Nokshala’s mouth dripped with saliva. ‘I did it… I’ve killed a heretic… Nini, Uko, Hiji, I’ll make sure they pay… and I’ll make sure they rot no matter what…

  ‘Even if I die, they won’t find all parts.’ Hissing, Nokshala bit down harder as she viciously tore the heretic's neck from its shoulder.

  ‘What the?! What’s going on?! they’re fragile… I shouldn’t have this much trouble ripping it apart.’ She sunk her teeth even deeper down into its thin neck, but as she did, something felt odd.

  She could only taste drops of blood in her mouth. There should be mouthfuls of blood spraying and leaking.

  Suddenly, the neck in her mouth started to move.

  ‘What?! It’s not dead?! That’s…! That’s not possible! Nokshala thought in disbelief. ‘I… No! I feel it in my arms, IT isn’t moving… and--!

  ‘How could I not see it?! The heretic, it’s not where I feel it! There’s something else in my mouth!’

  Hiding in her blind spot, someone jumped on her back. They wrapped their legs around her stomach. With no warning, whatever was in her mouth got forced further inside.

  Keeping her balance, Nokshala bit down as hard as she could. Backpeddling, she slammed whoever was on her back into the wall over and over again.

  Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her neck. She recognized the pain, and as a black arm with a black bag on its wrist appeared in front of her remaining eye, two words rang in her head, ‘misshapen freak!’

  “LET HER GO!!!” the misshapen freak growled as its hand clamped tightly around her snout and inside her mouth.

  Prying her mouth apart, the misshapen freak forced its other arm further into her mouth. Thrashing around, she wouldn’t let this go on any longer.

  ‘I won’t die because of a misshapen freak!’ Slamming the misshapen freak into wall after wall, the resulting bangs echoed just as loudly as clashing steal.

  Yet no matter how much or how hard she did it, the freak didn’t relent. Begrudgingly, she threw the heretic in her grasp into the wall.

  Before the freak could do anything, Nokshala reached up and around her head, grabbing the freak by its neck. With her other arm, she grabbed its leg as she leaned forward and threw it off her back and onto the floor.

  ‘I’ve had enough of you!’ Nokshala hissed as she balled her fist and attacked with all her might, aiming for its head.

  Just as she touched the tip of its snout, the freak slammed its hand into her barreling fist and pushed it to the side. Unable to stop, her fist slammed into the wooden floor, cracking it as the freak rolled away.

  Gritting her teeth and focusing on her rage to numb the pain, Nokshala turned her head to the side, seeing the freak on its stomach with its hand inside the bag.

  ‘Oh no, you’re not! I’ve had enough of those thingys!’ Nokshala thought as she quickly ran over and stomped on the bag. At the last moment, the freak pulled its hand out and stabbed another thingy at her, aiming for her leg.

  Having had enough of those things, Nokshale kicked the freak's arm with her other leg, knocking the thingy out of its hand and sending it clear across the room. With its only weapon gone, the freak tried to scamper away.

  Not about to let that happen, Nokshala stomped on its arm, pinning it in place as she clasped her hands together and raised them above her head.

  Grunting in pain, the freak tried to get its arm free from underneath her foot, but it was useless as she brought down both of her fists.

  Thinking her victory was assured, Nokshala had completely neglected to think of the freak’s other arm as it, in desperation, balled its other fist and struck her exposed groin.

  Eyes wide, all of her strength left her as she fought against the terrible urge to throw up while thinking. ‘Why…?! Weakies… don’t hurt so much!’

  Capitalizing on her weakness as she held her crotch, the freak ripped its arm from under her foot, making her lose balance. As she fought to stay standing, the freak rolled onto its back and scooted around so its head and feet changed position.

  Holding her crotch with one hand, Nokshala staggered and wobbled toward the freak as it quickly kicked both of its feet into her stomach, sending her crashing into the unfinished wooden cage, destroying it.

  Her mind was blazing with rage as her back and crotch radiated with pain, ‘URG…! I’m going to kill you, you misshapen freak!!!’

  Lifting herself off the crushed wood revealed her back to be covered in small splinters and spike wounds.

