"No one is touching him!" Kent exclaimed, stepping back to his previous spot.
"Dammit! Those idiots! Attacking one by one would make things easier for him! You have the advantage... round him up!"
Slec, the guy who had taken the role of leadership among them, shouted out in fury. He was aware of Kent strength. After all, he had lost his hand to him.
"That's three down," Kent muttered, breathing slowly. Beads of sweat had begun to gather, yet he paid no heed, his concentration strained to its possible limits. He wasn't unscathed from the last attacks. One had managed to strike his sides, causing a stabbing pain that he struggled with.
The rest hearing Slec finally charged forward together. "That's right, he can't take all of us at once!" Some mumbled, trying to reassure themselves.
With them charging forward, Slec and his group finally made their move, slowly advancing towards Blake. Series of explosions occurred as Kent battled the group of people trying to overwhelm him.
With each person he brought down, he received an injury, and slowly, it was beginning to take a toll.
Slec, seeing this, sent one of them to capture Blake with a wicked grin on his face. The guy charging forward was suddenly struck down by a large hammer, his body shooting towards the ending of the room.
'Dammit! What's with his abnormal strength and speed! 'Slec thought, staring at the remaining people by his side. "Two of you go at once, while you... grab the boy!"
Kent, seeing he was getting overwhelmed, draw upon one of his rare and powerful skills [Rampage].
Feeling energised, he let out a roar and easily blocked the attacks headed at him. Charging forward, he struck a couple down. His actions weren't unnoticed as Slec and his group decided it was the perfect moment to strike.
With the two running forward, the third dashed at Blake, her hands grabbing onto his collar. "I've got you!" The lady exclaimed with a toothy grin. Pulling him up, she was about dashing back when she heard a slight whisper with cold palms on her chest.
"Blast... away!" Suddenly, she felt a force slam into her, sending her hurtling backwards. Blake crashed to the ground, groaning in pain.
The two other guys that had charged forward quickly changed their path, heading right at Blake. Kent a few metres away and getting blocked by the others let out a frustrated yell as he bulldozed his way through.
Out of nowhere, a chain shot forward, wrapping around his neck and pulling him to the ground. They didn't let this opportunity go as one closed in, striking him on the head with his weapon.
More chains latched onto him, holding him in place while he struggled fiercely. "Dammit! That was why I didn't want to use it," Kent thought, gritting his teeth as the effect of the skill dispelled. The rampage skill wasn't one without flaw. When activated, his rational thinking was affected, causing him to act wild.
"I'm sorry, Blake." He muttered weakly, feeling his body bounded.
"Good work!" Slec said, calmly walking towards his direction. A sword appeared in his hands as he edged closer. "I so love to rip your head off right now," he muttered with an evil grin.
"Wait! It's enough! It's not worth it. I'll go... I'll... I'll serve as the... sacrifice... Just let him go!"
"Oh. Do you think you have a say? You can't do anything. We've already captured both of you, and right now, his life depends on you. Calmly allow them to walk you to the platform, or else... I'll kill him!"
"Fine." Casting a sad smile at Kent, he allowed himself to be carried by the duo. Heading towards the platform, Blake could finally make out the features. The platform appeared to be shaped into an altar, made from dark marbles with runic symbols etched all over the surface.
Placing him on the altar, they shifted backward while waiting for the automated voice.
[Sacrifice has been placed on the altar...]
[Sacrifice accepted! Trial passed...]
"Good." Slec muttered as if waiting for the moment. In one swing, his sword travelled forward, effortlessly cutting through the neck of the binded Kent. It was so sudden he couldn't even react.
Blake watched with wide eyes as everything occurred in slow motion. The descent of the head in an arc and the fall of the headless body with a soft thud with blood spurting out.
Pain, anger, regret. He felt a torrent of emotion surge within him. He could only look from the raised platform, which was already getting stained with his blood.
"Not all humans are bad?" A thought filtered into his head as he watched silently. "Yeah, not all humans are bad, but monsters did... monsters in human form did exist." He thought, staring at the wide grin etched on the faces on the remaining survivors.
Lying on the platform with his life slowly fading away, he discovered a stark truth. The naive and weak ones would always get devoured in the cruel world.
And then a thought entered his head. A dark ruthless thought that surged madly from the depth of his soul. Yet amidst his torrent of emotions, the automated voice finally came to life.
[A right candidate has been chosen...]
[Ritual will now begin...]
Blake felt terrifying pain shot through his body from within. He felt his heart being stabbed with countless needles over and over again. A soft groan escaped his lips as if accepting the pain as a punishment for his weakness.
Yes, his weakness. How wish he was strong enough, things wouldn't have ended this way. Kent wouldn't have died that way. Wiping the tears that streamed from his eyes, he never once looked away from their direction. Even as the pain ravaged his whole body and was getting worse as the seconds passed. His burning gaze were fixed on the remaining survivors.
Then, a portal appeared above him, gaining the attention of the survivors.
"Hey, maybe that's our way out." One said, walking forward at a quick pace. "Thank goodness, I'm out of this hell hole!" Leaping high, just as he was about entering the portal, a flash of light zoomed past him.
"Huh? Why does the room appear to be upside-down?" That was his thought as his head slowly descended to the ground with a bounce while blood erupted out from his neck.
"Shit! What's that?!" The rest shouted in shock.
A figure emerged from the portal, slowly advancing. Cloaked in a tattered, dark, flame-like robe and wielding a blood-dripping sword, the figure walked across the air as if it was a divine being.
Death...
Its voice deep, dark, and ominous was enough to send them crashing to their feet. Raising their hand, the figure muttered just one word:
Death...
Immediately, a dark crimson flame erupted, engulfing all, including those who had passed out in the battle. It was a slow and terrifying demise. They felt the flames burning not only their physical body but also their souls.
Yet amidst their screams, Blake felt satisfaction. Seeing they didn't make it out alive, he let out a slight smile as he stared at the figure who had their gaze locked on him.
"How was it said that time?"
...Death smiles at us... the only thing we can do is smile back... Blake thought as the figure stretched its hands towards his direction and then...
Death.