The mighty walls of Eldoria were breached by a horde of ex-Eldorian soldiers turned into mindless zombies. Chaos ensued as the undead flooded the streets, tearing through everything in their path. Panic gripped the citizens as they scrambled to defend themselves or flee for safety.
In the midst of the chaos, a little kid named Ethan found himself separated from his family. With tears streaming down his face, he navigated the maze of destruction, dodging zombies at every turn. Determination fueled his tiny legs as he raced toward the city's outskirts, desperate to escape the nightmare unfolding around him.
Meanwhile, within the city, the remaining citizens huddled together, their fear palpable in the air. "What's happening? How could this be?" one cried out, disbelief coloring their tone.
"We need to get out of here, now!" another urged, grabbing supplies and urging others to follow suit.
As the city burned and the sounds of battle echoed, Ethan's small figure darted through the chaos, his heart pounding with each step. With every ounce of courage he possessed, he pushed forward, praying for a miracle amidst the devastation of Eldoria's fall.
Ethan's back pressed against the scorched wall of a burning house, seeking refuge amidst the rubble near a crumbling building. He stood frozen, his heart racing, but his hope dwindling as the chaos of Eldoria's fall enveloped him. Suddenly, his eyes locked with those of a zombie, its dead gaze piercing through the darkness. Fear gripped Ethan's chest as he collapsed to the ground, mouth agape, unable to muster the strength to flee.
The zombie, its grotesque form looming over the helpless child, raised its palm, a dark energy swirling menacingly before it. Ethan's limbs felt heavy, courage slipping away as he stared into the abyss of the undead's gaze. With an unconscious instinct, he lifted his hand to shield his face from the impending blast of energy.
BOOM.
The force of the explosion reverberated through the air, sending debris flying in all directions. Ethan trembled, his ears ringing, his small frame battered but miraculously unharmed.
To Ethan's amazement, he lowered his arm and caught sight of a figure clad in a scout's attire—it was Scion. The vibrant green clothing adorned with golden straps near the arm identified him unmistakably. Etched across the back of the attire was "Sylvan Vale," and Ethan watched as the man's long black hair swayed with purpose.
Before him, a massive earth wall rose, separating Scion from the advancing zombie horde. With fluid grace, Scion leaped atop the barrier, drawing a sword that melded the elegance of a rapier with the sharpness of a katana. Green energy danced along its edge as he prepared to strike.
In one swift motion, Scion brought the blade down, slicing through the zombie with precision. Despite being cleaved in two, the undead creature continued to writhe, its movements grotesquely unnatural.
"That's odd," Scion remarked, his voice tinged with bewilderment. "I cut him in two, yet he persists."
"Hey there, kiddo," Scion's voice cut through the chaos, his tone carrying a calm assurance that belied the mayhem surrounding them. Ethan looked up, eyes wide with a mixture of fear and relief as he met Scion's gaze.
"Are you... are you here to save us?" Ethan's voice trembled with hope, clinging to the faint possibility of rescue amidst the nightmare.
Scion offered a reassuring smile, his demeanor reminiscent of a seasoned warrior unshaken by the storm raging around them. "That's the plan, kid. Me and my squad are here to lend a hand."
As Scion spoke, Ethan's gaze drifted beyond him, taking in the sight of the soldiers rallying against the tide of undead. Thirty brave souls stood against the relentless onslaught of two hundred zombies, their efforts valiant but strained against the sheer numbers.
"We're struggling to handle these abominations," Scion admitted, his voice tinged with frustration as he surveyed the battlefield. "We can cut 'em down, but they just keep coming back. It's like they're not even alive anymore."
Ethan's brow furrowed in confusion, Scion knelt beside him, a reassuring hand resting on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, kid," Scion's voice softened, a steely resolve underlying his words. "We might be outnumbered, but we ain't outmatched. We'll find a way to beat these things, you'll see."
