The Whispers

The quiet moment between Shen and Lina was broken by the violent, abrupt hammering on the door, and they froze, their eyes locking. From the opposite side seemed to come a chilling tide of fear. After a moment of holding Lina's anxious stare, Shen said, "Stay here," in a calm but strong voice. Despite a spooky feeling that was similar to what he experienced on the battlefield prior to the outbreak of pandemonium, he went to the door with purpose.

He opened the door and a sweat-soaked, breathless soldier staggered in. His armor was covered in dust, and his big, terrified eyes were deeply scarred with dread.

The soldier gasped, "Commander," each syllable a fight. "The Whispers—they launched an onslaught... Admiral Takeda asks you to come to the stronghold.

Shen's gaze was drawn to something in the sky before he could finish speaking. A huge shadow swooped down quickly toward them. As the soldier's last words were muffled by a shrill scream, Shen's eyes grew wild. Suddenly a gray thing swooped down and grabbed the soldier and lifted him into the air. The beast carried him upward with terrible speed, and his scream echoed faintly before being abruptly cut off.

Shen had never seen anything like the scene in front of him. The gigantic monster had a muscular body clothed in a veiny gray hide that resembled armor. In the low light, its skin gave off a subtle shimmer that let it blend in with its surroundings. It moved with the deadly accuracy of a machine and the grace of a predator. Its face, or lack thereof, was the most horrific of all. It wore a frigid, expressionless mask made of smooth bone in place of eyes. It was blind, but it moved with perfect precision. It had unmatched mastery over the skies thanks to its massive bat-like wings that stretched behind it.

Shen's intuition sprang to life. His intellect jolted into focus, but his body clenched in astonishment.
He soon discovered the monster wasn't alone after looking up at the sky. Several dozen of the same sailed silently overhead, their wings flitting in and out of the clouds. Their armored flesh, eyeless masks, and intimidating physique were all the same. Hunting silently, these Whispers descended with deadly effectiveness on gullible prey.

Shen whispered, "Whispers," his voice laden with insight. He had just heard about the threat, but suddenly it was very real.

Lina remained motionless behind him, her face white with terror. Shen turned to face her, calm yet stern. "Remain here, Lina," he urged firmly. "These animals are more harmful than they seem."

Lina hesitated, her eyes widening. "But what about you, Shen?" she started, her voice shaking.

Shen took her hand firmly and looked her in the eye. "Don't be concerned about me. "I'll be back," he stated quietly, resolutely. After drawing his sword and keeping it by his side, he went outside and shut the door. He hesitated, inhaling deeply as though he were making a silent promise to himself.

Outside, the streets were disturbingly quiet, like the quiet before a storm. The formerly vibrant metropolis now seemed to have been robbed of its vitality and left to resemble an abandoned shell. As the skies grew darker and the Whispers' enormous wings blotted out the last of the light, Shen's eyes examined his surroundings. He felt a familiar tension churning inside him, the kind that only existed in the final seconds before combat. Shen accelerated toward the fortress, his hands clenched around the hilt of his sword.

A few blocks ahead, the fortress's enormous stone walls loomed, but Shen's gaze was still focused on the sky. The Whispers moved with eerie elegance, their menacing quiet emphasized. The dreadful presence of these beasts appeared to dwarf even the fortress, which is a symbol of strength and protection. Shen was aware that getting to the stronghold would be difficult, but he was determined to see Admiral Takeda.

Shen heard a slight rustling sound as he made his way through the streets. He loosened his hold on his blade and halted, looking for activity in the rooftops and alleys. The noise increased and then subsided. When he became aware that the Whispers were actively stalking him rather than merely observing, the hair on the back of his neck stood on edge.

Suddenly, from above, one of the beasts lunged, its claws cutting through the air. The wind from the strike brushed over Shen's cheek as he reflexively ducked. He couldn't take with this head-on, so his mind raced. Not quite yet. He had to know the way it moved.

Shen took a step back, his gaze fixed on the Whisper, observing its stance and the way its muscles stiffened before each motion. It struck again, swiping low this time. Shen avoided it, limiting its movement with the street's tight spaces. The Whisper's movements had a subtle pattern that became apparent with each strike—a small pause before leaping, the way its wings changed mid-attack to keep its equilibrium. Shen took in all the information and put together a plan.

"They're not unbeatable," he mumbled to himself. However, they move quickly. Too quick for me to completely match.

The Whisper lunged again, and Shen retaliated this time. His goal was to break its rhythm, not to kill. His blade cut upward, brushing across the creature's wing. Shen had a moment to withdraw more toward the fortress as it screamed and stumbled. He proceeded deliberately, his thoughts scrutinizing each exchange and response.

Circling overhead like a vulture, another Whisper entered the battle. Even though Shen's heart was racing, he resisted letting fear influence his decisions. The weight of the sword grounded him as he repositioned his hold. Shen rolled to the side as the second thing dove, causing it to crash into the ground where he had been standing. Shen's blade found its mark and struck the wing joint as it scurried to recover. With a guttural cry, the creature backed away, its motions now slow.

With increasing confidence, Shen thought, "They're strong, but they're not infallible." "If I can outlive them, identify their vulnerabilities... I am capable of surviving.

Shen's body hurt by the time he arrived at the fortress gates, and his breaths came in rough gasps. Even though his sword felt heavier than before, he made himself stand up straight. Admiral Takeda was waiting with an inscrutable expression as the gates groaned open. He stood as tall as the stronghold itself, a rock of stability in the middle of the mayhem.

Takeda remarked, "You're late," in a strong but somewhat humorous tone. Shen looked cautiously up at the sky before answering, still gasping for air.

Shen sheathed his blade and said, "The creatures decided to keep me airborne for a while." There was a small flicker of laughter in his eyes despite his weariness.

Takeda's face tightened once more as his lips curled into the tiniest of smiles. "Enter now. He turned to face the interior of the stronghold and remarked, "We have a lot to talk about.

Shen couldn't get the Whispers out of his head as he followed. They were unlike any enemy he had ever encountered in terms of their precision, silence, and overwhelming presence.