In the depths of a sunny, massive forest, a grotesque and deformed monster with an abhorrent appearance feasted upon the massive body of a bear, its tens of limbs tearing into the flesh with ravenous hunger.
The creature's twisted form was a nightmarish sight to behold, with limbs protruding from every angle, each one ending in sharp, jagged claws.
Suddenly, a ripple of energy coursed through the air, causing the monster's sensitive senses to tingle. Its grotesque head snapped up, its eyes glowing with a malevolent hunger.
With a thunderous roar that echoed through the trees, the monster launched itself toward the source of the energy, driven by an insatiable desire to consume.
As the creature surged forward, its monstrous form crashing through the underbrush, it stumbled upon a gathering of other abominable beings. These creatures, equally as twisted and monstrous, were also drawn to the same energy source.
Their grotesque forms moved with eerie grace, their multitude of limbs propelling them forward with a terrifying speed.
The air crackled with anticipation as the monstrous horde closed in on their target. The ground trembled beneath their weight, and the forest seemed to shudder in fear. The cacophony of their roars and growls filled the air, creating an unsettling symphony of primal hunger.
In this world, there exists an energy source whose name has been forgotten over time. However, one thing is certain: this energy has the power to enable living organisms to evolve beyond their natural limits. It not only enhances their strength and abilities but also boosts their intelligence.
On the human continent, alongside humans, there are precisely eleven other intelligent creatures. These creatures possess the same level of intelligence as fully grown men. And the Shadowstalkers are one of these few creatures that can reach that degree of intelligence and become what is called Alphashadows.
Casper stood over the fallen creature, his twisted smile stretching across his face. The sun cast an eerie glow on his figure, accentuating the deep wounds and cuts that covered his body.
With a slow, deliberate motion, he placed his blood-stained sword on the creature's chest, pinning it down.
"You see," Casper said, his voice dripping with satisfaction, "I told you that would happen."
The fallen creature, with its long black arms and dark claws, let out a pained groan. Its monstrous hands twitched involuntarily, a feeble attempt to free itself from Casper's grip. But the weight of the sword pressed down, rendering it immobile.
In a desperate attempt to save itself, the creature began to scream, its voice filled with terror. "You don't understand! I work for the Ayrum family! You shouldn't mess with them!"
Casper's twisted smile only widened, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and malice. He paid no heed to the creature's pleas, his mind set on one thing: ending its existence.
Without a word, Casper raised his sword high above his head, the moonlight glinting off its razor-sharp edge. The creature's screams grew louder, its fear reaching a crescendo. But it was futile. In one swift motion, Casper brought the sword down, severing the creature's head from its body.
Silence hung heavy in the air as Casper stood over the lifeless body, his sword stained with blood. With a swift motion, he wiped the blade clean, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any other potential threats.
Rin, his expression calm, spoke up amidst the stillness. "It seems we've attracted some attention," he remarked, his gaze fixed on the approaching clouds of dust from all sides.
"Alright, let's free the hostages and make our way out of here," Casper declared, determination etched on his face.
With a shared sense of purpose, Casper and Rin hurried towards the rows of cages, their occupants held captive by chains and connected to several horses.
As they reached the first cage, Casper swiftly unlocked the door, freeing a young woman with tear-streaked cheeks. Her eyes widened with gratitude as she embraced her newfound freedom.
" T-thank you, thank you for saving me.."
One by one, Casper moved through the cages, unlocking them and releasing the imprisoned humans.
Their expressions transformed from fear and despair to relief and gratitude. Some were elderly, their faces lined with wisdom and experience. Others were children, their innocent eyes filled with wonder and hope for a better future.
Casper's smile grew wider with each person he freed, his heart swelling with a sense of accomplishment. He couldn't help but feel a surge of joy as he witnessed the gratitude in their eyes and heard their heartfelt thanks.
However, as Casper reached the end of the row, he discovered a group of cages that held individuals of a different race.
They were breathtakingly beautiful, surpassing even the allure of humans. Their features possessed an otherworldly elegance, with luminous skin and ethereal hair that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. These beings exuded an air of arrogance, their posture and expressions revealing a sense of superiority.
Casper's smile faltered for a moment as he observed the distinct differences that set this race apart from humans.
Their eyes held a captivating glow, their voices carried a melodic quality, and their movements were graceful and fluid.
It was clear that they considered themselves above the human race, their arrogance evident in their every action.
As Casper looked at the captive creatures, one of them stepped forward, their voice dripping with arrogance and rudeness. "About time you let us out," they sneered, their eyes filled with disdain as they looked down upon Casper.
Casper's twisted smile widened suddenly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He had encountered arrogance before, but this was on a whole new level. As he heard their demanding tone, he couldn't help but find their audacity amusing.
Just as Casper was about to respond, Rin, who had finished freeing the remaining hostages, approached him with a curious expression. "Do you know what these creatures are?" Rin asked, his voice laced with intrigue.
Casper nodded, his gaze fixed on the Luminae. "This Luminae," he explained. "They are a rare race, seldom seen in the human continent. They are born with incredible strength and power, and?rumored that all of them?are born with the capacity?of using elemental magic."
Rin's eyebrows raised in surprise. "If they are so strong, how did they end up captured?" he questioned, genuinely puzzled.
The male who previously talked grew visibly angry at Rin's question. Their voices dripped with rudeness as they retorted, "We were outnumbered and caught off guard. It was a mere accident, nothing more."
Suddenly, a beautiful young female Luminae who was inside one of the cages spoke up. She addressed the male Luminae who had been rude to Casper and said, "Don't waste his time explaining to these low creatures." Then, she turned to Casper and said arrogantly, "The lord sent you, am I right? So, quickly do your job and free us. The monsters are approaching."
Hearing the woman's words, with a cold expression, Rin turned to leave, as he said to Casper "Let's go." .
"I'm the leader here. Don't give me orders," Casper replied to Rin with an annoyed expression.
Casper then turned to the captives and said with a smile, "We are not here to save you. " as his smile widened He continued " But I hope you make it." With that, Casper turned to leave.
"What!?.." one of the women exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise and disbelief. " Come back, are you crazy? Do you know who we are?" she shouted, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and arrogance.
"You bastard! How can a low creature like you ignore us?" another man spat, his voice dripping with disdain.
The captives arrogantly continued to scream, demanding their release. However, Casper and Rin ignored them and quickly moved away, taking the other humans they had freed with them. Even the rescued captives showed no interest in saving the arrogant Luminae.
Thus, Unbeknownst to Casper and Rin, they had just had a glance about what awaits them outside the human continent.
