Title: the monster hunter
Genre: Science fiction
Author: alex
Chapter 1: A Man of Blood In the dusty hamlet of Elmswood, nestled in the heartland of medieval Europe, Greg tightened his grip on his well-worn broadsword. The massive beast lay slain at his feet, an ugly creature of scales and fury that had been terrorizing the village for weeks. Its glassy eyes stared unblinkingly up at the somber sky as the last remnants of life ebbed away from its grotesque form. The villagers watched in both awe and relief as their monster hunter collected his bounty—a pouch heavy with gold coins. As he counted his rewards amidst the celebration, a woman caught his eye. Eryiah, draped in a cloak of deepest midnight blue, stood apart from the crowd. Her raven tresses caught glimmers of moonlight and her emerald eyes shimmered with an ethereal glow. She was not like the others; she was a sorceress known for her enchanting beauty and her arcane mysteries. Greg found himself drawn to her like a moth to flame—charmed, captivated and utterly entranced. "Yet another foolhardy beast succumbs to your blade, Hunter," Eryiah said, her tone neutral as she approached Greg. Her eyes glowed with a strange light that sent shivers down his spine. "The village rejoices tonight but what about tomorrow? And the day after?" Greg met her gaze, an amused grin dancing on his lips. "Well, if it isn't the enchanting Eryiah," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I do what I can for these people." Eryiah scoffed softly, her emerald eyes glinting dangerously in the moonlight. "Yes, you quell their immediate fears but how long before another beast rises?" Greg frowned at her words. Was she challenging him? Questioning his methods? Her lips curled into a faint smile as if reading his thoughts. "There's something far more dangerous than these mere beasts of scale and fur, Hunter," she murmured. "Pray tell," Greg replied with a half-cocked eyebrow. She leaned forward conspiratorially, her voice dropping to a whisper that sent chills racing up his spine. "There's a creature known only in legends... The Morrok—a being of such darkness and dread that it makes all you've slain so far seem like mere pups." "And you think I should hunt this... Morrok?" Greg scoffed incredulously. He wasn't one to chase after fairy tales. Eryiah merely shrugged, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders. "I merely present you with an opportunity, Hunter. What you do with it... is entirely up to you." And with that cryptic remark, she turned away—her figure dissolving into the moonlit crowd leaving Greg alone with his thoughts once again. Chapter 2: Ghosts of the Past Years had passed since Eryiah's ominous warning, but the memory haunted Greg like a persistent ghost. The Morrok – a creature of nightmares and fairy tales. He never took her seriously... until now. The remnants of a once-thriving village lay scattered in ruins around him. Wood and stone, once homes filled with warmth and laughter, now sat cold and abandoned—the chilling remnants of an unseen beast's wrath. A soft whimper echoed through the decimated village. He followed the sound to a collapsed house where he found a hidden cellar door. As he carefully lifted it, his heart clenched at the sight of a small boy huddled in the corner, eyes wide with terror. "I'm here to help," Greg said gently, extending his hand towards the terrified child. His heart twisted as he remembered himself—a little boy hiding from his burning village—the same fear etched on his face as on this child's. The boy looked at him cautiously before taking his hand. His tiny voice trembled as he recounted what had transpired: A creature of nightmares descending upon their peaceful hamlet under cover of nightfall—its scaly body cloaked in darkness, eyes glowing eerily in the moonlight and emitting guttural roars that stilled hearts with fear. The Morrok... Greg’s blood ran cold as icy tendrils of horror wrapped around him. The boy’s tale mirrored his own childhood terror—the night when fire turned his home into ashes, leaving him an orphan saved by monster hunters. His mind was pulled into the vortex of dark memories that he’d kept locked away for years. Flames licked around his home as monstrous shadows danced amidst the chaos—his parents screaming for him to run while they drew their last breaths fighting off grotesque creatures beneath their collapsing house. He snapped back to reality, gazing upon the traumatized boy before him—another victim left behind by monstrous beasts—a reflection of himself from decades past. “I promise you,” Greg said, hoisting the boy onto his shoulders and surveying what was left of their homes—a burning resolve ignited within him—“I will hunt down this monster.” The vow hung heavy in silence as Greg carried away yet another survivor from another monster-borne tragedy. Little did he know, hunting down Morrok was not just about protecting innocents—it would mean confronting specters from his past and risking Eryiah's life, who had slowly but surely become intertwined with his destiny.
