Death

That heartbreaking scream petrified the bodies of those present in the group.

"S-Safwane... the nightmares have arrived." said Arthur terrified taking a step back.

"What is going on!?" asked one of the citizens excitedly.

There was no answer.

Before he could ask again he received an intense look from the emperor, who with his finger told him to shut up.

'We are in the worst possible situation...' thought Safwane. "Arthur, try to find a way to escape, I protect you." he said without taking his eyes off the front.

The silence was continuous.

The darkness made the creatures have the perfect terrain to finish off the group.

Death was almost certain.

The silence was broken. Sounds of dozens of agitated footsteps were heard getting closer and closer.

The citizens continued petrified, the children on the other hand did not stop crying.

Suddenly the darkness brightened for a second. The sound of metal clashing echoed and sparks flew from the friction.

Safwane had begun the battle.

"Try to protect yourself, the nightmares are attacking us!" Arthur shouted in despair.

Those words made the people stir.

'This will only disperse the creatures...' Safwane thought, piercing the chest of a nightmare.

Even though the emperor held some back, he couldn't stop them from reaching the group.

People began to die.

The terrifying screams. The desperate cries. The useless blows. All that was what the citizens were trying to do in their last moments.

Safwane couldn't help it, it was more than he could contain. Now he was just trying to support Arthur.

"Have you found something?" Safwane asked blocking the claws.

Arthur was sitting on the edge of the highway, terrified.

'Come on...'

The situation was completely unfavorable. But as if everything was against it, a huge stomp made its presence felt.

The enormous nightmare roared angrily.

Its roar was enough to scare away some creatures. Since its target was the most difficult, the emperor.

The giant creature was in front of Safwane, drooling thinking about its food. Its appearance was grotesque, it had sharp claws and teeth, it was three meters tall.

The creature's attitude annoyed the emperor.

"Do you want to die or what?" he said frowning.

The nightmare's response was simple, it launched an attack with its sharp claws hoping to finish it off.

But the young man blocked it with his katana.

Anyway, the huge creature made the others stop attacking the emperor. But Arthur was not the case.

While Safwane blocked the claws of the huge creature. He had to use his other hand to grab the head of a nightmare that was heading for Arthur.

The emperor pushed his claws up and threw the creature towards the large one. Without any time to delay he launched a quick slash, killing the creature.

Safwane sighed.

"Arthur, if you're not going to help, you better die." he said to the young man in a cold voice.

Arthur gulped. The words served as a reminder of his uselessness.

The huge creature attacked again, this time trying to grab him.

The emperor used the sheath to block one of the hands, with his katana he pierced the other.

The nightmare began to squeeze his hands tightly.

Safwane stopped blocking with the sheath and using the inevitable movement of the creature, he pulled out the katana at high speed and headed towards the stomach.

Unable to react to the attack, the creature could only watch as a deep cut was made in its stomach.

And when Safwane tried to continue with the attacks, a strong blow sent him away.

The young man began to fall to the ground and when he finally stopped, he stood up.

'How annoying...'

After standing up, a small creature tried to attack him from behind, but he stabbed it without paying attention.

'Now there are two of them.' thought the emperor angrily.

Indeed, now in front of him could be seen two enormous creatures. Which looked at him full of anger.

Safwane squeezed the handle of the katana.

The scene was terrifying, the citizens had already suffered a painful death and the creatures fed on them. The metallic smell of blood mixed with dust and humidity.

However, it was not time to pay attention to the deceased. The enormous nightmares began to approach.

The emperor also headed towards them.

When he was close, one of the creatures struck down in anger. But Safwane jumped in time, began to run for his arm.

The other nightmare attacked him, the emperor stuck his katana in the creature's palm and changed arms.

After changing, he quickly went to the elbow and cut it hard. The creature shook and with his other arm he directed his sharp claws.

Safwane blocked them with the sheath.

But there were two of them, the other creature with its claws launched an attack towards him. The young man tried to block it with his katana, but it was too late.

Safwane was sent flying, crashing into the highway guardrail.

His side had been deeply torn by the attack, which he was barely able to avoid.

The young man lay on the ground, sitting. Lost in his consciousness.

'Why are you trying to protect others?' a cold voice said in his mind.

Safwane found himself descending into a dark ocean. Endless.

'You could have ended all nightmares if you didn't try to protect that young man.' that voice repeated.

'You are the strongest. Others shouldn't worry you, they are not your obligation.' it added.

The young man just descended into that endless ocean without being able to give a clear answer.

'The truly strong are those who protect others...' another voice said, but this one was warm.

The emperor didn't know what to do, both thoughts represented how he felt at that moment.

One what he wanted and the other his promise.

Safwane began to blink slowly, coming back to reality.

The creatures were heading towards him, drooling in victory. He stood up, still having enough energy left.

On the other hand, Arthur was connecting some cables.

"Come on... it works." he stammered nervously.

"Arthur, hurry up." said a man, watching the surroundings.

'I'm trying, damn it!' the young man thought angrily.

The sound of what sounded like an engine broke the silent chaos.

'Yes!' he thought happily.

Safwane was going to begin the second part of his battle. This time it seemed to be the final one.

The huge creatures headed towards him. But before the young man did the same, a strange beeping interrupted him.

When he looked to the side he saw Arthur with a few citizens in a strange vehicle.

He didn't know what it was, but it was better than fighting nightmares.

The emperor ran towards the vehicle, as it picked up speed.

"I don't think we'll all fit in here, Arthur..." said a burly man.

"Get out then!" said Arthur angrily.

The man opened his eyes sadly.

However, Safwane did not enter the vehicle, but instead stood on the hood of the car.

Arthur wasting no time accelerated quickly. The emperor stuck his sheath into the roof of the vehicle to hold on.

Meanwhile, the nightmares began to attack the vehicle, trying to stop it from escaping.

Safwane cut through them to clear a path.

"How long until we get there!?" asked Safwane.

"At this rate, about thirty minutes!" answered Arthur, running over a few creatures.

"What's minutes?"

"..."

'It doesn't matter... This thing is moving away from the creatures quickly, I hope nothing happens.'