Monsters are everywhere

Today marked the day the army marched toward the Valley of Sundial, the site of an impending battle. King Ives Josephus's soldiers prepared to defend against the relentless forces of Emperor Eric Von Proalre. Advancing from the North, the Proalre Empire's troops left a trail of burning villages in their wake. Their kingdom lay across the sea, and winter was their season for conquest. In the warmer Kingdom of Pentio, with its volcanic mountains in the Sundial Valleys, the battle would soon unfold.

The soldiers were ready to march toward the mountains.

"Father, write me back when..."

Hugo looked at his son with teary eyes. "I will, son."

The soldiers moved along a path carved through a remote village, as the families of the three men who chose to join them waved farewell, their eyes filled with tears.

Hugo spoke to his son, offering advice and reminding him to take care of himself.

He turned away, taking his place at the end of the march.

A voice called out from behind, "Stay safe, and don't forget to eat on time."

Hugo waved back.

As the soldiers marched through the forest with heavy steps, they stopped. The officer turned back, gave instructions, and formed a small party to head back toward the Sunny Hall.

One of the three men frowned and asked, "Is there something wrong, sir?"

The officer faced him and said, "Yes, if your village hadn't disobeyed, everything would have been fine."

Immediately, Hugo questioned, "What do you mean?"

The officer, his expression dark, spoke in a sinister tone, "You do not address an officer casually!"

Before Hugo could press further, smoke began rising from the canopy of the forest. Screams and cries echoed through the trees, all coming from the direction the soldiers had just marched from.

The Sunny Hall was burning.

Hugo screamed, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!"

He turned back and sprinted towards the village that had sheltered him all those years, but most importantly, towards his only son, Evans Smith.

The three men were also running—towards the village, their families, their friends—everyone was in danger.

The officer ordered the soldier to chase them down and stop them. The soldier sprinted towards the three men, capturing them one by one. But as they got closer to the blacksmith, they were tossed into the air like ragdolls. Hugo obliterated the squadron of soldiers, charging through the forest like a steam engine. None of the soldiers could stop him.

Amid the chaos, a young girl, no older than sixteen, seized her opportunity. While everyone focused on halting the rampaging blacksmith, she slipped away and disappeared into the depths of the forest.

The soldiers couldn't stop the blacksmith and turned to flee, but as one soldier tried to run away, tail between his legs, a spear struck him in the chest, pinning him to a tree. 

The scene was gruesome. The soldier, with a look of shock, turned his head toward the one who had thrown the spear. There was a man on a horse, his hand still outstretched—it was the officer. His own commander had struck him down.

The rest of the soldiers, witnessing such a bizarre escalation, halted their retreat and, with fear in their eyes, lunged at the lone blacksmith. But it was too late; the blacksmith had already vanished into the depths of the forest, his destination the Sunny Hall.

Hugo was praying in his heart, "Please, God, please... let Evans be safe, be safe, be safe."

Soon, smoldering smoke and rising soot filled Hugo's eyes. Houses were ablaze, and villagers fleeing toward the forest were mercilessly cut down by archers on horseback.

Hugo's eyes scanned the area, searching desperately for a young boy. He wasn't there, not among the bodies. Hugo took a shortcut to his house. Fortunately, the house was still intact.

Hugo stepped into the house, his voice echoing as he called out.

"Evans! EVANS! Where are you, son?"

The silence was deafening. The house was completely empty, void of any presence. Evans wasn't there.

Hugo stepped out of the house in search of Evans, but he was confronted by one of the archers who had just shot a child trying to hide. The sight brought back memories, and Hugo grabbed his hammer from the forge. 

It was time for some flesh welding.