Without any idea of where to go, Cafra continued his journey. He walked through the rice fields, under the blazing hot sun. But he noticed something, all the rice crops are dead and wilted. Even the other vegetable plots nearby had suffered the same fate. Cafra wiped his sweat from his face, his throat starting to hurt from dryness.
Cafra: "Man, this heat is draining me. I need to find something to drink."
And from a distance he saw a small hut in the middle of the fields. He immediately runs towards it hoping there's someone who can give him some water to drink.
Cafra: *knocks on the door "Hello!? Anybody home?"
Nobody answered. He looked around the house but he didn't see anyone. As he was stepping out to leave he heard a cough. He immediately turned around and knocked again.
Cafra: *continues to knock "Hello... I heard you.. I mean no harm, I just want to ask if I can have some water to drink."
Man: "Leave!! I wont fall for your tricks again. You killed all my crops, and took my animals. what else do you want from me!?"
Cafra: "Wait.. I don't know what you're talking about. But I noticed that all the crops here are dead. What happened?"
The man took a peak to check on Cafra. Seeing how he look very exhausted and full of sweat, he then slowly opens the door.
Man: "I got no food or anything, water is all I can offer you."
Cafra: "I'll take it mister. That is all I need right now."
He sat down on a small bench made from a trunk of a coconut tree. The man walked in the kitchen, In a large clay pot he scooped some water and put it in a cup.
Man: "You're lucky I still have some water left. I need to fetch more from the well."
Cafra: "I can do it for you mister. As thanks for giving me water. Where is the well located at?"
Man: "It's right behind this house past the hammock in the mango tree."
Cafra: "Alright. I'm gonna go get more water real quick."
Cafra took a bucket and went to the well. Near the well he saw something. Dead animals. Some head was severed, guts spilled onto the dirt like it was ripped open by a vicious beast. The foul smell made him throw up.
Cafra: "What the hell happened here? These must be the animals that man was talking about."
He quickly filled the bucket with the water from the well and ran straight back to the hut. His mind confused, unease settling deep in his chest.
Cafra: "What happened to those animals? Those were yours, right?"
Man: "They were. Two nights ago this place was attacked by a monster. I heard the animals making a lot of noise, screaming. When I ran outside to check what was going on, I saw them. Monsters crawling out from the fields. They tore through my livestock like it was nothing. Some of my friends were staying here that night. When they heard the screams, they immediately came to help me. But the monsters killed them without mercy."
Cafra: "An aswang!?"
Man: "Yes. Three of them. But one of them doesn't look like an aswang. It was different. It wasn't like the others. It looked... Human. He walked like one, spoke like one. It didnt eat any of the animals. He was just laughing as he watched the other two kill my animals, as I cried in fear and screamed for help. He was enjoying every second of it."
The old man sat in silence for a moment, his hands trembling as he gripped the cup. His eyes stared into nothing, as if the memories were playing again in his head.
Cafra: "How did you manage to survive their attack?"Man: "I didn't. When it was over, he looked at me and said I was lucky. He said they were leaving me alive for a reason. To lure more people here."
The sun dipped below the horizon. Darkness slowly swallowed the fields. Then, the air grew heavy, unnaturally still. Cafra felt something. He stood up.Cafra: "I think they are already back."
The man's eyes widened. Starts trembling in fear.
Man: "You.. you dont mean.."
A loud chilling laugh was heard from outside. Three figures emerged from the darkness. Two moved on all fours, their eyes glowed with hunger. The other one walked calmly between them, hands behind his back, his form unmistakably human.
Humanoid monster: "Just as I thought. You brought us a guest. But that's not enough."
The man collapsed to his knees, shaking.
Man: "Please... I did what you asked.. Leave me alone.."
Cafra stepped forward
Cafra: "That's enough. Leave him alone."
The two aswang hissed, baring their fangs. The other one tilted his head, amused.
Humanoid monster: "And who might you be?"
Cafra: "Someone who wont let you touch him!"
