The last rays of the setting sun bathed the Voidmarsh battlefield in a fiery glow, as if the sky itself had been consumed by flames. The blood-streaked ground reflected the dying light, while the air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and blood. In the distance, sporadic cries of agony echoed, mingling with the clang of weapons clashing, creating a symphony of impending doom. The battlefield was like a taut bowstring, ready to snap at any moment, unleashing deadly chaos.

Neven stood on a slightly elevated command post, the wind whipping his cloak, bringing a chill to the air. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s, swiftly catching every subtle shift in the battlefield below. Despite the blood-soaked bandages wrapped around his left arm, with crimson drops falling to the ground, he remained focused, his eyes locked on the battle that was about to unfold.

A messenger stumbled through the battlefield, his breath ragged, clearly bearing urgent news. “Commander! Sage Solon urgently requests your presence!”

Neven’s brow furrowed as unease crept into his mind. The situation on the battlefield was critical, and Sage Solon wouldn’t interrupt him unless something significant had occurred. After quickly issuing commands regarding the battle, Neven followed the messenger, weaving through the ruins of the battlefield toward the elder’s tent.

Inside the tent, Sage Solon sat at a wooden table engraved with ancient runes. The dim light cast his shadow long and twisted, creating a sinister and eerie atmosphere. A flickering oil lamp beside him cast a weak glow, enveloping the space in a shroud of mystery and tension. As Neven entered, Sage Solon looked up, his deep eyes seeming to pierce through everything.

“Neven,” Sage Solon’s voice was cold and commanding, with a tone that brooked no argument. “I need you to escort the wounded.”

“Elder, my injury is nothing—I can continue leading on the front lines. Why do you want me to escort the wounded?” Neven’s voice was firm, though laced with a hint of confusion.

Sage Solon’s gaze was penetrating, as if he were delving into the depths of Neven’s soul. He spoke slowly, “The withdrawal from the gorge is proceeding as planned, but we’ve received intelligence that the Night Ghoul might attack the wounded. I need someone I can trust to ensure their safety.”

Neven’s heart sank, his brow furrowing deeper. He pressed further, “Have you received any specific intel?”

“No, Neven,” Sage Solon’s voice was calm, yet it sent a chill through the air. “Under tonight’s full moon, I’ll be personally leading the battle at the front. The mission to escort the wounded is fraught with danger, and I believe you’re the best choice for it.”

Neven felt his chest tighten, understanding that the elder’s decision was final. He nodded, his voice low. “Understood, Elder.”

Quickly, Neven assembled a team of elite soldiers, ready to depart. The sun sank below the horizon, and the sky was covered by dark purple clouds, foreboding the impending danger.

As Neven reached the rear of the battlefield, he caught sight of Aria and Alexander among the group of wounded. His expression softened momentarily, but was soon replaced by a complex mix of emotions.

“Where have you been? Why are you just getting here?” Neven’s voice carried a restrained anxiety, “We need to move out.”

Aria took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, and slowly walked toward Neven. “Sorry, we were delayed.”

Neven glanced down at her eyes, his gaze tinged with concern and a hint of something deeper. “The plan has changed,” he said in a hushed tone, “Sage Solon has ordered me to escort the wounded.”

“Sage Solon?” Aria’s eyes widened, a knot forming in her chest. “Does he know our secret?”

“I’ve tested him—he seems unaware.” Neven scanned their surroundings, his voice low. “But the road ahead will be perilous. Don’t forget, the Night Ghoul could attack at any moment.”

“What’s your plan? Should we change our route?” Aria’s voice held a note of urgency.

“We can’t change it,” Alexander interjected calmly. “We can’t interfere too much—changing the route could lead to even greater risks.”

Neven nodded, his tone resolute. “I’ve already increased the escort. Night marches are inherently dangerous; we can only do our best.” He pulled out a faintly glowing Reversal Stone from his chest, his voice serious. “Remember, don’t stray too far from me. When the full moon rises, this stone will activate again.”

As the last sliver of the sun disappeared below the horizon, night fell quickly, swallowing the land in darkness. An uneasy tension hung in the air, as if unseen threats lurked in every shadow. Neven turned to face his troops, his voice low but firm, “If we’re attacked, prioritize protecting the wounded. Understood?”

“Understood!” The soldiers responded in unison, their voices steely with resolve.

“Good, let’s move out.” Neven commanded decisively.

Under his leadership, the group slowly vanished into the night, marching toward an uncertain fate.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

As the sky quickly darkened, the surrounding trees swayed in the breeze, producing an unsettling rustling sound. The group instinctively tightened their grips on their sword hilts, their gazes sharp as eagles, fixed ahead. Every shadow seemed to hide lurking enemies, every gust of wind carried the whispers of the Night Ghoul.

Their steps left deep imprints in the swamp's mud, time seemed to accelerate as they moved forward. Aria pulled her cloak tighter around her, a faint pain throbbing in her chest—she knew danger was imminent. Yet, inexplicably, they had deliberately chosen this perilous path.

A low, menacing growl suddenly echoed from afar, like the voice of a demon from the depths of hell. Aria’s body froze instantly, the dark aura swiftly closing in, the threat of the Night Ghoul loomed over them like an invisible shroud.

“Pick up the pace!” Neven’s shout came from the front of the group.

The team quickened their steps under his urging, the tension growing thicker. Aria’s heartbeat thundered in her chest, she could feel the darkness stirring behind them, as if countless cold eyes were watching their every move. She urged her horse to go faster, trying to keep up with the others.