  Getting back on her feet, she could see the misshapen freak was doing the same. Looking intently at her, it held the thingy like a dagger.

  Moving and flexing her arm, she could still feel the foreign and uncomfortable numbness. She quickly glanced behind her and thought, ‘There you are!’

  Suddenly, she spun around and, With heavy thudding footsteps, ran over to the heretic crawling on the floor. She could hear the freak following her, but it was too late.

  She grabbed the heretic by its legs. Putting all her strength into it, she swung the heretic at the freak.

  Loud shrieking ensued as the heretic crashed into the freak. Staggering back, the freak dropped the thingy. ‘How does it feel now that you’re not the only one with a weapon?’

  Her confidence brewing, she once more swung the screaming heretic at the freak. Jumping back, it avoided getting hit, but the heretic crashed against the floor.

  Weakly struggling, the heretic wiggled its leg as it tried to pull. She ignored it and closed the distance between herself and the freak.

  Using the heretic like a club, she swung it at the freak. Not running away, the freak took the blow head-on.

  ‘Huh…. you don’t want this one to get hurt. How perfect,’ Nokshale thought, overjoyed. ‘Now just stand there and let be clobber you!’

  Pulling the heretic back, Nokshala quickly found out she couldn’t. The freak hadn’t just taken the blow; it had grabbed onto the heretic.

  ‘So that how you want it…! Fine by me!’ Growling, she pulled on the heretic’s legs as hard as she could, drawing high-pitched shrieks of pain from it.

  Suddenly, a pitch-black heretic appeared in the door frame. Panting and barely looking able to breathe, it howled once its eyes focused on the scene before it.

  Both she and the heretic stopped up and looked at the new arrival, and as it rushed in with no abandon, her eyes went wide and filled with rage. ‘YOU! YOU KILLED HIJI!’

  Focusing on nothing but that murderer, she reached for the heretic’s tail and kicked the freak’s side, knocking it to the ground as it let out a groan of pain.

  Gathering all her strength, she swung the heretic into the murderer, knocking it into the wall. As the murderer fell to its hands and knees, it started to cough uncontrollably as sod flew off its fur.

  Ready to beat the murdered to a bloody pulp, Nokshala tightened her grip on the heretic's tail and swung it over her shoulder; however, to her complete and utter shock, the girl suddenly flew out from behind the heretic.

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  Hurling through the air screaming, Nokshala could only watch in horror as the girl was going to crash into the wall, praying to all of the gods for a miracle.

  As unlikely as it was for any god to hear her prayer, a miracle did happen as the freak launched for the girl, catching her in mid-air and hitting its head against the wall.

  Overwhelmed, Nokshala’s eyes darted around; she just stood there processing what had just happened. ‘The girl…? how…? but when? Wait…! Did the heretic grab her before it ran out here…?

  ‘Was I trying to crush her when I grabbed the heretic? No…. Have I been swinging her around all this time….?! What have I done…?!’

  Slowly, the freak got up, gently holding the girl. “Are… are you okay?”

  The girl didn’t respond; she was bawling her eyes out. Her body was covered in small nicks and scratches, few of which drew any drops of blood.

  “I see… please just stay here for a little bit while I take care of this one,” The freak's voice was so calm as it placed the little girl in the corner, safe from any harm.

  However, when it turned around, all that calmness vanished. With its fist clenched, it trembled with fury as it walked toward her.

  It didn’t have the thingy’s, but the potent purity of the rage it exuded scared her. Once it came within range, she swung the heretic at it.

  Mid swing, the sod-covered heretic appeared beside her. She’d been so focused on the freak she had almost forgotten it was still in the room.

  Teeth bared, the sod-covered heretic sunk them along with its claws into her arms. Hissing in pain, the heretic flew out of her hands. With nary a delay, the freak caught the heretic and gently placed them down.

  Meanwhile, Nokshala let loose her anger on the sod-covered heretic. She ripped her arm free from its claws and grabbed the leather on its chest.

  Growling, she slammed it against the wall, freeing her other arm from the confines of the heretic’s mouth before throwing it across the room.

