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He took a deep breath and focused his energy, summoning all the strength he had left. Then, with a burst of magic, he pushed her away from him, sending her flying across the room. She landed with a thud, her body crumpling in on itself.
For a moment, Zellrid felt a flicker of guilt, but it was quickly replaced with a sense of relief. He had managed to escape, but he knew that he couldn’t stay here for long. He turned and ran through the forest, his feet pounding against the blood-soaked floor. The vampire moved through the forest.
After he gained some power, Zellrid tracked down the woman vampire to a desolate castle on the outskirts of town. He had made his way through the castle walls, stepping cautiously through the crumbling ruins and dark corridors.
When he approached the chambers at the end of the hall, zellrid felt a chill run down his spine. He was so close to ending this madness that he could almost taste it. And when he stepped into the room, zellrid saw her standing there in all her nefarious glory. He had been tracking her for so long, and now here she was—the final obstacle that stood between him and freedom.
She seemed to sense his presence and stepped towards him, baring her fangs and preparing to attack. Zellrid could feel his magic coursing through him once again, and he was ready to face her. This would be the ultimate test of his abilities, but he was no longer scared or intimidated.
He raised his hands and summoned a bolt of lightning that shot right at her, engulfing them both in a brilliant flash of light. The battle raged on while they fought with fierce intensity, with fists flying and magic sparks erupting from every corner of the room. But no matter how hard they fought, neither of them seemed able to gain an advantage. He told her that he was going to end her reign of terror once and for all.
She laughed and said that he had no idea what he was up against. Suddenly, the woman lunged at him with incredible speed, but Zellrid was able to dodge her attack just in time. He quickly countered with a powerful spell that sent her flying across the room. She landed hard on the ground, but before Zellrid could make his next move, she quickly got back up and charged toward him again. Zellrid knew that he needed to end this fight soon.
He focused his energy and began casting a spell that he had been perfecting for years. A dark aura engulfed him when he continued to chant the incantation. Suddenly, the room shook violently as black energy shot out from his hands, hitting the woman and sending her crashing into the wall.
since she lay motionless on the ground, Zellrid approached her slowly to make sure she was truly defeated. But as he reached out to touch her, she suddenly sprang back to life, grabbing him by the throat with surprising strength. “You think you can defeat me?” she snarled, fangs bared inches from his face. “I am immortal! I will always win!” Zellrid’s eyes widened in shock, and he struggled to free himself from her grasp. He could feel her grip tightening around his neck, cutting off his air supply.
Panic set in as he desperately tried to pry her fingers off him, but they seemed to be locked in place like a vice. The woman vampire’s eyes flashed with a menacing light and she leaned closer to him, her sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light of the chamber. “You humans are so weak,” she taunted, a smirk playing across her lips. Zellrid gritted his teeth as he realized that this was it.
He was going to die here, defeated by this creature of darkness that he had been so determined to destroy. But just when he thought all was lost, something inside him snapped. With a furious snarl, Zellrid threw himself off the ground and lunged at the vampire woman. His movements were wild and uncoordinated, but he didn’t care. He was fueled by rage and desperation, determined to give this creature a taste of the pain she had inflicted upon him. The vampire woman laughed, clearly amused by Zellrid’s feeble attack. She dodged his blows with ease, taunting him all the while. But Zellrid refused to back down.
He kept coming at her again and again, fueled by a powerful surge of adrenaline that seemed to drown out all other thoughts and emotions. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Zellrid’s relentless assault began to take its toll on the vampire woman. Her movements became slower and more erratic as she struggled to keep up with his attacks. And finally, with a fierce roar, Zellrid plunged his dagger deep into her chest.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still as the vampire woman stared at him in shock before collapsing to the ground, finally defeated.
As Zellrid watched her life fade away, he felt a rush of relief wash over him. But his moment of triumph was short-lived; soon after, a wave of pain rushed through his body and brought him back down to reality with an agonizing crash. The healing spell that had reduced Zellrid’s pain had worn off, leaving nothing but excruciating agony for miles in every direction.
