Hailian Continent, February 4, 4068 A.D.

At the Forest of Space’s Entrance

SNAP!

Blood spurted out from Brad’s neck, and his body collapsed on the ground. Crimson red dyed the floor and his body somewhat twitched.

The gargoyle smiled as if pleased with himself. While holding the severed head in its right hand, it opened its mouth wide open and swallowed the head entirely!

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!

The sound of bone crunching echoed across the forest. Fresh blood dripped in its mouth as it chewed its food. With a big gulp, the gargoyle went to Brad’s corpse and continued eating.

SNAP! CRUNCH! SNAP CRUNCH!

Stupefied, Meldy was shocked at the gruesome death of his son. He couldn’t move; he couldn’t even rationalize the things he was witnessing. The nightmare of seeing his wife’s death still haunted him, yet another one came like a nail hammered in his heart. His body trembled and broke out in a cold sweat.

...Dad, Happy Birthday!

...Thank you, Brad. Hmm, what’s inside the box?

...See for yourself, Dad, he he.

...A blue pendant? I thought you’d give me money.

...Stop joking, Dad. Don’t you even wanna know why I gave you a pendant?

...Why?

...Because it was cheap, ha ha ha! I have only 2 coppers left.

...I should have known, ha ha ha! Anyway, thanks, Brad.

...No. I should be the one thanking you, Dad.

Clasping the pendant, he sobbed as he knelt on the floor. Enraged like a bull, he wanted to kill this vermin but couldn’t do so because of the forbidden spell Brad chanted earlier. The barrier prevented all of them from moving: it was a perfect spell for isolation, defense, and escape. All he could do was watch in despair.

It was a great torment for them to witness Brad’s death. Elena vomited the entire time, tears continuously streamed from her eyes.

"BRAD! My son...no...no...BRAD!!" Meldy quavered as he felt stabbing pains in my heart. He refused to believe his son’s death. He couldn't. He wouldn't.

It was not his first time to see someone die, after all, he was an expert in warfare, and his instincts were sharpened by life-struggling encounters. But it was a first for him to see his love ones die in such a gruesome kind of death.

The gargoyle flew towards them when it was done eating. Fresh guts were still on his face, and he licked the remains that stained his body. "It seems that the spell he cast was that forbidden skill of isolation and escape. Too bad, even I can't destroy this magic."

"Well, think of yourselves as being lucky, you pests! My time's up anyway, I can't stay here any longer. And you guys don't need to cry, you'd join him sooner than you expected." The gargoyle flicked its fingers and a scroll appeared in the air. He formed simple hand seals and pointed at the scroll, shouting "Teleport!"

Red shafts of light flashed towards the scroll, igniting it. Suddenly, it was engulfed in dazzling radiance. White rays blinded their eyes, and after a moment, the gargoyle vanished.

_______________________________________________________________

Whimpers and sobbing voices filled the air. They were distressed over Brad's fate, and they knew their fate was not yet sure if they would survive this ordeal.

"My child...my child..." Meldy wailed like a baby as he punched the ground. Elena just sat on a stump, quiet throughout the entire time.

Suddenly, a crowd gathered at the forest. They were dressed in black robes, marked with a web-shaped insignia that they were all familiar with - the symbol of a King's military. They grouped themselves into five as if they were creating a military formation. A knight in silver armor stepped forward and pointed his lance at them. "Surrender! Drop your weapons! You're surrounded!"

Meldy failed to quell the surging rage, his eyes were bloodshot from anger. He was not yet over his mourning, yet another bunch of lackeys wanted to claim their lives - again. Eliminate! Eliminate! These words resounded in his mind as he stood in a resolute manner, his countenance was grim and dour.

Elena scurried at the back, her eyes being vigilant.

"What do we do, Dad?" Elena asked, her eyes wide-eyed, cuddling the baby in her arms.

"You don't have to do anything. Just stay back." Meldy took out an artifact from his robe: the Jeweled Needle. Artifacts were very powerful, and a single effect of its power can yield devastating results. But it came with a price, it needed life essence to activate even a minute technique. It was a double-edged sword, but Meldy simply didn't care. He just wanted to eliminate everyone who wanted to harm them, even at the cost of his lifespan! "You all need to die!"

When Elena saw the artifact in Meldy’s hands, she was alarmed. Her face soured, knowing what the artifact was capable of, witnessing it firsthand when Brad cast the forbidden spell. “Dad, don't use that. We can still fight!" she pleaded as she took out her sword from the scabbard.

"Shut up! Just listen to me! Elena, move back!" Meldy pricked his finger with the artifact, directly consuming his life essence upon contact. Writhing in pain, yet this did not stop him from casting the spell. "Forbidden Spell:: Ghouls of the 12th Realm!"

The ground shook momentarily and huge cracks appeared on the flat soil surrounding the enemies. Black menhir emerged from the crevices, throbbing as if it was alive. The zombie-like symbols adorning its surface suddenly moved, and eventually, the monoliths crumbled on the ground. On its place was a dark portal, flickering like a bulb, and hordes of ghouls came out from it.

"What's this abomination?"

"Ghouls? My God, everybody! Kill these things!"

Brimming with confidence, the knight in silver armor raised his sword as he charged towards the nearby ghoul.

THWAK! THWAK! HACK!

The knight's sword hit the ghoul's right shoulder, severing its limb entirely. With a fast sweeping motion, he stabbed the ghoul's head. The monster slumped on the ground. He was sure that he killed it already when suddenly the fallen ghoul seized his foot which made him lose his footing. He attempted to escape free by cutting its hand, but he didn't notice that another ghoul was approaching him nearby. It took a hold of his head and chomped the young man's uncovered neck. Fountain of blood gushed out from his wounds. Another ghoul arrived and took a bite out of his stomach, eating his guts. He screamed, not expecting that the ghouls could even penetrate his armor. He was desperate, yet he knew he was at the death's door. The hungry ghouls mobbed at him, devouring every inch of his body as he was eaten alive.

Identical scenes happened throughout the battlefield. Young men died one after another, and the ghouls feasted upon their unwilling victims. The stench of blood filled the air, and the ground was soaked in blood.

Meldy saw some people running away, trying to flee from the imminent danger. No can do. No one leaves this place alive. He raised the needle in the air and jerked forward. "Forbidden Spell: Prism of Detention!"

Prisms of blue light materialized in the air, enclosing the battle zone as if it was a giant room. It became a barrier which prevented the people from getting outside the prism.

Meldy gasped as more of his life essence was consumed by the artifact. Life essences determined the number of years one was able to live, and wasting your life essence means earlier death for that individual. He knew he was barely recognizable: his body started to wither as a backlash of the spell. Yet he just sneered, for he had accomplished what he wanted to do.

Everyone died. Not even a single thing was left on the area: armors, bodies, clothes, even weapons - it was as if they never existed. Only the blood-soaked ground gleaming under the moonlight testified about the horrific fight.

Elena gasped in surprise! Even though she had seen Meldy killed their attackers earlier, this was much worse, as this was done without remorse.

Meldy was getting weaker, yet he gritted his teeth as he forcibly stood up and walked through the grassy path. "We're almost at the cliff. Let's go."