Death Defying Book: The Devil Watches

The dense forest swallowed the light as Cedric led his small band deeper into the trees.

The air grew heavy, the coolness of the coming night seeping into their bones. Every crunch of leaves underfoot and creak of branches overhead set their nerves on edge, the oppressive silence amplifying every sound.

Cedric's hand hovered near the hilt of his sword, his sharp eyes darting to every flicker of movement in the shadows.

Murdoch, usually quick with a jest, was uncharacteristically silent, his brow furrowed in unease. "Something's wrong about this place," he muttered, tightening his grip on his axe. "You should hear birds or see a hare dartin' across the path this time of day. But it's quiet. Too quiet."

Cedric gave a curt nod, saying nothing. The silence was not just unusual—it was unnatural, as if the woods themselves were holding their breath.

When they reached the clearing Oren had pointed out, the air turned colder, sharper. The uneven ground seemed reluctant to hold their weight, and Oren, crouched at the clearing's edge, was examining the earth with a grim expression.

"What did you find?" Cedric asked, stepping closer. His boots crunched against brittle twigs, the sound unnervingly loud in the stillness.

Oren looked up, concern tightening his features. "Tracks, Captain. But not like any I've seen before." He gestured at the prints pressed into the earth—large, clawed, and spaced far apart.

Cedric knelt, his eyes narrowing as he studied the deep grooves. "It walks on two legs," he muttered, his voice low. "But no man or bear has claws like that."

Murdoch leaned over his shoulder, his voice a nervous rumble. "Aye, but what is it? Some foul thing out of the villagers' tales? Troll, maybe... or worse."

Cedric rose, his jaw tightening. "I don't know, but it's been near our camp. Double the patrols tonight—"

Before he could finish, a guttural screech tore through the forest. The sound was distant but unearthly, echoing like a nightmare given form.

The men froze.

Murdoch broke the tension with a grim grin, hefting his axe. "Well, Captain, seems we don't need to go looking for it—it's already here."

Rowan, the youngest among them, stood rooted to the spot, his wide eyes scanning the dark canopy. "What... what was that?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Cedric's hand tightened on his sword hilt, the familiar weight steadying him. "Stay together," he ordered, his voice calm but firm. "Weapons ready. We head back to the tower. Now."

He believed that facing the unknown creature here is not to there advantage, and therefore, he preferred to fight the beast in a clearing.

The men closed ranks, forming a protective circle as they began their retreat. Every step felt weighted with tension, the forest pressing in on them. What had been silence before was now broken by faint rustlings—movements just beyond the edge of sight.

"Captain," Murdoch murmured, his tone low and urgent. "I've seen marks like these before. Years ago, during the siege of Harrow's Fall. Creatures came from the mountains then—the priests called them wights. Undead, with a hunger for the living. Took fire and everything we had to drive them back."

Cedric's brow furrowed at the word, a chill creeping down his spine. "Wights?"

Murdoch nodded grimly. "I'm not saying it is, but if it's anything like them, steel won't be enough. We'll need fire... and prayer. And then there's the curse upon us... We are handicapped from the start."

At that, Cedric's expression darkened. He felt the faint pull of his Pet Beast within him—a weapon of last resort, one he hoped to avoid unleashing.

Another screech split the air, this one closer. The creature was hunting them.

"Move faster," Cedric commanded. "Eyes sharp. Stay ready."

The underbrush to their right exploded in a shower of splintered wood and snapping branches. A massive, dark form lunged into the clearing—a grotesque amalgamation of muscle and malice.

"By the gods!" Murdoch roared, raising his axe.

The creature was monstrous, easily the size of a horse, but twisted. Its elongated limbs ended in jagged claws, its face a grotesque mockery of a wolf's, with too many teeth and glowing red eyes that burned with unholy hunger.

Cedric stepped forward, his sword flashing in the dim light. "Hold your ground!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

His blade struck first, slicing into the creature's flank. Dark blood sprayed, but the beast hardly flinched, its gaze locking onto Murdoch.

Murdoch bellowed a war cry, his axe coming down hard on the beast's shoulder, it cuts deep, exposing something white and solid.

This time, the creature howled, staggering back as thick, dark blood poured from the wound. But even in pain, it lunged forward again.

Cedric's blade flashed and a furry arm fell, the creature roar in anger as it swiped towards the daring human!

Captain Cedric puts all his strength into defending, he hold his sword with both hands, Yet he was still pushed back a few steps when the attack hits!

The creature swiftly lunged towards the retreating circle of puny humans!

Rowan, pale but resolute, thrust his spear toward its chest. The point struck true, stopping it's descent for a while, but it only seemed angrier and the force of its fall, led to the young soldier falling on his back!

"No—" Rowan groaned as his back struck the ground, the spear slipping out of his grasp. His eyes widened as he saw the creature almost on top of him.

Swish! Swish!

Swish!

About seven other pikes struck the beast, firmly forcing it back!

Swish!

Captain Cedric slashed towards its neck but the creature was not completely immobilised, his bulky arms gets in the way of the sword.

Captain Cedric jumped back and prepared for another attacker, the creature staggered a few steps back as well, seemingly wanting to keep a distance as well.

"Go to hell, Beast!" A loud grunt follows after as a large battle-axe flashed before everyone's eyes.

"GRR!"

The battle axe struck the creature's last bleading arm and completely severed it continuing unabated towards its abdomen, and cutting deeply, almost severing it!

The creature howled in anguished and leapt back, turning tails and running away.

"To the tower!" Cedric barked. "Regroup there!"

And swiftly, they retreated back to the tower.

The men sat against the walls, their breath ragged.

The last memory of the ferocious creature still vivid on their minds.

Cedric cleaned his blade with a grim expression. "It's not over," he said quietly. "It'll be back—and next time, it won't come alone."

Rowan's voice trembled. "Captain... how can we fight something that seems immortal?"

Cedric's lips curled into a faint, determined smile. "It bleeds," he said, his gaze hard and unyielding. "And if it bleeds, it dies."