HEX: Aspect Of The Void

"Uarhhhhhhhh!!!" Carl and Desmond screeched in agony, consumed by the flames of the Dragon.

Within moments they turned into ashes, dissipating into dust.

The remaining humans trembled in fear at the sight of fire and smoke beside them.

The object of terror emerged from the thick fog of burning gas and grinned statistically.

"Gruuuuu…"

Nathan felt despair fill him up.

The surviving members, Lucy, Lydia, and Jack all called out to him, rushing to his side for protection. The intense fear they all felt drove them to the single focus of salvation… Nathan!

"N-No…" He mumbled lost in his powerlessness.

The earth trembled as the monstrosity drew nearer. Within moments it would reach Nathan, as well as the other survivors.

Sparks of flames appeared on its mouth, signaling the next volley of assault.

"We must… Survive… We… W-" Nathan kept mumbling to himself.

We?

Fear slowly eroded the thought. Nathan's mangled mind slowly reverted to its default state. Despite his good intentions and will to change, he still hadn't changed in his core.

"I… I must survive…" His thoughts rang.

He looked at his 'friends' who drew closer to him, running desperately for his figure of safety.

"N-No… S-Stay back!"

The aim of the Dragon seems to be directed toward the fleeing humans, not him. If they drew any closer… The flames would reach his location. His thoughts of saving his friends melted, replaced by a frantic wish to live.

"STAY BAAAACK!!!" Nathan screamed, trembling as he let out a loud cry.

His sudden outburst caused the group of three to halt in hesitation.

Using this window, his weary legs and trembling body gained what little strength he could muster. He could have rushed to them and desperately fought for survival… But…

"Uahhhhh"

With hurried steps Nathan took to his heels, running away from the rest of the party members in an instant.

"S-Sir Nathan!"

"Where are you going?"

"Please don't leave us!"

"Please… Please don't go!!!"

The party members desperately begged for him to return but he shut his ears at their pleas.

"Survive… Must survive…"

The thought of living constantly rung within him. There was no way that could be achieved if he stuck with them.

At least, in their death, he would be given a little more time to escape. His body knew that instinctively and fled the scene.

"Sir Nathaaan!" A crying voice let out.

Nathan recognized the sonorous voice, now filled with tones of fear and betrayal. It was Lydia… She was calling out to him.

He remembered how she reminded him of Marie, her innocent and loving nature made his heartache. Memories of her time with him, and their talks made tears well up in his eyes.

He didn't want her to die! But… He kept running.

"Uuukh" He muffled cries of grief.

A part of him felt like he was leaving Marie to die!

"She's not Marie! She's not…" He said to himself, trying to calm the swirling emotions of guilt and shame he felt.

Nathan kept pushing himself forward, away from the Dragon, away from his new friends, away from death.

"Ruooooahhhhh"

He heard a roaring sound behind him, followed by a low hum of surging flames. Nathan refused to look back and kept his face forward, increasing his pace.

"Arghhhhhhhh!!!"

"Uahaaaaaaaaa!!!"

"Hiaaaaaaa!!!!"

He heard the distinct screams of Lydia, Lucy, and Jack. Cackling sounds and more cries filled the air as the flames raged behind his fleeing back.

He could feel the heat from behind him, and the bright amber color of the monster's breath made him gulp, realizing his turn was near.

"N-No… I can't die here!"

He ran, pushing himself to the limit.

The Dragon, upon finishing off the three Adventurers in an instant, lunged for Nathan. It was a race, one between predator and prey.

Nathan, desperately afraid for his life galloped like the animal he was, navigating his way through the dungeon grounds.

He could hear stumping sounds steadily nearing him, yet it never seemed to reach him.

Was he too fast? Could the Dragon be moving slower than his current pace?

No!

"Gruuuuruuuu" The monster's low growl once again sounded.

Its voice depicted amusement, clearly entertained by Nathan's feeble attempt at escape. It was inevitable he would die, yet he pointlessly fought against his fate.

After fleeing for a while, Natha finally saw it. Standing tall at a distance from him, was the massive Gate of the Boss Room.

"Please let me make it. Please let me make it!" He begged.

He didn't know why he felt a brief sense of satisfaction and relief when he saw the Gate.

