Taking on a Beast
The three walked together outside of the city.
It was more of the two in the back being led by the one in front.
The green-haired man led the two down a long path into the forest before reaching a vast clearing in the middle of the forest.
A decade before, this land would have been filled with lush vegetation, and some of the oldest timber mills were said to reside alongside the cities in this part of the Great Continent.
Though that was before.
Now, deep fog rolls over the forests here, and wildlife has been seldom seen in the forest as if a dark presence resides in there now.
Some who managed to pay the exorbitant fees for using the path through the forest have even stated that some large, evil beast lives in the forest and refuses to go back. Though no one knows what it looks like or even what it wants, most still fear it all the same.
Although some individuals say it's the dragon that was slain coming back to take its revenge. Though they are immediately strong-armed into being silent by any mercenary that hears it.
It was said a dragon once attacked this city and that a foolhardy mercenary group ended up being the one to have been able to slay it. Each mercenary was said to be donned with weapons and armor said to have been made of bronze. All down to the last man.
No one at the time believed they could do it as they were simply foreigners of no renown.
Simply just men who wished to die young with glory on their minds. That's how they were seen by the city's residents.
But their leader, he who was said to be very persuasive, seemed very capable. At least to those who heard his words, he was very convincing almost devilishly so.
His words held great power and were often eloquent and pleasing to the ears.
He was said to convince everyone in the city that he'd be victorious and easily be able to defeat the dragon for them under some conditions.
Though the conditions were unknown to this day, he did end up fulfilling his promise.
Soon after returning from defeating the dragon, he and his remaining men were regarded as heroes who saved the city, thus being dubbed as the Brass Bulls.
They were brought into the City's military and given relatively high standing in the City's social hierarchy. They had even been allowed large plots of land outside of the City including the same forest where they had slain the dragon.
How they slew the dragon was unknown? And even if someone were to want to go in and find out, they would need the expressed permission of the Brass Bulls' current leader Lloyd Slate.
Though no one's been able to even meet with him, let alone get his permission.
His whole existence is a mystery even to the oldest members of the Brass Bulls.
But when asked about him, any member would suddenly tell of his alleged greatness and boast of the benefits that come with being a member of the Brass Bulls.
The only ones that have been able to since have been merchants or travelers. But only through one specific path that is often heavily guarded to prevent veering off the path.
Though the price of being let through the path is expensive and most often opt to go the long way around through the southern entrance instead since it's much cheaper.
That's how this city's visitors and its own residents lived a day in and day out.
This like many other things forced upon them was put in place to keep them in line.
Eventually even the most vocal against these changes to their way of life began to be put down and stamped out. With each passing generation, gradually came a sense of complacency to the past and acceptance of this new future under these so-called saviors.
No one dared to stand in their way so they taught their children to do the same.
And no one would've had a strange trio of travelers not arrived at this city.
Walking along the forest floor, the two noticed no sign of life besides themselves and the one ahead of them. No woodland creatures small or large were found nor any signs that would lead one to believe they were ever there.
The sunlight barely stretched past the treeline. The air felt old and stale.
"No wonder there's nothing here. I can't even see past my hand. No telling what a poor deer would feel like here~"
Elise started waving one hand in front of her face as if to test her vision.
"You are right. This forest isn't well. Would you happen to know anything about this?"
Eren directed his question to the man who's been leading them deep into this forest for about an hour now.
"You are referring to me, yes? About this forest...Ah, that's a secret. My lips are sealed regretfully."
"I have a hard time believing people like you when they say anything related to regret."
Morris smiled thinly at Eren's response.
"I supposed you are right about that. I never regret the path I've chosen or the things I will do."
As he said those words, he looked back towards the two his wicked smile becoming much more clear with every passing step.
"No need to worry about useless notions like that of regret. Ah, the location I've picked out is right up ahead. Do watch your step."
With that said, a vast clearing soon came into their view.
It was bright. Probably the brightest they've seen since walking into the forest.
There was a lack of trees and vegetation. Only a vast bare land littered with craters and junk scattered around.
Upon closer inspection, the junk scattered around were tarnished armor and corroded weapons. The weapons were broken and blunted. The armors were dented and some were littered with large holes.
It was as if a great battle took place here. This place looked like a graveyard.
But the armor looked outdated, from an era long since passed.
Whatever took place here was nothing short of a massacre.
War is often like that after all.
As Eren thought this he heard a sound from behind him.
"Ah!"
Eren quickly turned to see Elise caught up in some brush.
Just as quickly he saw the situation change.
"How irritating. My dress! I'll show you!"
In an instant, she cut up the vegetation and its surroundings with strings.
