Magic Terror

The enemy that Mathias was conscripted to fight wasn't your typical bandits, barbarians, or even another country... No, when he first got a glimpse of what they were actually fighting he was horrified. Big, hulking demons trampled tree's and their brethren as they charged towards them.

The human army had the advantage of defence, having set up many artillery machines before the battle. Catapults and trebuchet's destroyed their backlines while ballistae decimated the front. Demons might be strong and durable but if they get hit by a ballista bolt they are definitely going to die.

Cavalry made their way around the flanks to kill any demons who thought they were smart and were trying to get the jump on some unaware soldiers. Though, during the first half an hour of battle, all that was left of them were burned corpses.

Even with the variety of troops though, the Demons had the edge, each one killing multiple humans with ease, and they even had the numbers advantage aswell. It was quite clear at the start of the battle who'd be the victor, but Mathias had already given up any hope of himself actually surviving the battle...

The two armies continued to fight against one another, some humans fleeing in terror as they realised who was going to win, but they were cut down by their commanding officers to makesure the whole army didn't complete route.

The King of the country that owned the army even strode into battle, the heroic looking figure equipped in gold armour roared at the enemy, challenging their leader to right and honorable combat... Only to be cut in two by a blade four times larger than a regular human.

With the kings death, the battle was well and truly lost... Mathias continued fighting, only managing to kill an Imp or two before being struck on the head and forcing the world black.

...

...

He awoke with a gasp, the smell of death entering his nose as he rapidly looked around... He was apparently being held under something as the pressure was squeezing the air out of his lung. He struggled to wriggle himself free, eventually managing to get whatever was ontop of him off.

Glancing at what'd been holding him down had his face going pale, it was a stack of human corpses. Most had been looted of their armour and weaponry, only being left in their undergarments and ragged bloody clothing.

A pair of glazed over grey eyes looked through him, the person they belonged to obviously dead... But he still felt as if they were pleading for help, help that he couldn't provide.

Looking around the battlefield, yielded nothing, everything was dead. There didn't seem to be any survivors other than him, which was surprising as he'd thought himself the most unlucky man in the world...

"Hm, one survived... Good, they taste better when they're still moving." a deep voice growls from behind him, causing him to quickly turn and come face to face with a huge abomination...

It was 10ft with a huge belly, stubby legs and average arms, it had more chins than he could count and seemed to be entirely made up of fat.

Mathias took a couple steps back while fingering for his blade, realising that he'd dropped it earlier in the battle when he'd been knocked unconscious... "Leave me be demon... You've killed everyone else, what good would one man be?" he quickly says, trying to save his own hide.

The demon stomps over, Mathias being frozen with fear not moving... They bend down and examine him closely, using their fat and pock-filled hand to move Mathias chin up so he could see his neck.

"Hmph, you are correct... You are nothing... No muscle. No bravery." he prods Mathias in the chest with every insult, "No magic." it spits as if Mathias were a dog turd it'd just stepped in. It shakes it head and turns, "Let my over lesser brothers devour you, you're not even worthy to become a meal." it states and starts stomping away.

...

Mathias clutches his chest, feeling indignant anger overtake him... Was he so useless that a demon wouldn't even bother eating him?... He drops to his knees, staring at the bloodied ground with a dull look.

With the demons victorious over the humans, his village would be destroyed, there's no going back... Even if they hadn't, escaping without being devoured is almost impossible at this point. He notices a broken dagger nearby and picks it up, holding it on his palms while inspecting it.

Surely he'd be better off dead, right? He knew it would be wrong to spurn the chance the gods had given him by allowing his survival, but there was no point in continuing further than this. If anything, at least he'd die on his own terms.

He holds the dagger up, holding the shattered but still sharp blade a few inches from his throat, preparing to end it all at a moments notice.

From afar, a cloud of black smoke manifests, and two deep crimson eyes glare at Mathias from it. They were almost encouraging him to do it... Mathias could make out faint whispers speaking to him, all of which telling him to just end it, most giving damn good reasons for it too.

Just lifts the dagger slightly to get enough moment to stab clean through his throat, and as he started the motion to end it all he felt something that caused him to stop... The magic around him shuddered as if it wanted to tell him something, to stop what he was about to do.

He tries again but it pushes even harder this time, knocking him onto his back and sending the dagger flying away... He rolls onto his front with a scowl, if magic wanted him to live so badly why would he be so talentless? Why would he be in this situation!?

He stands and looks up, finally spotting the cloud of black smoke with red eyes staring at him, a memory surfacing in his mind...

Mathias "Diablo." he states.