Project Lumina

The Malignants closed in on the market, their grotesque forms moving with frightening speed. Villagers screamed and scattered, but Abell stood firm, eyes locked on the approaching monsters. The air was thick with the smell of fear and the sounds of chaos.

Hugo stepped forward, ready to fight, but Keeko raised her arm to stop him. "Let him handle this," she said, her voice calm but confident.

Abell's heart raced as he stepped forward, his sword glowing brightly. The first Malignant charged, its hulking form radiating raw power. Its claws scraped the ground, sending sparks flying, and its glowing eyes locked onto Abell with deadly focus. A bone-rattling roar shook the air.

Abell lunged, sword raised, but the Malignant moved faster. It swiped with immense force, the claws slicing through the air. Abell barely dodged, feeling the wind as the attack gouged the earth where he'd stood, dirt flying in all directions.

 It was relentless. Every movement of the Malignant seemed designed to trap him, corner him, break him. Abell's chest heaved with the effort of dodging, his mind struggling to keep up with the creature's speed and brutality.

The Malignant, enraged by Abell's constant evasion, powered up for a full-force swing. It reared back, rising on its hind legs, ready to strike. But he was faster-he rolled to the side, slashing at its back leg and causing the beast to stumble. In a single, swift motion, Abell drove his sword into its back, finishing the creature off with a fatal strike.

 Hugo's eyes widened, a smirk spreading across his face. "Impressive for a kid. At fifteen, I was terrified of Malignants."

Abell took a deep breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. But before he could relax, the next Malignant appeared, moving slower but more methodical, its claws scraping the ground as it advanced.

His mind flashed back to his mother's words: Control your temper, keep a sound mind. But the creature's dark energy stirred something within him. He charged forward with a growl, his sword swinging fiercely—but he missed. The Malignant's claws raked across the air, and he barely avoided the strike.

The two Malignants worked together now, closing in on him from both sides. Abell adjusted his stance quickly, bracing for impact. The first Malignant pounced, and he raised his sword just in time, using it as a shield. The claws dug into his arm, and a sharp pain shot through him as the blood began to drip down.

Keeko sighed from the distance, her voice tinged with frustration. "I told that boy to think."

Abell gritted his teeth as the creatures attacked again. He barely dodged another swipe, his sword flickering with less and less light. He knew his time was running out. But then, an idea struck him. He baited the Malignant to strike again, letting it lash out with its claws. He braced himself, taking the hit head-on.

With a swift, powerful move, he swung his sword, piercing the Malignant's heart. It staggered back with a guttural roar, collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

But before he could catch his breath, the last Malignant charged with insane speed. Abell's heart skipped a beat as it closed in on him. His sword was flickering, almost out of energy.

"Damn, it's been 15 minutes," he muttered, trying to steady his hands.

He closed his eyes for a moment, bracing for impact. The thud of the creature's charge echoed in his chest. He felt the weight of the beast's footsteps getting closer, too close.