How utterly foolish I was in days past! An absolute blindness of spirit that turned me into the very weapon that shattered my village and annihilated its people. Deep, gnarled wounds still bleed within my soul, and the agony refuses to fade. I recall that fateful day as though it were yesterday, when that fiend, masked and shadowy, approached me with a facade of kindness, offering food. For a mere crust of worthless bread, I bartered away the souls and happiness of my kin.
He produced an enchanted blade and bade me test it. The moment I held the sword, a torrent of massive, raw power surged through my veins. I felt, in that instant, as though I held the reins of the world, every heartbeat in existence dancing at my fingertips. He offered a malevolent grin and said, "Now, lad, spill a little of your blood, and I shall do the same." Our blood-stained hands met in a grim pact, and I repeated a cryptic oath that stripped me of my will. In the blink of an eye, that overwhelming power was wrenched from my body to inhabit his, and he snatched the blade away.
Then, calamity struck. Before making his escape, he brandished a ring as black as night. Suddenly, legions of monstrous beasts erupted from the earth, invading my peaceful village, slaughtering and flattening everything in their path. Death nearly claimed me, were it not for David pulling me free at the very last second, attempting to hide me amidst the ruins of a house. But the beast's fangs were faster than our flight. David shoved me away, taking the fatal blow to his chest to save me. "Live..." was his final, ragged rattle before he surrendered his spirit. And I remained—the helpless coward—hiding, watching my people's blood being shed, a scene seared into my memory with fire, a nightmare that haunts me to this day.
The village was annihilated entirely; I was the sole survivor among the ashes. The heroes arrived far too late and took me in for questioning. When the truth was unveiled—oh, cruel irony—it was discovered that the culprit was none other than Geos, the Emperor's own son! Owing to his station, they settled for a farce of a reprimand and returned the blade to me via their cold rituals. I would not accept this injustice. I attempted to take my revenge countless times, but the King hid his coddled son in parts unknown. To hunt him down, I was forced to enlist in the Empire's own forces, spending long years searching for any clue leading to him.
And now, granted a chance to alter fate, here he stands before me once more. This time, he accelerated his wicked plan. In the past, unsheathing the sword had taken him ages; this time, I had unsheathed it early, making his path easier. Yet, this is my golden opportunity to correct the past and seize my vengeance, even if the entire Kingdom stands against me... I welcome the challenge!
I gripped the hilt, launching myself like an arrow aimed solely at his head. But the beasts were already laying waste to the village. One caught me off guard with a vicious ram, throwing me far across the dirt; my sword embedded itself in the ground. The scoundrel cast a condescending glance my way. "A valiant attempt, villager," he sneered, "but to claim my head, you must first carve your way through this army!" He waved his hand, and the monsters poured toward me like a rushing torrent.
I struck the first, felling him with a swift strike, then turned to meet the second. But my human strength, void of all magic, could not sustain me long against such numbers. A fierce wolf lunged; I blocked its claws with the flat of my blade, the impact showering sparks. I tried to maneuver, turning to meet attacks from the rear, but my wounds mounted. In a moment of distraction, the wolf clamped its jaws onto the shoulder holding my sword, sinking its fangs in brutally before leaving me reeling.
My breath ragged, my consciousness fading, I was surrounded, unable to lift my arms. Geos roared with laughter. "Now, villager, you die!" A colossal bear lunged. I whispered, Is this the end? Suddenly, a spear whipped through the air from nowhere, imbedding itself deep in the bear's skull, dropping it dead! David's voice boomed, followed by the village guards, roaring as they clashed with the beasts. Geos seethed. "You rabble! Do you covet death as well? Fine! I would have slaughtered you eventually; you are trash to be disposed of! Tear them apart, my pets!"
He charged. I met him, switching my blade to my off-hand. He sneered, "I see the sword did not choose you either. Your swings lack magic, don't they?" I stepped back. He smiled arrogantly. "Not the chosen one. Disappointing, but convenient. Face me, scum! I shall fight you without magic too. Give me your worst!" I laughed hysterically. "You say you'll fight without magic and want my worst? Are you a fool? Even bleeding, even using my weakest hand, you are no match for me!"
Enraged, he roared, "What?!" and swung blindly. I parried easily, slipped behind him, and kicked him to the dirt. "Come now, Geos! Is that all you have?" He rose, face flush with fury, and charged blindly again. I embedded my sword in the ground, dodged his strike, and used his momentum to throw him down a second time. I stood over him. "Look at you now. Trash lying on the ground. Watch your beasts get slaughtered before your very eyes!" Geos only smiled that wicked smile. "Truly? Just a deluded villager who thinks he has won."
Seconds later, the forest ground beneath us began to quake violently. Terrifying, roaring voices shattered the silence. I turned, and colossal ogres were tearing through the woods toward us. I abandoned Geos, sprinting for my sword, but it was too late. A massive fist tightened around my body, nearly crushing my ribs, as the remaining ogres rushed past to complete the destruction of my village.