The King of Death Mobs and the cowardly man

In a world where swords and magic exists intertwined. There came a new race. A special race only present in this Floor. It's name was Death Mobs. These Death Mobs are a result of interfering with life and death, creating a parasite that sucks off other's life force to sustain itself constantly. It's concept is not as far as vampires but their intelligence are lacking. These Death Mobs manifest when a Hive, a Death Mob that has reached it's peak state in development, is created. They began forming kind of like factories and they are usually deep underground

Our story is related to the current, one and only Death Mob, the King variation and the first one to be born among it's brethren. This was a personal creation of a man who used to exist on that Floor, but has left with his hands free, leaving this poor thing alone and scared

This King, feast on blood and life force, thrives and then later creates more of it's brethren, acting kind of like a big brother and a father figure to the later generations of Death Mobs. The King was at peace and was raising his kin, something he knows very little about but somehow knew that it was the right thing to do. But, not all happiness is preserved

The humans, the once dominant specie on Terra Isla, begin to fear the corrupt and destructive Death Mobs. So, when the reports of attacks to the villages start to increase, they unleash a crusade to purge the world of this corrupt race. The other races also agree to help and since this menace was also a threat to their own livelihood

Armed with Dwarven weapons, Elven magic, and the Deep's assistance, the humans lead headfirst into combat against the Death Mobs. The King senses his kin being slaughtered, his children falling down in pain and their cries were brought back to him. He was assaulted with a sense of fear but this fear slowly turn into hatred as he too, unleashes his might and the Death Mobs' collective fury upon them

The casualties of both sides were the same, some years it's the crusade's and some were the Death Mobs'. Every lost was painful to the King as that mean he would not be able to see one of his children grow but to the humans and other races, it was a necessary sacrifice. They slowly dwindled the King of Death Mobs back and when it was the final day of the crusade, when the forces were at the King's gates, their resolution burns brighter

While they were outside, the King was weeping inside. Weeping about the loses he has gain and about his children who were senselessly slaughtered in this random war that lasted for decades. All of this turns him insane, he became resentful and so, when the Final Day arrives. The King was also ready

Now, let's shift our focus on a different person, our protagonist

He's a human who was part of the crusade but was known as a coward because he always run away from fights rather than fighting with his comrades to the bitter end. And he survived, but the stigma of being a coward makes him alienated from the rest of his mates as they despises and hate him

He didn't mean it, he didn't want this life. He was forced by his family and ordered to become one but frankly, he just wants to live quietly in a house and have a farm. So, on the Final Day invasion, he steels himself. This time, the battle was not outside of a forest or meadow, but inside a cramped and tight space. He wanted to run away but if he does, he would be executed when the humans finds him again

The battle, the last invasion, Final Day, was a success and a lost. A success because the King was slain, a lost because everyone was slaughtered in this fight. Everyone who was both strong and weak; Elven, Dwarven, Deep or human; killed indiscriminately. Our protagonist however, was briefly alive as his wounds weren't fatal enough that kills him immediately but he would die because of blood lost

In this fight, a familiar silhouette was seen, appearing out of thin air like he was there for the entire time. His cape flutter in the air that reeks of blood and souls, his black clothes look dashing as his hair flows down to his knees. This, was the man wh once existed on this Floor. He looks around, searching for something

His eyes landed on it after a brief turn. He goes to it, making our protagonist turn his head weakly to the sound he's hearing. When he saw the boots of the man, his almost dead eyes flicker with light. Could he be saved? Could he finally return to his normal life? The man notices his eyes and his soul, still wearily sticking to his body

"Hmm, yu're alive?"

The cold and emotionless voice resounded. This voice reminded him of the King, his dreadful and horrid voice brought fear and now, he could sense that from this individual. However, the man continues walking in his previous direction, reaching his hand out and in front of him was the corpse of the King. His flesh torn and a giant hole in his stomach and left chest

Then, a black flaming orb manifested into the man's hands and he grabs it softly like it was something fragile, something that could be broken by a mere clench of a fist. He walks back to our protagonist and get on one knee, his face was directly above his. His voice resounded once again to him

"You must've been really resilient. Now, as for my code, your resolve of wanting to be alive shall not be for none. I shall give you this, since I don't really have anything on me that I could give you in this current state of yours."

He stand up and raise his hand out, the one holding the soul of the King. He drops it and it floats downward, going into his chest and disappearing. A cold sensation was felt in the middle of his chest as the soul of the King went into him

The man senses approaching presences and decide to leave. His figure disappears once again to thin air. Soon, many people rush in and found the carnage that is the battlefield of Final Day. They find no one alive except for our protagonist

The story continues