Nightmares

I was dragged relentlessly across the ever-changing terrain. My body was covered with multiple punctures and lacerations healing and reopening like a repeating pattern. I was unsure of how far we'd traveled taking numerous heavy hits to the head to cause reoccurring blunt force trauma, even as of now I was being hauled and pulled across the ceiling as the beast leapt over a swallowing chasm.

Meeting the surface with a harsh case of whiplash my attacker morphed their shape vastly increasing their speed and the force behind their erratic movements. Issuing another bark others answered back from deeper within like a welcoming call. Our surroundings changed as the environment abruptly changed flushing with a dark purple hue.

A large clearing appeared ahead illuminating itself like a beacon. Flinging me from its grasp the beast threw me inside, my body bounced dancing across the floor before resting in the middle of the room.

The glow of the crystals beamed on me like the sun. Everything was illuminated clearly casting shadows every which way, only the deepest corners remained safe from the light and the inconspicuous view of the broadcasting cameras.

Looking ahead I was finally able to make out my attacker's identity, a Negamare, abstract living creatures born from desires and corrupted wishes. Beasts capable of projecting negative emotions and limitless illusions upon their targets withering their bodies away while increasing their power to overwhelming heights.

I felt my voice catch in my throat as my gaze stared at a living nightmare. My hands naturally drew to my eyes completely sure they'd lost their natural brilliance. Two long silent tears streaked down my face as I looked at what appeared to be Leifa and Resa's half-eaten bodies, the silver charm I'd gotten for her birthday long ago glinting in the eerie setting around her lifeless wrist.

Cacophonic symphonic noises of the Negamares riled themselves further as if bragging of their unchallenged victory. Sounds of their footsteps rumbling the earth echoed in the back of my ears; even as they began showering me with kicks, bites that tore of my flesh, and torturous dreams I crawled forward sluggishly, reaching an outstretched hand toward Leifa and Resa's corpses.

The cold clammy feeling of their skin made my fingers tremble as their blood painted my hand completely shattering my soul. A familiar surge of power once again began radiating building up inside, however, the golden light was instead replaced by a red mist and an unyielding bloodlust.

This new feeling tugged my mind down absorbing me entirely as my eyes closed for a second shooting back opening with blood-red hatred. Another forcefield enveloped me, a light orange barrier bursting with feelings of passion and fear scattering the mares around the cave floor.

The barrier soon spread covering the entire clearing, bathing it with its presence as the monsters became trapped inside. My mind was reeling, plagued by violent thoughts of ways I should gruesomely kill my new victims. Tossing my sword aside I anxiously pop my knuckles unable to contain the growing desire to beat them down barehanded.

"You...bastards. Bas...tards...bastards...BASTARDS!" I found myself yelling the word vehemently, crouching on both legs I felt the dark passion building up inside as I moved ready to launch at the monsters without abandon; instead, two dainty arms wrap around my waist from behind pulling me to the floor as I thrashed to get free.

"Master Reis, you shouldn't go charging in like that. Please don't remain upset we're right here."

".......Lei...fa?" The unmistakable soothing calm voice of my lifelong friend caused me to desist as I looked behind seeing Leifa hugging me tightly while Resa staggered to his feet. Both of their bodies were perfectly restored brushing over their deaths like they never occurred.

I gazed at my revived allies unsure of what to say, images of their demise vividly flashing in my mind as the feelings of anger and remorse tear at my heart accumulating the same orange energy from not too long ago.

"Stay here," I command breaking free from Leifa's hold, once again directing my attention at the Negamares watching me with keen interest.

Without pause I'm wrapped by Leifa a second time, grabbing my arm she forces me to meet her eyes.

"I'm coming with you." Her pupils shone determined, any traces of fear indeterminable, doing their best to hide the glimmer of sadness that passed over her face moments ago.

"Don't look at me like that. I won't be able to fight while worrying about you dying again so......wait here for me, Lei."

I gently pulled my hand free dashing towards the Negamares who returned the charge with newfound confidence. Gathering the energy into my palms I punched the forwardmost mare through the chest obliterating it, its misty body spreading into the sky before vanishing.

The others quickly morphed becoming one with the wind to avoid my attacks, the next second divebombing me from above combining their bodies to become one massive black twister.

My feet are swept from the ground; I'm sent spiraling through the air as their depraved whines attack my ears from all sides. Three Negamares appear from the storm firing jet black streams of magic energy.

I strain under their barrage floating aimlessly through the air into the gaze of a fourth Negamare, instantly Im wrapped in a black void unable to tell up, down, left, or right. Waves of insanity begin to flood my mind as I come face to face with the image of my destroyed home.

Fires blazed uncontrollably in the background, sounds of screaming filled the atmosphere as the sight of dead angels and demons littered the sky. Deceased children missing eyes or entire limbs, soldiers sliced in half by their waist, and in the midst of it all a red moon shining in the background illuminating an imposing figure whose height couldn't be put into words.

I shut my eyes refusing the sight before me as a shockwave went off in my mind freeing me from the nightmare-inducing illusion.

"Nice trick." I glared back at the Negamare, its eyes trying to cast me into another illusion darted around fearfully, the first full expression I'd seen from the creature.

Clutching its formless neck I lit the creature ablaze watching as the flames consumed its body and wailing screams until nothing remained.

I couldn't see my face but I'm sure the expression I held was something frightening. Snapping my fingers every inch of me, down to my atoms and cells began to vibrate storing energy at rapid levels.

“Let's try this.” Clapping my hands my body bursts like a fusion bomb rocking the underground with enough power to disperse the twister, reassembling itself soon after.

Handfuls of Negamares are disintegrated leaving five injured and scared as they rose from the rubble, four of them looking to the leader for directions.

With a frustrated snort, the five combined forming a mare standing well over fifteen meters tall.

The new beast let loose a nasty bellow spearing me from the room as I clung to its smoky figure.

Leifa and Resa's voices echoed far in the back as we made a mess of the cavern, our bodies soon spiraling into the chasm we'd jumped over previously.

Discharging another breath attack I'm pummeled into the rock wall shielding myself from the falling debris. I narrowly dodge the next attack rolling under my opponent's kick as my eyes readjust to the dark.

Sidestepping its second charge attack I create a weapon construct of raw energy impaling its midsection. I do the same to its four legs holding it down as they swung their neck wildly.

I approached the mare circling it wordlessly as it knawed at the little space of air preventing them from biting me. Smiling crookedly I punched its head knocking it to the ground.

”People say the bigger you are the harder you fall, but I don't think vile things like you can go any lower. , I punched it again forcing my knee into my victim's neck to hold it down.

I wailed on the mare's head relentlessly punching it over and over as its body jerked from each impact. Raising both fists well above my head I bring them down mercilessly on the already deceased monster breathing heavily as my anger subsides and I stare at the pulp beneath my legs.

I stand wiping my pants off noticing Resa and Leifa standing in the distance looking away from the scene, their arms around themselves as they struggled to find any words.

“...Umm......Leifa and I found the exit path while you were busy. It's a path hidden in the rocks about a mile or so from here on foot. ...I'll lead the way.

“...Yeah... let's get out of here.”

Falling in line behind the others Resa leads us to the exit, Leifa gradually slowing her pace until we were walking side by side bumping against each other.

“Rei–um...master, are you ok?”

“...Yeah, much better. Just like the old days isn't it, Lei?"

Still walking alongside Lei I grab her slightly shaking hand calming her worries and my own hoping to erase the nightmare of the past.