The party I was with started walking towards the battlefield, a S class monster, the Shining Dulhan, stood in a field not too far from us. It's large axe pommel nestled between its palms as the axe blade rest in the dirt. The Bloodied armor of the Dulhan shone brightly under the bright days sun, the winds carrying that coppery smell with every slight breeze. The armor clinking with every little movement. The blue flames that erupted from the monster's neck spilling unto his armor like waves softly sizzling. In his main hand sat a bright orange pumpkin, its evil smile carved deeply into the front of it. Blood dripping from each cut as if tears flowing from its eyes. The glare from the pumpkin landed on the man knelt before the Dulhan. His sword plunged into the dirt before it's feet. The man panting glared back at the creature, his hands wrapped fiercely around the hilt of his weapon. As we approached, we could see the man start to move, his hands twisting around the hilt of his sword as he pushed of the ground with his foot. His sword arched upwards towards the Dulhan. I swear the pumpkin had smiled wider as he noticed the warrior's movements, with speed unable to see humanly. His axe pommel met the swords blade with a loud clang, throwing the warrior backwards into a roll. The Dulhan had hardly budged as the swordsman stood and took his charge. The steel flashed in the days sun as it collided with the axe. Sparks showered the ground with each clash, the swordsmen desperately attempting to push his footing forward. The battle was no longer warriors testing each other, but a desperate all-out life and death fight. The man pushed of his back foot and shot forward; his sword leveled in front of him as he charged. In one elegant movement the Dulhan sidestepped and raised his mighty axe. I managed to make it just in time to raise my shield under the unheavenly weight of the creature's blow.
"About time you get here Little John." The worn-out swordsman muttered as he rebalanced himself.
"Shut it Oscar, you were told to wait!" I growled pushing back against the Dulhan's strength.
Oscar let out a stifled laugh as he prepared himself for another round. The Dulhan seemed entertained by the notion of me getting involved, dropping his axe and placing both hands on his pumpkin head. An absolutely horrendous laugh began to echo around us. The sound was as if a million glass panes were shattering at once. The Dulhan raised his head to its flaming neck, which immediately started glowing a dark golden red, lines of golden energy circled the Dulhan as his head reattached itself to his body. The flames began to cover him as he grabbed again for his axe, that horrible laugh continuing before utter silence. The Dulhan slowly turned its gaze upon me, His head no longer resembling that of a pumpkin but of a rotted corpse. His cold ice blue eyes locked on me. a twisted bloodied grin appeared on his face as he raised a boney finger towards me.
"Irregular, you will fall here today, and I will absorb your essence. I must regain my position for my people." His voice sounded so pained as he uttered each word. His eyes burning their glare into me.
"Never been called out by a monster before." I said with a nervous chuckle.
Raina, the timid little healer that followed Oscar around whimpered as she tried to get near Oscar to give him buffs and heals.
"Little John, you got him for a bit?" Oscar called out laughing as Raina cast her buffs.
"Fuck you, Oscar!" I growled drawing my blade.
The Dulhan's raspy laugh filled the air again.
"I think you might have a problem young one." He cackled amused.
"Nothing new there, squash boy." I responded bracing myself.
The Dulhan wasted no time, the moment I was readied, he was in motion. That heavy axe raining down upon my shield, each hit was a miniature disaster in force. I could feel the metal of my shield starting to buckle under the weight of each hit. I rolled to the left and swung at the axe, knocking it from mid-swing and into the dirt. The motion threw the Dulhan off his balance, giving me an opportunity to kick his strong leg out from under him. He tumbled into a pile of rotting flesh and rusted armor.
"Anytime Oscar!" I yelled behind me as I waited for the next onslaught.
"Oh, I'm right behind you buddy." Oscar's voice came from right behind me.
Cold, then hot. hotter than a fire. I felt something warm dripping down my back. Pain shot through every fiber of my being. It was as if a bolt of lightning hit me. I fell to one knee, Oscar stepping towards the front of me.
"Jeeze John, it's really got to be the shock to be betrayed like this. You honestly should of seen it coming smart guy!" Oscar grunted as he kicked me in the face.
I turned my head to see Raina with this sick look of amusement and excitement on her face, pleasure of the macabre, her fingers lingering on her lips as she watched Oscar stab me again and again. My blood soaking the ground, Oscar was monologuing, something about how he should have been chosen. My attention was no longer on him, a faint smile appearing on my face.
"Raina he must have lost his mind!" Oscar busted into laughter.
Raina said nothing, as she had also noticed what was now standing behind Oscar. My laughter mixed with gurgles of bloodied spit filled the air.
"Oh Dulhan, how right you were, what a problem I had, if only I had known it wasn't you." I sputtered as I watched the Dulhan bring the axe down on Oscar's shoulder. His screams echoed. Raina started to panic, running up to me, desperately trying to heal me, to get me back on my feet to fight in her place. I laughed, the effort was too late, the die had been cast.
"You overplayed your hand Raina, it's too late." I chuckled pushing her healing hands away.
She slapped me and spit in my face
"Fuck you!! Get up! Fight!!" She screamed as she hit me.
I laughed, her desperation brought me joy, as I watched the Dulhan grab Oscar's now limp body from his axe head, tossing him aside as if he was weightless. He didn't move, didn't even whimper one last defiant whimper. I smiled, how fitting for such a coward. Always hiding in the back, waiting for me to slip up and plunge that blade into my back. How fitting you go before me, you fool. I Thought as I watched the Dulhan turn towards Raina and myself. His eyes seemed sad, like he regrets the sight before him, Pity, that's what it was. My thoughts kept taking over, each step seemed like a mourning march from him. Raina was hitting me still, but I couldn't hear her, I couldn't feel her. the world seemed to slow to the Dulhan's footsteps. each one with remorseful dedication. Methodically, he struck fear into the very soul of Riana, her snotty face pressed up against mine in the last-ditch begging attempt she could have. I looked at her tear filled, red rimmed eyes. The hopeless pleading making me smile one last time.
"You get what you deserve Raina; he's totally devoted to you now." I muttered coughing blood.
She glared at me, hatred filling her eyes. Her hand raised to strike me, but the blow never came. Blood shot from the wound that was once her hand. Behind her stood the Dulhan. His burning eyes fixated on her. His arm reached out and grabbed the top of her head, lifting her off the ground. She began kicking and screaming furiously. Her feet banging against his armored shins, her fist pounding on his chest like a drum. He looked over at me briefly, with sadness in his eyes, then with renewed focus he turned his attention to her.
"Child the sin you have committed can and will not be forgiven. Before you stands the Betrayed Baron of Elesia, cut down by my own retainer in this very spot. Your blood shall be what frees me." He growled as he crushed her skull.
She went with a tiny whimper and a small thud as her body hit the ground in front me.
"Young man, your vengeance has been had, that desire you had, there will be a price for it. You will take my place, trapped here for eternity till the blood debt is paid." The Dulhan said kneeling next to me
He placed his cold hands on my shoulders, my skin tingling as if electricity was flowing through it. My body started to shrink, or the world grew. I heard my armor clink to the ground. suddenly I was facing the sky. Deep beautiful stars hidden behind some tree leaves. the world was silent.