Swoosh!
A figure flew through the air.
Wings flapped.
He carried a spear.
The back weighed with responsibility.
An avenger.
Suddenly, his eyes widened,
A figure entered his view.
The back of a massive figure in the distance.
A figure missing an arm.
The elder's breath quickened.
He hadn't met it before, but he knew. He felt it.
This was his prey. His enemy.
The Progenitor.
Swoosh!
His speed increased.
"Uaghh?"
The Progenitor turned.
It smelled human flesh.
His pupilless, red eyes locked on a figure in the sky.
Swooooosh!
A spear tore the air.
Shluck!
The spear struck.
The tip pierced the chest of the Progenitor.
A smile crept up the Elder's face.
He stopped, flying above the Progenitor.
The Progenitor glanced at the spear.
Shluck!
His massive arm wrapped.
He pulled it out.
Violet blood splashed.
"Impossible!"
The elder's eyes widened.
The flesh healed rapidly.
Before his very eyes.
'It can heal!'
His expression grew darker.
'But what is the extent of its healing?'
He had no time to ponder.
The spear tore through the air.
The Progenitor threw it back.
'Bad!'
His heart jumped.
Shluck!
He couldn't dodge.
"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Blood splashed.
The spear tore the leg under the knee.
The severed limb flew.
Swooosh!
The Progenitor's body blurred.
He moved.
Quickly reaching the location where the leg was about to fall.
He caught it in the air.
Munch! Munch!
The teeth sank into the flesh.
Blood covered his mouth.
The flesh separated. Pieces stuck between his teeth.
The Progenitor feasted.
A five-star meal.
Fresh human flesh.
"Agghhhh..."
The elder groaned in pain.
He increased his altitude.
Blood poured from his severed limb.
Poured on the ground like rain.
"Instant..."
The elder gnashed his teeth.
"Alchemy."
He grabbed the severed leg with both palms.
"Fire seal!"
Swish!
Fire erupted.
"Aghhhhh..."
The eyes enlarged in pain. Almost popping out.
Sizzzle!
The flesh sizzled.
The aroma of grilled flesh spread in the air.
But the wound closed.
The fire sealed the wound.
'Now is my chance,'
He saw an opportunity.
The Progenitor paid him no attention. He feasted.
But the spear fell into the distance.
Swoosh!
The Elder had no choice.
He descended without a weapon—only his body.
He sped up.
His elbows pointed down.
Crack!
"Aghhh..."
He slammed into the side of the Progenitor, near his ribs.
Bones cracked.
Not the Progenitor's, but his.
His ribs shattered.
Thud! Thud!
He rolled on the ground.
His wings wrapped around his head and torso, protecting him from the sharp rubble.
"Cough,"
He coughed up blood.
The Progenitor looked at him.
Blood splashed from a wound on the progenitor's side, near his ribs.
The elbow had torn into the flesh.
But the impact was not enough.
The Progenitor ate the last remaining piece of the leg.
Blup!
The lump of his massive, missing arm bulged.
Splash!
The skin tore.
Violet blood splashed.
The air contaminated.
Metallic scent filled the air.
Crack!
A bone emerged.
"Impossible..."
The elder's eyes trembled.
The bone grew.
His heart sank.
After the bone, the tissues, veins, ligaments, and muscles.
The entire missing arm healed.
And the wound on his side disappeared.
The Progenitor returned to peak condition.
Swoosh!
The elder pushed himself with his one remaining leg.
The wings flapped.
He ran.
For the first time, his determination wavered.
'It can heal using human flesh!'
Inexplicable fear shrouded him.
He glanced back.
'No!'
The Progenitor chased.
Its speed not less than his flying.
The elder increased his altitude.
And flew at max speed.
His thoughts raced.
'I can't believe this...'
Not with solutions, but despair.
'I knew it is strong. Stronger than me. I knew I might not be its match!'
His teeth cracked in unqillingness.
