The Red Hand

Chapter 460 – The Emotion that Created the Clan.

Screams erupted from the streets of Thin Ledhar as the massive flaming monstrosity crashed into the City center. Its flaming body slammed into a group of large buildings, collapsing them before exploding in a fiery blast that shot so high up that it nearly reached the cavern's roof.

*WOOSH*

"Get back! Get back!" A Dwarven soldier yelled as he ushered people away from the landing site, the screams of the nearby civilians making it almost impossible to hear. "Sound the alarm! The Capital is under attack!" He yelled to a nearby group of axe-wielding guards, only to watch them get crushed to paste and vaporized by a massive flaming whip that moved almost too fast to see.

*BOOM*

"By the Ancestors..." The Dwarven soldier said in complete shock as he followed the whip toward its origins within the debris cloud that marked the location where the monster had fallen into the City. He scarcely had a moment to collect himself before a horrifying roar, one that shook him to his very core, echoed around throughout the Capital. It was not the scream or cry of a beast. Rather to everyone who heard it, the sound was more akin to the roar of a raging inferno as it tore its way through everything around it. So terrifying was the noise that everyone, even those fleeing in terror found themselves unable to move, their bodies frozen in place as the debris cloud disappeared, revealing the monstrous form of the creature as it pushed through the remains of the building it had crashed into.

*WOOOOSH*

The winged creature was two or three stories tall, perhaps even more, and its black body flickered with a flame that seemed to not just erupt from it but pulsate within as if it acted as the creature's blood. The roaring flames and blackened skin were complemented by a set large of horns that curved out from its temples before wrapping down and ending just below its jaws. The source of the inferno was the creature's mouth which had what appeared to be rows of serrated teeth, though they were as black as the rest of its body, and the back of its throat seemed to glow like the red-hot fire of an industrial forge. It was a truly horrific sight, and was nothing like any creature found wandering even the darkest and foulest parts of the Enorian Under.

Pushing its way through the fallen building the creature opened its maw, though rather than roar as it had done a moment prior it spewed forth a sound that sounded like the eruption of a volcano as flame exploded forth, vaporizing anyone and anything in its path in a large conical blast.

*WOOOOSH*

Its attack took no more than a few second, and once it was done little remained of that portion of the City; with those unlucky enough to be in that direction being instantly turned to ash by its flame. Those who survived the attack, either by luck or their ability to flee, screamed in terror, even the Guards; most of which dropped their weapons and ran for their lives. Never before had such a fearsome creature attacked Thin Ledhar and even the most hardened of Dwarven soldiers quaked in terror; the creature's very presence instilling a primal dread so gripping that it shook them to their very core.

“Run!" As chaos erupted and streams of people fled for their lives, a group of Dwarven soldiers managed to find their courage, shouting any anyone nearby to flee for their lives as they scrambled to protect who they could. "Run and don't stop! Keep moving!" The soldier yelled as hundreds of civilians screamed, ran, and shouted. "You men, to me! We'll buy time for the citizens to escape!" He said to a group of shaken soldiers. "We need to slow it down, even for a few minutes! The Palace is sure to send reinforcements, we just need to hold out until they arrive!" He said as he ran over and put his hand on one of the men's shoulders.

The Dwarf shook like a leaf and his armor clanged and rattled from the fear welling from within, his eyes locked in a thousand yard stare that seemed unbreakably locked on the creature.

"Come on, man! We have a duty!" The Dwarven soldier smacked the other in the face. "Get your ass in gear! We need to focus!" He said as the creature let out another terrifying roar it vaporized another portion of the City.

*WOOOOSH*

"H-How are we supposed..." The soldier stammered before stepping backward and tripping over a piece of debris. "That thing... W-We can't. WE CAN'T!" The soldier yelled, throwing his axe to the side as he turned and ran, followed by the three other soldiers nearby.

"Dammit! Get back here! Cowards!" The Dwarven soldier yelled at his fleeing comrades, but as he readied himself to give chase he paused as a massive flaming boulder roared past and crushed the four men under it.

*BANG*

"You..." The lone Dwarven soldier turned to face the beast, which leaped into the air, landing just in front of him and blasting him with heat so hot that he thought his armor might melt. "Monster..." He said as he readied his axe and shield, clanging his weapon off it to draw its attention. "Come on! I'm right here! If you want to continue this rampage then you'll go through me!" He yelled as the creature slowly lowered its head to look him in the eye, meeting his gaze with its own.

Its eyes were filled with the same flame at the back of its throat and showed no mercy, no remorse, nothing. This monster, while possessing some level of intellect, was little more than a machine created to destroy, one that killed and killed and killed until nothing remained. The soldier knew that he stood no chance against such a creature, but was determined to stall it even for a few seconds.

