The Legend of Zoltak

The air in the facility hung heavy with despair, each breath laden with the stench of decay and iron. Every step I took felt like a betrayal to myself, my fear forcing me to keep moving. Beside me, Rylan hummed softly, his light footsteps at odds with the oppressive atmosphere. He didn't fit here—not in the way anyone else did.

Then, that scream.

It wasn't just a sound; it was a knife slicing through the air, sharp and filled with pure, unfiltered terror. I froze, my stomach twisting into a knot. I knew that voice. It was the woman from earlier—the one Zarek had dragged away.

Rylan paused too, his humming ceasing abruptly. The cheer in his stride faded as he turned toward the source of the sound.

"Don't," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Keep walking. You don't want to get involved."

He turned his head, and that smile he gave me wasn't kind. It was calm, too calm, and yet there was something unspoken beneath it—something far darker. "Kindly step aside," he said, his voice polite, almost pleasant.

"Sir Rylan, I mean it—"

But he was already moving, heading toward the door without a backward glance. My chest tightened as I hesitated, my body screaming at me to stay put, to not follow. But something about him, about that smile, compelled me to move after him.

The scene in the room made my blood run cold.

Zarek towered over the woman, striped bear, his hand around her neck, the other gripping a handgun. She was bruised, bleeding, and trembling, her eyes wide with pain and terror.

"Oh my, what do we have here?" Rylan's voice broke the tension, light and playful, as though he had stumbled upon an amusing sight.

Zarek turned, his sneer faltering slightly before hardening again. "And who the hell are you?"

Rylan ignored the question, his gaze sweeping over the room, pausing briefly on the woman before landing back on Zarek. "You find pleasure in all sorts of things, don't you?"

"Filth like this are made to satisfy people like us," Zarek spat, shoving the woman roughly to the floor. "And you, I'd suggest you get tha hell outta here now before things get's dicey, If you don't, I'll make sure you walk outta here with some loose limbs. Got that?"

"Oh my, apologies, I honestly don't want any trouble, was just seeing me self out along with the escort until I heard a huge noise I just couldn't ignore!"

"You, aren't you supposed to tell him how things work around here? we can't just have pieces of shit move about how they please."

Zarek said with an aggressive tone towards me. He then pulled my arm towards him, grabbed me and pushed me towards a wall. His hands as defiling as ever. I stood frozen, my eyes cast down at the floor as Zarek's hand closed around my wrist. hi grip was like a vice, and i knew better than to try and pull away.

"You're supposed to keep an eye on him, not let him wander off," he growled, his breath hot against my ear. His fingers dug into my skin, and I felt a familiar surge of pain and fear.

I didn't dear look up, didn't dear say a word. I knew what would happen if I did. I'd learned that lesson that hard way, many times before. Zerek's hand slid up my arm, his fingers tracing the curve on my shoulder. I felt a shudder run through me, but I didn't move . I couldn't move.

"You're just a lazy, good-for-nothing stupid elf" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "you are only good for one thing, and that's pleasing me. And you're not even doing that right, are you?" His hand closed around my breast, squeezing hard. I felt a surge of pain and humiliation, but I didn't make a sound. I knew better than to make a sound.

"This isn't the first time, is it?" Zarek spat, his voice venomous, "This isn't the second or third time, either. You're always letting your charges get away from you." He pulled closer, his face inches from mine. I could feel his hot breath on my skin, and I knew I was in for a long night.

"You're lucky I don't report you to Darius," he sneered. "you'd be in for a world of hurt if I did you know, so be grateful." I felt a surge of fear at his words, but I didn't dare respond. Zarek's grip on my breast tightened, and I felt a wave of pain wash over me. I tried to push him away, but he was too strong.

"And you how long do you plan on staying there? or is this some kind of show to you? Beat it or else" Zarek pointed his arcane **volker** against Rylan.

"Ok no need to get violent here, I'll leave. Just like you said, this is no place for a merchant." He said with a calm voice and turned away, just seeing him turn made my chest ache, why? it not like I expected anything? I need to wake up, this is and forever will be my life, no need to cling to false hope.