He tried desperately to move his limbs — anything — but it was no use; he couldn’t even muster enough strength to lift himself up from the floor, much less battle any more foes now that this one was gone forever. He lay there on the cold ground, panting heavily until eventually exhaustion took hold and pulled him into oblivion, where darkness reigns supreme.
As he slipped deeper into unconsciousness, Zellrid’s mind was filled with horrific images from his past. Memories of his past when he was a kid who had been born with a mysterious ability to control lightning and the pain his family had endured they tried to keep him from harm. He remembered how he used to escape into the nearby forest, where he would find solace in wildlife, picking up wild strawberries for sustenance.
But what he remembered most was his mother. He thought back to her long black hair and that special shade of yellow in her eyes, the same color as the sunflowers that grew around their home. She would hug him close when danger was near, just like she had done during a fierce thunderstorm years ago.
In those fleeting moments with his mom, Zellrid felt safe—safe enough even to defy the darkness approaching them from all sides. But soon, the scene transformed from his old memories to something darker. He remembered clearly now: It was a beautiful day; the sun shone brightly in the sky, and the village of Zellrid sat on the border between Xerise and the Great Island.
The village was made up of small, humble homes built with wood and stone, surrounded by lush green fields and tall trees. The villagers were simple folk, living off the land and tending to their farms. They were all familiar with Zellrid’s secret ability, but they welcomed him with open arms nonetheless.
Zellrid returned as an observer to the memory he was witnessing; none of the others seemed to notice him, yet what held his attention was their old house.
He spoke quietly to himself, wondering if he was in the afterlife. “Am I dead? Is this heaven?” As he walked through the village, memories of the people he’d once known flooded his mind. He trudged down the familiar street, passing each house with a heavy heart. With every step, he saw their faces and heard their voices in his mind, until the fleeting warmth of nostalgia was replaced by icy fear.
His stride stopped abruptly as reality crashed into him like an avalanche of ice. “No,” he pleaded, desperation clawing at his throat. “Please don’t do this to me. It can’t be true!” Zellrid watched, his father strolled by with him when he was a kid .
His father was an unassuming man, pale-skinned and brown-eyed, with the same hairstyle as Zellrid. What’s more, he was ill with a disease that robbed him of energy and caused him to cough violently at times. Kid Zellrid wore a vibrant yellow shirt with shorts; his hair was disheveled from playing outside. Zellrid remembered that day; it was the last day of his father’s life.
As he followed his father and younger self down the road, Zellrid couldn’t help but think of the happier times before that tragic day. He remembered the way his father would take him to the fields and teach him how to tend to the crops, the way his mother would sing to him as they cooked dinner together, and the way his younger siblings laughed and played.
But the most important lesson his father always imparted to him was the one he taught him on that very day:
" Choose the path of kindness and compassion, and you will find that your heart holds no space for enemies, only opportunities for reconciliation.”
Zellrid watched as his father and younger self stopped by a field where a fellow villager was struggling to carry a load of hay.
Without hesitation, Zellrid’s father joined in to help the man carry the bundle of hay. Kid Zellrid, following his father’s example, also lent his small hands to assist.
They all worked together to get the job done, their efforts making the task much easier. When they finished, the neighbor showed his appreciation. “Thanks, Markul. You deserve this meat; take it home and enjoy it.” Zellrid watched with a twinge of longing as his father and younger self walked away, carrying the meat that was their reward for their kind actions.
He wished he could turn back the clock and relive those moments again, to savor the shared joy that came from helping others. Zellrid was cognizant of what would happen as soon as the rain came and the villagers rushed for cover.
Except for young Zellrid, who was sneaking away with his wolf into the woods so they could pick the red strawberries like they usually did. As Zellrid followed his younger self into the woods, memories of that fateful day flooded his mind, and his heart grew heavy. He saw the way his younger self’s face lit up with excitement as he and his wolf came across a patch of ripe strawberries, eagerly picking them and stuffing their faces with the sweet fruit.
But after a while, Kid Zeldrid heard a man wailing in pain from behind the bush and pleading for forgiveness.
Young Zellrid, hesitant but curious, slowly approached the bush and peered over it. What he saw sent shivers down his spine. A bandit had cornered a fellow villager, holding a knife to his throat.
