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2024-10-29 19:42:56The forest was thick. And the darkness was all over him, too. All Aden had as a guide was the gleaming, white dog that seemed to have absorbed the presence of the night with its glow. He had wondered, outside the woods, was time still stopping? Had the world still remained frozen?
In those dark and dusky clutter of trees were the only two beings that could pass through the frozen night. Aden grunted as he tried to run behind the dog as fast as he could, while occasionally being hurt by the branches and the bushes he was passing.
The quiet dog—to no surprise—would not give any sign or acknowledgement of anything except for a quick glance to watch him then back to the run again. The dog expected Aden to keep the same pace.
Aden continued to wheeze through the bushes and the shrubberies, the shining moon—covered by the cape of grove—absent through all of it. He wanted to ask the dog to stop for a moment, or to wait. But he knew, somehow, the
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God Hounds Chapter 27: The Guides
Aden and Abel sat on the quiet wooden stairs overlooking the backyard. Overlooking the guarding woods around them in that forest. Aden remembered, this was also the last place where they both talked before Aden received his name and his calling. Abel gestured towards the white dog, sleeping silently on the grass floor. “How long has he been sleeping?” Abel asked.“He slept the whole trip,” Aden said. Tired from all the recent mess.Abel nodded and chapped his lips. “Must’ve been tired,” he replied.Aden continued to look on, staring at it intently through pondering eyes. “It stopped time…” he said.“What?” Abel said.“The dog, man. It… stopped time,” Aden replied. “When we were escaping. I mean, I don’t even think it’s just a dog at all…”Abel squinted his eyes at him, smirking. He nodded subtly, then stared back a
God Hounds Chapter 28: Where Is The Path?
Nightfall.Aden and Abel walked in familiarity across the strange—although (to them) known world—that had long hidden itself inside the forest. To a stranger, it was a fallen architect of death and terror created for a poor soul’s collapse. To Aden, the forest itself—a symbol in human form, it was just a web of secrets in the pleasure of the night. A museum of eldritch knowledge and… chaos. Some would say… a god’s little amusement. But to Aden, he knew, it was just another testing ground.And at the end of that testing ground, was just another prize that had been waiting for him. The tribe, Abel had said. The ritual. The darkness of the forest seemed not only to encompass them, but also to linger across their skin and in their head. They could hear whispers. Eerie thoughts being implanted at the back of their heads. Strange pictures… even stranger noises.All of it, just preparation for the night.The whi
God Hounds Chapter 29: Kastrel
“Ailan,” whispers seized Aden from an unknown dimension. As if the voices had breached some sort of barrier and has now filled his ears with hisses and sneers. “Ailan,” and other words he could not recognize anymore; it just kept going. His eyes had not recovered from the flash. But he knew anyway, that he wasn’t there with Agapito and the others anymore. This was one of those… memories.The air around him had begun to change. And the voices drew closer. Whispers… of women. Or just one. Repeating his name. Ailan. The bright flash from the torch had now turned into a darker shade. Now a burning orange, as his vision dazed from the watching himself be sucked in to another… vision.Then there he was… in another space and time. In another state. He felt like the wind. Just passing through the plane invisibly, but seeing all. Aden saw—and was now witnessing—some sort of ritual. A far away place, he knew.
God Hounds Chapter 30: Nukasuni
There was chanting at first. Voices from tribal choirs seemed to circle him invisibly. Hallucinations of the forest. An illusion; and he hoped that the rat was too. But they were nonetheless there. And their chorus had demanded a fight. Had demanded an end.Gradually, the choir grew. Accompanying the humming voices were progressive drums that echoed across the air. All that, but Aden knew he was alone.The darkness continued to worry him. If the beast was going to pounce, he knew he wouldn’t be ready. He didn’t know where. But Aden could feel it. Waiting. Stalking. Looking for the right time.He had stopped shouting for Agapito’s name or Edgar’s. They weren’t going to come. This was his fight. So he gripped his blade tightly, leveling it to his head—preparing enough force and angle to cut through the rat’s eye with just one push.He wheezed through the process, the beating of the drums and the humming of the
God Hounds Chapter 31: Tadya hadj'ayer
The forest was filled with noises within the shrubberies. Gasping, wheezing, looking for air as they squeezed through the forest darkness—trying to find their long-lost target. “Come on!” Aden shouted. “Almost there!” Almost where? He had only heard the rat’s noises but he still couldn’t pinpoint how far… or how close.More sounds emanated from the forest as Aden watched the tall plants and branches fall apart beneath him with his ritual blade. They had hit it. Again. With an arrow. And with enough desire to just end the night and the hunt, Aden and the others were chasing it down.The dog relied on its instinct, on its senses. The beast’s blood was putrid enough for the hound to detect it and stream it with his noise. Between those gaps for air, and those wincing from the shrubberies, another voice like thunder disseminated in the air. Aden wasn’t sure if the others heard it, too. But it was there, for him.
