"We fight." He said softly, eyes piercing daggers towards the dust lingering over the street as a silhouette began to form in its shadow...
..."We survive."
As the dust warped around the distant figure, its shape gradually started to cut against the smog. Its eyes glistened a demonic red, appearing almost fragmented like that of shattered glass. Thick divots and creases weaved down its face into an almost spiralis pattern that crept to the end of its snout.
In appearance, it almost looked like a wolf, only bigger and without any fur to coat its surface. It had no visible line to separate between its body and head, and a smooth mass of flesh and skin protruded out from its skull, lining against its back with an almost wave-like form.
Even from a distance, Nyx could practically feel its bloodlust — its breath so heavy the air in its path swept into a vortex with every exhale.
Against the thick dust, it almost appeared like something out of legend and myth. Otherworldly, to the extent he could hardly believe his own eyes.
"Phantom Thane-!" Nyx exclaimed, spear forwardly protruding out from his hands, snapping forward almost like a drawn breath.
"Be careful," his voice rumbled low just as the beast started to move. It lunged towards them, almost as fast as a leopard though with the control of a crippled mouse. It didn't dodge the debris or even attempt moving in a straight line, rather opting to slam through everything in its path with its sheer speed alone.
Its side rammed into the houses corralling them in, the sound of its beating paws slapping against the ground like that of clicking hooves, not far from minor explosions that only got louder and louder with its approach.
Thane buckled his arm down, leaping in front of the cadets and twisting his sword as it scraped against the creatures maw, shoving it back with ruthless precision.
Nyx tried to rush forward and help, though one look at Thane's blade immediately stopped him in his tracks, a thick shiver running up his spine.
'The sword...' he thought, eyes looming over the jagged metal gripped into Thane's hand, 'The Terror abraded the sword just with its teeth!?'
A sudden shadow from overhead was quick to draw his attention. His head swiveled just in time to see the beasts gaping maw from overhead, teeth barely a hair's breadth away from piercing into his eye socket.
Instinct overrode thought, quickly churning his spear and shoving the long wooden handle down its throat. He tugged at its tip, wrenching the pole to its side as the beast flung back in minor agony.
Nyx gave a swift glance to the handle — eyes wide in shock as he peered over the damage.
He had already known the handle wouldn't fair well, but the entire lower half was only composed of splinters and shattered bits of wood. A notable crack snaked its way up the shaft, and nearly threatened to split the weapon in two if it weren't for the iron head at the top.
Thane ran over, placing himself before Nyx as he spoke; "Bad news."
Before he could even finish his sentence, a silhouette glid from the distant shadows, pouncing at him with demonic precision. He didn't waste any time, sacrificing what remained of his blade to sever the muscles in its mouth, ripping its lower jaw entirely from its being as harsh flame and steam billowed from the wound.
It didn't take long for Nyx to realize what the problem was... that wasn't the same Terror.
He was so lost in concern he failed to notice another leap from his side, head sure to have been devoured completely if it weren't for one of the cadets jutting his blade into the creatures flesh.
It was something out of a nightmare... there wasn't just one of them. There was countless.
The distance was now plagued with them, leaping and climbing over the ruins of the city as if it was their domain. Their kingdom. An eldritch being — one comprised of hanging tentacles and slithering tendrils — floated in the skies above, pale-white skin nearly blending with the clouds held in the night's palm.
Not much time could be dwelt on it, however. The creature Nyx had flung back had already repositioned itself, glaring down towards them from atop a small boulder. Still visible were the chips of wood locked in its mouth, small traces of blood leaking from within as it evaporated into steam.
Oddly enough, it wasn't attacking. Instead, it seemed to be waiting for an opportunity.
Thane, all whilst Nyx was still gleaning at the distant Terrors, had already managed to kill the one he'd been fighting, though several more already started to emerge from the darkness. Even the other cadets, still pushed to the edge of the cliff, were forced to fight multiple at once.
He knew he had to help them.
With a swift jump, he towered the spear over his own head, sliding its tip deep within one of the creature's backsides as it roared in pain. It sounded akin to that of nails against a chalkboard — like the final screams of a dying child, though the beast was still far from its door.
