Harbinger and Wladeírson (G)

Harbinger and Wladeírson (G)

Harbinger and Wladeírson ran in silence, advancing across the battlefield as the sounds of war echoed around them. Thanatos' deformed creatures kept appearing, but the two operated with lethal precision.

Harbinger vanished and reappeared within the shadows, striking with surgical speed. Every movement was calculated, every attack precise. His crimson blade sliced through the grotesque flesh of the creatures without hesitation.

Wladeírson, on the other hand, was pure ferocity. His metallic claws shredded anything that dared to come close, and his speed turned him into a silver blur amidst the chaos. He leaped from one enemy to another, using his own body as a weapon.

"These things just don't stop."

Wladeírson growled, wiping the remains of a creature from his claws.

Harbinger, still catching his breath, replied coldly.

"Because they're not made to stop."

Wladeírson let out a low grunt and kicked the corpse of one of the fallen creatures.

"And you? You're not the type to give one of those dark speeches about how this is a lost battle or something, are you?"

Harbinger stared at him for a moment, then turned his attention back to the enemies ahead.

"I don't waste words."

Wladeírson laughed.

"Well, at least you're not trying to sound like some apocalypse prophet. That's a relief."

Suddenly, a wave of creatures surged toward them. Harbinger reacted first, vanishing into the darkness and appearing behind the group, cutting down two before the rest even realized what was happening. Wladeírson used the moment to attack head-on, his claws slicing through the air with absurd speed.

They fought like perfectly synchronized predators. For every enemy they felled, more came. But neither hesitated.

Amidst the combat, Wladeírson shot a quick glance at Harbinger.

"Have you always been like this? Mysterious, dark, no patience for talking?"

Harbinger plunged his blade into a creature's skull and answered without emotion.

"I've always been efficient."

Wladeírson grinned, baring his teeth.

"Alright, alright… But you know what? I kinda like fighting alongside you."

Harbinger didn't respond, just continued his slaughter.

Wladeírson chuckled again.

"Yeah, man… I bet you're enjoying this too."

And for a brief moment, as the shadows moved around him, Harbinger almost smiled.

As the two kept fighting, Wladeírson took advantage of a brief pause to spin his claws, cleaning off the creatures' black blood. His gaze turned to Harbinger.

"Hey, man, tell me something… What made you become what you are now?"

Harbinger didn't answer immediately. His eyes drifted across the battlefield, lost in something that wasn't there. When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and laden with something Wladeírson couldn't quite identify.

"My family."

Wladeírson raised his metallic eyebrows. "Oh… So you were married?"

"Yes."

Silence followed, broken only by the distant roars of the creatures. Then, Wladeírson leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"And what happened?"

Harbinger clenched his fists, and the crimson blade in his hand seemed to vibrate slightly.

"They were murdered. My wife and daughter. I saw everything."

His tone was dry, devoid of apparent emotion, but Wladeírson sensed the weight in those words. He knew the pain of loss well, but never like this.

"Damn… And… What are you now? What have you become?"

Harbinger looked at Wladeírson, and even through the mask, through that black suit made of flesh, it was clear he didn't like the question. A more serious look… Clenched fists… Wladeírson instinctively took a step back, feeling a twinge of fear, until Harbinger finally responded.

"I am not… a corrupted creature. I have not been corrupted. I stand in the middle ground between pure and corrupted, just like Thanatos. I don't have a wholesome appearance because I need to instill fear, to impose, to kill…"

Wladeírson lowered his guard slightly. Harbinger hadn't attacked him. So the marsupial continued the conversation.

"Ah, I see… But, wait, how do you know he's half pure and half corrupted?"

"Well, like it or not, he's a demigod, right? The incarnation of death… He strayed a long time ago. Seeking power out of greed, he was banished. His role was to collect the souls of the corrupted, while angels collected the souls of the pure. But he stopped hunting the corrupted and decided to kill the pure instead. So the Sacred Knights, the Lotus Flower, were created to fight against him. And so, the duty of collecting the corrupted passed to the Harbingers of Death, what I am now."

Wladeírson murmured, crossing his arms.

"Well, s@#%… So that's why you're in this war, huh? Anyway. What's your name?"

"Gustavo. But don't tell the others, got it?"

"Then you need a nickname… Harbinger? Nah. Calling you that just because of your role is stupid. I'd call you… Corruption."

"Don't call me that s@#% name."

Harbinger turned his gaze forward again, and Wladeírson asked him.

"But… did you go after the ones who did it? The ones who killed your wife and daughter?"

"Yes."

Silence lingered for a few seconds.

"And?" Wladeírson insisted.

"I killed them all."

Wladeírson let out a whistle.

"That explains a lot."

Harbinger said nothing. He simply watched the horizon, where more creatures were beginning to approach.

