OrionTheAbsol
Member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2018
- Messages
- 125
- Reaction score
- 227
- Thread starter
- #2
Chapter 1 - Omen
Content Warning: intense imagery, blood, death
Content Warning: intense imagery, blood, death
Pillars of smoke rose from the burning field and fed into the monstrous, muddy sky. Screams erupted from the nearby Pokémon village as dark creatures poured through the gates. The stench of ashes lingered.
Hesitating to step in, a gaunt Absol approached the scene, scrunching up his face as he picked up the acrid scent of blood and corpses. He backed away, whimpering, as an inferno devoured the nearby vegetation. The rippling heat made the gash on his belly sting. The rest of his body throbbed in pain.
When the Absol was ready to flee, he peered at the entrance of one of the gates. A shadowy figure hovered.
“Good,” it said in a distorted, guttural voice. “Fate has finally brought us together. Step forward and we’ll talk.”
With his sickle-shaped horn upright, the Absol shambled toward the figure, whose body morphed into a more distinct shape. Two arms sprouted, giving it the appearance of a floating torso. The smog-like body developed a featureless face.
The Absol backed away as soon as he recognized its form. His jaw trembled.
No …. Why are you here? Why won’t you leave me alone?
“Yes, you know who I am,” the figure said. “And I certainly know who you are. Listen well, for what I’m about to tell you shall serve as a warning for your approaching future.”
The figure held out its hand as two blue eyes swelled on its face.
“The world as you see now will soon vanish. The endless conflicts will come full circle, the Shadows will engulf everything. Those too weak to resist will succumb to their power. But you. You must seize the Mark of Creation and claim your right to rebuild this broken world.”
The Absol tried to speak, but no sound came out. The figure presented a green jewel, encircled by irregular pieces of a golden material. A rush of frenzied thoughts ran through the Absol’s head.
Is that the Mark of Creation? Rebuilding the world? Is that even possible? But why are you handing it over to a nobody like me?
As soon as the Absol took another step, the jewel crumbled apart, its residue blending in with the embers.
“Alas, you are far too weak,” the dark figure said. “The Mark must fall under the possession of one who can persist through hardship after hardship. Should you carry this burden, there is no turning back. You must see your task through all the way to the bitter end. The forces governing this world will attempt to stop you. You must not fail.”
The Absol, still unable to respond, kicked the dirt. He attempted to mouth the syllables.
What are you talking about? What does anything here have to do with me? This is all a mistake!
The dark figure paid no heed as it pointed at the village, where another dozen Shadow Pokémon stormed in. The Absol watched a Nidorina villager rushing out one of the gates. Behind her, a Nidorino with black skin and red eyes pursued. He snapped his jaws onto the Nidorina’s hind leg and dragged her back into the scorching village.
“Basil, why!?” she wept, her claws dragging against the dirt. “I loved you! You don’t have to do this! Please, don’t kill me! No, Basil! Basil!”
When she disappeared into the village, the Absol hurried after her. His heart stopped. The Nidorina’s final agonized scream pierced through the crackle of the flames.
Wide-eyed and out of breath, the Absol glanced at the dark figure, whose body grew faint.
“Now go, my faithful follower. Your task will make sense in due time. The new and improved world cannot exist without sacrifice.”
The dark figure dispersed like smoke and faded away.
More Shadow Pokémon emerged from all sides, closing in on the Absol. With his horn raised and fangs bared, the Absol stood his ground. When he jerked his head toward the entrance of the village, his back tingled. Strands of his fur stood erect.
Another figure stood at the entrance, watching him. The Absol couldn’t discern what manner of creature it was.
The creature stared back at him. Its bloodstained grin stretched into an impossible length.
The Absol jerked awake and sprung up from his leaf bed. He glanced around, panting, sweat matting his face and paws. No Shadows. Nothing but the earthen walls of his den. Had it all been in his mind?
He walked out, soothed by a chilling wind. The leaves and branches of the fir trees obscured his view of the sky. He advanced toward the edge of the woods, greeted by a somber view of the Condemned Plains. The wind grazed over the amber-colored field, and silvery clouds lingered with bits of sunlight peeking through the pockets.
He could no longer sense his deity’s presence, but he still felt his skin crawl.
What just happened? Was that even a dream at all? the Absol thought. He had disturbing nightmares before, but this one … was too vivid.
The overbearing heat emanating from the flames. The all-too-familiar stench of fresh blood and carcasses. And the screams of the villagers, soldiers and children.
