Ep. 16 Into Fire Pt2

I stepped backward, eyes narrowed, watching the creatures advance. My sword was gripped firmly in my hand, its blade gleaming in the molten light as I braced myself for what was to come. "Under the Counsel's decree," I shouted, hoping my voice might carry some weight, "all who impede the work of a librarian shall be terminated!"

The creatures paused, exchanging glances with each other. Their eyes, hollow pools of flickering lava, seemed to communicate in some unspoken language—a quiet, gurgling sound emanating from their throats.

I tightened my stance, preparing for the worst. But then, I saw it—the subtle shift of movement. They were closing in on me. At first, I hadn't noticed, but now, as they crept closer, I saw the faint scrapes they left on the scorched earth beneath them. They were advancing slowly, methodically, moving as one.

I wasted no time. With a swift, practiced motion, I swung my blade at the closest creature, aiming for its arm. The sword connected, slicing through the beast's molten form, sending shards of burning magma scattering into the air like falling stars. The creature stood its ground, unfazed, even as its severed arm fell slowly to the ground, the molten rock dripping from the stump.

Before I could even assess my next move, one of the creatures lunged at me from behind. Its fingers, molten and burning, seized my cloak, igniting it instantly. The flames spread quickly, but my reaction was faster. Without thinking, I thrust my sword backward, the blade piercing the creature's molten flesh with a sickening hiss. It passed through its body with ease, emerging from the other side, a steaming hole where my blade had punctured.

I stood close to the creature as I pulled the sword free. It let out a low, gurgling noise, the sound unnerving in the quiet chaos of battle. But despite the damage I had inflicted, the creature didn't stop. It continued to thrash, its remaining arm flailing toward me. Molten drops fell from its body, sizzling against my skin with agonizing pain. The heat was unbearable, each drop feeling like searing needles piercing my flesh.

I gritted my teeth, gathering what strength I had left. With a sharp, decisive swing, I severed the creature in two. Its body crumpled to the ground with a sickening splat, the molten rock spreading out in a pool of glowing orange.

But there was no time to celebrate. Another of the creatures was already charging toward me, its molten gaze fixed on my every movement. The creatures were relentless, their attacks unyielding. They didn't tire, didn't hesitate. Every strike they made was aimed to break me down, to wear me out.

I reached back, grabbing my cloak—the one still burning from the creature's attack—and swung it at the next beast that approached. The flames roared as the fabric slapped against its chest, causing it to stagger back. It was a brief respite, but it was enough. In that moment of imbalance, I stepped forward, my blade flashing through the air in a blur of silver. The creature's head fell from its body with a sickening thud, its lifeless form collapsing to the ground.

But no matter how many I struck down, more emerged. The ground trembled beneath me as more of the Burning Men rose from the earth, their molten forms emerging from cracks in the ground. Each new monster that appeared filled the space left by the one I had just defeated. I was trapped in an endless cycle, fighting not just for my survival, but for my sanity.

I needed a miracle.

The creatures grew closer, their eyes burning with rage, their movements closing in like a tightening noose. I could feel the weight of fear rising in my chest, my breath quickening as panic threatened to overtake me. My sword felt heavier with each passing second, the constant battle taking its toll.

Then, out of nowhere, the sound of buzzing broke through the chaos. It was the kind of buzz you'd expect from a fly, constantly circling too close to your ear. But this wasn't the sound of any insect. It was something far more menacing.

Over the horizon, I saw it.

At first, I couldn't even comprehend what I was looking at. The creature was unlike anything I had ever seen, its body shaped like a pill, perhaps ten or fifteen feet in length. Four long, spindly legs hung beneath it, each leg oddly resembling a human's, with knees and toes—but far too long and thin to be anything human. They dangled just inches above the ground, the legs twisting with an unnatural grace.

Its face—or what could be considered a face—was even stranger. It had no clear distinction between head and body. The form simply morphed into itself, its features shifting as if there was no need for a neck. Its mouth hung wide open, displaying rows of jagged, crooked teeth. A long black tongue slithered from its mouth, dripping with some dark, viscous substance.

But what truly made my blood run cold were its eyes. They weren't eyes as I knew them. Towering above the creature's body were two massive, twisted ocular organs. They resembled pipes—straight at first, but then twisting and splitting like the rings of a tree, forming one massive spiral for each eye. Each eye had a single, silver pupil that moved erratically, tracking everything in its line of sight, while the wings that were clearly to small for its form hummed frantically to keep its large body up

At the sight of this creature, the Burning Men scattered in every direction. They fled from the horror before them, their movements frenzied, like prey realizing it had made a grave mistake.

And as I watched them retreat in terror, something inside me snapped into action. My body, instinctively recognizing the gravity of the situation, began to move as well. I turned, my feet propelling me forward as I followed the retreating Burning Men. There was no time to think. Only the desperate need to survive. The creature before me—this abomination—was far more terrifying than the infernal beasts I had been fighting.

For once, I wasn't fighting alone. The Burning Men, in their fear, had become my allies, unwitting though they may be.