The Cursed Blade

With the exception of distant flames that gnawed at the remains of broken siege engines, the battlefield was quiet. Smoke twisted upward, casting shadows over the fading light and adding grey striations to the scarlet sunset. A graveyard of shattered weapons and lifeless bodies: soldiers and warriors, each with their own stories now silenced, The soil became darker as blood soaked into it.

Among the wreckage, Kael Ashera remained motionless in a sea of death. Once shining silver, his ragged armour was now marred by dents, scrapes, and dried blood stains from innumerable battles.

The roaring lion wreathed in flames, his house's sigil, was barely recognisable through the blood and dirt.

with blood, his hair stuck to his face, framing eyes that glowed with tired determination.

He clutched Umbra, the blade of nightmares and legends, in his right hand. The enormous blade held in his hands with terrible ease, although it appeared too big for any mortal to wield. Each of the bright dark symbols carved on its obsidian blade appeared as blood dripped down. A black mist twisted around the sword, speaking softly in a language that no one could understand.

Kael muttered, "They call me cursed," in a low voice, and burdened by memories. As the words left his lips and faded into the silence surrounding him, they felt heavy. "A blade bound to darkness, a soul chained with regret."

His gauntleted fingers briefly touched the blade of a fallen soldier's sword as he crouched down. He feels sorrow for them and their pain. He got back up and looked towards the horizon, where the sun was bleeding its last rays across the far mountains. Whatever he had created with his decisions was reflected in the red hues that mirrored the blood at his feet.

As the six armoured hunters drew closer, Kael held his position, his body studying them in controlled tension. His boots moved a little, settling down firmly on the uneven ground. The echoes of faraway screams were carried by the wind as it spoke through the smoke.

With a venomous sarcasm, the leader's voice broke the silence once more. "If you believe that you can defeat us all by yourself, you are an idiot. We have already dealt with men like you."

A small, sardonic smirk twisted Kael's lips. Though Kael could see the hidden hesitation in his eyes, the scarred guy exuded confidence.

These hunters had no idea what they were about to face.

Kael was on the move as the first of the hunters attacked. He easily dodged the first blow, his body moving like water. Kael had just been standing there when the man's blade cut through the air. Kael's blade appeared before the hunter could react, and Umbra sang with an almost unnatural elegance into the air. The hunter's cry was interrupted when the edge of the sword struck its target and precisely slashed across his throat.

The others paused, their confidence shattered by Kael's viciously quick onslaught. With narrowed eyes, the leader signalled for the others to round Kael in a half circle. They realised now that they had underestimated him. With their weapons up, the other five moved in, each looking for a point of attack.

Kael’s grip on Umbra tightened, his focus extremely sharp. His footsteps were quiet, as if he were a predator. Although the hunters were proficient, Kael was exceptional. As he glided between the blows directed at him, his motions were smooth and deliberate. His blade moved like lightning, swift and deadly, effortlessly slicing through skin, bone, and armour.

"Kael Ashera," the leader remarked, his words brimming with confidence and his voice piercing and insulting. "Whether cursed or not, your head is worth a fortune. Quietly give up, and we'll get it quickly."

"You should’ve brought more men," Kael said, his voice a low growl.

For a brief period, the leader's smile wavered before he gave an order. Eager to seize the prize, the hunters charged.

For a brief period, the leader's smile wavered before he gave an order. Eager to seize the prize, the hunters charged.

Kael's enormous body was surprisingly quick, and he moved like a shadow. Despite the weight of his armour, he moved with elegance and smoothness, as though he were a part of the surrounding darkness. With each stroke, Umbra's black mist grew thicker as it whistled through the air. Before he could even respond, the first hunter was knocked down, his blade breaking under the enormous force of Kael's blow. In one quick action, Umbra sliced through the second, a large man wielding a huge axe, as he swung his weapon with all his strength, but Kael was already behind him, slayed his head down in a quick shift.

With his blade slicing through their ranks with ruthless accuracy, Kael was a tornado of violence as the others rushed in. With every death, the black mist of Umbra swirled and pulsed, his strikes vicious, and his pace impossible to follow. The cries of the hunters echoed in the desolate field, but Kael paid them no mind. Every life lost was only a step closer to his unavoidable fate.

"More," a dark, sneaky voice growled. It curled like smoke as it slithered into Kael's head. "Feed me more!"

Kael's eyes flickered with a faint crimson glow as his attacks became more intense. The distinction between Kael and Umbra became hazy as his heart pounded in sync with the blade. Every kill seemed to thicken the mist surrounding the blade, as if the sword were consuming the dead all around it.

The blade only laughed, a low, mocking sound. 'You're a monster. We both are no different. Feed me more! More! More!' The words were like an attempt to overtake Kael's mind.

