Return of the Fallen Volume 13 Chapter 8
The hill-sized rock had just been wedged into the entrance, sealing the cave off from the outside world. There were tiny gaps where bits of light could pierce into the cave. As soon as Monsuta placed the rock down, the light immediately faded as the sun set. Now a new light rose. Through the gaps, one could see flickering lights inside the cave. Bits of green mixed with shades of black and yellow.
These lights danced along the cave walls repeatedly.
(Those lights look similar to what came from the many vents in the ground. Is that the source?)
Kazuki was about to ask Monsuta, but he noticed Monsuta had gone completely silent. Monsuta stood perfectly still directly in front of the entrance and leaned his head slightly forward as if he were listening for something.
No sooner did he lean forward and place an ear on the makeshift door when the low roar from earlier erupted directly outside the cave. Not just one nor two, but multiple weird howling, shrieking roars echoed out in the night.
As soon as these roars broke out, something struck the rock.
*BANG!*
A low metallic ring bounced around inside the cave. From the sound alone, Kazuki could tell this rock was not ordinary. That, though, was of little concern. Instead, his thoughts were on whatever the fuck was outside banging on this hill-sized rock.
*BANG! BANG BANG BANG BANG!*
A flurry of blows slammed into the rock repeatedly. To Kazuki’s shock, the rock actually moved slightly. Monsuta noticed this as well and moved with haste as he placed his large body against the rock and helped hold it in place.
Kazuki could read Monsuta’s soul and the only thought, the only feeling he held at this exact moment in his soul, was absolute fear.
(For these things to terrify Monsuta to such a degree…)
The entire cave itself shook under the outside force but thankfully, after only a few minutes, the shaking and banging ceased.
The shrikes filled the night sky as these things went off somewhere. After only a minute or so, the sound of distress carried through the darkness as something screamed in agony. This pained cry was silenced barely a breath after it was heard. What followed was the sound of crunching as bones were snapped and broken. Low thuds hit the ground along with splashing sounds. Most likely from a large amount of blood being spilled by whatever met its death.
The shrieking howls were piercing to the ears but after a short while, the dangerous calls grew fainter and farther as time went by.
Monsuta did not step away from the door but instead simply turned around and lay down on his side. His back stayed pressed against the door for fear of what roamed the night.
“They’re gone…They’re finally gone.”
Monsuta said this with an almost faraway look.
He was clearly shaken. This was not just fear. Kazuki had experienced much and had the memories of trillions of beings inside his soul. He knew that look all too well. That was one of absolute trauma. Eyes unfocused as if no one is there, without true thought or mind.
Kazuki walked over quietly and sat down near Monsuta.
“Monsuta, what was that, or rather what were those things?”
Hearing Kauzki’s voice, only now did Monsuta snap out of his trance and return to reality.
“Shrikers…Monsters that can not be reasoned with. They are predators who only come when the green flame allows them. Mindless or if they aren’t mindless the only thought they carry is to eat and eat and eat. They never stop hunting you, they never stop trying to tear your flesh from bone and devour every part of you.”
Monsuta went quiet.
“Are you ok?”
Monsuta stared at Kazuki with a confused look. Never before had it been asked that. Never before had it even held such a long conversation with a different species that wasn’t it’s own. When Kazuki asked if it was ok, Monsuta felt that these words were genuine.
Monsuta felt a well of emotions as it shook its head.
“Those things…They ruined everything. They killed all of my family…All of my kind. I ran from those things, ran from my real home, and ended up here but still, I cannot escape. All I want is to be left alone yet everything is always attacking me. Why…what did I do wrong, why did my family have to die…Why didn’t I just die back then?”
Monsuta slammed his large head hard into the ground, causing the entire mountain to shake.
“It’s my fault, I just know it. I’m cursed cursed cursed.”
As he said this, he continued to slam his head into the ground violently. His head split slightly and blood began to pour from the wound.
“Monsuta stop your going to bring the whole mountain down on top of us!”
Monsuta did not listen and kept slamming his head down.
Large boulders rained down from the ceiling almost crushing Kazuki.
Kazuki had to roll around like a fool just to avoid the crumbling mountain. At the same time, these big ass boulders simply bounced off of Monsuta’s large wide back as if it were nothing.
Kazuki could not walk fast enough to stop this so instead he continued to roll around awkwardly before he got right in front of Monsuta. He cranked his fist back and fille dit with all of his strength before he punched Monsuta squarely in the nose.
Monsuta paused as he looked at Kazuki’s tiny fist. To him, it was more akin to a light tap than a punch. This though did grab his attention and Kazuki spoke.
“Asking yourself why is pointless. You survived and you wonder why others had to die. It’s because you were too weak.”
Monsuta’s eyes went wide and he slowly raised his head. He towered over Kazuki and his expression seemed to darken. His voice went cold.
“WHAT!?”
The mountain shook again from just his voice. He thought he finally met someone he could talk to but to hear Kazuki say this felt like a gut punch. Kazuki ignored Monsuta’s rising anger and sat down directly in front of him.
“Listen to me Monsuta. At the time, why did you live and others did not? Why did you not fight back and win? The answer…you couldn’t. To live, all you could do was run away. That isn’t your fault. You did not have a choice in the matter. Those Shriekers or whatever, they stole your choice from you. it was them that killed your family and it was them that chased you out of your home. You simply did not have the power to fight back. No one would blame you for that, so why blame yourself for something that you could not prevent? Tell me…Would your family truly blame you? Instead, wouldn’t they be happy that you are still alive? Wouldn’t they be looking down on you from heaven and be proud that you managed to survive all on your own for so long?”
Monsuta was taken aback. He had never thought about it in that way.
“They would be proud of me and happy I’m still alive?”
Kazuki nodded.
“Of course they would. Why wouldn’t they be proud of you, why wouldn’t they be happy that you are still alive? You hunt your own food and you have your own home that you defend all on your own. Not only that but you showed mercy when you didn’t kill me, which means you have a good heart and a kind soul. I attacked you first but you didn’t hurt me when you clearly could have. Thank you for that by the way. Your family… there’s not a doubt in my mind. they must be incredibly proud of who you are.”
Monsuta lowered his head in thought before looking at Kazuki with desperate eyes.
“Really?”
“Yes really. If you were my kid, I know I would be proud of you.”
When Monusta heard that, he suddenly began kicking and laughing hysterically. Again the mountain shook dangerously as boulder after boulder broke away and came crashing down. Kazuki had to make strange and crazy moves just to avoid it all. To Monsuta these moves were too funny and weird which only made him laugh even harder.
“Hey, are you actually trying to kill me now? Stop STOP!!!”
Monsuta held it in and finally stopped laughing.
“Sorry little creature. It’s just that you said if you were my parent but how can someone so small, weak, and so odd looking be my parent? Hehe, and then you did that funny dance as well.”
Kazuki chuckled himself.
“Heh. I guess you’re right, that is pretty silly but am I really that odd looking? Where I’m from the ladies can’t keep away.”
As he said this he caressed his chin playfully. This caused both him and Monsuta to burst out in laughter together which of course almost caused Kazuki’s death several times over by the falling debris.
After what seemed like too long for the sake of Kazuki’s health, the two both stopped and they became relaxed. Whether it was due to the insane situation or the fact that he was completely exhausted from the heavy suppressive force of this world’s power. Maybe because of both things, Kazuki couldn’t help but fall asleep. Soon after, so too did Monsuta, with a small, comforting smile spread across his large face, entered a deep and peaceful slumber.
Comment (0)