The elder presence: part 1

Zellrid let out a raging cry as he burst through to the other side. His body was drenched in blood, but he stood tall, knowing that most of the townspeople had made it to safety.

He struggled to catch his breath, feeling exhausted from his efforts. "I...I made it."

The next second, an ear-splitting roar echoed throughout the nightmarish landscape.

A violent explosion of blood-red light erupted from the moon, splitting the sky in two.

Through the blinding glow, a monstrous figure emerged, its gargantuan form slowly emerging from the portal with clawed hands gripping its edge.

As it pulled itself through, its head scraped against the jagged edges of the portal, revealing a nightmarish visage that would haunt one's dreams for eternity.

Skeletal and grotesque, its leathery skin stretched tautly over its bones, giving it an otherworldly appearance. Its face lacked any semblance of humanity, with only gaping holes where a nose should be.

And its eyes glowing like twin coals in the darkness, scanning the clearing with an intense hunger and malice.

Beneath the creature's arched frame, two pairs of leathery wings unfurled like the sails of a demonic ship, stretching outward in a horrifying display of power.

With one flap, they displaced the very air around them, sending trees and debris flying away from the impact.

"I...don't know what to do," Zellrid stammered, stepping back as the ground shook beneath the creature's weight.

He reached into his coat, fingers brushing against the cold edge of his silver sword.

"Remember your training," he commanded himself.

"You are a nightstalker." His trembling fingers wrapped around the hilt of his sword, drawing it out in one swift motion.

His heart was pounding against his ribcage, the drum of fear echoing through his veins.

Zellrid felt the shockwave knock him off his feet.

He looked up just in time to see the monstrosity slam its hands down onto the cobblestone street, causing it to splinter and crack under the force.

With a snarl, Zellrid pounced on his opponent's hand, slashing with all of his might.

But the creature's skin was unbreakable, as hard as steel.

A tendril shot out from the monster's hand, throwing Zellrid across the town like a ragdoll.

As he tumbled through the air, a blast of acid erupted from the creature's mouth, engulfing Zellrid's body in acid before he crashed to the ground with a sickening thud.

Beneath the looming, blood-red moon, Zellrid let out a hacking cough that spattered his lips with crimson drops of blood.

"It's time," he rasped, his voice barely audible above the howling wind. He gripped the hilt of his silver sword with white-knuckled determination, feeling its icy metal pierce into his palm.

"I call upon you, my old friend... Kairos sin akrab longina." With a guttural war cry, he thrust his sword towards the sky and watched in awe as it shattered into shards of lightning before reforming into a chained weapon crackling with electric energy.

Tossing aside his tattered coat, Zellrid locked eyes with the monstrous creature before him, ready to unleash all of his pent-up fury and desperation.

"Come, then," he snarled, brandishing his newfound weapon. "Let us see who truly deserves this accursed world!"

With a deafening roar, the monster hurled a heap of rubble towards Zellrid. But before it could make contact, he launched his weapon like a grappling hook and propelled himself through the air at an alarming speed towards his opponent.

The chains around his fists hummed with energy as they connected with the creature's gigantic chest, sending sparks flying in every direction.

The sheer force of the impact knocked the beast backward, revealing its underbelly - a writhing mass of tentacles and pulsating flesh.

"Now!" Zellrid leaped from the lurching creature, flipping midair as he brought his silver sword downwards in a devastating arc.

A deafening shriek filled the air as the glowing blade sliced through the monstrosity's armored hide.

Black blood sprayed into the night air like a fountain, coating Zellrid from head to toe.

The monstrous being crashed onto the outskirts of the town, its massive frame convulsing in agony as it clutched at its gaping wound.

With a thunderous roar, it lashed out wildly with its limbs, swiping at anything in its path.

Zellrid desperately tried to make his way to safety, yet he was slammed to the ground by the creature's hands.

The earth shook and trembled as the beast's body thundered down upon it, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

The red-eyed monstrosity glared at him, its breaths coming in ragged gasps as it moved its hand from its body, seeing Zellrid barely moving.

"You have almost bested me... mortal... but your petty moves won't save you now."

The creature stretched out a claw-like finger and, with a sickening crack, plunged it deep into Zellrid's chest.

An excruciating pain coursed through Zellrid's body, causing him to let out an agonizing scream that echoed through the night.

His vision blurred as blood gushed out from the gaping wound in his chest. He tried to grab the creature's hand, but it was like gripping a rock. His strength was fading, and he knew he didn't have much time left.

"Not yet... not yet... I didn't prove him wrong yet."

Zellrid panted heavily, the pain shooting through his body like a raging inferno.

As the monster tried to push its finger deeper into his wound, Zellrid fought back with all his strength.

He yelled in pain as he managed to pull the finger out, using his weapon aura to cauterize the wound.

He reached for his eye patch, determined to finish off the monster.

With a swift motion, he ripped off his eye patch and the sky immediately shifted from a bloody crimson to a menacing bleakness.

The ominous clouds darkened and roared with thunder, announcing the arrival of a destructive force.

Suddenly, the sky lit up like a grand fireworks display as lightning bolts rained down like spears, piercing both Zellrid and the monstrous creature.

A deafening howl of agony echoed through the air as the creature writhed in pain while Zellrid's aura transformed into an electrified form. Its eyes glowed with an intense fierceness as it locked gazes with the beast.