Wladeírson scratched his chin.

"You know... I used to be someone else too."

Harbinger glanced at him.

"Before all of this, I was a scientist. Smart as hell, you know? Worked with bioengineering, robots, that kind of stuff."

"So how did you end up in this?"

Wladeírson let out a small, humorless laugh.

"Explosion. One of those big, cinematic ones. But instead of dying like a damn fool, I managed to transfer my consciousness into this body."

He spread his arms as if showing off.

"And little by little, I improved, upgraded. Became something... different."

Harbinger remained silent for a few moments before finally saying:

"You adapted."

"Yeah... You could say that."

They fell into silence again, but this time, it wasn't a heavy one. It was mutual understanding.

Wladeírson smiled.

"Well, now I get why you have that divine avenger vibe. And you know what? It actually makes sense."

Harbinger tightened his grip on his blade, the crimson glow in his eyes intensifying.

"I'm not a hero."

Wladeírson chuckled.

"Yeah, me neither."

The creatures charged again, and without another word, the two resumed fighting. But something had changed.

They were no longer just allies of convenience.

They understood each other.

The creatures advanced, their hollow eyes glowing with mindless fury. They had no strategy, only pure savagery. But that didn't make them any less dangerous.

Wladeírson flexed his muscles and cracked his neck.

"Let's wrap this up before more of these things show up."

Harbinger didn't respond, merely twirling his crimson blade and taking a combat stance. As the first monsters lunged at them, the battle resumed.

Wladeírson struck first. With an agile leap, he spun mid-air and plunged his metallic claws into a creature's skull. The sound of metal tearing through flesh and bone echoed across the battlefield. Without missing a beat, he kicked another in the chest, sending it crashing into a group of approaching enemies.

Harbinger, on the other hand, moved like a shadow. He didn't need brute force, his blade sliced through the air with lethal precision. With a swift strike, he beheaded one creature, and before its body could hit the ground, he was already stabbing another through the back. His movements were cold, without hesitation.

One of the larger creatures, with razor-sharp claws and twice the size of the others, leaped at Wladeírson. He barely had time to react before the beast slammed into him, knocking him to the ground with force.

"Son of a-"

He tried to get up, but the creature pressed its claws against his metallic chest, pinning him down.

Harbinger saw the scene and acted without hesitation. In a blur of movement, he slipped through the creature's shadow and appeared beside it, driving his blade directly into its neck. The monster grunted and tried to retaliate, but Harbinger twisted the sword, severing its throat in one swift motion. Black blood sprayed everywhere as the creature collapsed, lifeless.

Wladeírson got to his feet, dusting off his partly metallic body, which looked like armor.

"I owe you one, huh?"

Harbinger merely looked at him.

"You can handle more than that."

Before Wladeírson could reply, a sudden explosion of energy blasted them both off their feet. They hit the ground hard, and as they got up, they saw what had caused it.

A new creature had emerged onto the battlefield. Unlike the others, this one was taller, its body covered in a glossy black carapace, with pulsating red veins running all over. Its eyes were thin slits, and from its back, bony claws extended, ready to strike.

"You've got to be kidding me..."

Wladeírson muttered, clenching his fists. "This wasn't in the damn contract."

Harbinger simply twirled his blade, his eyes glowing even brighter.

"Finish this quickly."

The creature roared and lunged at them with absurd speed. Wladeírson barely had time to dodge as the beast launched one of its bony claws like a spear. He twisted to the side, but still felt the impact graze his metallic shoulder.

Harbinger was already in motion. He slipped through the shadows and appeared behind the creature, slashing at its side. The monster growled and spun, trying to hit him, but Harbinger vanished before the strike could land.

Wladeírson took advantage of the distraction and lunged forward. His claws gleamed as he plunged them both into the creature's chest, trying to tear it apart.

The creature roared and grabbed Wladeírson by the neck, lifting him into the air. Its eyes glowed a deep, sinister red, and a dark energy began to wrap around its body.

Wladeírson struggled, trying to break free, but he felt an overwhelming force draining his energy.

"Shit... this is getting ugly."

Before the creature could finish what it was doing, a black flash sliced through the air. Harbinger reappeared behind it, his blade already buried in the base of its skull.

"Let him go."

With a sharp pull, Harbinger severed the creature's head. It let out a final roar before dropping to its knees and collapsing. Wladeírson fell to the ground, coughing.

He looked up at Harbinger, still catching his breath.

"You could've done that earlier, you know?"

Harbinger simply wiped his blade against his arm and turned to face the remaining creatures still approaching.

"The fight isn't over yet."

Wladeírson let out a short laugh and stood up.

"Shit. Alright... Let's finish this."

The two prepared for another round of battle.