Engulfing Inferno
"Sir, we have reason to believe that there are multiple threads waiting for us. We've noticed multiple commotions in the trees and not just from animals but coordinated movements." One of the warbow men call out.
"And? Surely they scattered after seeing an arrow or two pierce through the earth." Rens father replies with his usual calmness.
"Evidently not sir, they just become harder to spot." Another guard calls out having gone through half his quiver trying to suppress the forming enemy.
"Sir we've gotten sightings of demon practitioners! There are at least three of them we have. We see the emblems of the bloodburn clan, Piercing sound clan, Swordsinger clan, all of them have sent a demon practitioner.
"Oh lord, this might be the fight of our lives. They have reached a common interest and were on their chopping block. I want all guards and relatives to be awakened immediately. We need everyone on high alert for what's to come." Ren's father begins to sweat bullets trying to remain calm to lead the clan to safety.
"Yes sir will wake up everyone now!" The guards salute before rushing to the main estate.
*Bang* A deafening boom erupts through the air ripping through it with ease as the stench of gunpowder follows it. Knocking back the few guards heading towards the main estate.
"Sir they've hit the main estate!" One of the guards calls out seeing the absolute chaos ensue.
"Dear Heaven above." Ren's father comments as a ghost becoming more and more overwhelmed by the tumultuous situation.
"ENEMIES AT THE MAN GATE" Another guard calls out seeing one of the demon practitioners approach the gate making quick work of the barricade as his giant demonic bear form slams deep into the lumber of the gate splintering it in a couple of slams.
"You really think we would let you claim these rich mountains all to yourself forever. Your day has finally come Ezekiel. There won't be a trace of the artemis clan and it starts with you." An unknown voice sinks into Ren's fathers ears, stunned by the rapid turn of events.
Before Ezekiel even has a chance at grabbing the bow on his back a strong furred grip locks around his throat as blood hungry eyes of a wolf stare deep into his soul before blood is sprayed out of his throat like a fountain as pearl white teeth shred through his jugular.
"Easy and satisfying, I told you long ago the demon spirits are the way forward but you clung to your old ways and consider this the consequence of your foolishness. We don't want a scrap of your foolish people left, just our glorious empire the three families shall rule supreme over this country."
A slow inferno starts to brew inside the main artemis estate, slowly bringing it to its knees, the explosion taking out the main structure of the estate taking most of the clan with it. Anyone left standing or fleeing is killed off by the brutal circle formed around the estate blocking any sort of exit.
"What was that sound? I'm sure we are not having fireworks at this time of night right?" Ren questions, finally closing the book he was lost in.
"Who would've thought there would be a stray left skulking in the library of all places. Well it is my job to make sure there's no trace of your people so you can burn with the library you so cherish." A thin lanky man struts his way into the library the visage of his thin smile adorned with a vicious scar running down his upper lip to chin.
"who...WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!" Rens shouts out in absolute horror as his purple eyes begin to quiver in fear.
"Your demise boy!" The man cackles out, not stopping his steps towards Ren.
In a flash Ren launches out of the seat by his desk pulling at his back searching for his bow only to realise the worst it had been left behind. In his desperation he continues to lock eyes with his enemy not to lose sight of him as he continues to make distance from him.
"You have no weapon and no ability to fight back. This is why your clan is weak. You only rely on your weapon, not a demon spirit. If only kid. Maybe in another life you won't be stupid like the rest of your family." The thin man says as he flicks his tongue onto his upper lip in delight.
"Im not a merciful reaper, that's for sure. So I'm going to take my time with you." He cackles out as he begins to partially transform, evoking his demon spirit. A flying mantis.
Thick sharp blades form in the place of his arms as fierce hexagonal thin wings erupt out of the tips of his shoulder blades vibrating rapidly through the air. His eyes becoming sharper and more bug-like staring deep into his preys eyes.
"Chop chop time." He cackles and squeals out in delight as he flutters over to Ren in a near flash.
"Wait wait WAIT PLEASE!" Ren instinctively calls out begging for any mercy available, shielding his face with his arms at the same time.
"A screamer, how delicious and here I thought you would be the silent type till the end. I'm going to take my time with you boy." The man squeals out in a frenzied delight.
"Please spare me i promise i wo-" Before Ren can finish his bargain his arm is sent flying across the library leaving a trail of blood with it.
"No, you're going to burn in pieces with this library." The man chitters in delight at the preys squirming and screaming.
"My arm, my arm. It hurts so much. I need an exit." Ren chokes forcing his legs to move towards a nearby exit trying his best to ensure his survival.
"Boy, you really think I'm going to let you get away?" The demon practitioner cackles out seeing the desperate attempts of escape from Ren.
"Aww look how far you managed to get by on your own. Lets see how much farther you can squirm with one of your legs missing." He says sharpening his two blades against each other.
*Slice*
"AHHHHHHHHH MERCY PLEASE I BEG OF YOU!" Ren cries out in complete agony feeling the loss of another limb.
"Such delicious anguish more, scream more for me boy." The man cackles out in delight seeing his prey put on such a show for him. His tongue flicks around rapidly in complete euphoria over the prey in front of him.
*Slice*
"M....my legs…..they're gone I have to get away…I have to." Ren's eyes slowly blur in and out of focus from the rapid loss of blood trying desperately to crawl across the library floor almost nearing the exit.
"I don't think you're going far with a one limb kid. You sure you don't want me to put you out of your misery." The man asks, seeking to consume his prey now rather than continue to play with a half dead corpse.
"Please ill do anything to live please." Ren calls through his immense suffering feeling the cold start to spread out from his chest.
"Look at that even in the bitter end when my toy is broken it still manages to entertain me. You were so much fun I won't forget the lovely time I had dissecting you." The man licks his chin readying his blades for the final slice.
"Please I need to protect my-" His sentence is cut off just like the head that was once on his shoulders.
"You can't even protect yourself, after all your just a head now"
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
"My work here is done now to set the final rune bombs." The man says in complete ecstasy as she absorbs what little essence Ren had left.
"I...…I failed. It was for nothing…the clan...it's over…... .its all over." A searing flame begins to spread all through the library as the bombs are ignited spreading malicious flames to devour everything in sight. In the final seconds of sight to his dismembered head a warm fire comforts him.
The flames continue to spread far and wide throughout the whole estate as the trio of men that had entered regroup satisfied in their work.
"I doubt anyone is getting out of there alive and even if they do its not like they can get far with the amount of people we have circling the estate."
"You got that right even if they think they can put out the fires will just be waiting to snuff out the rest of them."
"Oh, I had a delicious encounter for once. A lovely little screamer really thought he had a chance at clinging to life i gave him a little hope and what do you know he tries so hard only to get crushed in the end it was hilarious,"
"So there was only one then in the library?" One of the men asks slowly, unmorphing out of his bear form as the demon spirits swirl back into a dark crystal.
"Yeah just some sniffling brat he's now in pieces though smouldering with the rest of their history." The man chitters to himself as he slowly unmorphing as well bringing his wings back into his back and slowly reverting his eyes back to normal as his hands return back as they were as his own spirit is sent back into a thick green crystal hanging from his neck.