"Ancestors guide me." The Dwarf said as he lowered the visor on his helmet and readied his shield, knowing full well that it provided no protection. "Do your worst, monster! I won't run, and I will not allow you to go a step further as long as I draw breath!"

At his words, the creature let out a noise that almost sounded like laughter as it opened its flame filled maw. The fire at the back of its throat roaring to life as it crackled and flickered, and the Dwarf understanding and accepting that he'd be vaporized in a matter of seconds and preparing himself to meet his maker on the other side.

*WOOOOSH*

Flame erupted from the creature's mouth, the same kind of attack that it'd used twice before to devastating effect. As death approached time seemed to move slowly for the lone soldier; his life flashing before his eyes. He saw many things, family celebrations, parties with friends, and every precious memory flashed through his mind as the blast prepared to send him to the next world.

{As we are borne from Lady Valeha, so to do we return.} (Dwarf)

However, seconds passed and the death he expected did not come. No, rather than being vaporized by the creature's attack, he found himself unharmed as a strange woman appeared between him and the monster, blocking its flame with some kind of magic that scythed its attack in two, splitting its path safely around them like a blade splitting a mighty river in two. Her strange appearance coupled with her timely arrival filled the man's head with many thoughts, and for a moment he thought that one of the Ancestors had appeared to save him. Though before he could think things through any further her voice shook him out of his confusion, her voice almost that of a golden angel sent by the Heavens themselves.

"I suppose I couldn't've timed that any better." Akagi chuckled as she lowered her hand once the creature had finished its attack before backing away in frustration. "Are you alright?" She asked the soldier without facing him. “That was a nasty attack.”

"Y-Yes... I-I think so..." The Dwarven soldier struggled to say anything due to shock.

"Good, Good." Akagi nodded before saying something under her breath that he couldn't hear. "I saw what happened. This creature really made a mess out of things, didn't it?" She chuckled. "But you stayed and fought, despite knowing how hopeless the situation was." She turned, looking at the man over her shoulder, her blackened eyes to boring into the man's soul. "Consider me thoroughly impressed." She smiled warmly, the sight of which sent a shock through the man's body. "Not many could face a creature like that with the knowledge that they were guaranteed to die. That was truly admirable."

"I. My duty... Is the protect the people... I cannot abandon them..." The Dwarf said, his shaky voice telling Akagi he was probably at his limit. "To abandon that duty would be to invite shame upon my ancestors and my family. They would never forgive me if I were to abandon my post."

At his words, Akagi began to laugh loudly. "Oh, you Dwarves." She said before letting out a deep breath to compose yourselves. "Whether it's in this world or the other, I suppose some things just don't change. But that's okay, it's what I like about you lot. So just keep being yourselves." The Demon said as she started to walk toward the massive creature. "Tell me, what is your name, soldier?"

"G-Galin Stonemaker..." Galin said as he tried to reach out to Akagi practically begging her not to approach the creature on her own. "Wait, you can't fight it on your own! It's too dangerous!"

"Galin huh? I'll remember that name." Akagi said, ignoring his plea. "Alright, Galin. You just sit back and relax. I've got this under control, don't wory." Her words sounded ludicrous, but the absolute confidence within them made the Dwarf believe her.

As Akagi approached the monster it let out another terrifying roar as it slammed its whip in an attempt to crush her, only to find its weapon blocked and then sliced to pieces by the Black Sunrise's blade.

*SWOOSH*

"Not bad, you're quite the powerful little Demon, aren't you?" Akagi smirked. "But sadly for you, the only role you're meant to play is to die by my hand." She said, her voice distorting as she flashed in front of the creature, swinging her blade upward and bifurcating the massive monster in two and causing it to explode in a burst of flame that blinded almost everyone in the City.

*BOOM*

The blast was powerful but short and after a moment the light faded which allowed Galin to see Akagi. Her form seemed to shift from a dark shadow back to the beautiful woman he'd seen earlier and upon seeing her graceful form in front of the dead creature which had wrought so much destruction upon the City, he felt something strange inside him. It was a feeling that he didn't understand, but one that over a hundred and twenty other people had felt before. One that Akagi never intended to cause but always somehow managed to without even trying.

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“Heh... Heh... Heh...” Camilla heaved as she stumbled backwards before falling to the ground, her body covered in scorch marks due to the powerful flame she'd been struck with. “What... The... Fuck... Was... THAT?!?” She yelled at the corpse of the giant monster she'd just fought, barely having taken it down. A corpse that was almost identical the creature that'd just attacked the Dwarven Capital.