"Listen up, everyone!" Scion's voice cut through the chaos, drawing the attention of his squad. "I know it's tough out here. We're outnumbered, outgunned, but we ain't giving up, not on my watch."
"We're not just fighting for our lives out here," Scion continued, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "We're fighting for them." He gestured towards Ethan.
"We're fighting to give these kids a chance, a chance to live another day” he added.
"Remember, focus on cutting down these zombies, aiming for their limbs, while we strategize a way to halt their animation," Scion commanded, his voice resolute. “Unleashing energy blasts will only drain your energy —they'll rise again, casting spells haphazardly."
His soldiers nodded in understanding, their expressions grim but determined as they prepared to engage the undead horde once more.
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The streets outside City Hall roared with the anger and fear of the citizens of Eldoria, their voices rising in a cacophony of desperation. "Let us in!" they cried, fists pounding against the sturdy gates of the city-hall door.
Inside City Hall, tension crackled in the air as the guards braced themselves against the onslaught of angry citizens. "We can't let them in," one guard muttered to his comrade, their voices low but resolute. "Orders are orders!"
"What's the meaning of this? Why are they keeping us out?" one citizen demanded, frustration lacing their tone as they pushed against the gate.
"We need shelter! We need safety!" another shouted, desperation creeping into their voice as they scanned the impassive faces of the guards.
Outside, a group of citizens seized an iron pole, their faces twisted with a mixture of anger and fear.
But as they swung the pole towards the gate, a fireball erupted from the darkness, shattering the iron into twisted wreckage. Gasps of horror rippled through the crowd as they recoiled from the unexpected attack.
"Where are the soldiers? Where is our protection?" a voice cried out, echoing the thoughts of many as they searched the horizon for any sign of salvation.
In a desperate bid for entry, some citizens banded together, pushing and prodding at the unyielding gate with whatever makeshift tools they could find. "We have to get inside! We have to find safety!" they pleaded, their voices rising in desperation.
But the guards stood firm, their expressions grim as they blocked the path of the determined citizens. "I'm sorry," one guard murmured, his voice heavy with regret. "But we can't let you in. This is a city-Hall; it is not built for being a shelter"
Guard: "I'm sorry, but we can't allow entry.” He added.
Citizen: "But we have nowhere else to go! Please, just let us in!"
Guard: "I understand your plight, but our orders are clear."
Citizen: "You expect us to fend for ourselves out here? We'll be torn apart by those zombies!"
Guard: "I sympathize, truly…"
Citizen: "This isn't fair! We trusted the city to protect us, and now you're abandoning us?"
Guard: "We're not abandoning you. We're doing what we can to keep everyone safe."
Citizen: "Safe? We're safer out there with the undead roaming the streets?"
Guard: "I know it seems dire. We can't risk overburdening our resources. Plus, the city-Hall includes important artifacts, we are ordered to guard it."
Then, from the crowd, a rock hurled forth, finding its mark with a sickening thud against the guard's face.
"We'll break down this gate ourselves if we have to!" one declared.
He sprinted toward the guard, brandishing a small branch, swinging it with fierce determination.
Guard: "Hey! Stop that!" The guard disarmed the civilian.
Citizen: "You think we'll just stand by while you leave us to die out here?!"
Guard: "Violence won't solve anything! We're doing our best to maintain order!"
Citizen: "Your best? Your best is leaving us out here to fend for ourselves!"
Guard: "We're following orders! It's not up to us!"
Another Citizen: "Orders or not, we demand refuge! We demand safety!"
The citizen swung the branch at the guard, narrowly missing his head.
Guard: "That's it! Back off!" He punched the angry civilian, with authority, the other civilians realized they are outmatched.
Another Guard: "Stand down, all of you! This won't solve anything!"
The crowd murmured angrily, tensions escalating as frustration boiled over.
Citizen: "We won't stand for this! If you won't let us in, we'll find a way ourselves!"