The man was begging for mercy, but the bandit didn’t seem to care, he said. “Your part in this is done; however, you still have the guilt of living in a place that houses a child of demonic origin.” The villagers tried to respond, “But I betrayed them; you promised me you wouldn’t kill me.” But the bandit only laughed cruelly.
“You really think I have any obligation to keep a promise to a traitor?”
He tightened his grip on the knife, readying himself for the fatal blow. Young Zellrid’s heart raced as he watched in horror. His hands shook with fear and uncertainty.
What could he do to help? He knew he couldn’t fight the bandit, but he had to try something. Taking a deep breath, Zellrid stepped out from behind the bush and spoke up. “Please halt! You’re not allowed to harm him! “Young Zellrid yelled vehemently at the thief.
The bandit noticed him. and looked the boy in the eye, a sly grin starting to form on his lips. “Oh no, a new villager has appeared and is playing. How beautiful,” He made fun of the man below him and went back to the pleading man.
Looks like you’ve got a little friend to say goodbye to, he said, drawing the knife closer to the man’s throat. Young Zellrid had a chance to get away when the wolf lunged at the bandit. Kid Zellrid’s mind raced with ideas of what to do next as his heart raced, just like he ran for safety.
Although the wolf had previously saved him, it was unable to defend the entire village by itself. The events Zellrid knew were about to take place left him deeply shaken as they happened.
When the young Zellrid yelled, “Bandits! They’re coming to get us dead!” Already, it was too late. The bandits had brought a hundred men with them when they entered the village.
The villagers tried to barricade their homes, but the bandits were like a black tide of destruction, smashing through every obstacle in their path as though it were nothing. Screams of pure agony filled the night air as they mercilessly killed the villagers one by one. Their women and children were not spared either; they were brutally violated and tortured until they finally died from the indescribable suffering. The bandits laughed at their victims’ desperation, relishing in the gruesome carnage.
Young Zellrid tried to flee with his family, but his father barked at him in a harsh whisper.
“Go protect your mother, Zellrid. You, Zolarice, must take care of your young siblings.
The world can be cruel, my child, but do not let it harden your heart. Hold onto compassion, even in the darkest of times.”
Kid Zellrid’s heart sank as he realized the severity of their situation. He knew that there was no way they could fight off this many bandits, but he couldn’t just stand by and watch his family suffer. As they huddled together in fear, Zolarice managed to find a small knife tucked away in his belt and handed it to Zellrid.
“Take this, little brother,” he whispered. “And remember what the father said—hold onto compassion.” Zellrid nodded resolutely and took the knife from his brother’s hand. He knew what he had to do. With a mixture of fear and determination, But they heard his father’s desperate plea as they dragged him to his home, where Zellrid, Zolarice, and the middle brother resided.
With a chilling thud, his captors slammed the door shut, trapping them all inside with whatever horror awaited. The family watched in terror as the father was snatched and dragged to the floor. The mother screamed and scrambled to his side, but it was too late; an assailant had already picked up a jagged stone from the ground and bashed his skull with it.
A sickening thud resonated through the air, followed by a ghastly splash of brain matter that stained the ground in a viscous red hue.
Kid Zellrid’s scream pierced the air, echoing in a mournful tune. His terror was so immense that thin rivulets of blood trickled from his nose as he shook with fright Urgently, his mother’s in an attempt to calm him down, tears streaming down his cheeks as his vision blurred.
Zellrid’s mother attempted to flee, clasping her children protectively in her embrace. Suddenly, a malevolent force seized her shoulder and wrenched her back around. With a menacing smirk, the figure commanded the others to pin her to the ground, their powerful hands restraining her arms and legs.
Despite her best efforts, she could not break free of their firm grasp. Desperately, Zolarice flung himself at the assailants, lashing out with his fists and teeth in a futile attempt to protect his mother. He was no match for their strength and soon crumpled to the ground as a blow sent his head smashing into the wall. Zellrid quaked with fear as another bandit entered the house, latching onto him with a vice-like grip. The bandit sneered maliciously, “You boys will have quite a bit of fun here tonight.”
