IMPERIUM INSECTUM

Panic engulfed the room as people tried to escape. During the chaos, more and more splurts of blood stained the walls as heads flew into the air.

“Gotta find my daughter”, I said to myself as I pushed my way to the door. I had lost track of my brother. But he can handle himself. I pushed and shoved against the bodies until finally I made it to the door. Several people were already there going against the heavy door, but just as they managed to open the door, several large yellow and green monsters charged in, crushing the people in front of them with ease, before relentlessly slicing through the rest. I quickly ran back, escaping the massacre that I had just witnessed.

“Just what is this?” I turned my attention to the masked girl in front of me, who stood unfazed by the carnage around us.

“Who.....who are you?” My eyes fell onto the top of her head. A mushroom cap? No, it couldn’t be. No way. “What are you doing here, mushy!” I yelled. She didn’t respond, only a wide, sinister grin that went from ear to ear.

“Why are you smiling. Is this funny!”

“in a way”

“Bastard!”

Flame roared up my arms as a jet of flame fired towards.

“You're behind this, aren't you?”

“Isn't it obvious?”

“urggggg AHHHH- Burn!” I roared as flame ripped towards her like a rampaging bull. Whoever she is, it doesn't matter. I'll burn her here and-

“You're very overconfident for a soon-to-be-dead man.”

Suddenly, a wall of water erupted in front of her. Causing a dense cloud of steam to erupt around us. Just who is this person?

“That should be a good enough distraction?”

“Huh, what do you mean dist- UGHAAA“ Pain washed from my chest to every fibre in my body. My knees went weak, and before I knew it, I was on the floor. My eyes slowly went up and locked eyes with the yellow eyes of an uncaring monster.

“How pathetic.” Her voice rang out from behind me.

“One punch was all it took to bring you down. I expected more from you.”

“I'm...not....done.....” I said between pained gasps

“Yes...yes you are..”

I heard her footsteps echo among the chaos as she walked away. Dammit. I will not be beaten by a damn MUSHY! My muscles strained as I pulled myself up. I need to stop her. My eyes stopped when they made contact with the sight of those monsters. Saliva dripped from its maw, and its eyes were emotionless.

“Do you want to make this a fair fight at least?”

The monster didn’t react, just watching me. No dice with that, huh, guess we'll do it the old-fashioned way, flame ripped down my arm again. Without warning, I moved. Moving forward with incredible speed. I need to make space; once I do, I can start my counterattack and-

“EUAGHHHAHHHHHHH!”I yelled. Before I knew it. I was on the ground. Every limb in my body throbbed as something heavy charged into my back, sending me to the ground. I tried to get up, but the world around me spun like crazy. I could only make out two tall figures. One of them raised a clawed foot above my head before everything suddenly went black.

Some time later....

“Rise and shine. We have plenty to discuss”

A snide voice hit my ears. What happened? Am I on the floor? When did- argh. My head. It hurts. I felt my eyes drift open and closed. Every part of my body throbbed in pain. It felt as though my body had been used as a drum for several hours straight.

“*Sigh* I really gotta do everything myself, huh..”

Suddenly, several shocks dance up and down my body. Like all of my nerves had been kicked into overdrive. I was soaking wet… Did she…. I looked around to see one of the monsters holding an empty bucket with water dripping down its sides. This bitch….

“See, was that hard?” she mocked

My head snapped towards her like the jaws of a shark.“What the hell is your problem!”

“My problem? My problem is pure spirits sending assassins to kill me for no good reason! That! Is my problem, Ahab?”

My mind froze. No.... she couldn’t be… I looked at her again. Sitting smugly on one of my white cotton chairs. Her mask covered most of her face, but her body matched the description. Dammit, THOSE FOOLS. They didn't do the job, now look what happened. Curse them and curse the damn Ministry.

“And what of it? YOU! Are the one who attacked my daughter! MUSHY!”

“ATTACKED!”

Her voice spat out with shrill venom.