Amidst the chaos, Aldeen's voice cut through the commotion, bringing a momentary calm.
Aldeen moved with swift determination, stepping between the two adversaries and raising his hands in a gesture of peace.
"That's enough!" he commanded, his voice firm but calm as he defused the tension. "We're all in this together."
Turning to the guards, Aldeen's gaze hardened with resolve. "Open the gates. These people need shelter, and they need it now."
Citizen: "Thank you, Aldeen! You saved us!"
Another Citizen: "We thought we were doomed out here."
The citizens breathed a collective sigh of relief, their gratitude palpable in the air as they found solace in Aldeen's decision.
Guard: "Aldeen, thank you. We were torn between our duty and our conscience."
Aldeen: "You did what you had to do. I understand."
Guard: "But if we had disobeyed orders, we could have faced severe punishment."
Aldeen: "I know, but sometimes the right thing isn't always the easy thing. You made a tough choice, and I respect that."
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The guard nodded, a weight lifted from their shoulders as they realized they weren't alone in their struggle.
Guard: "Thank you for understanding. And thank you for stepping in when things got out of hand."
Aldeen: "We're all in this together. Let's focus on finding a way to protect our city."
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In the shadow of the city wall, Scion's personal guards engaged in a grueling battle against the relentless onslaught of zombies. The fight was fierce and exhausting, the air thick with the stench of decay as they clashed with the undead horde. But with Scion's careful management and expertise, combined with the swift and precise maneuvers of his trusted soldiers, they gradually gained the upper hand.
As the last of the zombies fell, Scion's guards sprang into action, gathering robes to bind the heads of the fallen creatures together. With practiced efficiency, they severed the limbs of the zombies and buried them beneath the earth, ensuring that they could not rise again to threaten the city.
Aldeen's steps were heavy, as he made his way towards the breach in the city wall, his mind racing with thoughts of the looming threat that had penetrated their defenses.
Arriving at the site, he found Scion, "Scion," Aldeen called out, his voice tinged with urgency as he approached his fellow protector. "We need to talk."
Scion turned to face him, "I've been thinking the same thing. Aldeen, this breach... it wasn't just a stroke of bad luck. It was clever strategy. I think there is something still hidden in the shadows."
“What happened?” Aldeen inquired, frustration boiled over, his voice tinged with anger as he voiced the questions burning in his mind. "Where is Alistar? Where is Jung? What are they doing for fuck sake?!"
Scion's jaw clenched tightly as he responded to Aldeen's inquiry. "They should have been here defending the city. Instead, they fell into the traps set by the mercenaries."
Aldeen's gaze bore into Scion, urging him to continue.
"Our lines to command were severed as infiltrators started picking off our troops within the forest. Jung ventured out to investigate while I organized the guards along the wall. Intel suggested Alistar went to protect Sage Willow. Our forces in the forest were systematically decimated by the infiltrators. I reckon Jung is now locked in a one-man skirmish with the mercenaries outside, maybe this is why only the zombies have managed to breach our defenses."
"Ah, I see. Excellent work, Scion," Aldeen commended, his voice tinged with appreciation.
"Thanks to you, we're managing to navigate through this chaos. Make sure to keep watch over the wall and permit entry only to verified soldiers or Eldoria citizens," he directed.
"Uh, Boss!" Scion interjected, drawing Aldeen's attention away from his contemplation, his fingers absently scratching at his beard. "Yes?" Aldeen replied, shifting his focus to Scion. "We've handled the zombies, but no matter how many we cut down, they persisted," Scion explained. "We resorted to burying them underground since we couldn't discern how to halt the enchantment animating them. Could you investigate this further, please?"
Aldeen nodded, a grave expression etched upon his features as he acknowledged the gravity of the situation. "Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I'll investigate further," he assured Scion.
