The BEAST ASSASIN

Kidnapped

"Ouch!"   "Damn it!"

The exclamation burst from the man's lips as he felt an intense pain shoot through his back, caused by the snake monster throwing him against a tree with its tail. Paralyzed and lying on the ground, he couldn't help but gasp when a tickling sensation grazed the back of his head. With trembling hands, he cautiously made contact with the area, only to curse upon feeling the stickiness of blood. Clearly, he had underestimated the strength of the snake. It far surpassed the beast he had conquered the previous night.

"Get up, or we're done for."

The voice echoing in his head, sharing his deep-rooted fear of death, urgently commanded him to wake up. Attempting to stand, his legs betrayed him, causing him to fall back to the ground, landing on his rear end once again.

"I hope I don't end up crippled," he muttered, scanning the surroundings for any form of support.

Expressing his annoyance with a click of his tongue, he grabbed hold of the nearby trees for stability and managed to get back on his feet. Opening his mouth, he released a gust of fire, causing the snake monster to recoil. "So, you're afraid of fire, huh, you wretched creature?" he chuckled, his elated laughter resounding throughout the mountain. Bolstering his confidence, he unleashed a torrent of fire, completely engulfing the snake until it turned to ash.

"I would have taken you down just like the others," he chuckled, picking up the fallen apples and cursing as a sudden thought crossed his mind. "The fish must be burnt by now. Thanks for nothing, monster," he muttered, directing his curses toward the ash-filled remains of the creature. With slow and limping steps, he made his way back to his cave, knowing he would have to subsist on the apples alone for now, as the school of fish he had been roasting met the same fiery fate as the snake. He stuffed the apples mercilessly into his mouth, reminiscent of the famished beast he was, before retreating to his cave to prepare his leafy bed.

The previous day, he had neglected to prop it up against the cave, giving the monster he had encountered the perfect opportunity to hide beneath it. Determined not to face any unwelcome surprises, he kindled a fire in one corner of the cave, ensuring that even if he returned late at night, he would have the four corners illuminated, sparing him the chilling prospect of sleeping with monsters lurking on the walls or beneath his leafy bed. Trampling over the fire pit outside his cave so as not to draw attention, he secured his miraculously found sword from deep within the forest beneath the mountain onto his back and ventured into its depths.

Behind him, a clearing of the throat caught his attention, prompting him to pivot and encounter two individuals. These men were adorned in skirts resembling animal hides, and their chests were exposed. To complete their curious appearance, they seemed quite gleeful, donning wide grins as they carried their bows and arrows slung across their backs.

One of the men pulled him back by his hand to praise him for his proficiency in extinguishing creatures of horror. 

"I must admit, I could exhibit the same level of competence in eliminating you as well," he responded dismissively, inferring that they might be disguised as other monstrous beings.

 "No need for such assumptions. We merely wish to convey to you that..." The man's statement was interrupted by his companion.

 "We are truly astonished by your prowess," he declared, with his comrade concurring in unison. 

"Very well, I have acknowledged your words, and you may depart now," he gestured, shooing them away, while simultaneously fastening his boots. However, the men disregarded his instructions and trailed behind him, recounting their experiences. "Our ruler shall be astounded," he revealed. “Many warriors had been dispatched to this location to vanquish the said monster, yet they fell victim to its lethal power. Consequently, we were tasked with tailing that serpent-like creature and attempting to ensnare it. However, we stumbled upon you, terminating its existence. "Behold, we have procured its bones as evidence, and in return, we shall present you with twelve golden coins," they affirmed, force-feeding him the currency as he turned to face them. 

"Take the bones if you desire, but I have no use for money," he remarked. "I reside in the mountains; what am I to do with it?" he queried after their extended diatribe. Without further ado, he silently incanted a spell, rendering himself invisible. Suppressing a chuckle, he beheld the sight of the two men perplexedly scanning their surroundings, before fleeing in terror, inadvertently abandoning the gold coins. "I wonder what kind of malevolent creature I shall encounter today," he sighed, reverting to visibility, and embarking upon the narrow, foliage-laden path leading down the mountainside.

