“AARRGHHHHH!!!”
“R-RUN!!”
“S-Somebody Hel—-arhhh—-“
The desperate cries of the villagers echoed through the night, filling the once-peaceful village with chaos and terror…. What was once a serene place had now become a torture of panic and fear.
Villagers ran in all directions, trying in vain to fight off the monsters that had once lived quietly in the surrounding forests and mountains.
Now, without warning, those beasts had turned violent, attacking mercilessly.
Flames shot into the air as grotesque golden-crystal creatures, marked with four stars, hunted them down like prey…
I stood there, watching the same villagers who had killed millions of innocent children now face the wrath of nature itself, hunted down by these terrifying animals.
‘The village is turning into a nightmare!’ I thought, a grim sense of justice swelling in me.
After exposing the villagers’ dark secret, the man who revealed it all vanished into the night. Almost immediately, the monsters began their assault.
The ground or rather…. skulls, already unstable from the chaos, gave way beneath the weight of the beasts, sending many of them falling into the earth.
But a few managed to escape, hunting down the survivors with savage intent…. And in the midst of this nightmare, the Elder took Ether with her, fleeing into the collapsing village.
I couldn’t quite understand her motives, but as Ether woke up amidst the chaos, weak but determined to protect the Elder, I began to realize.
‘Is this what she was aiming for?’ I wondered, watching the situation unfold.
“Huff… Huff…” Ether panted heavily, his small body trembling with exhaustion. Blood flowed from a gash on his head, blurring his vision.
He fought a goblin—a green-skinned monster…. but it was too strong for him.
Though he managed to kill it It had left him wounded!!
They were holed up in the Elder’s house now, Ether having barricaded the door with everything he could find. The Elder, heavily injured, lay on the bed, her eyes darting between the ceiling and Ether as if calling out to him silently.
‘Tsk, I really hope she dies,’ I thought bitterly, though I couldn’t help but feel pity for Ether. He didn’t know the truth; he was just a boy, desperately trying to protect the person he loved most.
I watched anxiously, my eyes fixed on Ether….. Something about this moment felt crucial!
Suddenly,
THUD!
A loud crash echoed through the house as something forced its way inside.
Ether’s body tensed, his eyes wide with fear, but he didn’t let go of the Elder’s hand. He knew he had no chance of winning a fight against the creature, yet he couldn’t bring himself to abandon her.
The Elder, her breath shallow, stared at the boy’s hand, her teary eyes softening. ‘He… He really loves me, doesn’t he…’ she thought, biting her trembling lip as guilt gnawed at her.
“GGRRRRR!!”
A low, menacing growl filled the room. The goblin, green-skinned and feral, had broken through…. It slowly stepped inside, its beady eyes fixated on the boy and the Elder.
I clenched my fists, shouting uselessly at Ether, “Boy! You better run now! She’s not worth protecting!!” My voice was filled with desperation, but, as always, no one could hear me.
“ARRGGH!!” I let out a frustrated groan. All I could do was stand by and witness the agony this child was about to endure.
Suddenly, I noticed something strange. Ether’s chest… it was glowing faintly.
‘What the hell…?’ I frowned, leaning in closer, trying to understand. The boy’s chest began to glow brighter, as he stared down the goblin with an expression not of fear, but of defiance—a deep, raw urge to fight back.
‘Something’s about to happen,’ I thought, my heart pounding in anticipation. Even the Elder, weak and fading, managed to glance at Ether’s glowing chest with wide, astonished eyes.
But then,
“BOOM!”
Suddenly, the goblin exploded, bursting like a balloon, its green flesh splattering across the room. I blinked in shock, trying to process what had just happened.
‘Hmm… What just happened?’ I thought, frowning deeply.
Ether, too, was utterly confused. He stared blankly at the spot where the monster had been, blood still dripping into his eyes…. But then, through the silence, a voice echoed,
“Child”
Ether jolted, trying to turn his head toward the sound, but his vision was too blurred by blood and exhaustion to see clearly.
I, however, saw him—an old man with long white hair, tinged with a hint of faded blue, as if time had washed away the colour. He wore a majestic white robe, exuding an aura of authority and pride.
Instantly, I disliked him.
‘I don’t know why… but I don’t trust him,’ I thought bitterly, narrowing my eyes at the old man.
He approached Ether with a gentle expression and said softly, “Child, I can save everyone, including… the person you are holding.”
Ether’s eyes widened with a flicker of hope. “R-Really?” he stammered, his voice barely audible.
“Yes”
“T-Then—” Ether began, but the old man interrupted him.
“However… I need something.”
‘Of course, there’s always a catch,’ I grumbled inwardly, my frustration mounting. ‘No one ever protects a child out of pure goodwill… What the hell is wrong with these people!!’
“I-I don’t have anything to give…” Ether murmured, his voice trembling with fear and uncertainty.
The old man leaned closer, his grin widening slightly… too wide for my liking, “You do, child. You have something I truly need.”
Ether’s brow furrowed. “M-My life?” he asked, his voice filled with hesitation.
I could see his small hands shaking as he clutched the Elder, still trying to protect her, “If my life is enough, please save—”
“I don’t want your life, child,” the old man cut in smoothly.
“T-Then, what do you want?” Ether asked, his eyes wide with confusion.
The old man’s smile grew even more serene,
“What I want… is your….. future.”
“Future?” Ether and I both echoed the word, our confusion only deepening.
The old man continued with his gentle, “Yes. All I ask is that you hand over your future to me. That is all.”
Ether still didn’t understand, but I felt a chill run down my spine. Something was terribly wrong here.
Giving away his future… it was as good as giving up his life.
‘Who is this guy?’ I thought, my mind racing. My eyes darted to Ether’s chest, which had stopped glowing. ‘What happened earlier? Why did the glow disappear?’
Ether hesitated, but then the Elder stirred, her lips moving weakly, “Nn… oorrr…” she mumbled, trying to raise her hand toward him.
Ether smiled gently, turning back to her. “It’s fine, Grandma. He’s only asking for my future. As long as you and the villagers are safe, I’m fine with that.”
The old man’s grin widened with satisfaction. “You have chosen wisely, child,” he said, his voice dripping with smugness. He turned and walked out of the house.
“ArrHHH—“
“GRRR—“
…
Suddenly, an eerie silence settled over the village. The screams, and the growls of monsters, all fell away into nothingness.
Ether cautiously stepped out of the house.
I followed closely behind, and when I looked outside, my breath caught in my throat.
The monsters that had been rampaging were now reduced to… meat paste. Their remains littered the ground, a horrific sight.
The few villagers who were still alive stood in stunned silence, their faces turned toward the sky, wide-eyed with terror.
‘What the hell…’ I thought, glancing up. There, floating gracefully in the sky, was the old man, his white robes billowing around him like some twisted angel.
‘I-Is he doing magic or what?’
Before I could fully grasp what was happening, the old man suddenly appeared before Ether, making both of us stumble back in shock.
“Child,” he said softly, though there was an undeniable coldness to his words, “I have fulfilled my part of the contract. Now, it is time for you to uphold yours.”
Ether looked up at him, a soft smile on his lips. “Thank you,” he said, his voice filled with gratitude. Then, turning to the villagers, he added, “Just… give me a little more time.”
The old man frowned but eventually nodded.