“I didn't attack that wretched pile of entitled garbage you call a daughter. In fact, she attacked me and cried to you about it! Also, call me a mushy one more damn time, and you and your family will end up like everyone else, you understand!”

She pointed to the walls. I didn’t look. Damned if I let a mushy tell me what to-

“AAARGHH!” Something strong grabbed my head and turned it towards the wall. The pearlescent cream walls were now marred and tainted with scarlet red streaks. Pools of blood were collected on the floor from the freshly dead bodies. But that wasn’t what got me the most. What got me was the silence. No sound at all. The once lively atmosphere was almost silent. I could hear them out of sight but not out of mind, creatures, no monsters, Hungry monsters.

“Are you done gawking  at the room, Ahab?”

“You? How do you know my name?”

“I know a lot about you. A middle-class pure spirit who worked his way up the ladder by kissing every ass in sight. Your family is a joke. Barely even seen as a noble. If it weren’t for Lady Luck, you and your family would be nothing.

“Are you done yet? If you think saying that will shake me, you're as naïve as you look.”

She chuckled, “I know it won't, but I did enjoy saying it. But enough about you, let's talk about me. Why did you send people to kill me?”

“Like I would talk to a mushy. Like you.” I spat back

“Hahaha, yes! I was hoping you'd say that!” She said gleefully. Her head glanced over towards the door. Suddenly, 4 of the monsters burst in.

“DAD!” My heart dropped like a stone.

“Honey!? DAMN IT. YOU LET HER GO!”

“Unhand me at once. Foul creature!” my brother came into the room, his arms held by the monsters as he thrashed like a wild animal trapped in a cage.

“Elias! Unhand him at once, you mushy or I swear to GOD I'LL-“

“Honey….. Help… it…hurts.” I stopped as my wife rounded the corner, her body battered and bruised to the point I could barely recognise her.

“NOT HER. GOD DAMMIT. LET HER GO,” I screamed.

“Only when you give me what I want. Now tell me. Why did you want to have me killed? And who backed you!”

“Impossible… How did you-“

“I'm asking the questions, fool. Interrupt me again, and there will be consequences. Do you understand?”

She glanced at the monster holding my wife. What the hell is she-

“Please let me Aghaaaa aaaaa AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH," she screamed as the monster's claws clamped around her head

“Stop it! ENOUGH! IT'S ME YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH. LEAVE HER OUT IF IT!” I fought against the big monster, trying to escape as I did. Hazels agonised screams rang through my body. I have to help her!

Flame erupted from my arms. But as soon as the fire flared. The monster moved. Before I could react, its arm locked around my neck. Instantly, my head became light. My arms punched and pulled at the monster's arms, but they shrugged them off without care.

“Oh, Ahab, you fool. You shouldn’t have done that. Now I need to punish you.”

“Ahab!....He-aaahhAAAHAAAAAAAAAAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” Blood poured from her nose and eyes as she continued to wail and scream in agony. I begged the moon spirit for mercy. But my pleas went uncared for.

“Actions have Consequences, Ahab, that’s something you need to learn.

“NO! STOP! PLEASE! I'll talk! I'll talk, JUST LET HER-“

*CRUNCH*

Silence. That was what followed. My mind and body froze as her lifeless body fell to the ground. Why? Why did this happen? WHY?!

“WHY! WHY DID YOU DO THAT? SHE WAS INNOCENT IN ALL OF THIS ”

The monster moved to the side of her. Blood and chunks of white bone decorate its body and claws.

“Why? Why did you attack me? Why was I made to live in a slum and treated like scum just for existing? WHY DID MY MOTHER HAVE TO BE MURDERED?! YOU PURE SPIRITS CRY ABOUT INNOCENCE, WELL MY INNOCENT MOTHER WAS KILLED  BECAUSE SOME ASSHOLE PURE SPIRIT FEELINGS GOT HURT! WHO ARE YOU TO CRY FOR SYMPATHY?”

The moon spirit reached up to her mask and pulled it off. Under the mask, I was met with Black and white eyes. Eyes that stared into my soul, eyes that were filled with nothing but hatred and anger. What is this monster in front of me?

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