Ralina barely evaded the monster's first strike. As she danced around the creature her tail whipped around, Hope quickly grew a spear from the armour she wore and hurled it at the creature. The spear just missed its mark, barely grazing the monster, and lodged into a nearby wall.
“Damn it,” Hope grimaced.
As the creature momentarily lost focus, Ralina saw an opportunity. Circling it stealthily, she readied herself to pounce from the flank. But, with a spine-chilling crunch, the creature's head snapped around to meet her gaze. Its grin was wickedly eager, and its sunken eyes — although sharp with intelligence — lacked any trace of emotion. A wave of unease washed over Ralina, prompting her to instinctively retreat a step.
Gathering her resolve in the face of the looming nightmare, Hope drew her two skewers together. They intertwined, like twisting vines, forming a formidable pike. Ralina let out a warning growl, drawing the creature's gaze. Seizing the moment, Hope surged forward, aiming the needle-sharp point straight for the beast's chest.
Despite its back being turned, the creature effortlessly snatched the spear from the air, leaving both Ralina and Hope taken aback by its swift reflexes. However, Hope wasn't out of surprises. To Ralina's astonishment, the tip of Hope's pike burst into a cluster of thick thorns, each as long as a man's forearm. The creature's claw shredded instantly under the sudden onslaught.
However, instead of a scream of pain, the creature emitted a silent, chilling chuckle. It panted heavily, looking more thrilled by the challenge than truly injured. Even when thick bright yellow ichor dripped from the wound all it did was laugh.
Ralina's heart leapt to her throat as the creature, using its remaining arm, violently tore the pike from Hope's grasp and flung it at her. The full force hit her squarely in the chest, sending her crashing to the ground.
"Hope!" Ralina cried. As she tried to rush to Hope’s side, the creature moved, extending its massive claw that dwarfed her in its shadow.
The beast lunged with malevolence in its beady eyes. A split-second manoeuvre saved her, leaving her safe and heart pounding in her chest.
More laughter echoed behind her — a chilling sound that raised her hackles. Glancing over her shoulder, her eyes widened in horror. Two more of the nightmarish creatures sauntered into the already-cramped courtyard.
Trapped.
Her mind raced, considering every possible strategy to escape this perilous situation. They were running out of options, outnumbered, and outpowered. Hope lay on the opposite side of the courtyard, motionless, and seemingly out of reach.
Each plan seemed more futile than the last. But a fierce determination rose within Ralina. She would not, could not abandon Hope. If this was to be their end, she would face it together. Every ounce of her being readied itself to fight, to protect, and if need be, to perish alongside her companion.
Ralina watched in dread as the two new monstrous arrivals join their injured counterpart. The trio looked around deciding on which prey to devour first. With a desperate roar, Ralina tried to divert their attention, ready to fight with every fibre of her being. To her relief and dismay, all three monsters redirected their focus to her, drawing in, their shadows looming ever closer.
The air became unbearable, infected by their putrid stench, making it hard to breathe. Just when she felt the weight of impending doom, an echoing sound pierced the eerie silence. Then, in a swift blur of motion, a shimmering shaft of Akanam metal surged forward, impaling the middle creature through its chest, severing its dark heart.
For a moment, hope surged within Ralina, believing her friend had miraculously risen to aid her. But as she tried to peer past the hulking monsters, her eyes were met not with Hope, but the unexpected sight of a mud-covered, middle-aged man. Before she could process this new player in the chaos, another figure dashed past, moving with the speed and agility of the wind, its shadow weaving in and out like a ghost.
Ralina’s eyes shot up as she spotted twin blades glinting in the morning light, descending with lethal precision into the backs of the remaining beasts. A woman landed gracefully from her assault, standing with a confidence and smirk that was all too familiar.
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Blinking in disbelief, Ralina choked out, "Mother?"
⚔
Charles's footsteps were rapid and rhythmic against cobbled streets, barely matching the pace of the man ahead. Fredrickson, with his sailor's gait, moved nimbly, navigating the winding paths with a familiarity that made it obvious he had lived among these alleyways. Charles could only wonder about the man’s past, but the urgency of their mission left no room for such thoughts.
Moments before the other two had split off, guided by instinct they tore through the streets with reckless abandon. The city was falling into hysteria as corrupted citizens attacked everything that moved. The sight looked eerily familiar to the horrors he had witnessed so many times on Earth, a horror he wished to have left behind. But it seemed that there was no place to run from these things.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed through the alley. Charles to skid to a halt. Before he could react, a flurry of red hair and a pair of arms enveloped him, pulling him into a tight embrace. Ellie's lips met his in a rush of emotion, her warmth and urgency clear in the fiery kiss.
