Total 1382 words
"Hey, watch where you're attacking! You got blood all over me, you idiot," the masked figure who had stabbed Jax complained, shaking off the thick, crimson splatter in disgust.
"Shut up," the other snapped. He gripped a massive, double-handed hammer, its metal head slick with fresh blood. Then, turning to Duke, his voice grew cold and indifferent.
"Now, what should we do with him?"
Duke stood frozen.
His chest tightened like a vice, his breath hitching in his throat. His vision swam. His mind screamed at him to move—but his body refused.
For the first time in his life, he felt true, paralyzing terror.
His hands trembled violently, slick with sweat. His legs felt weak, barely keeping him upright. The weight of death loomed over him, suffocating.
"Is this how I'm going to die?" The thought gripped him like a noose, choking him.
"Leave him. He's not worth it," the masked girl said, her tone sharp and dismissive.
The man who had stabbed Jax scowled. "Hey, what do you mean by that?" His frustration bled into his voice. "He's already seen your white hair. He might talk."
The masked girl was unfazed. "Two more people have seen it besides him."
"Wow, are you trying to get us caught?" the masked man growled.
She scoffed. "You're the one who killed a soldier earlier. What, were you trying to get us caught?"
The man's face twisted in anger. "Why, you bit—!"
Before he could finish, the brute with the hammer spoke in a deep, unwavering voice.
"I've decided. I'll kill him."
His massive frame loomed over Duke, his broad shoulders casting a shadow over the snow. He took slow, deliberate steps forward.
Duke tried to lift his sword—but his arms wouldn't move.
"That's it... it's over."
Then—
A weak hand grasped his leg.
"Ughh... d-don't do it..."Jax choked out, barely clinging to life. His bloodied fingers tightened around the brute's ankle.
The masked man's eyes widened. "What?! He's still alive?"
The hammer-wielding man didn't even look down. "Move."
Jax didn't let go. He clung to the brute's leg, his bloodied fingers digging in.
The brute finally glanced down. Then, without hesitation—
"I'll finish you first."
**"STOPIT!"**
Duke's voice pierced the night.
With a desperate burst of courage, he charged forward, sword in hand.
**"AHHHHH!"**
The brute turned, eyes narrowing. With a single, fluid motion, he swung his hammer.
Duke's blade met the weapon mid-air—
**CLANG!**
A shockwave exploded through his arms. His sword snapped in half, metal shards scattering into the snow. The force sent Duke stumbling back, his hands numb.
The masked man sneered. "Just a moment ago, you couldn't even move. Now you're charging at us? Watching your friend die really lit a fire in you, huh?"
Duke didn't respond.
He kept moving.
With reckless determination, he lunged at the brute—unarmed.
The brute barely reacted.
**With a single motion, he raised his arm—blocking Duke's punch effortlessly.**
Then—
**BAM!**
A crushing fist slammed into Duke's stomach.
**"Ughhh!"** His breath left him in a violent gasp as his body folded in half. Pain exploded through his core.
His knees **buckled.** He collapsed into the snow.
"Hey, stop it!"
The masked girl's voice cut through the cold air.
"He saved me when I fainted near the river."
The masked man blinked. "What? For real?"
"Yeah. Do whatever you want with the other guy, but leave him."
The brute scoffed. "Tch. I don't care about your reasons." He cracked his neck, gripping his hammer tighter. "I just feel like crushing some heads. Either one will do."
He turned back toward Jax, who lay barely breathing in the snow.
Heavy footsteps crunched forward.
Meanwhile, the masked girl crouched beside Duke.
"Hey... what's your name?"
Duke barely heard her. His vision blurred. His breathing ragged.
"Please... stop it,"he begged, voice breaking.
"Hey, look at me," she insisted.
But Duke's gaze remained fixed behind her.
His body tensed.
Beyond her, the hammer rose high into the air.
Then—
**SLAM!**
The weapon crashed down.
A sickening spray of blood splattered across the snow.
Duke's body trembled. His breath hitched. Tears welled in his eyes.
"Hey, don't cry,"the masked girl said softly. "He only ended his suffering."
Duke clenched his fists, his shoulders shaking.
Her expression darkened. "Hey! Stop crying!" she suddenly snapped, her voice sharp and impatient.
Duke sniffled, trying to suppress the sobs.
She sighed, crouching beside him again. This time, her voice was gentle. "Tell me your name."*
"D-Duke Vento..." he muttered between shaky breaths.
She tilted her head. "Duke, huh? That's a pretty name."
Then, with a small smirk, she stood up.
"Well, Mr. Vento, thank you for saving me earlier. I'll never forget you."
Duke barely lifted his head.
Then—
**BAM!**
A sudden kick to the face sent him sprawling into the snow.
His mind reeled, stars flashing behind his eyes.
"Thank you so much,"she whispered mockingly.
Then—**another kick.**
Then **another.**
Then **another.**
She stomped his ribs. Over and over.
Each strike carried pent-up frustration, anger, and something deeper—something unspoken.
The masked man chuckled. "Hah! What a way to say thank you."
The brute grunted. "That's worse than getting hit by a hammer."
"Ahh... ahhh..."She finally stopped, breathing heavily.
Then, she placed her boot firmly on Duke's head.
"Thank you, Mr. Vento."
"Hey, soldiers are coming! We gotta go!" the masked man called out.
The brute cracked his neck. "Yeah, let's move."
The masked girl gave Duke one last glance.
"Yeah."
Then—
They disappeared into the night.
Soldiers rushed toward them, their boots pounding against the snow. Frederick was among them. His eyes widened at the brutal scene—two soldiers lay dead, their bodies mangled beyond recognition. Then his gaze fell on Duke, barely clinging to consciousness, his body battered and broken.
A few soldiers split off to chase the masked figures, while Frederick hurried to Duke's side.
Duke was trembling violently, his whole body shaking. Frederick knelt beside him.
"Hey, Duke—"
"Don't kill me! Don't kill me!"Duke screamed, his voice raw with terror, tears streaming down his face.
"Hey, calm down! It's me—Frederick,"he said firmly.
Duke's eyes flickered with recognition. "S-Sir Frederick..."His voice cracked, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks. *"They... they killed them right in front of me. I couldn't do anything..."
Frederick's jaw tightened. He's in shock... The sight of those men being slaughtered had shaken him to his core.
"Hey, Duke... I've seen my loved ones die too,"Frederick said, his voice steady but laced with something heavy—something deeper than sympathy. "I cried too. But over time, I realized something—crying won't fix anything. We can't bring back the dead."
Duke sucked in a shaky breath, his trembling slowing.
"Look at the situation in front of you,"Frederick continued, his tone firm. "What can you do right now? The only thing we can do is figure out how to become stronger than them."
"Situations like this will either break you or make you stronger,"Frederick said, his gaze unwavering. "The choice is yours."
Duke took a shaky breath, trying to calm himself. His hands still trembled, but he forced himself to focus.
"Alright, let's heal you first," Frederick said, his tone gentler now.
As Frederick tended to Duke, the other soldiers gathered the bodies of their fallen comrades, their faces grim. A heavy silence hung in the air—one of grief, but also of quiet determination.
Two soldiers carefully lifted Duke, supporting his weight as they prepared to move him. He winced but didn't resist. His body ached, but the pain was nothing compared to the turmoil inside him.
Frederick stood up, his gaze hardening as he looked toward the snowy horizon. The enemy had escaped this time—but next time, things would be different.