FEAR
Aether let out a loud gasp and took deep, heavy breaths as soon as her eyes snap wide open.
Her vision was initially full of dark spots before she saw the familiar white ceiling, and the strong smell of medicine and disinfectant penetrated her nostrils.
Her fingers flinched unconsciously as her eyes cautiously surveyed the surroundings.
The only sound in the room was the heart monitor, which continued to beep beside her ears.
She was confused and did not know how she ended up in the hospital.
Gulping to ease the dry throat, Aether began to recall what happened.
As the memories started to become clearer,
Aether slowly began to panic.
Her voice cracked and sounded completely hoarse.
Aether
‘That’s right, I remember.'
Aether
'I'm alive. I...I was saved.'
Aether could feel her chest growing heavy,
And her quivering lips turned white as her eyes slowly went bloodshot.
She remembered everything that had happened to her and her group.
And at the realization that she survived alone.
These terrible memories made her mind and body woke instantly,
she tried to move but unfortunately, her body won’t let her.
It wasn’t a surprise that she ended up like this after being rescued.
Aether
'I was...utterly destroyed.'
Her real body was badly beaten until she was at death’s door.
Under the white dressing that wrapped around her carefully,
Aether felt torn, numb, and dead all at the same time.
Because even with these thick bandages, it cannot hide what she experienced.
She was exhausted and scared.
But even after giving everything she got on the line, Aether still lost.
Aether
'They won't come back.'
Given another chance at life.
It wasn’t a miracle that she was alive.
Mercy wasn’t from god but from a demon.
The Demon King spared her life.
The moment he appeared, everything about this battle changed.
He turned the tide against the captain of a squad. With him present, the said captain realized there were no more chances of escape.
Earlier, Aether could still see the light at the end of the tunnel.
However, his arrival in the midst of war was like darkness itself descended.
At the same time, morale on the other side boosted to a frightening degree.
Hellfire spread, followed by the smell of burning blood and tension.
Aether
All soldiers! Solidify your positions! Group yourselves! Persevere and do not hesitate! Prepare for battle!
Aether shouted, the light in her eyes were like burning embers – soft but intense.
They had to fight to preserve their lives and protect each other.
To live until everything was over.
Aether
‘The only option was to commence an all-out attack and defense.'
Aether
'However, the enemies are well-prepared. Were they waiting for us, the expedition team, or are they about to attack earth?’
Aether
‘No. That’s not right. This planet is still too far away to open an axis gate.’
Aether
‘But if the former was correct. How did they know we were coming?’
When their jet appeared, they were immediately surrounded.
It was as if they were already expecting them.
Aether
‘What should I do? Everything about this situation leads to death.’
Aether
‘We should retreat.'
Aether
'But where?... And how?’
Comrades and foes collapse one by one.
Aether
‘Who could stand against this terrifying and overwhelming being?’
Under the cold brilliance of the moon,
He stood above the human with arrogance, looking down upon her.
Even if dust and rocks flew along with a few corpses;
whether the fire intensified between them;
both of their gazes did not falter.
Fierce sparks battling within their stares, creating ignition that starts their own battle of attrition.
Blades and bullets were exchanged in seconds.
Although the noise of the battlefield surrounded Aether,
the smirk of this demon was more deafening and infuriating than anything else at the moment.
Aether
‘This guy…he is extremely strong.’
Aether gulped. She could feel her throat drying the moment she saw a glimpse of him.
Aether
‘Depiction about demons in fiction undermines the strength of the real deal.’
Taking a deep and steadying breath, Aether pushed the fear at the back of her head and tried to calm her nerves.
No matter what the outcome of this battle is,
Aether knew she already lost terribly.
Aether
‘Everyone I’m close with is dying.'
Aether
'Even if there is no a hundred percent victory on the battlefield, there’s still a slight chance of survival.’
Aether
‘A hope to see the light of day again. Either victorious or a survivor.'
However, for the future of this team, Aether could no longer see the light.
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