The Absol took deep breaths, relishing the calm environment. He tried to recall the deity’s words: something about a Mark of Creation and rebuilding the world. It all sounded ridiculous, but …
“Approaching me with that of all things,” he said. He grimaced as his head continued to throb. “What am I supposed to do? Where do I even look? My lord, in case you haven’t noticed, I have nothing!”
His raspy voice echoed across the empty wilderness. He waited, expecting a response. But no other sound came, other than the screeching of the wind and his own stomach grumbling. He shook his head.
I’m trying to talk to a dead god, he thought. I must be out of my damn mind.
The Absol searched for the nearest puddle of rainwater and drank from it. With each flick of the tongue, his mouth filled with an earthy flavor, of peat and dead grass. More palatable than the taste of moldy berries for sure.
Not like he had a choice lately. All he could find were ravaged berry trees—sometimes with splattered and spoiled berries on the ground. With more Shadow Pokémon marauding the Condemned Plains, the Absol’s options for food would diminish each day. He had to seek other means to keep himself fed.
The previous weeks made him lethargic. More restless, with no clear prospects of the future.
What now?
Behind him, beyond the other side of the woods, frantic voices bellowed. The Absol spun around and stared off into that direction. The ground shook as a series of explosions roared from far away. Silence. Then, beastly howls.
The Absol darted through the woods, careful not to trip over the tree roots and the rugged ground. Moments passed, with the sounds of the skirmish growing more intense, and he reached the other side.
He groaned. A great distance ahead, a massive horde of Shadow Pokémon scaled a hill leading to a palisade stronghold. From the other side of the wooden stakes, a slew of different projectiles and energy beams emerged, buffeting the Shadows. Many bodies dropped.
Another horde stampeded from the distance, approaching the stronghold.
“Where are all these Shadows coming from?” the Absol grumbled. “Why won’t you all just die already?”
“Help! Get this monster away from me!”
The Absol jerked his head toward the direction of the squawking voice. A Pidgeotto fluttered her wings and glided past him. Pursuing her was a Liepard coated with a black aura.
Out of instinct, the Absol gave a throaty snarl and targeted the Liepard. He bent down his legs and tilted the horn on his head as the cat Pokémon drew closer.
Closer …
Closer …
Now!
The Absol swung his horn at the Shadow Liepard’s thin legs, forcing the cat Pokémon to collapse. He maintained his gaze on his felled target and crept forward.
Hissing and yowling, the Shadow Liepard bled out and flailed on the grass. The Absol ignored its protests and primed his next attack. With a quick chop of his blade-like horn, the Absol beheaded it.
The Liepard ceased, its legs growing flaccid, its bloodshot eyes dimming. Its black aura grew in size like a hungry flame and consumed its host.
The fur, the skin, the flesh, the blood and the bones. Slowly, all reduced to ashes.
“Thank you!” a feminine voice cawed behind the Absol, gasping for air. “I thought I was done for!”
Facing the Pidgeotto, the Absol eyed the green ribbon tied around her neck. Imprinted on it was the white insignia of the Peacekeepers. A scout, perhaps.
“What’s going on out there?” the Absol asked. “Who’s fighting the Shadow Pokémon?”
“My company!” she answered. “Are you perhaps a mercenary? The Shadows are about to overwhelm them! Please, you must help us! We need anyone who can lend us their strength!”
The Absol ran his claws against the grass, pondering.
She thinks I’m a mercenary. Sure, I’ll play along. But is crossing paths with the Peacekeepers worth the risk?
His belly grumbled and his expression soured. He wasn’t in the mood to fight today, but this job may at least grant him a decent meal.
“Please!” the Pidgeotto said. “The Shadows won’t stop harassing us. I went to every nearby village, and nobody wanted to help us. I’m begging you! Help them!”
The Absol maintained his silence. The Peacekeepers should not have much trouble dealing with the Shadows, let alone needing the help of a wanderer. Or worse yet, a hapless Absol such as himself. Why approach him? Could they be that desperate?
He shot a glare at the Pidgeotto scout. She recoiled and looked away, trembling.
“I-I’m sorry, are you one of the Unciv—?” She stopped herself and spread out her wings, ready to flee. “I-It’s okay, I’ll just go look for someone else.”
“Hold on! What are you doing?” the Absol protested. “Take me to your company commander. Tell him the Shadows are as good as dead. And I expect to be paid in advance.”
The Pidgeotto sighed in relief. “Then, follow me. Hurry!” She took off, sailing across the sky in the direction of the Peacekeepers’ stronghold.
Likewise, the Absol broke off into a sprint, observing the distant Shadows gathering like a swarm of Beedrills.
The new horde thundered across the plains.
Last edited: