The being’s laughter finally subsided, leaving only the echo of their sinister mirth lingering in the heavy air. Their hollow gaze swept across the endless expanse of the crimson-drenched field, where countless reanimated corpses staggered and swayed, awaiting their command. With a sharp gesture of their clawed hand, they called the horde forward.
The dead obeyed.
The horde stirred like a tide, broken bodies creaking and groaning as they shuffled toward their master in perfect unison. The twisted synchronization of their march was unnerving, their glowing crimson eyes fixed solely on the one who had brought them back. The being stood motionless, arms spread wide in a grotesque parody of an embrace as the endless army of the undead closed the distance.
But then, they paused.
A faint prickling sensation rippled through their essence, a warm, subtle disruption in their near-omniscient awareness. Though they could not pinpoint its source, they knew they were being watched. Someone, or something, lingered beyond the veil of the tall grass, untouched by the maddening moonlight that had claimed so many.
They sneered.
“A pair of prying eyes,” they muttered, their tone dismissive.
“Let them watch, as it shall change naught.”
Turning their focus back to the task at hand, the being strode forward, their footsteps leaving faint trails of darkness in the soil. They came to a stop before the unconscious form of Regna, crumpled in the dirt like a discarded doll. They crouched, their grotesque form folding with an unnatural grace as they reached out with elongated, clawed hands.
The razor-sharp claws, capable of rending steel, softened as they gently caressed Regna’s cheek. The contrast was as unsettling as it was deliberate. Their touch was eerily tender, almost affectionate, as they tilted their head to study her pale face with a warped semblance of pride.
“Poor child,” they murmured, their voice a blend of condescension and twisted adoration.
“Abandoned by those who should have cherished you. Starved of the love you so desperately sought. Tell me, Regna... would I be wrong to step into the role they so cruelly denied you?”
They exhaled a sound that could have been mistaken for a sigh, had it not carried a jagged undertone.
“Yes, I have seen your pain. I have felt it myself.”
Their glowing eyes flared as they leaned closer, pressing their palm lightly against Regna’s forehead. The air shimmered, and her memories unraveled before them, her cold, distant parents, the cruel and judgemental whispers of the maids, the crushing loneliness that had consumed her long ago.
“What a cruel little world you’ve endured,” they whispered, their tone dripping with false sympathy.
“The girl born into a family of aristocrats, yet treated as nothing more than a mistake. Ignored by your father, neglected by your mother, and mocked by your peers. But now…”
Their jagged grin widened, their teeth glinting in the crimson light.
“Now you are mine.”
They cradled her head in their massive hands, movements delicate and reverent, like a parent soothing a sleeping child.
“You may not understand it now, child, but I have given you purpose. I have given you worth. Unlike those who cast you aside, I see your potential. And in time, you will see it too.”
Their voice softened further, adopting a tone disturbingly close to genuine affection.
“You had asked for my help, and I have answered. The cost of your plea was high, but I will honor our bargain.”
They brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, their hollow eyes narrowing with an almost paternal intensity.
“But I expect you to honor your part. Do not disappoint me, Regna Vimezulte.”
A dark chuckle rumbled from their chest as their clawed fingers traced her cheek one last time before withdrawing. Rising to their full, towering height, they turned their attention back to the approaching horde. The pulsating crimson light of the dome flickered around them, casting their shadow long and jagged across the field.
“All of you,” they hissed, addressing the rising tide of undead.
“You will serve in the grand design. Together, we will build something anew…”
They glanced down at Regna’s unconscious form, their voice softening, that unsettling parental tone returning.
“And you, my precious child, will help me shape it.”
The horde began to form a circle around their master, their groans filling the air as the dark mist swirled faster, like a storm gathering its strength. The dead stood in silent anticipation, awaiting the next command from the one who had claimed their very existence.
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The unseen watcher remained. Their presence was steady, their gaze unyielding. But the being gave no heed, their focus consumed by the grand design now set into motion.
As their laughter rose again, a chilling, distorted cacophony, it reverberated across the cursed fields like a twisted lullaby. The crimson moon above seemed to pulse in time with the laughter, bathing the horrors below in its unholy light. The undead horde staggered forward, their grotesque forms inching closer to their master. As they approached, their movements faltered, their twisted bodies convulsing as though no longer able to bear the strain of animation. One by one, they collapsed, falling to the ground in a discordant wave. Limbs twitched feebly before going still.
The silence was short-lived.
With a wet, sickening squelch, the corpses began to change. Flesh softened, sloughing off in glistening sheets like rotted fruit peeling from its skin. The sickly sound of tearing sinew and snapping tendons filled the air as muscle detached from bone, sliding into dark, quivering pools on the ground. The stench of decay thickened, a nauseating blend of iron and putrid meat.