 The power of invisibility proved to be increasingly advantageous. He was now certain that the two men were indeed humans, as true monsters in disguise would have unveiled their real forms upon his inconspicuousness. He always attempted to recall the origins of his incantations, but no matter how arduously he tried, the memory eluded him. What he did manage to recollect was that the first utilization of this power left him utterly exhausted, causing him to lose consciousness—how long, he couldn't discern. Upon awakening, his countenance had transformed into a ghostly pallor, capable of provoking fear within anyone in close proximity. The answers resided within the voice in his mind, the sole source of enlightenment. He was informed that utilizing this power would perpetually drain his energy, and it was advised not to employ it until he had regained his vigorous strength.

For hours he wandered, and to his surprise, no one appeared out of nowhere to halt his progress as had been the norm. "Perhaps the serpent I dispatched before breakfast was the final creature I was fated to encounter," he smirked, veering onto a new path that meandered through the snow-laden woods.

"Isn't this astounding?" echoed the voice in his mind. "Here we are, amidst scorching sun in the mountains, while it snows in this locale."

"Indeed it is astounding, particularly considering that mountains are typically colder than this place," he replied, wrapping his hands around his body in search of warmth.

"Where are we headed?" the voice inquired once more.

"I'm unsure. I simply wish to see if we might chance upon a human presence. We have endured solitude for far too long; it is time to seek out fellow beings," he chuckled, halting to catch his breath. A bird perched above him, and he cast a wry smile in its direction. The creature possessed golden wings adorned with blue plumage, which appeared remarkably soft. Swiftly extending his index finger and uttering an incantation, he watched with a wide grin as the bird flitted towards him, ultimately alighting delicately on the tip of his finger.

 Evidently, he had not heeded the lesson about judging appearances because the instant the bird settled on his finger, it emitted an earsplitting screech, causing the once-bright sky to darken.

"What in the world is happening?" he shouted, striving to summon light, an endeavor at which he woefully failed. He remained unskilled in this particular domain, exerting himself with each passing day. One thing he had come to understand: if he were to endure in a realm rife with monsters, he needed to acquire proficiency in employing as many powers as possible. Consequently, he had taught himself to conjure the wind, harness its benefits, command the waters, and presently found himself in the process of mastering the art of summoning light.

"Ouch!" came the exclamation as the peck landed on his forehead, causing him to let out a yell. The feeling of blood trickling down the wound made him wince, the crimson liquid reaching the small opening of his mouth. Weakness overcame him as he sensed the bird feasting on his blood, its form shifting from that of a bird into something else. The weight of this transformed being pressed down on him, pinning him to the snowy ground.

"Take action!" whispered the voice that typically urged him to fight back in such circumstances. Howling like a wild creature, he let out a roar of pain as sharp claws emerged from his fingers, the stretching of his skin causing discomfort.

"A little more effort." "The pain shall subside." Soothing words flowed from the voice, prompting him to close his eyes and focus on it rather than the pain. His body elongated, his bones snapping, until eventually a majestic white wolf stood in his place. Gazing up at the now bright sky, he noticed the lifeless lizard-like monster lying beside him. A smile formed on his face as he observed the soft fur now covering his body, replacing his originally pale white skin. Hands and legs had transformed into limbs.

"What have I become?" he posed the question to the voice.

"Silly, it is I," chuckled the voice in response.

"So I had a wolf dwelling within me." He pranced around like a playful puppy newly acquainted with walking. The joyous moment was short-lived, however, as before completing his third lap around the trees, he shifted back into human form, when the voice which belonged to his inner wolf, informed him, "It appears we have stumbled upon the humans we were seeking."

Before he could inquire about the meaning behind these words, a group of men materialized out of nowhere, encircling him. Raising his hands to convey his harmless intentions, the men exchanged glances, seemingly communicating through some sort of telepathy, until one among them, adorned in a skirt made of animal hide, bare-chested with a shimmering sword fastened to his waist, bellowed, "Capture him!" and darkness consumed him as he was struck on the head.