Echoes Of Darkness
This is a world where all humans are born with an innate life force "Aura". However, only some humans are able to control & focus it to achieve one of the unique elemental power which are naturally predetermined at birth.
{Year 1894 25th March}
{The Kingdom of Hinbha}
{The Border Town of Asahi}
The morning sun cast a warm glow over the bustling marketplace, people go about doing their work, playful children run across the market unaware of the impending darkness that lurked beyond the horizon.
{Frontier Town Soldier Barracks, Asahi}
"Einar!! Einar!! Where are you?," a young girl with beautiful blonde hair & blue eyes calls for her best friend"
"Hey Ruby, that idiot must have slipped out of the barracks to roam around in the city as usual. He will be back soon enough," a black haired guy of about the same age replies.
"Zeph, there you go again, you two are always pulling each others legs," says Ruby.
"Yo!! where are you guys going?," a emerald-eyed boy shouts as he runs towards them.
"Ruby was looking for you. What is in that?," Zeph asks pointing towards the bag which Einar was carrying.
"Oh this?, I went to fetch some chilled bear from the store. You know I feel very thirsty after using my powers," says Einar.
"Silly, You shouldn't bring that in the barracks, the captain will get mad at you," says Ruby.
BOOM!!!
A loud sound echoes around the town.
"What the hell was that?," shouts Einar.
Sirens began blaring in the Barracks!! All the soldiers scramble to pick their uniform and reach the training ground for briefing as per the Standard Operating Procedure.
The ground is full of recruits both new & experienced ones.
Captain Kai, a seasoned warrior, who is already at the ground shouts orders "Demonic incursion at the western gate, further details awaited. We don't have much time, Move!!".
They all rush towards the western gate.
"Damn demons again, they keep attacking us.
Everytime we kill so many of them, yet their numbers don't seem to decrease," says Einar.
"This time I will send them flying right back into the hole from which they crawl out of" says Zeph.
"Don't lose your calm guys," says Ruby.
"After training for so long, finally I will face some demons today," says Koji, his face filled with excitement and determination.
"Focus Koji, you are still one of the youngest recruits I have in my Squad," says Kai who overheard them.
"Captain!!," Everyone exclaim.
{Western Gate of Asahi}
As soon as they reach the western part of the town, they are greeted with the sight of demons swarming through the broken gates and killing humans.
The streets were covered with mangled bodies and the air reeked with the smell of blood.
The soldiers engage the demons with Captain Kai leading them.
"Fire Manipulation: Fireballs," Einar unleashes focused fireballs, incinerating many demons.
"Earth Manipulation: Mud Wall," Ruby manipulates the earth, raising walls to shield civilians.
Zeph moves like a phantom, his wind blades carving through the demonic horde with deadly precision.
Captain Kai launched a cannon of water using his Water Manipulation technique.
" Zeph's wind manipulation is awesome. It is time that I show the Captain my Wind Manipulation too," says Koji, the 16 year old, his eyes filled with youthful excitement.
He summoned a tornado but it wasn't powerful enough. His lack of experience was evident.
A demon bulldozed through it and dashed towards him. Einar noticed this and rushed towards them.
A piercing shriek filled the air, Koji, his face filled with fear ,stumbled in front of Einar. The demon's claw ripped through his chest. Koji's eyes widened in shock, his hand reaching out for Einar before his life force flickered and died.
Einar's heart hammered against his ribs, grief and rage fueling his flames. He unleashed a fiery inferno, incinerating the demon responsible for Koji's death.
A primal scream tore from Ruby's throat, raw and unyielding. She pounded the ground, summoning earth spikes that impaled the beasts with unnerving precision.
Zeph, his wind howling with fury, summoned a whirlwind, slicing through the creatures with the fury of a hurricane, his face a mask of cold rage.
Einar, numb with shock and grief, fought with a mechanical precision. With his hands ablaze, he moved through the carnage decimating the enemy, his emotions a tightly controlled inferno.
Captain Kai picks up Koji's lifeless body. The veteran's face full of anger, yet his mind focused on the objective of repelling the demon onslaught.
"Don't turn your eyes away from the battlefield, I didn't expect this from you Kai," a punch sends Kai flying. However, he backflips and lands back on his feet.
A dark demon who is about 8 feet tall with shark-like teeth & a long tail stands before him.
Captain Kai: **He's fast, I didn't notice him sneaking up on me. He must be one of the intelligent demons since he can speak** (** symbolises that the character is thinking this in his mind)
"Who are you? How did you know my name?," says Kai
"The name's Azkar. I am not in the mood to tell you anything else, why don't you try begging? Then I might just- " Kai kicks Azkar's face who crashes into a nearby tree.
"How about now," says Kai.
"You little," Azkar rushes towards him and swings his tail. Kai does a front flip & punches him. Azkar falls into a pond.
He jumps out of the pond and throws a nearby bench towards Kai.
Kai ducks.
Azkar leaps towards him, grabs his feet and throws him away.
"Water Manipulation: Water Canon,"
Kai shoots a huge water cannon towards him.
Azkar moves out of the way but he is immediately hit by another Water cannon from Kai. It sends him flying into a building.
The battle raged, hours bleeding into what felt like an eternity.
The seemingly unending wave of demons faltered, their numbers thinned by the human's desperate resistance. Yet, from the breached western gate,more poured forth, an endless tide of darkness threatening to engulf them.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. Cracks snaked across the battlefield, widening with an ominous groan. From the depths, colossal tentacles erupted, each tip crowned with a gaping maw lined with needle-like teeth. It seemed like a humongous Spider.
Azkar jumps towards the demons, smiling maniacally.
Panic seized the human ranks. Kai roared, rallying his squad. "Form up! We can hold them off!, I have already sent a backup request to the Headquarters, It can arrive any minute now."
But in the face of this new monstrosity, their valor seemed futile. The creature lunged its tentacles, engulfing the first line of fighters.
With Zeph & Ruby beside him, Einar closed his eyes, the image of Koji's lifeless gaze burned into his memory.
He knew that this was only the beginning, just the first echo of a war that could shatter their world.
TO BE CONTINUED
Extra Information-
<> Characters:
-Einar: Fun-loving yet determined 19 Years Old Boy. His Aura has Fire Manipulation technique.
-Ruby: 18 Years Old, Einar's childhood friend, Compassionate & strong girl. Her Aura has Earth Manipulation technique.
-Zeph: 19 years old, Focussed & a ruthless for his enemies. He banters with Einar but enjoys Ruby & his company nonetheless. His Aura has Wind Manipulation technique.
-Captain Kai: A 34 Years Old veteran soldier who has a calm demeanour just like the water he manipulates.
