(image linked from original Contest Post )

The fire beetle

Among all the species, the arthropods are the most likely to pass unnoticed. Among the arthropods, the beetles are the least remarkable. And among the beetles, the Pyrophorus is utterly devoid of any special characteristics, except one. She can kill faster than you can blink.

“When the First Elemental War broke out, nobody could understand we us beetles were dragged into it.” the Pyrophorus recounted taking a bite from the seed she had ordered. The last guests had just walked out of the tavern which was now empty. The dark figure at the other side of the table could clearly see the two eternal flames coming out the beetle’s back.

“How did you get these?” he asked, taking another large sip from the beer mug in front of him.
”They just grow a little bit every time.”, Pyrophorus replied. She was not interested in discussion anymore. The time had come.
“Every time…?”
“Every time I kill a summoner like you!”, she said as she was thrusting forwards towards the beer mug. It is hard to tell which one happened first: The beer hitting and soaking the dark figure or the projection of fire from the beetle’s back. The effect was instantaneous and the summoner was in flames before he could even react. Four long seconds later, he was falling dead on the floor.

If anyone were around, they would have marvelled at the creativity and the swift execution with which the kill was performed. But perhaps more importantly they would be terrified by the anger that was well concealed until seconds ago but now consuming Pyrophorus.

“So many of our brothers and sisters dead”, she hissed. “So many beetles gone in that bloody war. There will be no forgiveness.” She was now screaming.

Pyrophorus had not taken part in the First Element War herself. The war had finished centuries ago. She was nevertheless raised with the stories of horror the beetles, being utterly defenceless, had suffered at the time. And she was special. Only one beetle every thousand years or so was born with the ability to fully control an element.

She would never had known fate had chosen her, but for the big fire in the Delia forest, her home. She could still see herself standing unharmed in the middle of the soaring flames, screaming helplessly as everyone she knew was dying in front of her eyes.

She was screaming now as well. That was the last summoner kill needed for her to fully master her fire nature. The eternal flames at her back had now reached their full length and so had her fury. Unable to control it anymore she released her fire, sending destruction in every direction. It was new and exhilarating. Her burning kiss had never reached so far before. It was angry and furious. She had never obliterated a whole building in seconds either. She would punish them all. For all the deaths in the war and for all the deaths in her life. She could now feel the anger becoming as much a part of her as the eternal flames on her back.

Pyrophorus was gone. The fire beetle was born.