The other cadets joined in, trying their best to coordinate their attacks between each other, only for not much to come of it.
Nyx couldn't even tell at first, the only indication that something had happened being the screeching scream to his left. It almost made him almost want to throw up once he saw it...
...One of the cadet's arms had been torn off.
Her screams were violent, just as her tears were heavy. She couldn't even bear to stand, the beast before her swallowing the limb with just a single gulp, traces of her blood leaking from its loose mouth. She tried to crawl away, completely helpless, reaching out with her only remaining hand towards those who still fought.
In the end, however, nobody could make it in time.
Her final words resonated into Nyx's ears like an echo that refused to fade; "Please... help me...."
It didn't take long after for the beast to finally finish the job. Its claws tore into her skin, body turning to nothing but a pile of flesh and pulp as blood splattered out like a fountain of paint.
It lowered its jaws once her body was already torn to shreds, lifting her lifeless head by her long, battered black hair. It was already severed from the rest of her corpse, though a few trails of intestines and loose skin followed it up on its ascent.
It lined her face on its side within its jaws, eyes peering towards them as if a cry for help from beyond the grave. Slowly, it started to crush, skin tearing as its teeth ripped into her cheek, so much pressure that her eye popped from her socket.
And soon after... her entire skull was quick to collapse.
Perhaps it was out of rage, or perhaps out of a lingering sense of guilt or revenge, one of the other cadets let out a guttural cry before charging the still-devouring beast, playing with her corpse like it was nothing but scraps of food.
He raised his blade, ready to strike, close enough to do so, before another wolf leaped and tore against his neck, done with such speed that both the boy and Terror alike spiraled off the cliff and into the endless pit below.
Nyx could feel his eyes start to tremble. The grip on his weapon ever-so-slightly started to loosen, what felt to be a tear beginning to form in his eye.
Until... he remembered something...
The wolf on the boulder...
Then, Nyx could hear a sudden noise directly from behind.
At first, it was the subtle sound of tumbling rocks. Following after was the ever so intensifying sound of rapid clamoring towards him. When he finally turned around, it was already too late.
His eyes widened as he tried to maneuver himself away, trying to thrust his spear upwards to block the attack. Unfortunately enough, he was far too slow and the Terror far too fast.
With a harrowing crunch, the beast seemingly ripped straight through Nyx's arm — the crack of his bones sounding out as he roared in pain.
More concerningly, the beast didn't stop. Arm still lodged within its teeth, it bolted through the city with terrifying speed — away from Thane and what remained of the other cadets as Nyx's blood slowly started to slither out from the wound.
'Am I going to die..?' he clenched his teeth, so strong he nearly chipped part of them off. 'I refuse to die here! I won't!'
With every bit of determination he could muster — every instinct and will to live, every last reserve of energy he had left — with all of his force he jolted the metal tip of the spear straight down the throat of the beast as blood and flame began to gush out from its now gaping wound in its side.
It groveled around, struggling to breathe as it attempted to lock its jaw against him. Much to his advantage, the tip had lodged itself and shattered the lower jaw, it swinging loosely as the Terror beat the back of Nyx against a series of walls in an attempt to shake him off.
Even though a spear was rammed through its lower skull and down part of its throat, it still continued to live.
After the initial attack, Nyx could feel his energy begin to fail him. He could barely grip the pole of the spear anymore — it being the only thing keeping him from getting gored by the Terrors claws.
Even after using every bit of power and strength he had, he was about to die.
It was only then did a blinding flash appear above him.
- | Extra information I can share thus far | -
Terrors are known to come in countless shapes and sizes, with each typically having their own unique attribute or ability. Despite this, it isn't uncommon to find Terrors that appear identical, known to humanity as a horde.
These distinct Terrors will hunt in their rough equivalent to a 'pack,' assuming their own unique appearance to label them as a group. If they look identical, they're in the same horde. That general appearance, from what has been determined, isn't used by any other Terror outside of that specific group, almost as if it becomes genetically and psychically 'locked' until the entire horde is defeated.
Usually, members of a horde have no special attribute of any form, though exceptions have been found, and more research is required to further determine their true nature.