With purpose in his stride, Aldeen made his way to the location where the zombies had been buried. As he reached the spot, he pressed his palm firmly against the ground. In response, the earth seemed to shift and ripple beneath his touch, and suddenly, the buried zombies erupted forth, their dismembered bodies writhing with an unnatural semblance of life.
Kneeling amidst the chaos, Aldeen furrowed his brows in deep concentration. A dim purple light flickered into existence, hovering near his eyes as he delved into the mysteries of the dark enchantment that animated the undead.
Aldeen's eyes widened with a sudden realization, his features contorting into a blend of shock and apprehension. A cold sweat broke across his brow as he beheld the scene before him.
Within the dismembered bodies of the zombies lay an eerie, pulsating energy. Its faint glow cast unsettling shadows, revealing the depths of the dark magic at work.
"There's some strange energy sealed within these creatures, and it's volatile," explained Aldeen.
Scion, moving closer, extended his hand towards the head of a zombie. Aldeen swiftly intervened, grasping his arm firmly. "Stop! Don't touch them!" he warned urgently.
"What do you mean?" replied Scion, confusion evident in his tone.
"We need to tread carefully. These corpses are being infused with dark energy. If we're not cautious and somehow excite this energy, it could trigger a massive explosion, one that could obliterate this entire block," Aldeen warned gravely.
"So you're saying they're like a time bomb?" Scion exclaimed, his features contorted with shock and apprehension.
"Exactly," confirmed Aldeen.
"The real question is... whoever did this is waiting for something. Something to happen, so that he can pull the trigger that would explode this energy. These zombies again were but a decoy!" Aldeen's voice rang out with a sense of urgency, his words laced with concern.
"Is it the same thing that was manipulating them earlier?" inquired Scion, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
"No, they are no longer manipulated. Right now, they are akin to a boiling pressure cooker," Aldeen explained, his tone grave as he surveyed their surroundings with growing panic.
"Tell everyone to evacuate right away!" Aldeen commanded with a sense of urgency, startling Scion and his personal guards with the suddenness of his directive.
"It's tricky, but I'll try to defuse this energy..." Aldeen trailed off, his gaze fixed on the pulsating corpses before him.
"Scion, stay here and help me out. Order your troops to fall back" Aldeen instructed, his tone resolute despite the gravity of the situation.
"Guys, you heard him! Get out of here, but be careful! If you notice anyone suspicious, let me know! Come on, hurry up!" Scion directed, rallying the others to safety.
"How about we just carry the corpses to the wall? The wall is spell immune!" Scion suggested, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"I don't think we have much time. If someone spots us carrying these corpses mid-way with no protection, it could prove fatal," Aldeen replied, his voice tinged with urgency.
Then, he added, "Whoever did this had a plan in mind. Let's just hope we're not too late."
"Aghhhhh!" The cry pierced the air, prompting Aldeen and Scion to swiftly turn towards its source, their senses on high alert.
Ethan, the little kid, emerged from the chaos and dashed towards Scion. "Uncle! Uncle! Help!" he cried out, his voice trembling with fear.
Frustration etched upon his face, Scion scowled at the boy. "Tch! What are you doing here? I told you to go to the bunker!" he reprimanded, his tone firm and authoritative, masking his concern with sternness.
"B-but... Over there..." Ethan tried to explain, but Scion cut him off abruptly. "Get out of here now! It's dangerous for you, kiddo!"
"Wait," Aldeen intervened, his voice calm but firm. "What's the matter, kiddo?"
"Are you sure you want to listen to him, Aldee? We don't have much time to comfort a little kid," Scion interjected impatiently.
Unfazed by Scion's interruption, Aldeen turned towards the child, crouching down to his level and gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong, kid?"
"Following Scion's instructions, I went to seek refuge in the bunker, but on my way there, I s-s-saw this cat. Poor little kitten was trapped on a boulder, and fire was surrounding her. I t-t-tried to save her, I extended a branch to her, she caught it, then she fell. B-b-but when she fell, she disappeared!" Ethan stuttered out, his voice trembling with emotion.
