Kingslayer

Dark Cave Ambiance

Back in my dreams. As always he was standing right beside me; waiting, laughing, provocating.

But this time I was ready, I knew what to do.

Again he did the first hit, a stiff right. As usual. Blocked.

Ok, now turn. In that moment I realised something, but I didn't even have time to think it.

I woke up

''Damn that bastard!

Wait, calm down. This was your own fault.''

I had totally forgotten how I turn my eyes. I knew how to, but couldn't recall the steps. It had become automated.

Like breathing.

So I stayed awake. Sitting in my cave, remembering how I turn my eyes, trying to apply that principle to my arm.

But it was exhausting. By far more than turning my eyes,

I could feel this 'energy' stream trough my arm, but it wasn't enough.

I'm unsure how long it took exactly, sitting in the darkness of that cave the whole time. But after what probably was a dozen days or so I finally did it.

I turned my right arm back to normal. Only the lower part but now I knew how to do it.

Picture Hand Study 1 by irysching [EDITED]

Music Dark Cave Ambiance (Part 1) by Cr1msonKing

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

There was it again, that sound.

What could this be... and why are they so spread?

It was clear that simply couldn't be one singular being making this, not because of the difference in sound and tone, but because of the distance, because of where these sounds came from.

I looked at my arm shortly I'll have to find out later what that was, surely won't fall off for now

...Ss$ûrræ he he hee

He surprised me, and that comment of his shortly filled me with fear What could he have done? How could he have? But I calmed myself nearly immediately again No, he couldn't... just trying to get some revenge... stay calm

So again I focused on the... on whatever was around me.

I was still in the safety of the bush, so I took a moment to listen The water was calm, the wind was calm, the birds were mostly calm too, a few panicky ones from one of the direction I heard that sound from.

Hooves!... deer? No... to heavy... and just one... it's coming closer... barking?... hounds?... why out here?...

It was just about to run by me I opened my eyes and looked into the direction I expected it to run by in a moment.

A horse, with a rider, quite plump man, quite fancy hunting dress too. Right behind him came two big grey hounds.

One of them stopped

and looked right at me

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Suddenly I was in another place. There was tall grass all around me, taller than me. The sky was clear, the sun stood high, and it was awfully warm. Something was calling to me, bidding me to come closer, and without much of a choice, I followed. After a few dozens steps I got out of the grass, and there were large stone steps before me. As I looked up I saw a large temple made of nothing but stone, with plants growing all over it. There were figureheads in some places, some looking human, others more animal-like. I wanted to go on further. Suddenly something heavy was pushing me to the ground, standing on me, clawing into my back. I felt the blood drain from me. I looked behind me, a huge feline was standing over me. More sturdy built than a cat, and with fangs going beyond it's lower jaw. I stared into one big golden eye with a pupil that was so dark and deep, that I couldn't look away. Before I knew what was happening it bit right into my neck. I woke up disoriented. What just happened? Where's that cannibal? I looked down at myself, my hands were covered in a dark, red, sticky fluid. I knew the feel, blood. Then I saw that guy on the ground. I was sitting on him, his throat slit, but he was grinning.

I went back to the stream to wash off my blood and see how big the wound really was. It cost some time and energy but I'd rather check on that and maybe fix it somehow than leave a blood trail after me. Who knows what or who might sniff me up thanks to that.

The holes in my hand weren't that big, he did bite me two times so naturally there were four, two on the back of my hand, two inside of it. There wasn't much blood running from them tho, the bleeding had been worst in the beginning.

I tried moving my hand around a bit, into different positions I could think of that I'm using while hunting. But there was nothing that really caused much more bleeding than when I relaxed the hand.

A bit more when drawing my bow but I guess I had just to be a bit more selective with my prey, and more accurate with my shots.

I went on, looking for any kind of tracks of animals, focusing on my senses to hear if there's anything nearby. I found another hare, but this time I managed to sneak up and get it with my bow. Hit right in the head, quite a lucky shot I had there.

Guess that means one more to go, and then I'll eat something. My stomach growled Yeah I know it's time, I know that I'm tearing at my reserves, just gimme a bit more time

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Ssø bë ît

Fallen City

Covered in a layer of mud I continued to wander through the forest. Does this damn forest never end?

Î wøñdërr whö zät bløôd bèlóñgëd tø ha ha ha ha haaa

There was that voice again. What does it want from me and where does it come from? Can other people hear it too? 'WHOEVER OR WHATEVER YOU ARE, DONT TALK TO ME ANYMORE! LEAVE. ME. BE!'

