The Monster

It was all quiet. Even the animals.

The busy knights stopped where they were, and the town of Tenby's Mark was completely silenced by the presence of the monster. Their murmurs and their cries had frozen, and the nine of them stood still, unable to speak. It was as if they were witnessing a forest fire raging up a catastrophe, because the people could only simply stare at it helplessly. No amount of effort can put it out.

He stepped out.

Arega looked exactly like how they described him—a monster.

He was tall. A seven-foot tree was what he was. His dark hair and beard were both long and straight, with hints of white highlights here and there. His eyes were deep blue, and they showed no signs of mercy or compassion. His right eye had a scar running across his face. His muscles were disturbingly built and visible, with veins popping everywhere. He bore several deep cuts along with dark-emerald green colored tattoos all over his body, and he looked old—older than his actual age. But he couldn't be more than thirty-five. And any number they imagined for his weight class just wouldn't fit. Arega looked like a reincarnation of the Molten Giant—if anything, far more monstrous-looking. 

Arega was also completely naked.

And he didn't bother to cover himself, though everyone could see him. 

"Well, well, well. I was told that my dearest Erik River has come along with his team of traitors and liars." Arega's sharp and low voice sent a shiver to everyone who laid their eyes on him. It echoed, even though there were hundreds of people.

Erik River stepped forth, swallowing his saliva through his dry throat, almost being able to taste the blood that ran inside the veins beneath his skin.

"It's been a few months, eh? Erik? Have you missed me?" It was the kind of voice that would be enough to shut any man down. 

Arega stared only at him, blurring out the rest of the world. 

"I bear the scars that you gave me. Of course I fuckin' did not. Now that your 'King' is dead, you are powerless, you son of a bitch." Erik spoke beyond his fear, but the eyes that were looking up at his humongous figure said otherwise. 

"You think all these years, that fucking worthless Jaquer defined my strength?" Arega questioned him as he squinted his scar. 

Lars remained quiet.

"Monster." 

"Huh?" Arega looked at the man who was standing beside Erik.

"Everyone calls you the monster." It was Yin's voice that echoed now.

"Who the fuck are…" He stopped, because he quickly realized who it was.

"Well, would you all look at that? The God-boy! Hahaha! The fucking King of the Realm himself! Yin Kong everyone." 

"Yin Kang." He corrected him.

"Fuck your name. You think I care?" 

Yin walked over to the naked girl on the floor and gracefully lifted her up. He then unwrapped the black scarf from his neck and wrapped her body with it. It was big and thick enough to cover her entirely.

"What do you think you are doing?" Arega's tone grew silent.

Erik knew that whenever Arega lowered his tone towards someone, it meant that he was angry. Really angry.

"Helping the poor girl." Yin answered with the same tone.

The girl was shaking in utter embarrassment and fear. Her entire body had red marks and bruises. The back of her body had several hand prints, deeply impressioned. She reeked of wine and sweat. 

"H..elp… me…sir… I…hav..en't…slept…or…ea…ten…anything…in…three…da…ys…" Her voice was shaking and broken, as was her soul.

Yin could only think of the old man's face.

"KILL THAT MONSTER AND SAVE MY DAUGHTER, PLEASE!" The old man's voice echoed inside his head.

Arega lifted his gaze from him and the girl and looked in front of him.

He saw Yin's crew. 

…

Vegas had always been a fearless girl, but not this time. Her heart froze in an instant as Arega's eyes made contact with her, and her mouth was slightly open. 

Tara was frozen too. She was also deathly scared at the sight of that man.

So was Colt, and the rest of them.

"Goodness." Neil was all white in fear. 

Mathen and Brody had heard all the stories about what makes him a monster. Now they were seeing him, so they inhaled deeply and diverted their eyes from him.

Lars hid behind Colt.

Erik stood in front, the only one capable of swallowing in the fear that was instilled within.

"My, what do we have right here?" Arega slowly walked towards them, naked and unarmed.

The eight of them slowly gripped their weapons and stepped away from him. 

But as he kept walking closer, Vegas stopped.

And Arega scanned her face and her body.

"Mmh." Arega hummed.

Arega looked at her like how Juno looked for Vegas. A mere stick.

She was extremely disturbed and uncomfortable with how close he was to her.

Arega then bent down to her neck level and sniffed the human scent that evaporated from her neck sweat. 

"Ahh." Arega exhaled, moaning, and was unashamed. 

