Seeing it shook them all.
The moment that pale, humanoid form stepped from the shadows and into view, terror clenched their hearts like a vice. Breaths hitched. Knees trembled. The air, thick with dread, pressed down with the force of a thousand curses.
Even Ran, who had never encountered anything like this in his short life, instinctively understood one thing—this was not a beast, not a man, not a sorcerer. It was something else. A being radiating magic power so vast, so unnatural, that even the earth beneath its feet seemed to recoil.
It wasn't just powerful. It was incomprehensible.
'Comparable to the Patriarch of Bloodrune...'
That thought ran cold down his spine. And if he was thinking that, then what of the others?
Ran turned quickly.
Some of the more seasoned mercenaries, men who had fought demons, warlords, and monsters—were vomiting. Their faces were pale. Their hands trembled, weapons slipping from weakened fingers. It wasn't the stench of rot or blood. This thing's mere presence was breaking them.
And its smile...
The creature stood there with a wide smile like a maniac, stretching its face into something not entirely human. Eyes empty, cold, piercing into the soul. Just looking into them made your skin crawl. Ran had to force himself not to avert his gaze, even as every instinct screamed to run.
But Geld was the first to move.
As the leader of this mercenary band, it was his duty to strike first—to set the tone, to give courage. Without a word, he pulled out his massive war axe, its blade gleaming in the dull light, and launched himself forward with a roar.
The axe crashed against the thing's face, bone crunching beneath steel.
But the creature didn't move.
It just kept smiling.
The sight made Geld recoil slightly. His lips trembled.
"What the hell's so funny…?" he muttered.
No answer came.
Kelt, ever loyal and impulsive brother, charged in from the side. His sword gleamed with enchantments as he unleashed a wide horizontal slash. The blade met flesh and passed clean through.
The thing was cut in half.
Everyone froze.
"Is… is it over?"
"That… that thing was terrifying... but it's done now, right?"
"That smile… what was that smile?"
Ran, however, remained tense. He didn't speak. Something deep inside him told him the fight was not over.
And then—
"L-Look! It—it got up!"
One of the mercenaries screamed, voice cracking.
All heads turned.
Indeed… the lower half of the thing was rising. Legs stood upright without a torso, swaying unnaturally. And from the ground, the upper half crawled toward it, dragging itself on its hands, using them like grotesque legs. It approached its lower body, grinning all the while.
Ran's stomach churned.
Muscle and sinew began to reattach. Tissues writhed. Bowels crawled into place as the upper and lower halves joined in a sick display of unnatural regeneration.
"How the hell is that even possible?!"
Kelt gasped, backing away.
"Keep your formation."
The men snapped into position, forming a protective perimeter around their leaders.
"Resonance! Now!"
'Resonance? What?'
Ran blinked in confusion.
A chant rose among the mercenaries. Words of old magic filled the air, ancient syllables rippling across the clearing. Blue light engulfed both Geld and Kelt, washing over them like a holy tide.
Ran watched in awe. Resonance, a rare group spell. He'd heard of it but never seen it. It was incredible.
Buffed and empowered, Kelt moved first.
With a roar, he leapt forward and slashed vertically, splitting the creature from shoulder to hip.
Geld followed, swinging his axe with all his might, the enchanted blade glowing as it made contact. The blow was so immense, so fueled by the spell's power, that it obliterated a large section of the surrounding forest. Trees splintered. Earth cracked.
And the creature was reduced to bits.
Chunks of meat scattered the ground. Gore soaked the grass. It was disgusting—too much even for the seasoned warriors.
Several men dry-heaved. Some turned away.
Ran stood still. This isn't done. He could feel it. Something was still very wrong.
The quiet that followed wasn't relief. It was tension.
And then—
A single hand, twitching amid the carnage, moved. Before anyone could react, it leapt, grabbing a nearby mercenary by the ankle.
"H-Hey! What the fuck????? NO! HELP ME—"
But it was too late. The hand tightened. With a sickening snap, the man's neck twisted violently.
And there it was again.
The creature.
The pale humanoid.
Fully formed, standing amidst the remains of its own body as if rebirth was a casual process. Still smiling.
"Shit, if this goes on, we'll all be dead. Retreat!"
Kelt shouted immediately.
"Everyone! FALL BACK! MOVE!"
Weapons were sheathed. No hesitation now. The mercenaries turned and ran. They weren't fools.
Even Ran, breath ragged, was thankful. He will always remember this day as worst mistake of his life.
As they ran, branches snapping underfoot, hearts pounding in their ears, the thing watched them go.
"Void Magic: Absolute Stillness."
Its voice was smooth, eerie, echoing as though it came from a cavern of nightmares.
And the world stopped.
Time itself seemed to fold inward. Sound vanished. Movement ceased.
Not even a bird's chirp. Not a gust of wind.
Everyone stood frozen but conscious. They couldn't move. Couldn't blink. Couldn't scream. They were trapped in their own minds, screaming silently into an empty world.
The creature walked forward, its footsteps making no sound. It stood before the paralyzed group, smiling.
"Humans… now… it's my turn."