--- at least until I can find out who or what you are

Ssø bë ît

Picture Disturbed by Dunjochka

Music Fallen City by G Empire Music

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Wild Woods

I went out, to the pond again.

It was broad day. The sun was high and birds were chirping.

I looked around a bit at the pond.

Hmm… still no one’s come to fight this beast. Didn’t expect it to take them this long to find someone brave enough to kill this monster.

A deer got near the other side of the pond.

A deer?!

I looked down at my stomach.

Well, I ain’t hungry. At least I don’t feel hungry. I’ll let it live. No need to kill it just for sport. Don’t wanna overeat either.

Walking back to the cave I thought about this ‘dream’

How can I beat this guy? He’s superior to me in every way. Stronger, faster, more experienced…

I got his first punch, it hurt like a bitch to block it, but I know he isn’t almighty.

Just have to look out for upper-cuts now. Biting of my own tongue is even worse than getting hit in the arm.

Picture Deer by Jason Behnke

Music Wild Woods by Brandon Fiechter

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I woke up again much later.

The first rays of sunlight were already showing at the horizon.

I was cold and stiff, and my butt hurt, this wasn't the most comfortable place to sit all night long. I began with slowly untying the branches around me. They did help quite well at keeping out the cold, but didn't really keep the warmth in either.

To loosen the stiffness in my body I moved my arms and legs a bit before I thought about climbing down.

I took a look down first, Anything down there I could hit? Or that could be waiting for me?

Didn't seem like there was anything under me... just the ground. It wasn't that high, it wasn't the first time I did this, but still... I always had a weird feeling looking down from 'high' up.

But it didn't matter, I got up here, so I had to get down again too.

The legs hanging down I was much closer to the ground already, I held the branch firmly, turned around and slowly let myself down.

As I was fully stretched out I hadn't touched the ground with my feet yet.

Did IT come out tonight? Set me on another tree? No... it couldn't. I hadn't been covered by those small branches otherwise. It may be shrewd but it's simply not able to do that.

I had faith in my judgement and released my grip...

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

Intro

Suddenly IT stood in front of me. I could clearly see it although its form wasn't stable. Constantly changing. I wanted to continue to talk to it, but I couldn't. My mouth didn't want to move. Like my lips had been sewn together. I panicked a bit.

Although there wasn't much to see in the darkness I looked around. Maybe there was something here. Then I noticed I had a sword fastened to my belt. I recognised the handle. It was the sword I had forged myself. It wasn't exactly the masterpiece of a well known Weaponsmith, but it worked well for me.

I drew it out of it's sheath to get an even better look. But as soon as I drew my sword, IT jumped at me.

Picture Demon by AlleywayNightscholar

Music Intro (City of Vultures) by Rise to Remain

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I found a flint and iron, neatly bound together with a piece of thin rope, a small whetstone and some dried flesh in the pockets of that guy. His bow looked fine too, and it also was stronger than mine, so I took it. Arrows included naturally. I hadn't looked what Lord half'n'half had with him yet, but that guy definitely seemed to be the better prepared, and probably more skilled, hunter of the two.

Naturally there was blood on all of his stuff. Have to wash that off later, at least as good as possible.

But more importantly... I turned my attention towards the horse again.

I cut out a few chunks of meat and inspected them closely. Doesn't look foul... doesn't smell foul... nothing moving inside... Guess it's all good then

I went a bit away from the site. Altho I was eating chunks from that horse, and I guess it wasn't hard to see that someone had cut chunks out of that horse, I didn't really want to be seen there.

I made a fire and roasted the meat on it.

Ok, lesson learned, no more drowsy excuses for not sleeping up in a tree. That there could have ended seriously badly... or it would have if...

Hey! You awake? Why'd you get me out of that mess?

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016

I went back into the cave To have my peace and quiet while transforming Although I had mastered it pretty well I still needed all the focus I had

It was risky to do this outside I'd be completely unprotected for the whole time and someone could see me transforming There was no way I'd take that risk

A few days later I was back looking like me again Dammit, again those scars from wounds I never had They were everywhere, on my arms, my legs, my chest I do have a few scars that genuinely are 'mine' who I got by myself, from being careless around the forge I paid well for those unwary moments, a large burn on my left arm and smaller ones on my right Naturally some on my hands too, but those are rather usual After I was done in the cave, I went to the pond to wash the clothes I got from that old man Wonder if anyone found that guy

I went back to the cave, put the wet clothes on a flat rock then I gathered a few stones, put them in a circle and stacked the firewood inside I got the fire going with some dry grass and Flintstones and went into the cave to get the meat I had cut up Hope it isn't spoiled yet

Picture Night Plains by danielwachter

© The Zero 零 Squad, 2013-2016