Vegas jumped back further in disgust.

"Has anyone appreciated the arousing scent you carry in your body, my dear?" Arega said it gently. 

"I will fuckin' slice your mountain body in half, you cunt." Vegas fumed into fire.

"Ahh. Just how I like it. Fierce and sexy." Arega extended his hand, caught Vegas's hand, and placed it in his chest.

"You see how fast it's beating. I mean it." 

"Leave me! You fucker!" 

!

A green flare lit up the gap between Arega and Vegas.

"Back off, you half-bred!" Tara made her presence known.

"Oh god! Is this the best day of my life? Hey God-boy! I don't blame you for calling yourself God when ya carryin' these two honeys with ya. I would, too! Haha!"

The entire town of Tenby's Mark was simply witnessing this in utter silence, helplessly, and even the knights were quiet too.

"Our Tara is a Mage?" Some of them in the crowd murmured among themselves. 

…

"Hey green-hair! You are also gorgeous, lemme sniff you." Now Arega moved closer to her, letting go of Vegas.

"Don't even try." Tara spoke sharply and boldly as she lit a green flame around her fists.

"Okay, Mage-baby, I'll back off. If I'm being honest, I'm quite shy, and I'm kinda embarrassed being naked." 

"I ain't your baby, cunt!" Tara raged.

"Why are both of you calling me a Cunt? I'm an honorable knight. Calm down." 

"Honorable knight?" Yin asked gravely.

"Killing and raping innocent people are not the traits of an honorable knight. And being naked in front of everyone is surely not one of them either." He added.

"Mr. Kong? Who even are you?" Arega fired back casually, ignoring his comment.

"You said it yourself. I'm a God-boy."

"Are you trying to make me fear you, Mr. Kong? Please don't waste your time." 

"I know you are not. That's why I'm here for you." 

Arega looked at him, utterly perplexed.

"You killed Jaquer, took over East, and now you've come searching for me. What are you even up to, Mr. Kong?" He asked in a mocking tone that irritated the rest of them.

"There is a war that's coming. My war. And I need strong warriors on the battlefield, like you."

"Hahahahahaha!" Arega wheezed until his lungs told him to stop.

"Never in a million years did I think of that. That's so straight forward of you, Mr. Kong." Arega admitted.

"You and your crew, join us." Yin commanded.

"Listen to me, Mr. Kong." He paused momentarily.

"You and your seven dickheads can fuck off before I kill you all. But just leave the two honeys with me." Arega commanded back.

"I will feast on you two honeys when I'm done with her." Arega walked back casually, unwrapped the black scarf from the poor girl, and started dragging her back to the hut.

Yin knew he was talking to a rock and that Arega is not someone who is easily convinced or tamed.

…

"Yin Kang! Search for your opponent's breakpoint. See what triggers him!" Yin heard Master Li's voice ringing in his head.

Yin found it.

…

"Monster." He said it softly as Arega dragged the poor girl back inside.

Before Arega could go inside, he turned back to glare at Yin.

"Why do they call you a monster?" Yin asked.

"Mr. Kong, I don't care if you are a God or not. I will eat you up like raw meat. Now run back to wherever you came from." Arega threatened. 

"Have you ever lost in a one-on-one battle?" Yin inquired.

"I cannot be defeated, Mr. Kong." 

"Back in my Realm, I was a great swordsman." Yin informed.

"Run away before I bring out Warbreaker." He warned YIn.

"Arega, let me make you an offer you can't refuse." 

"Mmmh?" Arega hummed.

"Fight me. One-on-one. If you win, you get your honeys and we leave. If I win, you will pledge your loyalty and service to me. You will bow and ask for forgiveness from everyone." 

"You can't be serious, Mr. Kong. Just run away." 

"Don't worry, Arega, I won't kill you." Yin promised with a grin.

Arega glared at him casually.

"You are making me do this. Don't feel bad later. It's been good knowing you. Tell your friends goodbye while I come back with my armor and Warbreaker. Be prepared to die, Yin Kong." 

"I'll be waiting for you." 

Yin smiled, and Arega went inside as he dropped the naked girl outside. 

Yin commanded his crew to get the girl dressed and take her somewhere safe.

He stood there amidst the knights and the chained people.

Yin unsheathed Destiny.

...

The sounds of metal clinging and clashing rang from the hut.

Everyone knew that when it comes to battles, Arega displays another definition of himself.