It would have been a beautiful display of strength and skill had she not kicked up a bunch of dirt and dust in the process.
"Nooo! Now I'm covered in filth! Ah, Eren?! Please don't look at me like that!"
A small bout of laughter had left Eren's mouth.
"No! Please don't laugh at me!"
Elise began to pout and attempted to hide her face which was now getting redder by the minute.
"My apologies, Elise. I had no intention of laughing at you personally. I was just humbled a bit by your actions is all."
Elise slowly turned to face Eren still embarrassed.
"But what about my dress. It's all dirty now and I wouldn't want to embarrass you. Besides, I-"
Before she could finish, Eren interrupted her.
"Unnecessary. I don't really care about how your clothes look. Besides, it would not detract from your charm at all."
Eren took a step towards Elise and reached out his hand towards her.
"Take my hand. Please allow me to assist you."
Elise didn't even take more than a moment to offer her own hand in kind.
"Y-Yes! Ah, thank you."
Wait did Eren refer to me as charming. Kyaa~ My heart~ I am truly indebted to him once again.
"Are you two fools ready, yet? I'm dying of boredom already."
The man's dead voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"You bastard. You will be dying from more than just boredom after I get to you! Four-eyes! Moss-head!"
Morris glared at Elise after being bombarded with that many insults.
Eren stepped in front of Elise as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
Upon the feel of his touch, Elise fell into a brief fit of ecstasy.
"Peace, Elise. I'll handle this. Can I ask you to stay out of this fight?
Elise could barely even hear his words as thousands of thoughts filled her mind at an inhuman pace.
"Hah? Ah, y-yes..."
She could barely utter those words of affirmation.
With that, Eren left her to her own devices.
A large distance away from where he had left Elise, stood Morris. There he stood menacingly with open arms.
"Is this what you wanted to show me. The destruction you and the other mercenaries caused."
His answer was only laughter. It was a dark foreboding laughter one called insane could truly muster.
"What a riot! No, you buffoon. We didn't cause this display your seeing now. A dragon did."
At those words, Eren immediately showed interest.
"Did you say a dragon did this? And where is it now? Tell me."
"Now I finally got your attention, eh? Too bad! Now I will show you the fruit of my God's labor!"
That's when he reached for a small container from his breast-pocket. Inside was a golden liquid.
Before Eren could think to stop him, Morris had downed the whole vial in one go.
"What did you do?!"
But Eren had asked in vain as Morris couldn't answer him anymore.
A wave of aura gushed out from Morris as he started to convulse.
"I-I can f-feel it! This stuff actually works! Hahahahahaha!!"
The waves of aura seemed to be neverending as they reached all over.
Large dust clouds were kicked up and obscured the area surrounding both Eren and Morris in but a moment.
Even Elise was snapped back to reality after feeling that monstrous aura.
"Huh. What is that? Ah, Eren! Are you alright?! Where are you...Huh?"
Even in this wave of aura, Elise could still feel the presence of someone else nearby.
Hiding within the constant waves of energy lies another's aura. It seemed they were using Morris to mask their own while they crept closer.
'They must've been staying back as I was here. So their plan was a pincer attack but since I didn't participate neither did they? Maybe. I shouldn't let them know I'm aware of their presence. But I will leave my strings ready to intercept an attack from behind.'
Elise had wanted to go find Eren but with this monstrous aura clouding her ability to sense him she can't act recklessly. Not to mention the fact a prowler is nearby ready to launch a sneak attack anytime.
She felt she had to stay back. She did also promise to stay out of the battle as well.
'I don't break promises, remember.'
She once again remembered the promises from her youth etched into her heart.
With that Elise regained her composure as she confidently awaited Eren's return.
Eren leaped back as the dust cloud stretched out from its source. It was for naught as he too was enveloped in it.
Eren reached for his sword at his side before resting his right hand on its pommel. He tightly gripped the sword's base in his hand before pulling it from its sheath. Now in front of him, he pointed the tip of his blade forward as if awaiting his enemy's attack.
Though his vision was blurred he wasn't discouraged in the slightest.
'I hate to rely on this but I must.'
Eren closed his eyes. Now he couldn't even see in front of him.
One would think of him as a fool for cutting off his sight entirely. Even in the dust cloud, he could at least see at least the close space in front of him give or take a few feet.
So why take the risk that comes with losing one of your senses.
'Concentrate.'
The thoughts in his head seemed to vanish one by one. He started to fade as he focused only on concentrating.
Eren's breathing seemed to slow down to a controlled tempo.
In and out. Out then in. Repeatedly he followed his breathing until he could feel the air around him.
