The Beast

The monstrous figure loomed in the street before them, its form casting a shadow over the ruined square. Viole's heart pounded in his chest as his breath hitched. The creature was unlike anything he had ever seen—a twisted amalgamation of bone, sinew, and shadow. Its eyes, glowing with a deep crimson hue, burned with a hunger that sent chills down his spine.

The ground shook with every step it took, the air around it thick with an oppressive force. A low growl reverberated from its throat, an eerie sound that seemed to crawl under Viole's skin. His fingers tightened around the broken sword, its jagged edges biting into his palm, but the weight of his weapon felt negligible compared to the power that surged through the air.

Ha-eun stepped forward, her expression unyielding. She brandished her blade, her eyes steely with determination. "We've faced worse," she said, but even her voice betrayed a hint of uncertainty.

Viole didn't respond. He couldn't. The creature before them wasn't just a mindless monster—it was something more. It felt... familiar. The Hunger stirred within him, whispering like a forgotten memory trying to resurface. The creature's presence was like a beacon to it, a pull that gnawed at his resolve.

Azael remained still, their cloak billowing gently around them as they observed the creature with a calculating gaze. "It's not just a vampire," they said softly. "It's the source. The one who awakened the Hunger inside you."

Viole's heart skipped a beat. The source—the one responsible for everything. The one who had caused all of this. The creature before him wasn't merely a harbinger of destruction—it was the root of the curse that had slowly consumed him from the inside out.

The beast snarled, its voice guttural and distorted. "You carry it within you, don't you? The Hunger," it hissed, its red eyes gleaming with malice. "It was always meant for you, Viole. You can feel it, can't you? It is your destiny."

Viole froze. The voice was deep, resonant with a power he could feel in his bones. It was the same voice that had whispered to him in the dark corners of his mind, urging him to give in to the darkness. It was the source of his torment—the very thing that had haunted him for as long as he could remember.

"No," Viole said, his voice rough. He shook his head, refusing to accept what the creature was suggesting. "I will not become like you."

The creature's laughter echoed through the streets, a low, sinister sound that seemed to vibrate the very air around them. "You're already becoming like me, little by little. You will give in. It's inevitable. The Hunger calls to you. It always has."

Viole gritted his teeth, stepping forward, his broken sword raised in defiance. "I'll stop you. I'll kill you, and I'll end this curse."

The creature's eyes narrowed, its lips curling into a cruel smile. "You cannot kill what is inside you. You cannot destroy the Hunger. All you can do is embrace it. Join me, and together we will burn this world to ash."

Viole's grip tightened on the jagged blade, but doubt crept into his mind. What if the creature was right? What if there was no way to escape it?

Azael's voice cut through his thoughts, steady and firm. "Viole. Do not listen to it. It seeks to control you. Remember, you are not alone in this. We will face it together."

Ha-eun stepped up beside him, her sword gleaming in the moonlight. "We're with you. Don't let it twist your mind."

The creature let out a low growl of frustration. "How amusing. You believe they can save you?" It lunged forward with terrifying speed, its massive claws outstretched, aiming for Viole.

In that instant, everything slowed. Viole's heart thudded in his chest as his instincts kicked in. The Hunger inside him surged, a raw, powerful force that threatened to drown him. His vision darkened at the edges, and the world around him blurred. He could feel the beast's power—the strength, the hunger—coursing through his veins. But this time, something was different.

He fought back.

With a roar, Viole swung his broken sword upward, his movements fueled by the sudden surge of power coursing through him. The jagged edge of the blade struck the creature's arm, the impact sending a shockwave through the air. The creature hissed in pain, its clawed hand retreating.

Ha-eun was already in motion, her sword cutting through the air in a blinding arc. She moved with the precision of a seasoned warrior, slashing across the creature's side, sending a spray of dark, ichor-like blood splattering across the stone.

Azael raised a hand, and the ground beneath the beast cracked open. Silver light burst from their palm, enveloping the creature in a searing glow. The beast howled in agony as the light scorched its flesh, but it did not retreat. It only grew more enraged.

Viole felt the Hunger inside him push harder, urging him to give in, to let it take control. The creature before him was the source of his torment, the thing that had festered within him for so long. It called to him, promised him power, promised him strength. But Viole clenched his fists tighter, determined not to let it win.

He would not be its vessel.

The creature snarled, shaking off the silver light, its body healing unnaturally fast. "You cannot escape your fate, Viole. It is already written."

"No," Viole spat, his eyes burning with defiance. "My fate is mine to choose."

With a ferocious roar, Viole pushed forward, his broken sword raised high. His movements were faster now, more fluid, as if the Hunger was trying to help him—empowering him. But Viole refused to yield. He would not let it control him, not now, not ever.

The beast lunged again, its claws slashing through the air, but Viole was ready. With a swift, calculated move, he dodged to the side, spinning to land a brutal strike to the creature's chest. His sword sank deep into its flesh, and the beast let out a guttural scream.

But even as the creature stumbled back, blood pouring from the wound, Viole could feel it—the Hunger inside him, growing more insistent, more ravenous.

He had to end this.

With a final, desperate effort, Viole drove the jagged blade deeper into the creature's heart. It howled in pain, its body writhing in agony as it began to collapse, its form disintegrating into ash before Viole's eyes.

The creature was dead.

But the Hunger inside Viole remained, pulsing, relentless.

The silence that followed was deafening. Viole stood over the ashes of the beast, his breath heavy, his body trembling with the aftershocks of the battle. The Hunger inside him hadn't gone away. It was still there, gnawing at him, waiting for the next opportunity to strike.

Azael stepped forward, their voice low and contemplative. "The battle is won, but the war is far from over, Viole."

Viole nodded, his jaw clenched. The fight had only just begun.