THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

Ced's blade glinted against the pale light of the cave as he lunged at the shadow, his cry filled with fury and desperation. The shadow shimmered before disappearing, leaving behind only the mocking echoes of laughter. "Come back here, you coward!" Ced roared, his voice reverberating through the cavern.

But before he could utter another word, David's urgent shout cut through the air. "Ced! Run!"

It was too late.

The massive white bear stirred, its monstrous form rising to tower over Ced. Its bulk cast a shadow that seemed to swallow the faint torchlight. With a guttural roar, it raised one massive paw and swung it down with terrifying force. The blow sent Ced flying across the cave, his body slamming into the jagged wall with a sickening thud. He crumpled to the ground, motionless.

The bear roared again, a sound so deep and primal it seemed to shake the mountain itself. The pillars groaned as bits of rock crumbled from above. David's heart pounded as he rushed to Ced's side, his boots skidding on the icy floor. His blood ran cold as he knelt beside the older man.

Ced's chest heaved shallowly, but the sight of his abdomen made David's stomach churn. Deep gashes marred Ced's torso, blood pooling rapidly around him. He coughed, each exhale rattling with the weight of his injuries. David's hands trembled as he tried to press against the wounds, his voice frantic. "Hold on, Ced! Just hold on! We'll figure this out!"

Ced's eyes fluttered open, their clarity dimming by the second. He coughed again, blood dribbling from his lips as he grasped David's arm weakly. "Get... out," he rasped, his voice barely audible over the bear's growls. "You... you're not ready for this, Winter."

David shook his head, his voice cracking. "No! I'm not leaving you here!" But even as he said it, he could feel the life slipping away from Ced's body. The old man's grip on his arm loosened, his head tilting back as his eyes lost their focus. Ced was gone.

A searing wave of anger and despair crashed over David. He reached out and closed Ced's eyes, his movements stiff and mechanical. His gaze then fell upon Ced's rusted sword, lying near the body. He grabbed it, his knuckles white as he stood and faced the bear.

The air around him shifted. His grief and fury melded into something dangerous—something primal. Yet, the beast showed no sign of retreat. It growled low, its icy breath visible in the frigid cave air.

David lunged at the bear, his muscles screaming as he swung the blade. The bear swiped its massive paw at him, but David rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow. He retaliated, slashing at the creature's leg. The blade cut through the thick fur, but the rusted metal was no match for the beast's hide. The edge snapped on impact, sending shards of steel clattering to the ground.

David stumbled back, clutching the broken hilt. His breath came in ragged gasps as the bear reared up, its paw crashing down toward him. He dodged again, barely staying ahead of the strikes, but his luck ran out when the bear's paw connected with his chest. The force sent him sprawling onto the icy floor, snow scattering as the air was knocked from his lungs.

Pain shot through David's ribs as he struggled to breathe. The bear loomed over him, its maw opening to reveal rows of jagged teeth. Saliva dripped onto David's face as it prepared to deliver the killing blow. In a last desperate act, David reached for his concealed dagger, yanking it free and plunging it into the soft flesh of the bear's mouth.

The beast roared in agony, thrashing its head as it tried to dislodge the dagger. It stumbled back, shaking its massive form. Blood dripped from its mouth as it growled, each sound echoing with rage.

David took the opportunity to crawl away, his body screaming in protest. Every breath was a struggle as he dragged himself toward the cave's entrance. The flicker of light from outside was just ahead, but his vision blurred, and his limbs grew heavier with every passing second.

The last thing he saw before everything went dark was the faint outline of the cave entrance. His body collapsed, and the world was swallowed by silence.

******

In the darkness, a faint blue glow appeared. Words etched in light shimmered before him:

"[Special Quest Activated. Death to the host does not apply.]"

David's mind spun, his consciousness caught in a liminal space. He gasped for air, his chest heaving as he bolted upright. His surroundings were unfamiliar, and for a moment, he thought he was still in the cave.

But the air was different—thicker, hotter, and filled with the acrid stench of smoke.

David coughed violently, his eyes adjusting to the flickering light around him. His heart sank as he realized what was happening. The brothel was on fire. Flames licked the walls, their orange glow casting eerie shadows. The sound of wood cracking and people shouting filled the air.

His mind raced as he tried to piece together what had happened. How had he gotten here? Why was the brothel burning? But there was no time for answers. He pushed himself to his feet, wincing at the pain in his ribs, and stumbled toward the source of the commotion.
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As he moved through the smoke-filled halls, one thought burned brighter than the flames around him: Brendah.

David staggered through the smoke-filled brothel, his heart pounding. "Brendah!" he called out, but only silence and the lifeless bodies of patrons and workers greeted him. The flames roared, consuming everything in their path, forcing David toward the stairs. The heat was unbearable, the wooden beams groaning under the fire's weight.

With no other choice, he leaped through a shattered window, landing hard in the snow below. Pain jolted through his body as he groaned, clutching his side. But when his eyes adjusted, his breath caught—beyond the brothel, the entire village was ablaze. Mercenaries stormed the streets, cutting down anyone in their path.