God Hounds Chapter 32: Never About Being Ready
Ailan Dei Kastrel. Datu of the goddess Ledanai’i. The goddess of domination. He looked at the orb positioned rightly below him, with shaking hands. He had to do it, he thought. Otherwise Ledanai’i would just keep coming for him. He had to kill Dante, and the others. But honestly, he knew, Dante in particular.At least if he leaves the tribe of Leadanai’i for good, there was a fighting chance. He had already resurrected Nukasuni from the void’s grave. All that was left to do was to commit to it. What was one soul more to him, right? What was one more death to the champion of the goddess of domination?Everyone had gatherer within the temple walls. A secret location Ledanai’i had purposefully made for them, where—with one push of the stone button—Ailan could end it.After all, everything had gone according to plan, hadn’t it? Ailan asked himself. The ‘hypnosis’ of it all. The manipulation. The mental illu
God Hounds Chapter 33: But That Was A Long Time Ago
Maria looked over the sunset that shined thoroughly on the village’s overlooking bluff. Aden—Ailan—didn’t understand, she thought. To the man beside him, this was the second or third time they met here on the bluff. To her, this was one of many. With Ailan. She let the morning breeze pass through her for a second, as she thought of what to say. It was approaching noon. Pretty soon, Aden—once again—would need to go. She felt like she was talking to a different person right now. And she was begging, in her heart, for a way to carve Ailan Dei Kastrel out of him. How she felt about him… was still there. And Ailan hadn’t died… but the memories. She hoped, that at some point while they were in that forest: Aden remembered the same memories as her. She looked to him, smirking—squinting and turning away from the sunlight. Maria crossed her arms, “Why delay?” she asked. It was the only words that came to her mind. It had been hours since Aden came back from the hunt, and they
God Hounds Chapter 34: The Things I Want To Keep
Even if the day was blessed with a weather and a kind of sunlight that would only come at least once a month, even if the village and the forest, and the mountains, had it pleasant; wherever Aden went—it seemed—something else would always follow. As long as Ailan and those who knew him were still alive, uncertainty would always be there for him. Leven stepped out of the black car on the privilege of pressing sunlight. His sunglasses gleamed against the pleasant rays as it also hid the agenda in his eyes. Still, though, his smile and just the fact that someone else—someone other than Aden—was there gave it all away.Leven approached the old, overgrown, yellow house on the side of the highway within the forest. It had remained as conforming to the woods as it should be, and they had preferred it that way. Leven’s grin, however, had easily changed things. Easily changed the air.Abel stepped out of the house, the wooden stairs creaking at the
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- God Hounds
Epilogue
Alice was back in her home in the town of Urrutia. It was still too early to come out of hiding. Their enemies, the other clans that Ledanai’i stirred to war, were still waiting for them. She missed Cavite, and the other places she used to freely go to. The silence in the room she was in was able to push her to that remembrance. Dante, she sat there on her bed thinking. Are you happy? Was this what we wanted? A crash before the growth of something else? Did I do it? Was I successful? It had completely been a year since his death.Alice buried her face in her palms. She was tired, but now she had rest waiting for her. A little break before a few more. Where does this lead to?She lifted her head from her palms, and checked the tattoo on her arm. It was still burning: the new one. She recognized the symbols immediately. There was a dragon, a hound, and a deer… fighting. It was the first new tattoo the Void had given her sin
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Chapter 68 – Blood
The village deep in the forest had not taken lightly to the news that Nukasuni was dead. To pay respects, and even more than that, they were silent and inside their homes. A great bonfire was lit just outside the village.Aden stood on top of the cliff, as always. Maria wasn’t there with him. Instead, it was Alice who he saw and he heard the footsteps.“Are you finally here to kill me?” Aden asked.Alice stared back in silence, but her eyes did not show surprise. She narrowed her eyes on him. “I find that you’re of better use to us alive. Besides, I know there’s still one more thing you need to do. I know that’ll benefit us.”Aden nodded. “My family. They’re alive.”Alice nodded back, with a slight smile. “Are you really going there?”“They’re alive,” Aden replied. “And I have questions.”Alice scoffed, then shook her head.