The discarded flesh writhed and coalesced, dragged by unseen forces into a central mass. Bones cracked and splintered, fragments grinding against each other as they were ripped from joints and drawn into the pulsating mound of raw material. The fleshy heap quivered, an amorphous blob glistening with viscous fluids. Its surface rippled like the skin of a drum, trembling with dark energy as though alive.
The being tilted their head, watching the grotesque spectacle with a sense of twisted satisfaction. Raising one long, clawed finger, they gestured, and the mound responded.
The fleshy mass convulsed violently, erupting upward as thick tendrils unfurled like grotesque vines. They curled and snapped, lashing at the air as though testing their surroundings. Beneath the writhing surface, the first hints of structure emerged - a jagged, spindly skeleton, its malformed shape assembling piece by piece.
Bone fragments fused unnaturally, forming a warped and fragile frame that stood on unsteady legs. Veins, thick and pulsating, snaked along the brittle skeleton like parasitic roots, anchoring themselves into the grooves of the bone. Ligaments stretched taut, connecting joints with an audible creak, while sinews wove themselves together with unsettling precision.
The being observed closely, their hollow eyes narrowing as the flesh began to creep upward, clinging to the skeletal form. Muscles knitted together, fibers spiraling in chaotic, irregular patterns as they wrapped around the bones. Each new addition twitched and shuddered, the body growing more human-like with every moment, but never fully so.
As the flesh took hold, its surface churned with half-formed features: the suggestion of a face, fingers that split and re-fused, and ribs that expanded and contracted as if testing the idea of breath. A thin membrane stretched across the exposed musculature, translucent and oozing, trembling as it solidified. The creature was small, childlike in stature, but grotesquely incomplete, its form oscillating between humanoid and monstrous.
The being extended their clawed hand, and the creation responded, convulsing violently as if obeying a silent command. Dark energy pulsed through the veins and sinews, causing the creature to jerk and writhe in place. Its crude, membranous skin bubbled and cracked, exposing raw muscle underneath. The being’s smile widened, jagged and gleaming, as the creature’s transformation accelerated.
Then the air shifted.
A sudden, searing light split the crimson haze, flooding the field with brilliant white fire. The pillar of flame descended from the heavens, slamming into the half-formed monstrosity with a deafening roar.
The creature let out a shriek, a sound that was more vibration than voice, as the flames consumed its malformed body. The ground beneath it blackened, the stench of burning flesh mingling with the acrid tang of ozone. The dark energy swirling around the creature dissipated in violent bursts, scattering into the air like ash.
Even the being flinched, their glowing eyes narrowing against the blinding light. Yet the irritation on their face was fleeting, quickly replaced with a bored sneer.
With a dismissive flick of their gaze, the fire vanished. The towering pillar collapsed into nothingness, leaving only smoke and charred remains where the abomination had once stood.
The being exhaled slowly, their voice dripping with mock fatigue.
“I knew you’d come,” they drawled, their tone lilting with playful exasperation.
“I was wondering how long you’d keep me waiting.”
From the haze, a figure emerged, his steps deliberate and steady. Mikhail stepped forward, his face set in fierce determination. Though dwarfed by the being’s imposing presence, he stood tall, his gaze unwavering.
The being tilted their head, a twisted grin spreading across their face.
“Another child with delusions of grandeur,” they mused, their voice filled with amused disdain.
“And yet…” They leaned forward slightly, their hollow eyes gleaming with curiosity.
“You... are different.”
Before they could act further, a sudden movement caught their attention. Kassie darted through the field, her body encased in a shimmering white aura. Each of her steps left faint trails of divine light, the radiant glow shielding her from the oppressive crimson dome.
Kassie dropped to her knees beside Regna, quickly cradling her unconscious friend in her arms. The protective aura surrounding her pulsed brighter, warmth radiating outward and visibly mending the deep wounds across her body. Gritting her teeth, Kassie focused on Regna.
“Hang on,” she whispered, clutching her tightly. With a sudden burst of speed, she bolted for the fields, the trailing flames of her aura forming a protective veil around them both.
The being’s sharp sneer returned as they watched her escape.
“Annoying little gnats,” they muttered, their gaze lingering briefly on Kassie before returning to Mikhail.
The boy stood his ground, fists clenched, his eyes burning with defiance. The faint light surrounding him grew stronger, flickering like an ember struggling against the wind.
The being chuckled softly, their voice resonating with both amusement and malice.
“You truly believe you stand a chance?” they asked, their tone mocking yet laced with a hint of genuine curiosity.
“Child, you are a mere flicker against a tempest.”
Mikhail’s stance didn’t falter as silence was his answer.
The white flames around him continued to grow, steady and unyielding.
The two figures locked in a tense standoff, the oppressive crimson sky swirling above them as the inevitable battle looms.