A light shockwave rolled through the forest, the leaves rustled, and the ground vibrated for a moment as it reached two figures walking on a small path barely wide enough for a single person. They stopped and hesitated for a moment
"There it is again."
The figure in the front said turning around. It was a young man in his early twenties with a cleanly shaven face, his eyes perfectly matching the wood brown hair, a hunting rifle slung across his right shoulder. Vito nodded, looking past the wide statue of his brother in the direction where the strange shockwave came from. He stayed silent for a moment, contemplating, before looking back at Akko. He still could not comprehend how his younger brother had not only ended up taller, but also so much more muscular than him. Likewise, he himself was certainly not a small man and hauling trees for work had left an effect, but not to the significant of an extent.
"What could this even be? I still don't hear any machines, so it's not likely to be woodworkers. Could it be the military testing something?"
He raised an eyebrow, looking at his brother provocatively
"Nah… I don't think so. I'm stationed not so far from here, and I am pretty sure that the next base in this direction is at least a couple of hundred kilometres away."
Akko answered, turning back and gesturing the vaguely in the direction they were headed.
"Anyways, I don't think we're too far away now, so let's find out what this shit is."
Vito nodded, but before following his brother, he took a moment to just enjoy the beauty of the forest. Now that it was the height of spring, he was surrounded by the deep green of the new leaves and plants shooting from every possible place while the birds and insects were busy doing whatever they were doing. A deep breath revealed a whole other dimension of sensory stimulation. He shook his head and pulled himself out of the moment and started to walk down the tiny path, carved out by the animals roaming the forest. Before he could even finish his third step however, another shockwave shook the forest. Confused, he stopped as he was being pushed back. This was odd. The previous ones were all separated by at least a couple of minutes and not nearly as strong.
"Huh? What the fu.."
His head exploded with pain, stars and streams in all possible colours flooded his vision as the back of his head suddenly hit the grass floor of the forest. Before he had any time to think or even form a single thought, the excruciating feeling of his skin melting took away his breath, his hands shooting up to try and get off whatever it was that was burning him alive.
Reeling in pain and clawing the right side of his face an inhuman scream escaped his mouth. He could feel the skin under his hands move, and his eye had seemingly turned into a ball of fire, embedded into his face and drilling further into his skull with myriads of small needles whose single purpose was nothing but to induce pain.
It was not only physical though – images flashed across his mind, strange voices whispered in his ears, and the pressure on his mind felt like the universe was crashing down on him.
Another wave of pain twisted his body and his eyes shot open, but instead of a forest, he found himself standing a sea of strange darkness. The pain vanished as quickly as it had appeared, but the shock still sat deep in his bones. He tried to move, however his body did not respond to his commands. In fact, even his thoughts felt awfully weak.
Ebony smoke flowed around his feet, stretching out to his sides, forming an ever-changing landscape of sharp black hills and valleys. To his left, the shadows rose dozens of meters, while to his left human like shadow figures slowly moved through the terrain and his own legs carried him against his will in the same direction, seemingly leading the group. Vito's mind dulled, his own thoughts becoming quieter and seeming distant, as a different voice slowly gained strength and started moving into the foreground.
Having already lost control of his body, he could do nothing but observe in panic as his own mind, his feelings and thoughts were taken over by this voice. Vito watched in horror as he stopped raised his shadowy hand, leading the other figures to do the same. His body lingered for a second before it spun around as a wave of foreign emotions flooded his system. Fear and concern, followed by confusion and guilt
'How did I fail to sense it?!'
A gigantic six legged creatures crawled over the edge of the cliff they had just passed. Holding on with its claws deeply buried in the shadows, it lifted its spike filled head and opened its jaws, revealing rows of razor sharp fangs. Shadows seemed to leak from various spots on of its body as its body stretched, and a radiant glow appeared deep inside the beasts' maw. Narog's hands snapped up to grab the hilts of his two war hammers stuck to his back while already moving his feet to the nearest boulder.
"Disperse!"