And just as I thought I was going to pass out from the pain, Zerek's grip relaxed, what a bloody bastard I'd snap his arms if I could but what good will that do. He looked down, his eyes narrowing, and I followed his gaze.

The woman who was lying on the ground, her eyes fixed on Zerek's leg. She was holding onto it, her fingers digging deep into his flesh. Zerek's face twisted with anger, and he looked down at the woman, his eyes blazing with fury. "What tha...?" 

**_Bang._**

The shot from his arcane **volker**, sent a piercing shell that ruptured her skull, dismantling her brains, flesh and hair splattering them all over the floors and walls.

Her lifeless body slumped to the floor, and I felt bile rise in my throat. The room spun as I struggled to process what I had just witnessed.

Then, at that moment.

The air shifted, heavy and stifling, as though the room itself recoiled. Rylan stopped mid-step, his head tilting slightly as an unnatural silence blanketed the space. I looked at him, and what I saw made my blood freeze. His eyes were glowing—a crystalline blue that seemed to pierce through reality itself.

"The Void Talons," he said softly, his voice devoid of emotion. "I've heard of your organization. A group of multiple rouge adventurers and one of the most wanted factions across the three great nations. You've evaded justice countless times haven't' you?"

Zarek took a step back, his bravado faltering. "What zhe hell are you ta..."

He didn't finish.

Rylan moved faster than I could process. In the blink of an eye, Zarek's jaw was crushed and his head was torn from his body, his spine still attached. Blood sprayed across the room, warm and sticky, some of it landing on my face. I stared, unable to breathe, as Rylan held Zarek's severed head aloft, his expression cold and unfeeling.

Some guards caught sight of the incident and sounded the alarm. After that they tried to apprehend him only for him to deliver a kick to snap off one the guard's neck and a swift hammer kick to the skull of the other. He then proceeds to leave the room. I couldn't still comprehend what just happened, I asked myself what he is? and his motives was? I had to gather enough will power in other to just take a single step from such horrific scene.

Heavy footsteps pounded against the floor as outlanders swarmed the outside. Rylan stepped out of the room tossed the head aside like trash as he walked outside the corridor.

"One, two, three, ten, fifteen, thirty, forty-five, fifty... Fifty of you?" he said aloud, his voice calm, almost curious. "Well, that just won't do."

Darius's voice cut through the noise, sharp and commanding. "What are you, really? Some kind of enforcer?"

Rylan turned, his glowing eyes narrowing as a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "No. I'm Just a humble merchant."

Then, chaos.

Rylan launched himself into the group with terrifying speed. His fists tore through bodies, each blow shattering bones and tearing flesh. A warrior swung a massive axe at him, but Rylan caught it mid-swing, snapping the blade in half with his bare hands before driving it through the man's chest.

Another mage outlander casted Ice spells in other to stop him in his track but Rylan dodged them effortlessly, grabbing the woman by the throat and slamming her into the ground with enough force to splinter the stone floor.

The bloodbath continued, a symphony of screams and crunching bones. Rylan's glowing aura deflected spells and arrows alike, and his movements were a blur of precision and brutality. He wasn't just fighting—he was dismantling them, piece by piece, as though tearing apart a machine.

I couldn't look away.

Darius descended the staircase, his greatsword gleaming in the dim light. He surveyed the carnage, his face unreadable. "I see you have had your fun. But it ends now, I'm going to kill you and feed your torn body to the crows" he said, his voice cold and commanding.

Rylan stopped turning to face him. Glowing markings around his arms and face began to pulse faintly with a blue color like his eyes, illuminating the blood-soaked corridor. "Ah, Darius, leader of the Void Talons, you're a legend you know, you have a huge bounty on your head, even the three nations are willing to pay massively for your head. But just for clarification, I'm not bounty hunter. " he said, his tone light. "Shall we?"

Darius didn't respond, instead lifting his greatsword called the rashin—a monstrous weapon crafted from the bones and venom of a **Gnatuh**, a ferocious wingless wyvern we captured not to long ago, its scales and fangs are as tough as steel with a deadly venom for immobilizing and killing it pry. "You've caused enough trouble for me, stranger. Let's see if you can back up that arrogance."

Their clash was cataclysmic.