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Chapter 67, Part 3 – Throne
They coughed through the wave of dust and smoke. Alice and Lyle were closest to the crash. Lyle supported her sister while he tried to dispel the thick dust and smoke with his hand. Aden walked slowly along their direction. The last thing he saw were the antlers striking through Nukasuni’s body.Then, finally, the air’s curtains slowly withered. As if joining the thick layer’s erasure, the clouds from above had also moved past the island, allowing for the blue sky and the shining sun to strike through them.It was clear, now. And they were looking at Ledanai’i’s lifeless body, then to Nukasuni’s as well. The dragon was almost out of breath. The three stood beside the dragon, looking helplessly at the life-taking wounds in his body.Nukasuni, gasping for little air, still managed to lift his head not to look at that the three, but to stare back at Ledanai’i. The deer had no life in it left, not after the broken antler tha
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Chapter 67, Part 2 – Throne
“Hold the line! Remember the choke points! And wait for my signal!” Lyle exclaimed into the radio wrapped on his wrist, connected to his earpiece. There were stragglers, those who managed to avoid their ambushing force. Lyle and Aden made quick work of them. The rest of the Ledanai’i were pinned down, pushed away farther and farther from what now was the gods’ arena.“We’re not gonna hold much longer, Alice,” added Lyle. “This better work.”Alice heaved and raced for her breath. “It will.” She coughed, and closed her eyes. Sparks of lightning, little by little, gathered around her. Her tattoo glowed.Lyle watched the scene then focused back to the choke points. “Let’s give her more time,” he radioed again.“I’ll support the front,” Aden said, rushing to that direction. “You got this, Lyle?”There were three more stragglers in view, abou
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Chapter 67 – Throne
“Nukasuni!” Ledanai’i howled, her back on the ground while she struggled to stare at the burning images of Nukasuni and Kadlum. Compared to the form Ledanai’i took, Nukasuni and Kadlum seemed like giants to her. But…Come on, show yourself, Alice thought. She waited, as she untied the guards with her. Where’s that goddess?Lyle and Aden dashed towards Alice in the center while the Ledanai’i were pinned down by the attack. “How’s it feel to best a goddess in mind control?” Aden said.Alice chuckled. Before infiltrating the temple, Aden had taught her how to recognize when someone was trying to influence and corrupt the mind. Although it had almost overcome Alice, that slight second of recognition and preparation made it all possible. “The Ledanai’i at the port?” asked Alice.“Dead,” replied Aden. “All dead.”Alice nodded back as s
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Chapter 66 - Corruption
Three days ago…Replacing the ambient noise of the humming engine was the crackling of the large fire ahead. It was concentrated, far from harming the trees surrounding it. It was encircled by the forest, but it was just a little far enough so the leaves wouldn’t catch fire. It wasn’t a bonfire, no. Aden and Alice walked closer. The crackling was now matched with intense heat. It was a deep depression on the ground, almost like a freshly-dug mass grave. Only, the grave it was housing was that of the embers of the fire.Aden stepped closer to the fire, examining the concentrated flames bursting from within the ground. Alice had not followed him. Instead, she stood far behind Aden in the cover of the trees.A few more seconds, and then Aden heard more than just crackling in the fire. Left and right, from within the shrubbery… movement. Aden looked to the sound. He sighed, as the figures came to light. “We were never here fo
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Chapter 65 – Goddess
“You?” Alice said under her breath. She had had her fair share of meetings with gods and goddesses. But, this was different. She narrowed her eyes at her even more. “Ledanai’i?”The tall woman chuckled softly at her. “You were expecting something else?” Her eyes twinkled against the morning light.Alice remained silent. She gripped the jar of ashes tightly.Ledanai’i noticed the sudden shift in her grip. She looked down on the jar and looked at it with motherly glance. She chuckled. “Ailan’s eyes… you’ve finally come back to me, my child.” She tried to reach out to caress the jar, but Alice slightly jerked the jar away. They met eyes again.Ledanai’i smirked. “I understand.” She blinked softly, then sighed. “How is Kadlum?”“Alive,” Alice broke her silence. “But not so much as to give you his regards,” Alice cocked he
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Chapter 64, Part 2 – The Island
As Alice and Karel walked across the paved road towards the island’s centre, the temple, she felt more uneasy. Like the stone pillars from before, the structures that trailed beside the roads were of ancient origin. They were either built for shorter people, or just people with limited resources in an early civilization. They were ruins, traced with squarish patterns of demons and ill kind as engravings. The stone they used to make it was so old the color had seemed to fade. But the Ledanai’i didn’t stop using them. Instead of building newer buildings, they utilized the old ones and repaired them with their own resources. Still, looking at the mix of ancient and modern architecture in one building, Alice felt uncomfortable. She was looking at something new and strange to her, and she had no way of guessing how to understand it. The Ledanai’i, indeed, weren’t just people. Some of them… hardly blinked. All of them were harrowingly quiet ex
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Chapter 64, Part 1 – The Island
‘The Wanderer’s Pier’ was the what they called it. It was a small hidden docks detached so far from civilization that Alice and her men needed several local guides from the remote villages. When they arrived, a handful of Ledanai’i’s men were already waiting in the area. They sat on wooden boxes and crates, and some were inside the small hut stationed beside the pier. Beyond the pier, though, it was all just fog. It was a gassy curtain thickly obscuring whatever awaited across the water.One of Ledanai’i’s men—the one in charge—stood up from the rubble of crates and eyed Alice scrutinizingly. He frowned and raised an eyebrow at her, lifting his head upwards as if to match Alice’s postural aura, but Alice was naturally taller and more intimidating. “You must be Alice Buenaventura,” he said.“The fact that you’re asking that means the man I need to be talking to isn’t here,” A
