Chapter 68: Burn It All Down
The weighty thud of footsteps followed by heavy, labored breathing filled Shade’s ears as he surged towards the forest exit, flames licking at his heels. He vaulted over a fallen tree trunk and finally burst free.
"It appears that the demon has come back to ruin our celebration."
Shade Cromwell rolled his eyes. Some villagers stood before him, clutching what looked like crude weapons, clearly planning an ambush. They didn’t wait for him to respond, charging with their grotesque weapons, intent on killing him on the spot.
The villagers screamed and swung their weapons, but Shade dodged easily. As they continued to rush him, the young man suddenly crouched and groaned in pain. A triumphant roar rose from the villagers.
The mole beside his left eye began to burn, a pulsating agony to the point that he could no longer keep both eyes open. He squeezed his eyes shut, a futile attempt to block the pain, stumbling as a blade whistled past his ear.
The miasma leaking out from the villagers didn’t just stain the air, it seeped into him, and with each breath, his vision flared, his eyes shifted from black to searing red.
Shade screamed, clutching his head, desperately trying to cling to his sanity. The throbbing refused to stop; his eyes felt like they were burning from the inside. Nothing could hold him back as he unleashed his flames, starting with the villagers.
They shrieked in agony as the red flames swallowed them into madness. Blood wept from their eyes, and they cursed the young man, calling him the demon he truly was.
Flames enveloped Shade, but he felt no heat. All he could feel was the relentless throbbing behind his mole. The young man stumbled into the village’s plaza. Screams of terror filled the air as the other villagers feared the mighty god of death had finally come to drag them all to hell for their sins.
"Forgive us, oh lord."
Some villagers dropped to their knees, pleading and trying to avert Shade’s wrath as he marched towards the underground prison, leaving smoldering remnants of his flames behind. As he entered, a dense wave of miasma washed over him, forcing him to his knees, almost making him lose composure as he gasped for air.