His cohorts responded in unison, “Yes, this woman will satisfy us soon enough.” With a chill of terror, Zellrid realized they had already killed off all the children except for his brothers and himself, whom they had captured. With a menacing smirk, the bandit ripped Zellrid’s shirt and lifted him with ease.
He then took out a dagger, carefully engraving an evil cross on his chest over and over again. Sharp cries of pain echoed throughout the room as the same gruesome fate was inflicted upon his brother, Zolarice.
His scared eyes followed the knife as it contorted gleefully, watching his sibling slowly fade away. The sight of his hot blood slowly leaving his hands through multiple cuts made him numb with grief. Tears that once crawled down his face in fear now run down his face in regret—he loved them so much yet never got to tell them this before they left him.
In an effort to protect what is left of his family, he raised his arms in desperation, pleading for mercy. But soon enough, a man forced Zellrid’s hand onto the blade of the dagger. The invaders showed no mercy, ruthlessly They tore off Zellrid’s mother’s clothing with brute force while he lay helplessly beneath them.
His brother Zinorc looked on in horror as they began to ravage her right before their eyes. The level of savagery was so immense that a dark, berserker rage filled the air. They raped their mom in front of them, and they beat her. The brothers were frozen in shock and terror, unable to comprehend the depravity of the situation.
the attackers continued their assault, Zinorc felt a surge of anger and helplessness wash over him. He wanted to protect his mother, but he was powerless against the overwhelming force of their attackers. The sound of her screams echoed through the air, piercing his heart with every cry for help.
Crying as she was violated, his mother suddenly stopped. Her expression turned blank, and she looked down at her battered and defiled naked body. Talc’s face became pale, covered in tears and sweat.
She looked at the men with dull, lifeless eyes and slashed her throat with the knife that had been planted at her side. Two of the bandits staggered back in shock before they vomited at the sight. Zellrid gazed upon his mother with teary eyes, and for one second, a faint smile danced across her face as she passed away.
as she fell to the ground. Without hesitating, Zinorc grabbed his brother’s arm and tried to sprint away. The siblings’ legs burned as they sprinted through the dense forest, but the barks and snarls of the dogs grew ever closer.
Zinorc felt his brother’s panicked breath on his neck and knew he had to act fast. Without a second thought, he shoved Zellrid with all his might and turned to face their pursuers.
The pack descended upon him mercilessly, fangs tearing into flesh as he fought to buy enough time for his brother to escape. The last thing Zinorc saw was the look of horror and gratitude on his brother’s face before everything went black.
Kid Zellrid sprinted with all his might, yet fate intervened in the form of a crumpled shack wall, suddenly toppling and smashing into him. His limp body crashed to the ground, every bone fracturing under its weight. He lay motionless, his breath shallow and labored. A cold chill ran through him as he felt consciousness slip away from him.
The bandit leader who had caused misery and chaos knelt before Zellrid’s lifeless form and began to mock him. “You did well, last survivor, but your brother didn’t make it. The dogs tore him apart.” zellrid whispered, “What’s your name?” The bandit leader glared down at Zellrid and said, “Do you want to know my name?” “What would it benefit you?” Zellrid’s eyes focused on the ruthless bandit leader, and he replied with a faint whisper,
“I want to know your name so that everybody who sniffs the air this day in my village will get a horrible death. I will kill you all, I will tear you apart, and I will make you suffer.”
The bandit leader was taken aback and then smiled and said, “My name is Farkas.” He then rose up, and with a menacing laugh, he walked away.
Zellrid lay there for what seemed like an eternity, his body shaking as he fought against his mortality. Just before he passed away, Zellrid’s tears began to roll down his cheeks as he vowed that he would live for all of them and get revenge for their plight. “I’m sorry,” he choked out before breaking down again.
As he passed away, Zellrid stood still, unable to speak, while all these horrid events unfolded around him. When he began to drift away, a whisper escaped his lips: “Don’t worry, we will be all right—for you are me and I am you.” With that thought, he drifted out of the nightmare realm and slowly started to wake up.
after hearing a loud scream. He quickly regained his senses and saw the vampire woman he had fought rise from her ashes, still struggling to gain balance. Her eyes were now darker than ever. Filled with hatred for him, she slowly approached him. His injuries were bad, which prevented him from fighting back.
