The blood of your enemies

Riege had been sleeping in his quarters when the attack commenced, although none of the fire arrows had hit his tent, he woke up to the screams and noises throughout the camp. He never slept without his equipment on which meant that he was already prepared for battle. As he went across the tent's opening he was struck by the situation. Fire and smoke was everywhere, soldiers were running towards the gates. It was clear they were under attack, so he ran towards the gate himself.

Upon arriving he met with enemy forces which were attacking the rear side of the defence, bodies, weapons, mud all piled up around the gates. "Riege!! Get over here!!!" he heard, as he went towards where the sound was coming from, he could see Groman fighting over the left hand side of the rear. Riege pulled out his two short swords and started advancing through the enemies. Being behind them allowed him to attack by surprise which he did.

He slit the throat of one as he twisted and pierced the stomach of another. There were still a few meters before he could reach Groman so he kept stabbing, piercing and slashing, the enemy realized too late thanks to all the screams, sounds of soldiers and equipment moving that an enemy was behind them, now they were flanked by a single enemy while they were flanking and it proved fatal. As he decapitated the soldier in front of Groman, Riege had finally reached the defence, shortly after they were surrounded again. Despite his skills Riege had only killed less than a dozen of soldiers at most, however he had dealt damage to lots of enemies while advancing.

"Where's the kid?" Riege asked Groman in a loud voice so he could hear him

"I sent him to look for his squad!!" Groman responded

"He's the only fire soldier left we need him here not with his squad!!" Riege demanded

"I'll keep the rear defence, go to the back of the camp, that's where his tent is, find him, I'll hold the wall till you both return" Groman proposed "Riege. Don't die, and get that kid here"

"You know my kind we don't die easily" Riege replied making reference to Groman's insult

"Right.. Go!!" Groman shouted "Make way for Lieutenant Riege!!!"

As he got out of the defence he managed to kill a few enemies and ran to the back of the camp, the enemy now too concentrated in killing the main forces at the gates paid no attention to him. While he was running he saw Jochen, holding a dagger and Miek leaning in his right shoulder trying to defend themselves from 3 enemies. "Come on!!!" Jochen mumbled "Get away!!!"

Riege drank the liquids from a small flask, and proceeded to use one of the swords in a backhand grip, while holding the other normally, he darted towards his next foes, the three of them heard the now heavy and powerful steps, all three held spears, and all three tried to impale him. Regardless of their attempt their victory was impossible. Before a single spear had touched him, Riege span around using his powers, he created a ring of water with his two blades, destroying the spears and before any of them could react. He cut the throat of one, stabbed the other in the heart and the last ran away in sheer terror.

He could see how badly wounded Miek was, if he didn't get treatment soon, he would die from an infection. Jochen had some minor cuts and bruises but was otherwise fine, Miek was still crying, the pain was unbearable, everytime he did any muscle movement in his face incredible agony would overcome him.

"Please!! Please help me!!" Miek screamed

"Stay still" Riege commanded

Riege placed his fingers around the top and bottom lid of Miek's wounded eye "Trust me, don't move" He said.

Water started coming out of his fingers and slowly started moving inside Miek's eye

"Hold him, it will hurt" Riege ordered Jochen

"No!! STOP!!!" Miek wept

"Either i do this your you die, ¿which one do you prefer?" Riege stated

Miek despite his agonizing pain and fear trusted the Lieutenant, if there was a chance of surviving this he would take it.

While Jochen grabbed the now trembling arms from behind and crossed his own legs above Miek's. Riege proceeded to remove the fragment from his eye, "Now!!" He shouted

The face Miek had made, wasn't one of pain nor of terror, but that of pure agony, tears flowed from his right eye, the screams hurt his vocal chords so much that after the procedure his voice was hoarse. Jochen had never heard such pain in a man's voice before and coming from a dear friend made him cry, "We'll make it out together, I promise, you'll see" he whispered to Miek while rocking him like a baby.

"Where's Von?" Riege asked Jochen since Miek had passed out due to the pain, Jochen still in shock did not respond, Riege slapped him twice really firmly "Where is Von!!" he repeated the question now holding his shoulders and screaming in his face

"Near the opening, follow the crushed tents" Jochen stuttered "Over there" he said while aiming at the path of destruction made by the boulder.

Riege left without a second to spare, he followed the trail of crushed tents, and bodies, the floor was slippery due to the blood of crushed organs and muscles. As he reached the end of the path he saw Von aiming for the neck while falling in a motion that could only be described as a wheel of fire. What Riege saw that Von didn't was frightening.

