I could not remember how long it was. Ever since that fateful night. Became the sole survivor of my village when hordes of demons overwhelmed my village. It was slaughter. As a little child of ten, I hid fearfully under the bushes nearby, attempting feebly to cover my ears and eyes from the scenes ofcarnage.
At last, it was over. The demons had retreated to their portal. Shaking visibly, I surveyed the desolate land which I used to call home. Realising that there was nothing left, I picked up a blood-stained rag doll and was just about to head to somewhere (in fact anywhere) when I heard a yelp.
It was a pitiful sight. I saw two young puppies next to a dead wolf. Apparently, their mother had been killed by the savage brutes. Feeling sorry for them, I picked them up and wandered to the woods.
It must have been ages. By then, I have begun to live life in the forest, hunting down game with my two wolves to survive. I could barely recognise the ten year old I last saw when I looked into my own reflection. A rugged (with beard, tattered clothes and all) man stared back at me when I saw myself again.
One day, I smelled somthing amiss. At a distance, I saw a huge plume of smoke rising. I traversed through the great forest with my two wolves, until we reached a bare patch of scorched ground.
It was a horrendous sight. It was deja vu. This time fresh victims, more blood. Standing sickeningly tall was a huge demon holding a fire sword. Next to him, or rather it, was the sad sight of a woman with her child begging for mercy. "Please spare the child. You can kill me if you want. I beg you pls."
The piercing scream disturbed the eerie silence as the demon had consumed the soul of the last human. "NOOOOOOOOOOO". It was too late. Livid with foolish rage, I dashed towards the archdemon, with bare fists only. Years of living in the forest had honed my agility. I managed a few fists on the demon while avoiding his fiery sword.
"Interesting. I have never met a human as quick and strong as you are. However, I, will end it soon." Even though I realised that my fists were of no effect on him, I continued pounding like a mad man. That same monstrosity that killed the woman was probably the same that summoned the demons to my village ages ago. Blinded by my rage, I was about to lunge at him when suddenly an excruciating pain had hit me. I fell back on the ground and writhed in silenced pain as my throat was itself on fire. ARRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH, I screamed in my mind as my two wolves looked on, growling but helpless.
"HAHAHAHA, Enjoy this slow and painful death of DOOM itself" It summoned a portal and disappeared through it, nonchalantly as if I was just another snack to it. As my vision blurred (with the image of my two wolf puppies beside me), I thought of my village, my family, my friends... Rage was boiling in me. Somehow, even though I knew I was dying, I was slowing the process down (the most unwilling victim) by growing madder by the minute at my helplessness. I WOULD NOT LEAVE THIS WORLD UNTIL I KILL THAT...Suddenly, my repeated scream thought was interrupted by a flash of light.
What surprised me most (even though my vision of my surroundings was blur), was that a man, or rather a being, had suddenly appeared in front of me. Time itself seemed to have stopped. The flames were not moving. Neither were the leaves or my wolves. Even my pain had disappeared. The man(?)was wearing a cloak and a metallic mask, so it was impossible to see his facial features.
"I have an offer which you cannot refuse. If you refuse, you will be back to your current state. Simply put, you will die." "What do you want?" "I have a tournament which I am hosting. Something like an arena of sorts. There you will have friends and enemies, and you will fight endlessly until I have decided to return you back to your world. Currently, I am finding willing contestants to spar for me. And I think you have potential."
"Not much of a choice, do we? As long as I live long enough to kill that mother..." "Very well then." He raised his head and instantly, I felt pain again. This time, it was a different kind of pain. The pain actually felt good. I can literally feel my muscles growing, my senses and teeth sharpened (and developing a tail as well). Raw power and strength was flowing through my veins. When the transformation was complete (=pain over), I went to a puddle of water and was shocked by what I see. I was transformed to a demonic (?) being, the very thing which I swore to fight against. My shock was interrupted by a low growl nearby. I turned around. My wolf puppies were changed as well. Instead of the familiar doggies that I saw, I was greeted by the sight of two savage, fully grown wolves. "What have you done with me??!". "This is necessary........for your body to adapt to a more feral form later on,"he explained cooly.
"Consider yourself lucky. Seldom have I infused such raw power in a contestant before."I have a request to make" "Speak" "Put me against demons should I be in this... tournament of yours. "Very well then...."
In a blinking of an eye, I was transported to a grassy patch. I looked up and I saw a full moon unhindered by any clouds. Somehow, I was in a settlement of sorts. Giant sentient trees were everywhere. Bewildered by the sight of civilisation (or what seems like it), I walked past wells (? for drinking water) and saw a wooden house nearby. Seemed to me that there are people in there....Instinct urged me to satisfy my curiosity and explore this place more...
To be continued....