The vampire said nothing as she stood over him, her sharp fangs bared menacingly He thought for a moment that this was it—the end of his journey. That he was going to die at her hands, as she had planned all along. The vampire woman paused and hesitated for a brief moment She stopped when she heard Zellrid’s voice, her eyes wide with surprise when she heard his last voice echoing in her mind. “Remember who you were before this curse consumed you.” Zellrid’s voice whispered in the vampire woman’s mind.
“Remember the love and kindness you once had in your heart.” The vampire woman faltered, her eyes flickering with recognition as she struggled against the curse that had turned her. He adds, “What’s your name? I didn’t get the chance to know it.”
The vampire woman stared down at the wounded arcanist in front of her when his words registered in her mind. She hesitated for a few seconds, unsure of what to do. The memories of her past flooded her mind, making her feel things she had not felt before. She tried to remember her name, repeating, “My name is Serana.”
in a desperate attempt. But the overwhelming thirst for blood refused to let her recall who she was and instead sent her into a frenzy The vampire woman launched herself into a frenzied attack, her fangs bared and ready to strike.
She lunged towards Zellrid with all the strength she could muster, but he was prepared for this moment. He braced himself as she lunged toward him, her fangs glinting in the light.
In one swift motion, zellrid managed to fend her off, but she severed his arm instead, leaving him screaming in agony the blood began to pour. The arcanist’s life was quickly slipping away But as life began to leave Zellrid, a strange power surged from his body. A barrier of fire started emanating from him and kept Serana at bay, her screams echoing through the night.
The light was so bright that she had to shield herself with her hands in order not to get burned. In a few seconds, it disappeared, leaving Serana lying on the floor, her limbs broken, and her entire body covered in bruises. The vampire woman stared at Zellrid in shock and awe, realizing that he was not only an arcanist but something more. Something greater than she could ever imagine Zellrid turned to face serana, his eyes burning with fierce intensity. zellrid could feel the power coursing through his veins—the same power that would make her regret it.
He felt like he was no longer in control of his body, but he felt like his brother’s soul was responsible for this power. He spoke firmly, asserting his dominance. “You are dead,” he said, rage emanating from every word. “You hurt my brother, Zellrid.” Fear surged through Serana as the body of Zellrid moved toward her, radiating power and hatred. She knew that Zellrid was no longer in control of himself and that something sinister had taken over completely Serana tried to crawl away, but Zellrid’s hand reached her and grabbed her by the ankle. He lifted her up with ease, a dark smile playing on his lips. “You thought you could get away with hurting him, didn’t you?” he spat.
His fire aura consumed the room, and Serana could feel her strength waning. “But I won’t let you get away with it.” He continued, tightening his grip, and the fire started burning her ankle Serana’s heart raced as she looked up at Zellrid, the man she had once thought she could control. She had underestimated him, and now she was paying the ultimate price. Zellrid’s brother had instilled a merciless side within him, and Serana realized that she was nothing more than a mere insect in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face. “Please, I didn’t mean it. I deserve to die for what I did.” At that moment, Zellrid made his decision. He dropped Serana to the ground and began to torture her, viciously exacting revenge for the pain she had inflicted on his brother.
He channeled his newfound firepower into each blow, bodily punishing her until she was no longer able to move When he was done, Zellrid rose above Serana, his body trembling with anger. He watched as her life slipped away from her Zellrid’s consciousness slowly returned to him as the pain of his injuries set in. He had no idea where this
newfound power was coming from or how it had appeared within him, but he could see Serana lying motionless on the ground. His mind raced for a way to save her, but he didn’t know if he was powerful enough to do it.
The arcanist gritted his teeth and took an action he never thought he’d have to take: he offered Serana his own disembodied arm. He knelt before her and presented it to her, pushing it against her lips until she began drinking the blood from within And, just like that, it was done.
Serana had been saved. But at what cost? Zellrid was now in an immense amount of pain. He felt his life slipping away from him as he lay there on the ground, and he uttered his last faint words: “The world can be cruel, but do not let it harden your heart. Hold onto compassion, even in the darkest of times.” His father’s words echoed in Zellrid’s memory, and with those words, he passed out.
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