Tears streamed down his face.
'But I stand no chance!'
Fury erupted in his eyes.
Fury and frustration.
'Even after everything! Even after sacrificing my humanity!!!!'
"IS IT STILL NOT ENOUGH?"
He cried.
He sacrificed his humanity. He modified his body to close on it.
But the gap was uncrossable from the beginning.
'Can a human defeat this monster?'
Unnoticable, his will dissipated.
'Is it all worth it? Sacrificing myself in vain?'
Speed slowed.
The Progenitor was catching up.
"NO!"
His eyes flashed.
"I've come this far. There is no going back!"
He changed direction.
"Monster! I'll find a way to kill you!"
He flew towards the location of the spear.
The Progenitor chased relentlessly.
Clang! Clang!
The elder reclaimed his spear.
A fierce clash ensued.
Cuts tore on the body of the Progenitor.
While the elder kept his distance in the sky.
He used the hit-and-run tactic.
The Progenitor's anger grew.
He swung.
The claws threatened to tear the elder.
Swoosh!
Another chase.
The elder escaped.
They rapidly moved away from the depths of the city.
Going towards the outskirts.
Occasionally, the elder stopped.
Using the hit-and-run tactic.
They clashed.
But the Progenitor couldn't reach him.
However, the situation turned into a stalemate.
The wounds on the Progenitor's body rapidly healed each time.
'I don't believe your healing is endless,'
The elder steeled his determination.
But neither was his stamina endless.
Sweat drenched his body.
Exhaustion crept up his body, mental and physical.
It turned into a battle of attrition.
Will the Elder's stamina give out or the Progenitor's healing?
.
.
.
The demons drew closer.
"I-It's over..."
The moral crumbled.
The civilians collapsed.
Only the soldiers still held the formation, but their legs trembled.
"We'll die..."
Despair fell.
"BROTHERS!"
The Commander roared.
His heart pounded.
He never encountered a situation like this.
But he must remain calm.
"Now, it's do or die!!! If we give up now, we all will die! If we fight, we might have a chance!"
He roared.
The air grew silent.
Only the hungry growls of the demons echoed.
No one had the confidence.
"DON'T GIVE THEM AN EASY HUNT!"
The Commander thundered.
"WE ARE NOT EASY PREY! MAKE THEM SUFFER!"
The moral rose.
His passionate words moved them.
And although fear shrouded their hearts, they knew.
The Commander was not wrong.
They had to struggle.
The will to survive ignited within them.
The enemies were many.
The demons outnumbered them. But not by much.
"They outnumber us! But don't fear their numbers! Our rifles are more than enough to equalize the situation! WE CAN TURN THIS AROUND!"
"FOLLOW THE COMMANDER!"
A soldier roared.
"Follow the commander!"
The other soldiers joined.
"Kill them!"
The ordinary people chanted.
Adrenaline surged through their veins.
The war chants ignited their battle intent.
The Commander and Lucian glanced at each other.
"How far are we from our destination?"
The commander whispered.
"We're halfway there,"
The Commander nodded.
Judging by the massive numbers, it wouldn't be strange if the demons from the entire part of the city gathered.
'If we survive this, the rest of the journey shouldn't be difficult,'
Hope for the future emerged in the Commander's mind.
But he discarded any plans.
He had to survive this. He had to lead them through this.
He had to carry this burden.
He glanced at the unconscious youth beside him.
It would've been great if he were conscious and used his buff to eliminate fear.
But now, everything rested on the commander's shoulders.
"BROTHERS! WHEN WE RUN OUT OF BULLETS! CHARGE!"
"YES!"
None complained about his leadership.
Or his incompetence.
Any complaint they had, the fear made them forget.
In a moment of crisis, they united.
History bore witness.
Grant humans peace, and they'll tear each other apart.
Grant them a common enemy, and they'll unite as one.
They'll burst with strengths.
Grroo-wllll!
The demons charged.
"FIRE!"