Air. That is all that he needed to focus on.
The wind all around him started to pick up. The air around started thin, slowly enveloping his whole body. From there a cold gust of wind, starting from around Eren's body, blew into the dust cloud. It had split into many streams of wind as it split into different directions.
As if searching for something, the gusts of air blew around until a gust of air blew into a large object in the dust cloud.
Upon hitting it, the gust of wind dissipated as if its job was finished.
The job was finished as that large obstruction was what the wind was searching for.
'Found you.'
As soon as he thought that, Eren jumped forward and pierced the large object.
The large object screamed in response.
"Gaah! How...How did you know where I was? B-Bastard!"
Eren smiled.
"The North Wind had told me."
"What kind of attempt at a joke was that, you imbecile."
Morris grabbed Eren by the waist. He then bit into the sword and pulled it out before tossing it away in one swift motion.
The cloud started to disappear as if it got disrupted.
Upon it disappearing, Eren became shocked by the sight in front of him.
"It can't be...Morris?"
Holding Eren with one hand was Morris but now he looked different.
In front of Eren was now a disfigured abomination. Morris was no more.
Half of his face had become scaly and large teeth protruded from one side of his face.
It seemed the laughing side of his body was covered in black scales and had seemed to grow m=larger than the right side of his body. His left arm was now double the width and length of his right arm. His left hand was now replaced with a three-fingered claw.
"Nice of you to notice. But it's too late, soon you will be killed by my hand just like the others. Ah, why don't you see them? Look!"
Before Eren could even interject, he was turned to a pit behind them.
The pit was deep. Eren could only see about 40 feet down as light seemed to only reach that far.
"This is what happens when you try to be a hero here! In my Lord's Domain! This is the least of the hospitality I could show, after all. Oh! Before you go, here's a little treat. From me! Hahaha!"
'Guh. What is-'
Eren could start to feel his mid-section being squeezed with an increasing amount of force.
"Come on! Scream for me! I love it when fools get that look on the face when they know they're about to die! Face? Oh yeah, let me take this off so I can see yours as you die."
Morris didn't hesitate to rip off the cloak hiding Eren's visage from him.
The sound of fabric tearing was all one could hear as Morris ripped away at the cloak carefully unveiling Eren without harming him. Not that Morris would care either way.
"There you are. Hey, you actually look kind of cute. What a waste! Haha!"
Eren, now face uncovered, couldn't hide his face.
After that much careful preparation to hide his identity, his face is now shown.
"What's with that look? Do you really think you can win even now"
Now that it was visible, Eren's grimace could be shown. His eyes glared coldly at Morris causing him to lose his cool for a bit.
"Go ahead! Glare all you want! After I'm done with you, I'll be having the time of my life with your girl before tossing both your corpses into this pit over there!"
Angered by that remark, Eren dug his blade deeper into Morris causing him to scream.
"You bastard!"
Morris dug his claws into Eren as he winced in pain. Furious, Morris took a few steps towards the large hole in the ground. As Eren peered into the pit, he could feel as if it was awaiting his arrival. As if the darkness in the hole, was waiting for a newcomer to add to it once again.
'His grip is strong but I have to break free. I won't allow my journey to end here.'
"Kahahaha! Goodbye, pest!"
"No, I won't allow it."
As if on cue, a large gust a wind blew around the two. An icy breeze had blown them both back away from the pit.
"What the- This is the second gust of wind since coming here. The air here has always been still and the Sun is out! How is it so cold here?! Wait, where is he? Where did-?"
He stopped dead in his tracks as he felt something hit his waist.
It was blunt. Though the speed behind it made it pack a punch.
Again he was hit by a similar object but from another direction. Again it had hurt.
'How? I should have been made stronger with that stuff in the vial. Who's doing this and where are they?'
This kept going on for a few more moments before he could get used to it.
"Got you!"
Before it could hit him, Morris plucked it out of the air.
In his hand was an old sword.
"Huh?"
He was dumbfounded. Where had this come from?
He looked around for any clue that could tell him what he wanted to know.
All around him were objects that were there before: broken swords, busted armor, and even some small knives. All these things must have been thrown at him as they weren't in this part of the clearing before.
Before he could study the scene before him some more, he had found Eren standing a distance away.
'How the heck did he get over there? No matter! I'll just close the distance soon enough. This time when I grab him, I won't let go! He'll be crushed in the palm of my hand.'
Morris took a runner's stance as he readied himself to capture Eren.
"Kuhahaha! It's time I finish you off with this!"
As he was about to run at him, he noticed Eren was different.
His eyes, now a bluish-grey, glowed brightly.
