The feathers on its wings were like ashen blades.
Its visage was twisted and rotten, and with it came the stench of blood and of death.
Nero felt the world around him gradually faded away.
The only thing he could hear, was the sound of his own heart racing.
And the only thing he could see, were the dark, beady eyes of the Grey Crow.
The evil abomination jerked its head down, its fanged bill opening to scoop up the organs and flesh of the Priest smeared onto the altar.
Peter Auswish, the guard commander was frozen as well.
However, his instincts sharpened by his training kicked in almost immediately.
He let out a guttural roar of rage as his feet smashed into the wooden floorboards cracking it as he shot forward faster than a swung blade.
His monstrous hand drew his blade from its scabbard to reveal the weathered instrument of war. Without a single wasted movement, he struck at the Abomination's throat.
Dust and ashen feathers were sent flying as the creature flapped its wings and let out a horrid caw.
Before it could take off, however, the seasoned blade of the Guard's commander violently struck, severing its head clean off.
The blood of the Abomination was a stunning red. A stark contrast to its grey feathers.
The eyes of the creature turned glassy and it fell to the ground with a thud.
"Fuck! Damn it! Damn it all!" Peter roared, not at all pleased he had just slain the damned bird.
His eyes widened, 'An attack? Now of all times?!'
His expression darkened even further as the sound of wings flapping overwhelmed his other senses.
Without wasting any time, he yelled from the depths of himself,
"Arm yourselves, men! We are under attack!"
The guards at the door had no need for any more orders.
In the light of the morning's dawn, their ringing blades sang shrill songs as they were drawn from their scabbards.
Up in the sky, dozens of Grey Crows swooped down, their fanged bills stretched wide open.
In a mere moment, a violent battle had begun...
Peter's expression was bleak as he swung his sword,
"The enchantments have failed. Out main priority, is gathering and getting all the villagers to safety!"
Then he turned around,
"Nero! Get to your feet, damn it!"
Nero blinked,
"W-what happened?"
"Now's not the time to be standing around, you idiot! Draw your blade and fight!"
Nero felt his heart freeze up again.
He looked around.
Yes. He finally remembered what happened.
The roof of the church had been torn open, and from the hole had descended...
'Ah...'
They were under attack.
Abominations were falling from the sky and tearing them apart. The town was supposed to be protected by enchantments. What had gone wrong?
He felt a sharp tug from the side.
Peter had pulled him up from the ground and was now dragging him forward,
"Get yourself together!"
He sucked in a deep breath,
"I'm sorry."
Peter slapped him across the back,
"What has all your training been for?! Compose yourself right now!"
As he straightened up, Nero couldn't help but be a bit amazed and thankful.
What had happened just moments ago was jarring. To witness such a gruesome death had thrown him off balance. On the other hand, Peter didn't seem fazed at all. If anything, he just seemed pissed off.
'I guess he is the commander for a reason.'
As Peter grunted and smashed the doors to the church open with his steel boots, Nero sucked in a deep breath and calmed himself even as his knees trembled...
***
The battle outside was fierce.
The Grey Crows were creatures afflicted with the madness that plagued this world.
Motivated by their lust to devour, they threw themselves endlessly again the steel, not caring even if they were impaled in the process.
For the first time in a while, Nero got to witness the truth of his reality. One steeped in fear and death.
The guards roared and bellowed as they swung their blades and died, cutting through the dense mass of Grey and falling to the ground, their bodies and armor turned into mangled fleshy masses.
It was a horrid sight.
There were now, hundreds of Abominations swarming in the sky. The light of dawn was swallowed by the pallid storm, drenching the world in a mild darkness that reeked of malignant evil.
Peter glanced up and muttered a curse under his breath.
If nothing changed, they would be swallowed entirely in a short time.
He grit his teeth and swallowed the urge to look back.
The wind kicked up the stench of blood into his nostrils, filling his lungs with the dread of the dead and the damned.
He gripped his sword tight and charged forward again.
***
Nero felt all the hairs on his body rise as he felt a wicked gaze lock into him. Without wasting any time, he ducked and rolled to the side.
The metal fence behind him was crushed to nothing in an instant.
With a swift move, he drew his blade from its scabbard and readied himself.
His eyes were wide and his knuckles white as he stared down the Grey Crow before him. It was the exact same as the one Peter had killed inside the church.
Only, now that he got to see it up close, it was even more terrifying.
He sucked in a deep breath.
The Abomination, driven by hunger, lunged at him with its bill wide open. Nero took two steps and sidestepped as fast as he possibly could. The accursed bird flew past him. Twisting his wrist, he swung horizontally.
His blade cut through the feathers and flesh of the Grey Crow with a single, swift draw.
Crimson sludge splattered on his face as he watched the Grey Crow squawk for the last time.
His eyes widened,
'T-the first one.'
That was the first Abomination he had ever killed.
He stared down at his trembling hands, knuckles white from gripping the hilt of his blade too hard.
"Nero!"
Nero heard Declan's voice and turned around. Blocking a swoop from another Grey Crow and slashing at his throat,the quickly ran over amidst a rain of pale feathers.
Peter had already thrown himself into the fray, his silver blade swished and swiveled as he beheaded several Crows with a single flourish all in an attempt to carve a path through the swarm back into the town.
Declan was bunched up together with the other guards, swinging his sword whilst beckoning over to him.
Nero felt a sense of relief wash over him.
Gripping his sword tighter, he dove into the fray and began hacking with reckless abandon.
He felt his armor get ripped through a few times, and sharp instances of pain even more, but who cared about that?
His senses dulled away for a moment.
And then...
There was a moment of brief silence.
The ground became slick with blood.
Beneath their steel boots, the carcases of the Grey Crows created a sallow carpet.
The bodies of a few guards were laid on the ground as well, most of them half eaten.
From head to, the survivors were covered in the sticky sanguine ichor of the Grey Crows.
Wiping his face, Peter finally picked his helmet off the ground and put it on. With the helm on his head, he truly looked like a Templar of the Crimson Crucible.
The Church was located just at the northernmost edge of the town.
The sound of screams coming from the town floated into the pale heavens like a prayer or a curse, filling them all with grim dread.
Billowing smoke rose from the same direction.
It was a clear indicator of woe.
Peter's voice, dark and cold, came from behind the helmet,
"Our first, and only duty, is to protect the people of this town, even if it costs us our lives. Men, with me!"
"We'll be alright. We'll be alright." Nero turned his gaze away from the valiant Peter and glanced to his side.
At the same time, Declan turned to him.
His friend smiled,
"We'll be alright, right?"
Nero wanted to smile.
He wanted to reassure his friend.
His lips parted.
His gaze shifted, forcing him to bear witness to a scene that ripped all the hope right out of his very body.
The next moment, he was sent flying through the air...