Monster

“You shouldn’t even be alive, you monster!”

“I know…”

“Why, why are you doing this?!”

“I have to do this…”

“You have to kill innocent people, for what?!”

“To save them…”

Countless voices plagued Athena’s mind as she sat on a bed.

“I have to save them, no matter what!” Athena exclaimed in a low voice as she covered her face. The sounds of armor clunking around, caught her attention. The sounds stopped as it got to her door.

The voices grew louder as she grabbed the black longsword next to her. Not even a moment later, bangs could be heard on the door.

“ATHENA! HARBINGER OF THE ORGANIZATION SURRENDER YOURSELF OR WE WILL BE FORCED TO USE LETHAL FORCE!” A man’s voice roared out after the bangs. Silence lingered in the air afterwards which caused the man to frown.

“Prepare yourself for a fight.” He said to the 6 soldiers that were following him. “ON A COUNT OF TH-”

A loud boom shook the entire tavern as the door to the room completely shattered. Dust filled the corridor not even a millisecond later. The 6 soldiers took a defensive stance as they waited for the dust to settle.

“If you want to live, you should run.” Athena said to them as the dust settled. The soldiers completely froze up as they heard her. The sight of her looming over their fallen captain caused a tidal wave of fear to overcome them.

“We won’t run.” One of the soldiers took a step forward as he managed to overcome his fear. In an instant Athena disappeared from their view and a loud thud could be heard as she took him out.

“RUN, RUN WE CAN’T DEF-” Another soldier shouted only to be taken out by Athena.

Screams could be heard coming from the tavern as each soldier went down.

“PLEASE HAVE MER- Ugh” The final soldier begged only to be kicked out of the entrance of the tavern.

“GET IN FORMATION!” A middle aged man commanded the countless soldiers around him as he saw a brown-haired beastkin woman walk out of the entrance. In just a moment, the soldiers made a semi-circle around the front.

‘They look well trained.’ Athena couldn’t help but think as she looked at the soldiers. In the front the soldiers wielded giant shields, just behind them spear wielders readied their weapons.

“This is your final warning, stand down or you will die.” The middle aged man said in a loud voice as he glared at Athena.

Taking a deep breath, Athena readied her sword.

“PREPARE YOURSELVES!”

In one slash, Athena broke through their defenses. Quickly, the soldiers' numbers dwindled. Countless cries roared out, but soon they all died down as every soldier was taken out.

“Tell me, where is the Shrine Priestess?” Athena interrogated the middle aged man as she held him up by his throat.

“I… won’t… tell… you.” He managed to respond while choking in between words.

“How useless..”

Before she could bring her sword up, the middle aged man spit blood onto her face while smiling.

Looking at him with disbelief, Athena felt a wave of danger wash over her.

Right after tossing the man, she jumped backwards. In the next second a volley of arrows littered the ground where she just was.

“You should’ve stayed there… Miss Harbinger.” A woman’s voice rang out. In the next moment, a woman in a black kimono walked out of her cover. “Your death would’ve saved us all time.” After those words, even more soldiers appeared.

A deep frown replaced Athena’s calm expression as she looked at all the soldiers.

“Begin.” The woman commanded with a grin.

—---------------------------------

“What the hell happened here?” Yuuji couldn’t help but ask out loud.

Upon the crew entering the gates of Suijin, they were met with absolute destruction. The roads were littered with chunks of buildings, shops and homes were completely destroyed. Soldiers’ bodies littered the ground, it was unknown if they were alive or dead.

“Please… save the… Shrine… Priestess…” A soldier barely managed to let out as he crawled towards the crew. “That… monster… we couldn’t stop her.” After these words left his mouth, his head hit the ground as he lost consciousness.

Looking at each other quickly, the crew began sprinting as they followed the path of destruction. The disbelief grew on their faces as they got closer to their destination. How did this even happen? The confidence they had wavered as they inched closer.

“Where is the key to this nation?” A cold voice rang out as they reached the main shrine.

“I don’t know where it is.” Maho’s voice responded.

A step forward, they could see Athena holding Maho up against a wall with one hand, in her other was a black longsword.

“Tell the truth, I already took too much time on this.”

“I am telling you the tru-” Maho tried to respond. She was cut off as Athena threw her to the ground.

“Don’t lie to me, you are the Shrine Priestess, the second highest power in this nation.” Athena said as she pointed her sword at Maho’s face.

“ATHENA!” Yuuji screamed out.

Turning around, Athena could see Allen pointing his bow at her. Kazuma and Yuuji had their swords drawn and pointed at her.

Looking at Athena’s appearance the group couldn’t help but be scared, she was coated in dust, blood was streaked across her face and her lifeless eyes looked at them with no emotion.

“We can win against her.” Allen mumbled as he stared at her. “No, we will win against her.”

“You four, you won’t win.”

Athena took a step forward.

“Come, fight me, let’s get this over with.”

Kazuma and Yuuji closed the distance in a mere moment. A loud clang took over the area as Athena blocked Yuuji’s strike from above. A massive amount of pain took over Yuuji’s body as he felt Athena’s fist collide with his stomach which sent him barreling towards the ground.

Barely dodging Kazuma’s sword which would’ve cut her in two, Athena grabbed his collar and slammed him into the ground. Without giving her room to breath, Allen began to release arrow after arrow.

Athena couldn’t help but grit her teeth as she either blocked or dodged every arrow Allen shot at her. It was obvious he was trying to buy time for Kazuma and Yuuji and it was working effectively as Kazuma slowly got up.

Allen quickly made two swords as Kazuma began his assault on Athena.

“Yuuji! Are you okay?!” Amilia rushed to Yuuji's side.

“Yeah… Man that hurt.” Yuuji couldn’t help but say as he held his stomach. “Don’t try to heal me. We’re going to need you to use that spell you talked about…” Yuuji said as he put his hand up. “We can’t stop her in a fight.”

Both Amilia and Yuuji looked at Allen and Kazuma fighting, they were quickly being put at a disadvantage.

“Do it now!” Yuuji shouted as he stood up and grabbed his sword.

“O mighty snow,”

Athena’s eyes widened as she saw Amilia preparing her spell. Without a second thought, she swung her sword with all her strength at Kazuma. He was instantly brought to his knees, without giving him a chance she struck his temple with her free hand.

“ALLEN WE HAVE TO PROTECT AMILIA! C’MON!” Yuuji screamed as he watched Kazuma collapse.

“On it!” Allen exclaimed as he brought his swords down.

“Pour your rage.“

Side stepping his attack, launched a kick to Allen’s stomach which sent him flying backwards.

“Onto those who“

Before Yuuji could react, Athena grabbed his head and smashed it into the ground.

Amilia’s incantation slowed as the scene of her companions being decimated sent a tidal wave of fear down her spine. Seeing this, Athena began to dash towards her.

‘I have to do this!’ Amilia began to finish the incantation at a higher speed as Athena inched closer.

Everything around her slowed, sounds began to muffle as Athena pulled her arm back.

“Defy you.”

‘I have to-’

An arrow pierced through Athena’s wrist, causing her to drop her sword. Catching it with her other hand.

Amilia’s visioned went completely black in the next moment.