The aswang lunged, but cafra moved instantly and dodged. Steel flashed. In a single, clean strike, he cut through the first aswang's neck. The second one screeched and attacked, but Cafra met it head on, driving his blade straight through its chest. The creature collapsed on the ground. Dark blood soaked the ground. The Humanoid monster clapped slowly.
Mumanoid monster: "Impressive.."
Cafra: "You! You're not an aswang. What are you?
Dark energy began to seep from the man's body, swirling around him like smoke.
Humanoid monster: "Yes. Once, I was a human."
Cafra: "How can a human wield a power like that?"
Humanoid monster: "I was chosen. By Master Azragon. He was the one who gave me this power. A gift."
Cafra: "For what purpose?!"
Humanoid monster: "To gather despair. Nok'Tur. The essence from fear, loss, and suffering. It feeds Lord Val'Zhemyr!!"
The dark energy thickened. A heavy silence fell.
Humanoid monster: "And tonight.. You will be a part of that offering!"
The air exploded with pressure. Dark energy surged from the man's body, slamming into Cafra like a tidal wave. Cafra dug his feet into the dirt, barely holding his ground as the earth cracked beneath him.
Cafra: "Tch!"
Shadows twisted around the humanoid monster, forming jagged whips that lashed forward. Cafra rolled to the side just in time. It struck the ground where he stood, tearing deep scars into the soil.
Humanoid Monster: "You fight well... but you don't understand despair."
He raised his hand. The shadows spread across the field, crawling like living things. The dead crops starts crumbling into ash as the darkness fed on the land. Cafra tightened his grip on his weapon.
Cafra: "Power born from suffering isn't strength. It's cowardice."
The monster laughed.
Humanoid Monster: "Say that again when it breaks you."
He snapped his fingers. The darkness rushed toward Cafra, wrapping around his arms and legs, burning cold as it tightened. Visions flooded Cafra's mind. Screams, blood, faces twisted in fear. The weight of grief crushed his chest.
Humanoid Monster: "Nok'tur thrives on memories like these."
Cafra gritted his teeth, his knees threatening to give in. He focused on his breath. Light flared from Cafra's body, faint at first, then blazing. The shadows recoiled, hissing as they burned away.
Cafra: "Get out of my head!!"
He broke free and charged. Steel clashed with dark energy as Cafra slashed through the tendrils, closing the distance in a blur. The monster raised a barrier of shadow, but Cafra's blade shattered it, sending fragments of darkness scattering into the night. The monster stumbled back, surprised.
Human-like Monster: "Interesting..."
He thrust both hands forward. A massive wave of darkness erupted, spiraling toward Cafra like a black storm. Cafra leaped forward instead of retreating. He poured everything into one strike.
Cafra: "This ends now!"
The blade cut through the storm, tearing a path straight to the monster. The impact sent a shockwave across the field, flattening what little remained of the crops. The monster screamed as the darkness around him shattered. He crashed to the ground, coughing, blood staining his lips. Cafra stood over him, weapon raised.
Cafra: "It's over. Tell Azragon his game ends here."
The man laughed weakly.
Humanoid Monster: "You still don't understand..."
Dark veins pulsed across his skin.
Humanoid Monster: "I'm disposable."
His body began to crack, shadows leaking from the fractures.
Humanoid Monster: "There are many like me."
The darkness consumed him in an instant, leaving nothing but scorched earth. The field fell silent. Cafra lowered his weapon, breathing heavily. Behind him, the old man collapsed, sobbing.
Man: "A..Are they... gone?"
Cafra nodded.
Cafra: "Dont worry. They won't be coming back. Now that they are gone. You can move forward and start over again.""
But as Cafra looked at the ground where the monster vanished, he felt it. a lingering presence. A faint, dark essence of Nok'tur drifting into the night.
Man: "Thank you. I dont know how I can ever repay you. But take this with you."
The man handed Cafra a jug of water.
Cafra: "Thank you."