Behind it was a Boss Monster. There was no way he could win.

There he was, running away from danger to meet another one. Yet...

"I will survive! I will survive!"

Miraculously, he reached the front of the age, but before he could open it, the dragon released another devastating breath.

"Uarghhhh" He screamed.

The fiery blast of the Dragon destroyed the large structure before Nathan, shattering it into bits.

The debris flew everywhere, causing a loud noise of havoc and quakes which made Nathan yell out shamelessly. After all... He truly didn't want death.

He crashed into the Boss Room, crying and shuddering. Lifting his face, he saw those within the vast space.

There was no Boss monster in sight... Oh wait, he saw something some distance from where he fell.

The being had a glistening body, with horns protruding from its head and long flowing hair. Its wings hung high up as it glare on the face. 

"T-That is..." Nathan muttered.

.....

Wrath looked at the intruders with displeasure.

"A human... And, oh? What do we have here?" He spoke in his deep tone

He looked at the Dragon who stood behind Nathan. The beast, upon sighting Wrath, began to shiver.

"A monster from the 89th floor, eh? How the hell did you get all the way here?" Wrath pondered.

Suddenly, the Dungeon brought forth the answer to his inquiry in form of a window.

"Ah, I see. So master activated the Randomizer function... You appeared here as a result of that effect." Wrath muttered.

The Dragon appeared uneasy, clearly frightened by the being before it.

At this point, Nathan was confused.

He had initially thought Wrath was the Boss Monster, but...

"W-Why... Why is the Dragon trembling in the sight of that?" Nathan thought to himself.

In the first place, he never heard of a monster who could talk, yet Wrath spoke in a tongue he couldn't understand.

Other than that, he also appeared to be checking a Status Window in front of him. something absurd as that made Nathan's mind get even more mangled as strange thoughts began to creep in.

"Could it be... He's the one responsible for all this?" He thought to himself.

This was clearly not a Level 5 Boss. The Dragon's subservient personality was enough proof of that.

"Stupid mutt... It seems you at least have enough sense to recognize the one before you." Wrath said, starting at the Dragon.

Its eyes begged for mercy as its body quivered with discomfort.

"Too bad though... After the stunt you pulled, I'm currently pissed. You should know better than to just crash into a room I occupy." Wrath smiled devilishly.

Upon realizing that its life wouldn't be spared, the Dragon's eyes bulged. In a panic, the beast quickly turned away from the Boss room and made to escape.

"Where do you think you're going?" 

Wrath raised his hand and brought out crimson energy from within it. 

Immediately, similar nature of energy surrounded the Dragon's body and made it stop moving. With its body paralyzed, Wrath made a sadistic grin.

Nathan watched all this and remained petrified on a spot. If he as much as sneezed, he was dead.

At the very least, among such terrifying beings, he remained unnoticed.

"Gurrrrruuuuuu...!!!" The Dragon begged in fear as Wrath pulled his hand to himself.

The monster's huge mass immediately tugged toward the more dominant creature.

"It's useless to struggle, I control your body now"

With its body floating in the air by Wrath's will, the monster drew closer to him.

"It's nothing personal... I'm just carrying out my master's orders. You're in the way!" 

The Dragon kept moving toward Wrath until it was a short distance from him. 

"Gurrrruuu-"

"Now then... For interrupting my duties... Die..." Wrath muttered.

He tightened his fist, and in an instant, the high body of the monster compressed into a forced mold and squished.

>SPLURGEE<

The blood of the grand beast spilled all over, splattering throughout the walls of the Dungeon.

"A-Ah...?!" Nathan let out, nearly losing his breath as he witnessed the Dragon get killed so easily.

For a Special Grade Monster to die at the hands of another monster so easily... Just how powerful could the terrifying creature be?

"Disappointing... It didn't even try fighting. It must have known the chances of victory didn't exist. Dragons are smart monsters after all" Wrath grimaced.

He loosened his grip and the Dragon's meshed body fell to the ground, making a heavy thud.

Wrath's eyes slowly turned to Nathan, noticing him among the pile of rubble on the floor.

"E-Eeek" Nathan squeaked as Wrath's eyes met his.

"Oh. The human..." Wrath muttered.

"What should I do with you?"