Morris beheld that gaze that seemed to see through him and felt frozen as it washed over him.
Morris began to shudder at that cold glare that made him feel small.
He tried to swallow the saliva that started to pool in his mouth but struggled as his throat felt to him as if it shrank at that moment.
'I can't let him get to me! The boss is much stronger than this runt! Just let him come to you and cut him down once he's close! Yeah, that's how I'll take care of him!'
Eren walked closer to him without losing speed.
'Come on! Just a bit closer, you fool!'
Morris readied his left arm to pierce Eren's body once he was close enough.
'Come on. Come on. Are you an idiot! What's taking you so long!'
Eren drew closer to Morris.
Within seconds he would have reached him, that is if he didn't stop abruptly.
'Hah? Why did he just stop?'
Eren had stopped before an object in the ground. A sword.
'What?'
It was a simple-looking sword if one looked at it as just that. It was the owner of the sword that made it special.
This was the sword Eren had brought with him into the forest.
'Wait is that the sword he stabbed me with?! I was wondering where I had thrown it to. But why pick it back up? It's useless if he can't stab me with it! Kuhahaha! Too bad once he gets close to me, I'll be the one to pierce him! This move will be too fast to avoid so it's too bad I can't test it out on him twice! Haha!'
"My apologies. It seems you've gotten a bit dirty. I just need to use you one more time then I'll send you back.'
Eren brushed off the sword in his hand as he said those words.
"Who could those words be for? Certainly, you're not insane enough to be talking to a dumb sword!"
Eren looked at Morris again. This time much more coldly causing Morris to tense up as he backed away.
"It's obvious I don't have words for someone like you. But that is beside the point. Now I ask you once again, what did you do earlier? How did you turn into that...form? Did it have anything to do with what was in that vial?"
Morris caught off-guard by Eren's questioning only answered him with a laugh.
"You really are a fool! I'll never tell you! Besides, even if I did you will be dead soon anyway. It has no value to a dead man! Kuhahaha!"
Eren smirked in response.
"I guess you are right about that. That information doesn't have any value...to a dead man that is. So why don't you tell me?"
Morris couldn't hold back his anger to that retort. He completely gave up on his previous plan of staying put and waiting. Now he planned to just speed up his opponent's death.
"I'll show you!"
His muscles bulged and tensed up as he got on all fours and ran at Eren with all that he had.
Eren just stood where he was with his sword pointed towards Morris.
As Morris raced closer, a large wave of aura blazing out from his every pore.
Intelligence could no longer be seen in his eyes just those of a wild beast.
"Goodbye."
As Eren said that, a large gust of wind swept out from every direction towards Morris.
Gust after gust crashed against Morris' body until eventually sending him flying into the air.
"Gah!"
As if now weightless, Morris stood in the air.
"That's not all."
Tens of blades rise from out of the ground. Each sword pointed towards Morris.
"L-Let me g-go. Let me go!!"
Eren didn't even speak. He only stretched his sword out towards Morris in the air.
Before Morris could even utter another word, he was struck in his right shoulder with a sword.
"W-Wha-"
Again he was struck, this time from behind in his back.
"Gurk!"
One after another, a new blade piercing a new place in Morris as he could do nothing but hope for it to end.
Eventually, the number of blades left started to dwindle until it was none other than the blade in Eren's hand left.
Morris's body hovered over the clearing until he was above the large hole. From there, he stayed until Eren made his way over to him.
"Forgive me for taking my time. I was lost in thought thinking about all of your victims. How I was too late to save them will be on my mind until I make things right. Starting with taking out your boss."
At the mention of his boss, something in Morris stirred. Though he was stabbed with a countless number of blades, Morris was still alive. Possibly due to the liquid in the vial, he drank out of earlier.
"I see that your loyalty runs deep. It this a shame that you couldn't put that towards doing good. But I won't fault you entirely for that...It's my fault as well. I wasn't strong enough to help this country like many so many others. That's why I'll make it up to those that I can still save."
Eren stopped himself from continuing any further. This was not the time for him to bare his heart out nor was it the place to as well.
"You will have to forgive me once again. It seems it's time to end this. Know that this city will be in good hands once I take over. Goodbye, forever."
The wind holding up Morris began to dissipate. With the wind gone nothing was holding him up anymore causing him to fall.
Deeper and deeper into the pit he fell. The darkness was all he could see as the light was engulfed in said deep light.
Fear and pain were all he could feel as he fell deeper down.
Eventually, he couldn't even feel that.
With that, Erewn had won and Morris was no more.
Eronta En, here! I hope you enjoyed Eren's first real battle on his journey thus far!! Please feel free to rate!