  With her attention fully on the sod-covered heretic, she’d left herself wide open. Rushing in, the freak punched her in the face. The force and speed were unreal, sending her stumbling into the wall.

  Holding nothing back, the freak unleashed a barrage of punches.

  Punching her over and over again, she reeled from the continuous pain. Her body froze up and went stiff while the freak showed no sign of slowing down.

  Barely standing, Nokshala's head wobbled from side to side as she finally managed to react, bringing up both of her arms and defending the sides of her head and snout.

  However, not even slowing down for a moment, the freak struck the exposed underside of her jaw, knocking one of her teeth out.

  Tasting her own blood in her mouth, Nokshala started to panic. ‘It’s killing! I’m killing me…! It’s killing me…! It’s…’

  Suddenly, animalistic instincts took hold of her. The pain and fear she felt were blocked as her body moved on its own. Focusing on nothing but survival, she grabbed the freak by its throat.

  Either not caring or not noticing, the freak continued its barrage of blows. Roaring, Nokshala briefly lifted the freak off the ground. Clenching her hand, she spun around and slammed it into the wall over and over again.

  She didn’t stop even after it stopped moving. She kept going until her hands went numb, and she lost her grip.

  Panting for breath, the freak fell to the floor. She looked at it lying there, not moving a muscle, ‘I did it… I killed the freak…’

  Turning around, she walked back into the other room and grabbed the unconscious heretic healer by the leg.

  Stepping back out, her eyes naturally fell on the misshapen freak’s body.

  Her eyes lingered, taking in every detail from the way its body slouched against the wall to the way its feet pointed. Even its strange five-fingered hands, one of which seemed to be clutching a thingy.

  ‘Did it manage to pick up the thingy I knocked out of its hand? Nokshala wondered while throwing the heretic healer over her shoulder. ‘Will anyone back home believe me when I tell them about this?’

  Turning her head toward the exit, she saw the sod-covered heretic back on its feet. It was limping toward the orange and white heretic, crawling on the floor a few steps ahead of her.

  The desperation in their eyes filled her with rage. It was exactly the same looks Nini and Oku had before they were murdered.

  Anger boiling under the surface, Nokshala looked toward the pile of broken and splintered wood.

  Calmly, she walked over to the heretic crawling on the floor and lifted it by its tail. Barely masking her rage, she looked the sod-covered heretic dead in its eyes before tossing the heretic onto the pile.

  Howling, the sod-covered heretic dove onto the pile before the orange and white heretic could land.

  Pinned under the orange and white heretic, the sod-covered heretic couldn’t move. Calmly walking over to the two, she watched as the one on top tried to get up.

  ‘I wonder, did Hiji die from the arrow, or was he alive long enough to feel the fire burn him,’ Nokshala internally said, not realizing she wasn’t saying it out loud.

  Placing her foot on the orange and white heretic’s back, Nokshala slowly started to push down. Breathing heavily, the sod-covered heretic glared at her.

  Glaring right back, she pushed down harder. The splintered wood no doubt started to dig under its fur and into its flesh.

  Adding more weight, the orange and white heretic wined and struggled. The hardened, glaring eyes of the sod-covered heretic quickly softened and grew more pleading.

  Pushing down with her leg ever so slightly more, causing more pain to the pair, she suddenly noticed something in the corner of her eye.

  Pulling on the orange and white heretic’s arm was the little girl. She struggled immensely, trying to pull the heretic out from under her.

  Watching the little girl intently with her only eye, she reached for her. As she did, loud bangs sounded behind her.

  She instantly spun around only seeing a black bluur before it crashed into her. Going low and wrapping its arms around her stomach, the freak lifted her off the ground.

  Continuing its charge, she was pushed through the slim door frame, hitting her head. Slightly dazed, she started to struggle just as the freak slammed her into the adjacent wall.

  Nokshala hissed and bellowed in pain as the splinters in her back sunk deeper into her flesh. Far from done, the freak started to run parallel to the wall. The wood grinded against her scales, causing her even more pain.

  Still holding onto the heretic healer, she raised her other arm, ‘I don’t know how you are alive, but… die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, DIE!!!’