He yelled, not that it was necessary. His warriors are all experienced and were already dashing into different directions trying to find shelter as the air heated up, and the shadows seemed to be sucked towards the abomination standing atop the cliff. He had failed. It did not matter that no one else had sensed the beast either. He was the leader, and it was his duty to ensure they did not get into situations exactly like this. But he was too careless, he should not have been so sure it had fled, he should have …
'Enough... focus. Get your men out of this first.'
He had to remain calm, letting his emotions control him would help nobody. He threw a glance over his shoulder at the 3 soldiers closest to the creature, still far away from the rock there were heading for.
'Not enough time.'
Burn the gods, he cursed in his thoughts. His feet slid across obsidian pebbles as he slammed to a halt and planted his feet into the ground, throwing his right arm back and tensed his muscles before yanking his arm forward and sending one of his hammers towards the creature. The body of the towering beast rocked from the powerful throw. Strong enough to pulverise entire buildings, however that thing, apart from being a bit shaken up, seemed to be almost completely unaffected. Its burning red eyes locked on to Narog and in the next moment, it released a maelstrom of radiant fire from its maw headed straight in his direction. He turned to the boulder, but he knew that there was no way he would make it in time. At least he bought his men some time... not that it would redeem is utter failure.
Then, out of nowhere a shadow rammed into his side forcefully slamming him into against the giant stone. He felt one of his rips crack and pain shot throughout his body as the air was sucked out of his lungs. In the next moment a wave of radiant fire crashed against the boulder, flames creeping around its edges and burning heat licked the right side of his face before a pair of hands dragged him further behind the stone.
The smell of burned flesh rushed through his nose alongside unimaginable pain, the unnatural fire eating away his skin. Biting his teeth and letting out a suppressed scream he tried orienting himself and as the bright light of the flames died down a finally got a chance to look at the person who had saved him.
The shadowy figure towered above him, its exact shape and size obscured by dense obsidian smoke, 4 burning eyes drilling into the depths of his soul as it raised its left hand, containing an abnormal amount of fingers and grabbed his face, causing another wave of pain as his vision dimmed, and the world once again dissolved into darkness. Only moments later they started taking shape and Narog looked down at two figures laying down, happiness and excitement circulating his body, as he stretched out his arms towards the small figure and a deep sense of protectiveness emerged.
'Get out of my head!'
Vito's mind screamed as he pushed back against the overwhelming force that was suppressing his thoughts and emotions. The shadows lost its shape as he finally regained some of his consciousness. The success did not last long as the pressure surged, crashing down, and he was once again driven back. This time though it was different, the pressure did not just stop at relegating him to the position of and observer in his own mind. Now it was accompanied by indescribable pain, as the voices tore at his mind. The black smoke became flowed to reshape itself into a wide landscape.
Narog found himself kneeling, his hands chained behind his back and looking down the ground. Next to him, in front of him, everywhere around of him kneeled his brothers and sisters, in the same position as him.
He raised his head, over the hundreds of people in front of him, towards a wide platform. Rows and rows of soldiers stood silently as a handful of shadows parted to reveal a strange figure, chained to the ground, with four burning eyes. Volumes of emotions flooded Narog and he gritted his teeth
'This is all our fau...'
'This is not me! These memories are not mine'
Vito interrupted, desperation and anger strengthening his determination. He had no idea what was happening, but this was his mind, his thoughts, his emotions. He would not have himself be hijacked by this... being, that was trying to take over his mind.
The shadows disappeared as bright light blinded Vito as he finally regained control of his body and mind as the pressure subsided, the voice was pushed back into the depths, and he pulled himself back into reality.
He felt two hands shaking him, as distant voice shouting in distress before he slowly started regaining his vision. Gasping for air and wheezingly sucking in a years supply of oxygen he laid there, trying to collect his thoughts. His brothers face appeared in front of him, panic written all over his face
"What the fuck is going on? What happened? Are you alright?"
Vito, in complete shock over what just happened laid on the ground for a few moments. Taking a couple of deep breaths, he was finally able to form coherent thoughts again and as he tried comprehending the visions he had just witnessed he realised that the excruciating pain in his face still persisted. Barely able to speak, he removed his hands from his face and croaked
"My face?"