Submission (#969) Approved

It was a quiet day, like all other days, normal and peaceful, when suddenly the usual stillness was shattered by a sudden cry of alarm. Dark clouds swirled ominously in the sky, and the once-clear daytime light and calmness began to churn with an unnatural energy. The villagers, sensing the approach of something dreadful, began to evacuate in a hurry, guided by many warrior Stelciars that worked as security to protect the village.
Among the fleeing villagers was Sherbert, a small and stumpy little Stelciar with fur and wings the colours of the rainbow. His heart pounded in his chest as he helped guide the others to safety. However, his attention was suddenly caught by a flash of movement in the distance. A Stelciar, braver and more seasoned than most, was standing alone in the clearing, staring down the looming shadow of a void creature that had emerged from the darkness. The Stelciar was well known, it was none other than Pun-Hmorg.
Pun-Hmorg was a sight to behold, their body sleek and strong, their tail shone bright as their eyes, full of courage. They were well known among the villagers, a guardian who had faced many threats in the past, but nothing as fearsome as the void creature before them. The creature’s form was amorphous, its body a writhing mass of shadow and claws, eyes like glowing embers in the darkness.
Sherbert watched, frozen in place, as Pun-Hmorg charged at the creature, their eyes full of courage and strength. The air around them crackled with the sound of blows as they unleashed their full strength, driving the void creature back with a series of swift, powerful strikes. Pun-Hmorg’s body was a blur of motion as they fought with everything they had.
But the void creature was relentless. It lashed out with tendrils of darkness, attempting to ensnare Pun-Hmorg in its grasp. Pun-Hmorg dodged and countered, their want to win, to protect the village growing with each second. Yet, despite their best efforts, Sherbert could see that Pun-Hmorg was beginning to tire. Their movements slowed, the shine in their eyes dimming as exhaustion set in. The void creature, sensing its opponent’s weakening resolve, pressed its advantage, striking with even greater ferocity.
Sherbert’s heart clenched in fear as he watched Pun-Hmorg stagger under the relentless onslaught. The once-mighty guardian was now on the defensive, barely holding the creature at bay. Pun-Hmorg’s breaths came in ragged rasps, their body trembling with the effort of keeping the void at bay. It was clear that they were reaching their limit.
Just when it seemed that Pun-Hmorg was about to be overwhelmed, something remarkable happened. Sherbert saw it in Pun-Hmorg’s eyes—a glimmer of newfound courage, a spark of determination that refused to be extinguished. Pun-Hmorg took a deep breath, steadying themselves, and in that moment, something within them ignited.
Suddenly, Pun-Hmorg’s body erupted in flames, but these were not ordinary flames. They were a brilliant, searing white, radiating an intense heat that made the air shimmer. The flames enveloped Pun-Hmorg completely, transforming them into a blazing beacon of light. The void creature recoiled, hissing in fury as the flames licked at its shadowy form, burning away the darkness.
Sherbert stared in awe as Pun-Hmorg, now fully aflame, charged at the void creature with renewed vigor and strength. The flames that covered their body seemed to feed off their determination, growing brighter and hotter with each passing second. Pun-Hmorgr’s strikes were no longer just powerful, they were devastating. Each blow would send a wave of searing heat through the void creature’s form, burning away the darkness that clung and enveloped it.
The creature shrieked in agony as the flames tore through it, its once strong, mighty, and horrifying form crumbling. Pun-Hmorg fought with a fury and strength born of desperation and courage, their body a blazing inferno.
With one final, mighty blow, Pun-Hmorg struck at the heart of the void creature, driving their fiery claws deep into its heart. The creature let out a final, ear-splitting wail as it was consumed by the flames, its form disintegrating into nothingness. The darkness that had plagued the village was gone, banished by Pun-Hmorg’s flames.
As the last remnants of the void creature faded away, Pun-Hmorg stood at the center of the clearing, their body still ablaze with white-hot flames. For a moment, the village was silent, the only sound the crackling of the flames that surrounded Pun-Hmorg. Then, slowly, the flames began to die down, leaving Pun-Hmorg standing there, breathing heavily but triumphant.
Sherbert felt a surge of relief and admiration as he watched Pun-Hmorg, their mane still glowing faintly. The other villagers, who had been watching from a safe distance, began to cheer, their voices filled with gratitude for the guardian who had saved them.
Pun-Hmorg turned to Sherbert, their gaze softening as they nodded in acknowledgment. Sherbert hurried over, his heart still racing from what he had just witnessed.
“You did it,” Sherbert breathed, his voice filled with awe.
Pun-Hmorg smiled, though it was a weary smile. “We did it,” they replied, their voice tinged with exhaustion but also with a quiet pride. “The village is safe... for now.”
Sherbert nodded, his respect for Pun-Hmorg growing even deeper. The battle had been fierce, and the victory hard-won, but it was a victory nonetheless. As the villagers gathered around, offering words of thanks, Sherbert couldn’t help but feel inspired by Pun-Hmorg’s courage and determination. He knew that, should the need arise again, he too would find the strength to stand and fight, just as Pun-Hmorg had done.