Neven glanced back at her, a flicker of the same unease mirrored in his eyes.

Night gradually enveloped the land, the last sliver of daylight fading away. They pressed on with increased speed, each step taken with utmost caution. A strange, sickly-sweet scent hung in the air, heightening everyone’s anxiety. The occasional groans from the wounded made Aria feel increasingly uneasy.

Suddenly, a deep howling sound rose from the distance, as if something massive was approaching. Neven abruptly halted, signaling the group to stop. His eyes scanned the darkness, quickly locking onto the restless shadows. At that moment, an alarm bell rang in his mind—Night Ghoul was here.

“Prepare for battle!” Neven commanded in a low voice, swiftly drawing his sword, its cold steel glinting in the darkness. The warriors in the group tightened their grips on their weapons, the atmosphere around them heavy with anticipation.

Then, a piercing roar tore through the night sky. The Night Ghouls lunged out of the darkness, their blood-red eyes gleaming, claws slashing through the night. Aria gasped, a deep fear clutching her heart. She grabbed Alexander’s arm, her voice trembling with fear, “What do we do?”

“Don’t panic!” Alexander responded as calmly as he could, though his tone betrayed his own anxiety.

“Protect the wounded, form a defensive line!” Neven’s voice rang out again from the front.

Aria’s horse neighed nervously, her hand trembled slightly on the reins. She looked up at the sky, where the moon’s silhouette was now faintly visible behind the clouds, its silver light about to bathe the land.

The Night Ghoul charged at the group, their claws slashing through the air. Neven raised his sword to block, the clash of metal resounding loudly as a powerful force sent a shock through his arms. But he didn’t back down; instead, he stepped forward, driving the Night Ghoul back.

The battle erupted in an instant, the fight immediately becoming fierce. Every strike felt like a race against death, the wounded gathered in the center of the group, watching the chaos around them in terror. The number of Night Ghouls far exceeded their expectations, their forms flickering in the darkness, each attack swift and deadly.

It wasn’t long before Aria heard Alexander shout out.

The moon suddenly broke through the clouds, its silver glow spreading across the land. In the corner of her eye, Aria saw the Reverse Stone hanging from Neven’s waist start to emit a faint light. This glow seemed to carry a mysterious power related to time, growing stronger as the moonlight intensified.

“Neven, the Reverse Stone…” Aria called out in alarm, feeling a strong surge of energy radiating around them.

Neven noticed the change in the Reverse Stone as well. He glanced down at it, seeing the stone now glowing brightly as if responding to the full moon above. A thought flashed through his mind, but before he could dwell on it, the Night Ghoul was upon them again.

In the chaos of the night, Aria and Alexander rushed toward Neven. As they neared him, the Night Ghoul also surged towards the group like a tide.

Aria felt a powerful force emanating from the Reverse Stone, surrounding and drawing her in. The next moment, she was hit by a wave of dizziness, the world around her spinning. Neven and Alexander felt the same force, their bodies being pulled by an invisible power as if something was trying to tear them away from this time and place.

The surroundings blurred rapidly, darkness and light intertwined, and time seemed to stand still. Aria barely managed to grab Neven’s hand, seeing him hold tightly onto Alexander’s shoulder. Then, their bodies were enveloped by an overwhelming force, the Night Ghoul’s roars fading into the distance as the darkness around them shattered into countless pieces.

The moonlight poured down like a silver tide, illuminating their figures and every corner around them. As the Soul Stone’s glow intensified, the spinning space began to tremble, as if being stirred by an invisible hand.

Aria’s ears were filled with the Night Ghoul’s growls and the warriors’ shouts, but these sounds gradually gave way to a deep hum. This hum seemed to come from all directions, yet also from deep within them, carrying an irresistible summons. Their bodies disintegrated into particles, scattered across the space.

Time stretched, as if caught in a viscous whirlpool.

Suddenly, a tremendous force enveloped them, pulling them out of the torrent of time and hurling them into a moment in the future. Aria felt her body being yanked violently, followed by a sensation of weightlessness as darkness swallowed her vision.

When her consciousness cleared again, everything was silent. The cold stone floor pressed against her cheek, its rough texture and the damp chill sending a shiver down her spine. She struggled to lift her head, finding herself lying in a dimly lit cell, surrounded by towering stone walls, with moisture dripping from above.

Weak rays of light filtered through a small window high above, casting thin beams across the room.

“Where…?” Aria murmured, her voice echoing in the empty stone chamber, tinged with fear and confusion. The recent events felt like a surreal dream, hard to believe.

At that moment, she heard the heavy sound of footsteps, followed by the clanking of chains against the floor. Aria turned to see Neven standing up against the wall, his expression dazed.

“We’re back,” Neven said quietly. “The Reverse Stone… it brought us back to the present.”

Alexander, lying not far from them, groaned in pain as he rolled over and slowly got to his feet, rubbing his temples as if still recovering from the dizziness. He glanced around, confusion evident in his eyes. “This… a prison? How are we still here?” Alexander exclaimed in a low voice. “And our weapons came back too; didn’t they take them away before?”

“Maybe it’s a result of the Reverse Stone, but I’m not sure if we’ve changed history,” Neven said as he walked to the door and gave it a slight push. The iron bars creaked open.

The three exchanged a knowing look, their minds filled with a swirl of complex emotions. In that moment of silence, they all realized that the time reversal they had just experienced had altered their fates, but the cost and consequences were still unknown.