Aftermath of Blood
Evryn stood over the lifeless man's body, his sword dripping with blood.
Mira was still on the ground, barely clinging to consciousness, while the little girl clutched her, horrified by the violence that had unfolded.
Evryn turned his head toward them, his eyes scanning to see if they were alright.
The little girl, frightened, saw him glance in their direction. Her fear intensified—she thought he would come to finish them off.
Evryn began moving toward them, his sword dragging across the floor with each step. No words, only his heavy breathing.
"Stay away!" The little girl cried out, her voice trembling.
Evryn froze. His gaze didn't waver, but he said nothing.
Clink. Clink. Clink.
The sound of armor shifted nearby.
Clink. Clink. Clink.
Evryn turned toward the noise.
Emerging from the flames, the man from earlier appeared, his great sword in hand, his glowing red eye shining from his skull-like visor.
The man paused, taking in the bodies scattered around him. His gaze shifted to Mira and the little girl, then finally rested on Evryn.
"You need to be put down."
Evryn's lips curled into a snarl. Without hesitation, he dashed forward, fury driving his every step.
He swung his sword with brutal force, but the man blocked it effortlessly, his own strike swift and precise.
Evryn immediately jumped back, his movements like a blur, circling the man, dragging the sword along the ground, seeking an opening.
The man stood his ground, his grip firm on his great sword.
Schling!
The clash of swords reverberated with each strike, metal grinding against metal, the sound sharp and constant.
The man's focus was unwavering. He had fought—and killed—countless opponents over the years. This was just another battle. Another fight.
Evryn, unrelenting, leaped into the air, aiming to strike from above. But the man anticipated it, lifting his sword and swinging it upward with brutal force.
Evryn grunted as the blow struck, but he spun mid-air, performing a backflip and landing lightly on his feet. Without hesitation, he surged forward, charging at the man once again.
"Aahhh!" Evryn screamed, his eyes glowing bright with the cosmic purple of the galaxy. Electric purple sparks snapped along the hilt of his sword as his grip tightened, the energy surging through him.
He held the sword back, preparing to strike as he leapt into the air, aiming to slash the man.
The man lifted his great sword, ready to block.
Schling!
Evryn's sword struck the bottom of the man's blade near the hilt, catching the man slightly off guard.
In that instant, purple energy flared in Evryn's right hand. Without warning, he thrust it down toward the man.
Boom!
A pulse of energy exploded, sending a shockwave that rocked the area. The man stumbled, his helmet rattling from the blast, but he remained upright. If he hadn't thrown Evryn behind him, the blast could've damaged his helmet.
Evryn rolled across the ground but quickly regained his footing, dashing toward the man once again.
Blood streamed down his forehead from the earlier strike, mixing with the grime and dirt on his face. His body was covered in blaster wounds, the blood staining his skin, yet he felt none of it. His body screamed in agony, but it didn't matter.
With a roar, Evryn swung his sword back, ready to strike again. Purple energy sparked from his hand, and soon his blade glowed with that same cosmic hue.
Schling!
The man blocked the blow, but the sheer force of Evryn's strike pushed him back, his feet digging into the ground for purchase. Evryn wasn't stopping.
The fight continued, their blades clashing relentlessly. Soon, their swords locked, and Evryn's bloodied body pressed against the man's, The man guarded not letting Evryn win over.
The man noticed the blood leaking from Evryn's nose, his eyes, and the blood he coughed up with every labored breath. His opponent was a wreck—but there was something different now.
Earlier, Evryn fought like a man with no power—just an ordinary person facing impossible odds. But now, something had changed. Something had awakened in him. A force he couldn't quite understand, but a power that surged through him, refusing to be contained.
Evryn broke the man's guard with a roar, swinging his sword down at him. But the man, growing tired of the drawn-out fight, swiftly pulled a blaster from his holster, tucked beneath his cape.
Chew! Chew!
Two shots rang out, one striking Evryn on the left thigh, the other grazing his stomach near his side.
Pain exploded through Evryn's body—his muscles screamed in protest, and blood surged from the wounds. He coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth, and his organs felt like they were on the verge of failing him. Yet still, he didn't let go of the sword. He dropped to his knees, holding the blade barely in his trembling hands, still intent on striking once more.
No ordinary person, in this condition, would still be alive. Yet somehow, Evryn was.
With a sneer, the man kicked Evryn across the head with brutal force. The impact sent him crashing to the ground, his body collapsing in a heap.
Evryn's mind became a blur. His vision darkened and his consciousness slipped away.
Amid the crackling fire, the mysterious old man watched from the distance. A smile crept onto his face as he turned and walked away, disappearing into the flames.
The man stood over Evryn for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he sheathed his sword behind his cape, hidden once again.
The little girl, frozen in shock at the carnage, looked from Evryn to the man, her heart racing. She could barely process what had just happened, but one thing was clear—this was a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.
The man walked away, his heavy footsteps fading into the firestorm.
Next to her, Mira still clung to life, though her strength was rapidly fading. The little girl didn't cry. She couldn't. Not yet. Her mind was numb, unable to grasp the full weight of the horror she had just witnessed.
"Someone help us! She's dying, please!"
Her voice echoed in the silence, but no one answered.
"Please, someone help us!" she cried again, her voice cracking with fear.
"We'll help you."
The little girl's eyes lit up with hope, only to be met with the terror of what appeared next.
It was the raiders—the very ones responsible for this bloodshed.
"Stay away!" she screamed, her body trembling in fear.
"I don't—"
Chew! Chew!
The sound of two shots rang through the air, and two men fell to the ground, their lives extinguished in an instant.
Cyrus stood, his two guns smoking as he coolly blew the barrel of one of them. "Too easy." He lowered his guns, his gaze falling on the wreckage that surrounded the girl.
"What the hell happened here…"