(CHAPTER 20: BLOODY NIGHT)

The moment he step into, the door behind him slam shut. The lantern light up slowly, dimly lit the interior of the Inn. Hero took out his sword and shield as he tried to act cool, trying not to lost his foot. Suddenly the juke box started to play, letting out an eerie music, as the atmosphere grew more intense. Hero recognized the song, he once saw it at an abandoned hut, he simply called it as disc 11 due to the number written on the cover.

The other part of the Inn was pitch black, the only source was the dim fading light that flashes at the bar. He follow the light and arrived at the bar, and sure enough, Phil was at there waiting for him, just like back then. "I need the soul box for the girl Phil." Hero walked towards the counter as he slam his hand towards the table.

"I need the villagers for my Inn too." Phil replied softly as he continue to polish the ceramic cup in his hand.

"I don't want you to do it the hard way Phil, let them go and give me the soul box."

"Yes. As long as you leave me and my business behind, I will give you the box."

"You!" Hero took his saber and chop towards Phil, but stopped.

"Go on Hero." Phil smiled. "Chop, and you will be a hero. Chop, and you will never save Brine. Its your decision."

"Well I got a decision for you too Phil." Hero chuckled.

"What decision."

"You love the Inn so much right? Then what would you do if I, burn it to the ground?"

With that Hero set the wooden slab on fire with flint and still. Phil rushed towards him to put out of the fire, but before he could, Hero pinned him to the wall with his hand.

"So tell me now, Phil." He asked calmly, the fire began to spread on the planks, lighting everything wood on fire. "Where is her soul box?"

Phil look at him for a second and then the burning floor, and finally he spoke unwillingly. "At the altar behind the storage room, now let go of me!" Hero let go of his grasp, and with that he sprinted down towards the storage room while Phil dashes to put out the fire.

Hero ran down the flight of stairs. The moment the enters the storage room, the cells were filled with zombified villagers. Luckily Hero was prepeared for this. He took out the potion and golden apples as he threw them into the cell. As the dark mystic purple liquid and the apple clashes together, light shone and particles form, surrounding the infected, and soon the villagers were healed.

"Hey you," Hero called at one of the villager as he threw him his pickaxe. "Get them out of here right now." With that, he ran towards the altar that was supposedly lying at the back of the door down at the end of the narrow corridor. Just when he was a few feet away from the door, fang attack dashes out of the ground and strikes towards Hero, he immediately blocked the attack with his shield. Phil jump down from one of the cell.

"I'm sorry Hero." He said "I can't let you get the soul box, you've just released them, I can't let you do that."

"And what are you gonna do, Phil. Its over already, you've lost, cant you see that?"

"There is still a way, we can kill all of them. No one will ever know, no one speaks the dead." Phil answered, his eyes popped with excitement and thirst for blood.

"You are insane Phil." Hero shuddered. "Now move away, I need the box, I need her."

"I can't Hero."

"Do you think, you can really defeat me?" Hero laughed as he pointed out his obsidian sword. "Now move away." He bellowed sternly.

"Maybe I can't all by myself." Phil scoffed. "But they can." One cue, the door behind them burst open, three figure walked into the room. The one on their lead was carrying a large banner with a face on it. While the one at the side was carrying a huge metal axe while the one beside him was carrying a crossbow that was aimed right towards Hero. All of them had the same identical faces, pale grey skin and a bushy eyebrow. They wear the same deep red leather armor as well as a pair of deep turquoise blue pants and a leather boot.

"So." The one at the lead spoke as he stares at Hero. "Who is the one here that tries to destroy our road of fortune."

"You came!" Phil exclaimed, he seems excited. "We are scouting close by, so once we got your news, we rushed here." The leader said. "And he is the guy you are talking bout?" He pointed at Hero. "Yeah." Phil nodded. "Such a tick in the head."

"Well he set off the villagers." The one with the crossbow spoke, he has a heavy Scottish accent. "So should we kill him first then regroup the villagers?" "Shut up Sam." The one with the axe roared. "I suggest we leave a clean slice at his throat first. We could deal with the villagers first." He seems stronger and bulkier than the rest. Sam rolled his eyes, "You just want a fight Jack." He scoffed "Such a brute."

"I agree." The leader say as he put the banner on the ground like a totem. "He might be quite a problem, I say we deal with him first. The villagers wont stray further, its night right now." "Whatever you say Norman." Sam replied as he loaded his crossbow and aimed it right at Hero. Jack crouched down as he put his axe in front, holding it vertically as he let out a grin. Phil hold his hand as he prepare to unleash another attack.

"Looks like a fight is unavoidable."

Hero lower his body into a fighting stance, he put his shield up for defense. For a second no one moved.

Jake suddenly advanced as he close up the gap between him and Hero. He let out a roar as he strike his axe down. Hero pulled out his obsidian sword and blocked down the attack. The cobblestone tile beneath him cracked as his feet sinks down due to the force. "Not bad kid." Jack laughed.

He draw his axe once more and decides to strike once again. This time instead of blocking it, Hero sidestepped, evading the attack. The ground smashed as blocks around it cracked like biscuit the moment the impact was delivered. Hero was shocked, if it was not for his obsidian sword, he would've not survived that first blow.

Hero drew out his sword once more and strikes back. He knew the weakness of an axe, it was deals heavy damage but lacks in speed and mobility as well as attack speed. He has all the upper hand when it comes to fighting with a brute like Jack. Just as his sword was about to penetrate him, a arrow was shot towards Hero.

"Darn it." Hero was forced to leap back from the attack, just before he could gain his feet, another shot was fired toward him, forcing him to block it with his shield. Giving enough time for Jack to close their distance once more. As he lands down the third blow.

The chamber shocked from the thundering attack dealt by jack. Hero cursed as he backs up, his shield was completely shattered. This is not good. His hand is numb from the sheer force, he cant keep up with them. The fact that there was four of them against one of him has already gave him a huge disadvantage at the beginning.

"I thought he was tough." Jake boasted. "Looks like there is nothing we can't handle." Sam laughed. "Let's end this quickly." Norman said as he starts to play around with the banner once more, dark cloudy particles started to form around him. Both Jack and Sam let out a roar as the particles penetrate their body. Hero was confused at first, but it was not before long that he realizes that Norman was giving them positive potion effect.

Hero dashed towards Norman as he drew his sword, but was knocked back by Phill's fang attack. He was about to rush for the second time but it was too late. Jack leaped upon him as he smashes his axe towards him, hero has no choice but to guard his sword as he put both of his hand on the saber's grip, preparing for the incoming blow. As the blow landed, the ground beneath them gave up as dust stormed the room. The impact was so strong that the world would've crack. As the dust settles, hero was standing still, his saber was holding, successfully deflecting that enormous blow. Jake seemed impressed, but he let out a light chuckle.

"Is that all you got?" He let out a smirk as he drew his axe back, looking relaxed. "I was expecting more to be honest." He said sarcastically, mocking him. The rest followed, as the cold crackling laugh filled the impact filled chamber.

Hero let out a grunt as he lost balance. His muscle contract as his leg soften, forcing him to kneel to the ground as he let out a groan out of pain. An arrow has struck his leg.