"Von!!! Don't!!!"

"DIE!!" Von shouted as the sword hit. However his enemy wasn't dead, nor his neck was cut, the complete opposite, it was now covered in stone, and what was completely shattered was his sword.

As Von started falling to the ground he couldn't do anything as he saw the enemy captain moving his fist towards him covered in a giant layer of stone.

Somehow Von was now flying away from him, pain filled every nerve, it made the corners of his eyes darken, the wind now felt extremely cold. His left hand and ribs were broken, every second felt like an eternity, he hit the mud as if it was the strongest material ever made, he bounced and rolled on his back.

how could this happen? I did everything perfectly, he couldn't have anticipated that attack, could he? Those were Von's thoughts as he rolled and then,

Black.

By the time Riege's shout reached Von's ears it was too late. His body, now limp as a ragdoll had been sent flying and rolling through the mud several meters before he hit the back of his head with a piece of wood of one of the burned down tents.

The enemy knowing that Von was out of combat took the chance to deal the killing blow. He now ran, impatient to end his foe who now had no chance to defend itself, as he approached he took slow and heavy steps, he finally reached Von, he swung his right stone armored arm towards him.

A few centimeters was all that stood between the fist and Von's already damaged head, blood trailed from the back going all the way to his neck forming a small poodle in his clothes. Riege now stood next to the captain, facing him. Water had twisted and fiercely gripped the unbreakable fist, which now was defenceless. Completely dominated by the flow of the current the captain was surprised that a weaker element had managed to stop him. "Now's my turn" Riege said with pure spite and disgust behind his words, a twisted smile complimented his green eyes now illuminated by the remnant fire of the tents.

Despite being war, for him killing someone who could not defend himself was an action of a coward. The monster's face finally turned facing Riege, his small black eyes seemed like those of a beast, of a wolf hunting its prey.

Riege now enraged and determined to protect Von lunged first aiming for the enemies trapped arm. He could smell the blood over the smoke and mud, his eyes now were on the vital spots of his enemy, his ears hearing every slight movement of his body.

The enemy drew away the stone and released his arm protecting from the blow. From his feet the rocks folded over each other, merging and forming a pike going straight at Riege's stomach.

Riege saw the attack and evaded but a second too late, the rock scratched his right side, pain now flowed through his veins. Despite being hurt he was close enough for another slash which he aimed at the enemy's right shoulder.

The colossal beast tried to dodge but Riege was already too close and the attack cut right through his shoulder.

Riege now backed away grabbing his side and ran his tongue through the thick red blood in the edge. The distinct metal taste blood had was quite particular, one Riege had never grown accustomed to. A full teeth grin now appeared in his face. As his father had once told him "The only way to kill a beast is to become one" he took that at heart.

The clash of swords, shields and fire could be heard all around the forest. The moon now fully lit the fields. Riege secured his footing as to not slip in the mud, he threw away the sword he'd used with his left hand since the wound would prevent good movement, plus trying to use it would open the wound even more.

He knew he would be at his peak when extreme pressure would be put upon him and this was one of those moments.

As a wicked smile appeared, his eyes now empty of feelings. Let me introduce you to my kind He thought.

He lunged he grabbed a stone in his hand and formed a lance with it, throwing it to the enemy.

Surprised the man tried to build a stone wall just like the one he used with Von but the shock had had its effects, it was too late and it pierced his left shoulder.

Riege now smiling even more went faster, the enemy tried a broad punch but he gestured and the stone at his feet buckled. It cracked and rearranged, spiking upwards in a solid wave before the blow could connect.. He jumped from it aiming at the neck. Adrenaline rushed through his body, the pain became stronger by the second and he was bleeding, not badly, but bleeding all the same. He had to end it soon

The now scared beast was desperate as Riege fell upon him, he was too fast and he was too exhausted. He formed a stone shell around him protecting him from the blow.

"No hiding now!!" Riege shouted as he twisted mid air, aiming a full stone covered kick.

The captain flew back after the kick had successfully destroyed the shell and he was too exhausted to keep fighting. He clawed and crawled but he could not escape, not now.

Riege walked towards him, the stone that covered his leg now slowly falling to pieces. The enemy captain saw him pure terror invaded him. How could someone change from water to stone? It was impossible!. Only those from a certain monstrous clan had the ability, the cursed ones, the hated ones they were called.

"You are a monster!! A monster of the Anshas aren't you?" He finally spoke, and this were his first and last words. As tears started flowing, he realized his death had come.

"That I am" Riege responded with a blank face.