"Shut up," Kael snarled, his jaws clenched. "I’m still in control."

Kael’s continued with a cold laugh, his eyes with intent. "No. I’m a man with a purpose."

The battlefield was covered in the remains of the hunters who had fallen to the ground. Kael stood in the middle of the slaughter, his eyes emotionless and cold. The mist around Umbra receded slightly.

With no expression, he cleaned the blood from his sword and draped it over his shoulder. Although the battle was finished, the journey ahead was only getting started.

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far from the blood-soaked areas, A small community tucked away in the peaceful embrace of a forest, was shielded from the atrocities of war. The cobblestone pathways were reflected in dappled light as sunlight passed through the roof. The air was fresh, and the scent of blooming flowers making the peaceful environment.

Liora Solan moving along the stream flowing beside her, suddenly a sound hovered beside her, "The balance is breaking, Liora," in a sorrowful voice. "The spirits grow weaker with each passing day."

 "I’ll find a way to help. I promise. I won’t let the spirits fade." Liora replied,  a deep sadness.

Screams broke her moment of calm; the quiet village she had grown to love was being destroyed. The crackling of flames, the horrible sounds of people being hauled from their homes, and the distant cries of suffering were all audible to her. The hunters didn't even care about the lives they took; they were cold and ruthless. 

Liora’s breath came in short spurts as she held tight to the glowing pendant around her neck. "Not again," she said in a tremulous tone.

A hunter spotted her and advanced, his blade drawn, his eyes filled with greed. Clutching the pendant tightly, Liora staggered backward but realised she couldn't get away.

She glanced as a shadow loomed over her and saw the hunter, a taller man with a harsh, brutal smile. His blade sparkled with the promise of death, and his armour displayed the bounty hunters' symbol.

His voice was low and threatening as he hissed, "You're not going anywhere." His gaze lingered on the jewellery in her fingers as the gaze moved over her, glimmering with desire.

However, a shadow passed over the man as he surged in her direction.

Kael Ashera appeared. He had an attitude of indifference, as though he were just passing by. However, there was a depth of sorrow in his eyes that only those who had witnessed battle could understand.

Kael responded, "Looks like you’ve got the wrong target," in a violently low voice.

Too slow to react, the hunter turned. Before he could even scream, the man collapsed to the ground as Kael's blade sliced through the air with terrible speed.

Realising what had happened, the remaining hunters pulled out their swords and stormed, their war cries resonating throughout the town.

Kael moved in a vicious and brutal manner. Umbra cut through them like a reaper’s scythe, its black mist thickening with each strike. His rage was greater than the hunter's numbers. The ground beneath his boots was smeared with blood as he moved with speed and brutally dispatched the hunters.

Liora watched the tragedy spread in the blades, This was the most effortless, brutal fighting she had ever witnessed. Around Umbra, the mist swirled like a ravenous beast, swirling with a dark force.

The village fell silent when the last of the hunters was killed. With his blade placed on his shoulder and an attitude that was impossible to recognise, Kael; between the corpses. The once-beautiful village was now a burning ruin, with the bodies of the victim and attacker scattered all over the streets.

Liora stepped forward cautiously, her glowing pendant illuminating her way through the smoke. Her voice was tremulous but full of appreciation as she walked up to Kael. "I'm grateful. I didn’t think anyone would come."

Kael’s gaze remained cold. "I wasn’t here for you. They just got in my way."

Liora scowled without backing down. She whispered, "You're not like them," as she looked into his face. "I can tell. Please... help me. The spirits need you."

Kael's gazed towards her pendant, his expression darkening. "The spirits? I never got any aid from them. Why should I give a damn?"

Liora's hand moved to his arm and made a hard yet soft contact. "Because you still have a soul. I see it. I know you want to fight for something more than just your curse."

With his fingers twitching slightly over Umbra's hilt, Kael hesitated. The mist around the blade swirled again, as if sensing his hesitation. He sighed after a lengthy pause, his voice hardly more than a whisper.

"You’ve just hired yourself a monster."

Liora's expression relaxed, and a small grin appeared on her lips. "There are no second chances for monsters. However, you could. We can save the spirits if we work together."

"Why do you think i would help you?" Kael's voice in low, his narrow eyes showing no emotion.

Liora came closer to him and replied mockingly, "You.., you were already bounded by the cursed spirit."

Kael glanced over at the burning remains of the village and then to the horizon, where the darkness of war loomed. For the first time in years, Kael stood still as the mist in Umbra seemed to hiss, thinking about a course he never would have imagined.

"Then let’s see if this monster can still fight for something worth saving."

The faint sound of Umbra's whisper, a chilly laugh that swirled in the air like a sign of doom, echoed as they walked.

// To Be continued....