeyse's unpredictable nature made everything more volatile. The soldiers around them shifted nervously, their weapons raised but their fear evident.

"Haeyse," Ashley called out, her voice firm despite the fear that gripped her. "Don't."

The duke let out a low, unsettling laugh, casting a glance at his guards, who were nearly brought to their knees by fear. "Stand down, If you can stand at this point, you cowards" he said, the last part quietly, his voice calm but authoritative. "They are my guests." He turned back to Ashley and Haeyse, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You've won the tournament, which means you may request anything from me. Let us retreat to my estate, where we can discuss this matter further." His tone carried an air of confidence, as if the outcome was already his to control.

Haeyse remained silent, his expression unreadable, the darkness in his eyes hinting at the storm of bloodlust beneath. The duke leaned closer, his voice dripping with adoration. "You need not worry about your safety, Haeyse. I would never allow anything to harm you. You are far too precious."

Ashley hesitated, her heart racing as she met Haeyse's piercing stare, his eyes still locked onto the duke with an almost lethal focus. She quickly held Haeyse's hand to calm him down, and to her surprise he actually slowly settled down as he looked at her with confusion. 

Ashley could feel the irritation and jealousy in the duke's stare as he looked at their linked hands. "If you will…" he said calmly as he pointed towards the gates so that they could go to his estate.