"What?!" exclaimed Scion, his expression a mix of disbelief and concern.
Aldeen hummed thoughtfully, scratching his beard as he considered Ethan's words. "I understand. Without pointing anywhere, I want you to whisper the location of where that happened. Don't worry, you're safe here with us. Okay?" Aldeen's voice was gentle, his warm smile a stark contrast to the seriousness of the situation. However, the tight grip on the kid's shoulder betrayed his true concern and urgency.
A man draped in a black cloak adorned with torn purple roses observed the scene with a sly gaze, his eyes narrowed in deep contemplation. His cloak boasted a high collar, adding to his mysterious demeanor, and his hands were clad in fingerless gloves. A ring, adorned with a serpent, adorned one of his fingers, glinting ominously in the dim light.
As he watched Ethan's interaction with Aldeen and Scion, a wicked smirk played across his lips. "What the fuck is that kid doing there?" he muttered to himself, his thoughts swirling with sinister intentions. "Maybe I should trigger the explosion. Injuring Aldeen now is still a good benefit. Damn it! I was hoping to kill him."
"Mmm... I think we've been had," Aldeen remarked, a hint of resignation in his voice. Turning to Ethan, he offered his gratitude, "Thanks a lot, kiddo. Listen to me, I want you to follow the guards and get out of here."
Ethan nodded, his expression a mix of relief and apprehension, before obediently following Aldeen's instructions.
Aldeen then leaned in and whispered something to Scion, their exchange brief but intense. Scion nodded in understanding.
Scion pressed his palm firmly against the ground, and a surge of energy began to swirl within his grasp. His attire rippled and his long black hair danced with the raw power he commanded.
"Xeno-arcanery! Sand storm," Scion declared, his voice cutting through the chaos. In an instant, a thick fog of swirling sand erupted from the ground, enveloping the area and obscuring everyone's vision. The gritty haze shrouded the surroundings, masking their movements and providing cover.
The mysterious cloaked man gritted his teeth in frustration, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Seems like they know I'm here. Clever, indeed," he muttered to himself, his voice laced with irritation. "They're trying to hide what they're doing! Unlucky for you, I don't play those games!"
The mysterious cloaked man pressed his palm against the ground, channeling his dark powers. "Xeno-arcanery! Kuro Kasei!" he intoned, his voice resonating with sinister intent.
In an instant, shadows coalesced around him, swirling and twisting into a dense, inky blackness.
With a deafening roar, shockwaves reverberated through the city streets, sending tremors racing through the ground. Glass shattered in a cacophony of splinters, windows of nearby buildings exploding into a million glittering shards that rained down like deadly confetti upon the unsuspecting city below.
The air filled with the sound of cracking and crashing as the pressure wave slammed into structures, causing some to buckle and collapse under the onslaught. Buildings trembled as if shaken by an angry titan, their foundations weakened by the ferocity of the explosion. Dust and debris billowed into the air, obscuring the once-familiar skyline with a veil of chaos and destruction.
Even those deep in the heart of the city, who escaped the direct impact of the explosion, felt the earthquake-like tremors reverberating through the ground. They were thrown to the ground by the sheer force of the blast, their ears ringing with the deafening noise. Panic swept through the streets like wildfire, as people scrambled for safety.
Fortunately, many had sought refuge in the bunkers and the city hall, sheltering from the devastation above. In these fortified sanctuaries, they waited anxiously, hoping for the chaos to pass and for some semblance of normalcy to return to their shattered city.
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In the tense moments before the explosion, Aldeen leaned in close to Scion, his voice low and urgent. He whispered a few words into Scion's ear :
"Listen, Scion," Aldeen began, his voice low and urgent. "Whoever planted this energy in the zombies is waiting for something. What the kid just said means he is observing us. First, we must get rid of his vision. Then, I will bury these zombies further into the ground. I can do that easily since the ground here has already been morphed with your energy manipulation. After that, I will hide myself and look for the mastermind, your sandstorm will be both a cover and a decoy."