  With each scream of “die” In her head, she slammed her muscular and bulging fist down onto the freak. With each blow the freak started to wavier more and more. Everso slowly, the friction between her scales and wall lessened as her toes graced the ground.

  Grabbing the freak by the throat, she started freeing herself from its hold. However, she was suddenly interrupted when the freak slammed her into the opposite wall.

  Caught off guard, her strength left her. Leaving no time for any counter, as the freak started to run diagonally, slamming her into both walls over and over again.

  Barely holding onto the heretic healer as it was dragged along, she endured the pain until they ran out onto the main street.

  With her body obstructing its view, the freak had no idea it had left the back streets. Using the brief window of time, she delivered the most devastating blow she could muster.

  Howling in pain, the freak wobbled momentarily Until she was once again slammed into a wall. Joining the choir, she hissed in pain as the freak let go of her.

  As she crumpled to the ground, the freak quickly took a step back and struck her in the stomach and face.

  Gritting her teeth, Nokshala swung her clenched fist at it. In a flash, the freak grabbed her arm and held it in place.

  Struggling, the freak struck her four more times. Seeing no other option, Nokshala let go of the heretic healer and struck at the freak’s other side.

  Just as before, the freak caught her arm, but instead of stopping it like her other arm, the freak guided it right into her other one. Knuckles stinging, Nokshala was helpless as the freak pinned both of her arms above her head.

  With blazing speed and incredible force, the freak kneed her in the face. Showing no signs of slowing down, the freak kept at it, kneeing her in the face over and over again.

  ‘What’s happening?! How’s it… doing this?! Nokshala questioned, catching a few glimpses of a thingy stabbed into the freak’s leg. ‘The thingy! Is that how it’s alive… Is that why it’s this strong now?!’

  With unwavering determination, she caught the freak’s leg with her mouth. Snapping her head to the side, she pulled the freak just a little closer, making it struggle to keep balance.

  In that brief moment when the freak wasn’t holding her down with all its strength, she broke free from its grip.

  Grabbing its shoulder and pointy snout, she let go of its leg and forced it down to her eye level. Desiring nothing more than to kill the freak, she opened her maw and buried her teeth in its neck.

  Struggling to free itself, the freak grabbed her snout while continually punching her. Not about to let that happen, Nokshala pushed off the wall and furiously rolled around on the ground.

  ‘I never thought I’d be forced to do this, but as long as you die, it’s worth it!’ Nokshala screamed in her mind, roaring loudly as her teeth dug in deeper.

  Dragged along the ground, the freak’s head snapped from side to side, yet it didn’t break or surrender.

  Suddenly, the freak slammed its arm onto the ground. Sliding across the dirt, the freak fought against her kind’s most deadly and inescapable attack.

  ‘Ha! Good luck with that!’ She mockingly thought. But the freak didn’t surrounder as it slammed down its second arm and buried both of its knees in the dirt.

  What was once so simple suddenly became much harder as Nokshala struggled to even make one rotation.

  Lying on her stomach, she pushed against the dirt with one arm, trying to roll onto her back. ‘This… this can’t be happening! The Weakies and Krakkies…! None of them can fight back against this! …WHAT IS THIS THING?!!!!’

  Roaring louder than any other creature she’d ever heard in her life, the creature lifted itself off the ground. Once it stood crouching, the creature grabbed both of her arms and pinned them to her side.

  With strength that did not belong in a body so small, the creature lifted Nokshala off the ground as she kicked with her feet. With her maw still firmly attached to its throat, she bit down as hard as she could.

  Yet her struggle did little to hinder even its bellowing ROAR as it lifted her body directly above it. Times march seemed to halt as the creature cruelly forced her to look into its eyes… It’s abyssal and dead eyes.

  Frozen in fear, the creature slammed her down onto the hard, cold earth with a bellowing thud that knocked all the air from her lung.

  Every last drop of strength left her, and with ease, the creature pulled itself free from her jaw and got back on its feet.

  Weezing and in unimaginable pain with every breath she took, Nokshala’s sight dimmed before growing completely dark.