The Village's Taboo (6)

As the smoke gradually dispersed, the village elder stood up—still smirking at his accomplishment. His eyes wandered at his surroundings and was left bewildered as he saw his people striding slowly towards the aftermath of the explosion.

'Why…why are all of them still alive!?' He pondered, baffled beyond belief.

This was out of his assumption. All the village elder understood was that—the moment the devil was defeated, everyone would be freed—like those told in fairytales.

'Then…no way…can it be…!'

His eyes widened in fear as he came to a conclusion. The devil was still alive. Somehow, albeit what it has undergone—it was surely still breathing.

'No…No! No! No!'

The village elder started panicking. His heart rate increased exponentially as sweat trickled down his figure. A mixture of horror and desperation scrawled on his face as his mind precariously searched for a solution.

Alas, fate had other plans for the village elder. Out of the blue, an enormous humanoid figure leaped out of the crater as it suddenly hurled itself towards the village elder.

Unable to react quickly—he was pinned down by a monstrous creature. It possessed an unsymmetrical physique—some parts bulging with muscles while others looked normal. Its face was a mixture of a male human, and type of orc with black hair cascading down its back. As it pinned the village elder down on the ground—it spoke in a low rumbling sound.

"You got me good, Arthes. So good, I'm pissed. No more second chances."

The voice of such creatures bore an uncanny resemblance to that of the devil—tinged with a hint of frustration.

"Y-you…t-the first elder…!" The village elder mumbled beneath his breath—bewildered that the creature's humanoid parts was similar to the first village elder.

"B-but how—"

"That's not something you should know. Let's not waste anymore time now, or else I'd be punished."

Hurriedly, the village elder pulled out a glowing crystal from his pocket and attempted to stab the monster. Nevertheless, his endeavor was deemed futile as the creature simply ripped off his left arm.

Blood gushed out profusely from the open wound as the village elder cried out in pain—writhing underneath the devil's grasp.

"I told you, Arthes. There will be no second chances."

It spoke coldly as it prepared to end the life of its prey once and for all. Unbeknownst to its knowledge—the village elder suddenly spit into its eyes—blinding it temporarily.

Noticing the entity's grasp on him had loosen, the village elder swiftly rolled away and grabbed his detached arm, before plunging the blue crystal into the monster's back.

Flamboyant blue flames erupted from it's back—creating an explosion that barely set the village elder's entire body into flames.

The flames seemed inextinguishable as it only became more prominent by the moment. The monster did everything it could in an attempt to stop the fire from disintegrating its body. But each method merely resulted in the flames burning brighter.

"Put it out! Put it out! Put it out!!!" It screamed in horror—the excruciating pain becoming unbearable.

A grin slowly creeped onto the village elder's face as he was given the opportunity to witness the death of his adversary unfolding before his eyes.

Nonetheless, there was a variable he never foresaw throughout the time he spent setting up his so-called perfect scheme. And that irregularity had come.

As the village elder continued to watch his enemy thrashed on the ground—blood started trickling from his mouth along with agonizing pain around his chest.

A frightened expression scrawled onto his face as a hand covered in black clothes and black clothes protruded out of his chest.

"Ah…ah…"

He wanted to shout but his body no longer had any energy left. Soon enough, the arm exited his body—leaving a massive hole in his chest and the village elder tumbled onto the ground—meeting his demise at last.

"M-master…I'm s-sorry…" The creature muttered. Its fear overwhelmed the pain as it stared up as it's master—a female humanoid figure wearing a mask, and an all-black outfit with long, silky white hair flowing down freely behind her back.

Instinctively, it closed its eyes as she extended her bloodied hand to it. However, instead of being tortured—the flames that desperately consumed its body dissipated as the burnt parts were restored to their original state.

"You are not the one at fault, Porcas. Now, help me gather the products."

Her tone sounded plain. Yet her action was enough to exponentially increased Porcas's loyalty.

Under a minute, Porcas rallied the all the brainwashed villagers under its master's request. But, there was a question bothering Porcas too much to go unnoticed even by its master.

"...You may ask if you wish to."

"Master…what will you do with Arthes?"

"Parts of his brains can be used in other chimeras such as yourself. Other than that, his body is worthless. You may dispose of him except for the brain."

"Got it."

…

'Weird…what am I…doing here? I feel like I'm…forgetting something…I feel like something is…missing. What is it? What is missing?'

The longer she pondered—the sealed memories began to unravel themselves as she was faced with the truth.

"...Alice…Andre…!"

Her voice was quiet yet could still be perceived by the white-haired woman.

"Do you have a que—"

"My family! Bring them back!" Andre's wife demanded. Her disfigured hands grasped onto the woman's neck. Even if she's a monster, the love she had for her dear family could never be diminished.

"Return them! Make me normal again!"

"...How regrettable. If your memories were still sealed…you would've survived."

Out of the blue, Andre's wife's body combusted into smithereens—blood spewing around her surroundings and tainting the woman's clothes.

"...It truly is sad. But failed products will never be accepted. Porcas, let us depart now."

"Where to, master? Capture those that escaped?"

"No, although that's important…there's something much more crucial. Follow my lead, and I will explain along the way."

"Alright."

Having uttered those words, the woman, Porcas, and the products departed—abandoning one of their testing sites.

…