LaPlume

Between the howls and wails, the screams and cries of women being raped, and the villagers being eaten and butchered like cattle, there was a middle-aged man who was desperately running away while yelling his lungs out.

''Why.... WHY!!! YOU ABSOLUTE FUCKERS!!!''

His clothes were in tatters and marred in blood, with his body being barely able to function. His state was simply beyond recognition.

As for where he was running to... It didn't matter... He just wanted to flee the hellish scene that was unfolding behind him.

His remote village, the one he had lived in his entire life, was now a fiery beacon illuminating the night.

''Whyyyyy areeeeeee youuuuuuuuuu runninnnnnnnnnnng awwaaayyyy froooooom usssssssss?''

Terrifying low growls and voices could be perceived behind him, and every time he heard them, his body released adrenaline to try to override its limits, but to no avail as his injuries were just too severe.

The humanoid creatures pursuing him were like shadows, barely distinguishable through the cover of the night.

Their eyes, akin to black holes, were fixed on their prey as it struggled for its pathetic life. Their faint and sinister giggles kept reverberating through the darkness...

***

As blood rushed up his throat and leaked at the corners of his mouth, his sinister appearance aggravated to where he resembled a devil.

During his maniacal laugh, his punctured lungs had finally given out, causing his whole body to collapse on the ground and dyeing it a scarlet shade.

His mind went blank, while his consciousness left his battered body.

***

After what appeared to be a few minutes, he suddenly woke up.

He was startled at first, but he soon realized that he had indeed died.

Everything around him was black, without an ounce of life in sight.

He was basically a spirit floating in the absolute void.

''So this is what happens when you die... You just drift in darkness... That's actually underwhelming. I wonder if I'll just fade away''

When Derrick's thoughts started to drift, a prompt appeared in front of him.

[Welcome to System Nemesis, Derrick Tarlin]

[Would you like to seek revenge? Yes/No]

System Nemesis

Derrick took out his communication trinket and immediately contacted Brigand.

He was definitely one of the parties that had to be warned about what happened today. The Official would surely interrogate him if Alma came back unscathed, while all his spies had disappeared.

"I swear you must be senile... It's Derrick"

After a few seconds, the burly man's laugh suddenly came through the device.

"If you're contacting me, it means that Alma has arrived safely?"

Derrick's tone caused Brigand to put aside any pleasantries and straighten in his chair. Derrick didn't let the suspense go on, and he promptly told the merchant.

"She was tailed by the Official's spies"

The revelation made Brigand grimace, and his heart, skip a beat. This couldn't be happening…

Spar