Pulling away just enough to catch his breath, Charles murmured, "Karn... I have to save him," lifting the closed book he clutched tightly in his hand for emphasis.
Ellie's eyes bore into his with understanding and determination. She gave a swift nod, not needing anything else. She trusted him as much as he trusted her.
In the brief pause their reunion had caused, Charles noticed Maze approaching, out of breath and trailed by three unfamiliar faces. A quizzical eyebrow raised, Charles asked, "Are they with you?"
She nodded just as Maze's eyes locked onto Fredrickson. The look of sheer surprise on Maze's face was almost comical.
Fredrickson, reading his expression, quipped with his trademark grin, "No time to explain, old boy. We've got a city to save."
As the mismatched group charged through the streets, the once-familiar cityscape had transformed into a battleground. The citizens of the city showed remarkable resilience in their desperate attempts to fend off the monstrous invaders.
To their left, an elderly merchant wielded his walking cane with surprising deftness, using it to trip a beast before darting into a nearby alley. In another scene, a mother hurled pots and pans from her window, creating a diversion that allowed her children to escape from a monster's grasp. Further ahead, a group of street performers used their acrobatic skills to navigate the rooftops, drawing the attention of several creatures and leading them away from the vulnerable.
Despite the small victories, the sheer number of monsters was overwhelming. The air was filled with screams, roars, and the chaotic cacophony of a city under siege.
Upon reaching the Royal sector's gates, the large courtyard stretched out before them, revealing a scene of horror. The grand wooden platform was now the epicentre of chaos.
Hundreds of the grotesque monsters moved about, their dark forms contrasting sharply against the pristine white marble of the courtyard. In the middle of it all, atop the platform, stood Karn and Lady Amber, surrounded on all sides.
Barely holding the line was the city's loyal militia. Their shields were battered, and their swords drenched as they fought valiantly, trying to protect the citizens and push back the monstrous tide. Yet, for every monster they felled, it seemed two more took its place.
The group exchanged glances, realizing the gravity of the situation. Getting to Karn and Lady Amber would be no easy task. But they had come this far, and there was no turning back.
Suddenly the skies darkened, and Charles's heart sank. Just as he thought their situation couldn't get any worse, a gentle cascade of gleaming feathers began to drift downward. He looked up, squinting at the sky, and saw a myriad of silhouettes gracefully cutting through the air. His dread quickly transformed into hope as he recognized the unmistakable forms of the Kraven warriors.
With their feathers shimmering, they descended like midnight Valkyrie into the throngs of monsters. Their arrival was nothing short of breathtaking. The tales of the Kraven's legendary prowess in battle were, by no means, an exaggeration.
One shadowy warrior descended rapidly before suddenly expanding her ebony wings to halt her descent, using the momentum to thrust her cobalt blade through two separate monsters in one swing. Another duo performed an intricate aerial dance, spinning and weaving between the monsters, their blades flashing like lightning, leaving a trail of fallen foes in their wake. A third, wielding dual crescent blades, unleashed a series of rapid strikes, each one landing with surgical precision, his foes left incapacitated before they even realized they were under attack.
Yet, despite their unparalleled skills, it was clear that they were vastly outnumbered. Just as hope seemed to wane, a larger, more imposing shadow cast the courtyard into a deeper darkness. Charles watched in awe as massive birds; the size of dragons dived towards the battlefield.
Upon landing, the magnificent beasts transformed like their Kraven kin. Their wings receded as they took on a more terrestrial bipedal form, becoming enormous dinosaurs covered in sleek, midnight-black feathers. Their menacing jaws snapped, and their impossibly long, lethal talons gleamed with a deadly promise.
Mounted on the backs of these gargantuan creatures were more warriors, each gripping azure lances that shimmered in stark contrast to their surroundings. These Kraven, in sync with their mounts, led a ferocious charge. In a matter of seconds, the line of corrupted monsters was cleaved in two, with dozens falling under the raw weight of the feathered behemoths.
The tide of battle shifted immediately, turning the courtyard into a maelstrom of chaos and feathers. Charles clutched the book tighter, feeling a renewed determination. The city's defenders had just gained a significant advantage, and it was time to press it.
He turned to the others. “Let’s go!”