The cloaked figure, hidden in the shadows, attentively waited for the storm to dissipate, expecting to find Aldeen and Scion vulnerable and exposed. To his surprise, when the swirling sand settled, there was no one in sight except Scion, who stood alone in the center of the area.
Scion had surrounded the entire vicinity with multiple layers of floors made of a wet cushion of earth, each layer stacked half a meter meters high. It was a defensive barrier of impressive magnitude.
But as the adrenaline faded, Scion's breaths came in ragged gasps, and blood trickled from his nose and mouth. The strain of his intense spellcasting had taken its toll, and with a weary sigh, he collapsed to the ground.
The cloaked figure's frustration grew as he scanned the area, unable to locate Aldeen despite his meticulous observation. "Where the fuck is Aldeen?" he muttered under his breath, his patience wearing thin. "If I wanted Scion dead, I would've already killed him! Damn it!"
Out of nowhere, Aldeen appeared above the cloaked figure, launching a drop kick aimed at his target. But the mysterious man, swift and agile, narrowly evaded the attack, his cover slipping in the process. His hood fell back, revealing a domino mask adorning his face.
"Aha, it seems I've uncovered the rat hiding in the shadows," Aldeen declared with a smirk as he closed the distance between them. The cloaked figure, now exposed, braced himself for the confrontation that was about to unfold.
The cloaked figure looked startled, their grip on the cloak tightening as their eyes narrowed with determination. "This is only the beginning..." they muttered ominously, their voice dripping with menace.
"I guess you're the puppeteer behind this earthquake spectacle," Aldeen remarked, a sly smile playing on his lips as he confronted the cloaked figure.
"Noo... I'm simply the one executing the puppeteer's command," the cloaked figure retorted defiantly. "Aldeen, your end is near. You know nothing of our intentions. I act in the service of a greater cause!"
"A greater cause, you say?" Aldeen chuckled softly, his tone laced with skepticism. "Your game is up."
The cloaked figure, with a determined glare, attempted to put his palm on the ground, his voice trembling slightly as he invoked his spell. "Xeno-arcanery! Shadows of d-dea..."
But before he could complete the incantation, Aldeen lunged forward with a lightning-fast dropkick. The impact caught the cloaked figure off guard, disrupting his concentration and sending him hurtling through the air. As he tumbled, his spell dissipated into nothingness, leaving him sprawled on the ground.
"What speed! I couldn't even cast my spell!" the cloaked figure exclaimed in frustration.
"Come on, Aldeen, at least let me cast some!" he pleaded, his breaths heavy with exertion.
"Ha ha ha, no thanks," Aldeen responded with a smirk, his confidence unwavering.
As the figure attempted to make his escape using a smoke bomb, Aldeen reacted swiftly, conjuring a whirlwind to disperse the smoke and reveal the cloaked figure's whereabouts.
Aldeen triumphantly said, "Before my eyes, all your tricks are futile."
But just as Aldeen spoke, the cloaked figure suddenly disappeared from sight.
Aldeen's keen senses honed, with a low hum, he focused his energy, channeling it into his eyes, enhancing his vision with a supernatural clarity.
Through his enhanced sight, Aldeen spotted the cloaked figure attempting to make his escape, his form blurred but still visible against the backdrop of chaos.
As the mysterious figure weighed his options, a sense of pragmatism washed over him. Though the temptation to engage in battle with Aldeen lingered, he knew deep down that the odds were stacked against him. With a resigned sigh, he made a calculated decision to retreat.
Aldeen, saw the figure transform into dark smoke and disappeared.
Though he retreated for the time being, the enigmatic figure harbored a determination to regroup and return stronger, ready to face Aldeen on more favorable terms in the future.