Darius's sword came down with a thunderous crash, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground. Rylan caught the blade with his bare hands, his glowing aura flaring as he held it in place. The ground beneath them cracked, unable to withstand the force.

"You've got strength," Rylan said, his voice calm despite the strain. "But strength alone isn't just enough." They both sprinted to opposite sides creating distance between them. Darius charges in with his massive greatsword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Raylan, his eyes locked on his opponent, danced around Darius's powerful blows. His movement were a blur of speed and agility. he adapted to each attack, his reflexes inhuman.

Darius enraged by his inability to land a blow, unleashed a frenzied flurry of blows and swings. Rylan dodged and parry each attack, breath steady and controlled. Rylan seized an opening, his fist flying in a precise, devastating blow. Darius eyes widened as Rylan's knuckles connected with his chest, the sound of snapping rips echoing through the room like a sickening crack.

The impact sent the larger man skidding back, but he recovered quickly, swinging his sword in a wide arc.

Rylan ducked under the swing, delivering a devastating uppercut that shattered part of Darius's jaw. Blood sprayed from the wound, but Darius didn't falter.

"You think you're unstoppable hun?" Darius growled, his voice slurred but fierce. "You're nothing but a freak."

Rylan's smile returned, cold and humorless. "And you're nothing but a relic."

Their battle raged on, each blow shaking the facility. Darius's strikes were wild but powerful, his sword leaving deep gouges in the walls and floor. Rylan's movements, in contrast, were precise and calculated, his fists finding their mark with bone-shattering force.

Darius managed to land a glancing blow, his sword cutting into Rylan's shoulder. Blood seeped from the wound, but Rylan barely reacted. Instead, he grabbed the blade, wrenching it from Darius's grip and snapping it in half.

"You rely too much on your toys," Rylan said, tossing the broken sword aside.

Darius roared in frustration, charging at Rylan with his fists. But it was over.

Rylan caught him mid-charge, driving his knee into Darius's skull with enough force to rupture his frontal bone. Darius collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood as he struggled to breathe.

"I get it now...that feeling has been bothering me but I finally remember who you are" Darius rasped, he stood up, face covered in blood and faced Rylan. "You are the s..."

Rylan sprinted towards Darius with immense speed preventing him form completing his statement. In a blink of an eye, chaotic energy gathering in his palm, and brought it down on Darius. The resulting explosion reduced the surrounding area to rubble leaving Darius buried underneath, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.

The individuals in the facility that witnessed this all ran out to escape, some saying "This is our chance let's get out of here" "Finally we are free, we are free!!" the sound of multiple people running out as their long awaited dream finally comes to a reality.

As the dust settled, I remained frozen in place, my mind struggling to comprehend what I had just witnessed. Rylan turned, his expression somber as he walked away. I could tell this isn't something he wanted? he wasn't particularly easy to read although I can't get a sense of victory in his eyes. He wasn't a hero sent to free us that for sure. But that ability of his...strange. I decided to follow him and suddenly he stopped.

"Why are you following me?" he asked without looking back.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stand. "You technically destroyed the only place I had left," I said, my voice shaking. "So You sorta, owe me."

He paused, face with confusion, glancing over his shoulder. "Wha? what do you mean owe, aren't you the bit terrified?"

I shook my head, forcing a smirk. "Whaaaaat??? come one I've seen worse. besides I really have no where to go from here on out"

"And you trust me? what if I'm just worse as they are, You are honestly better off alone. go find your paren...?" He stopped midway in his sentence after he saw my face, turns out a tear broke out without me noticing.

"A..am sorry, I sincerely apologize, I overstepped, it true now you have no where for you to go and that's my fault so yes that is my responsibility to take but are you sure about this?"

"Well it only a matter of time before they start looking for us again after they reorganized themselves and If I come with you I have a better chance at surviving and not being caught than the others. I promise to make up for the inconvenience however I can. "

He sighed, placing a hand on my collar. With a faint glow, it shattered, falling to the ground. Tears streamed down my face as I took my first breath of freedom.

Rylan looked startled. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I said quickly, wiping my face. "Now, lead the way."

For the first time in years, I felt hope stir within me.