Bjorn's hand froze midway to his blade as the tumultuous battlefield sprawled before him. A glade, once serene and teeming with the sounds of nature, now reverberated with the clash of steel, the hisses of the Seraphidae, and the guttural roars of the Kungwan. The marshy terrain had been churned to mud by the throng of combatants, and blood mixed with rainwater and fell to the earth, coloring the soil a rich crimson hue.

Both sides were locked in a vicious melee, with no quarter given on either front. A phalanx of Seraphidae, clad in their distinctive armor and wielding spears and shields, formed a shield wall against a pack of Kungwan. Behind the lines of defense stood a number of archers, firing volleys into the air with remarkable accuracy. A cadre of warriors, brandishing their twin swords, rushed past the phalanx, slashing and cutting their way through the horde with surprising efficiency.

Wisps of magical energy weaved through the air, accompanied by the cries of the wounded and dying. Spells flashed, leaving blinding trails in their wake, before impacting with devastating effect. Cracks of thunder and explosions sounded in quick succession, filling the sky with arcs of light.

Farther behind, the injured and fallen lay, receiving the healers' attentive care. Despite the chaos, they calmly tended to the injured, bandaging wounds, staunching bleeding, and applying balms and potions where needed. Those too far gone received the final mercy of the blade, ensuring they did not suffer any longer.

The four approached the battlefront, keeping themselves concealed with Lira's magic. They navigated the edge of the battlefield, weaving between pockets of conflict. The Seraphidae were slowly gaining the upper hand, pushing the Kungwan back. With their superior defensive tactics and their magic, they had managed to create a steady flow of casualties on the Kungwans' side.

Still, the Kungwan relentlessly swarmed them, undeterred by their losses. They leapt from the treetops, landing with sickening crunch and squelch. Others crept out of the swampy bog, shrugging off blows and ripping into flesh with their gnashing jaws. The Seraphidae fought valiantly, but their fatigue and injuries were taking their toll, slowing their responses.

Bjorn felt Lira's aura fluctuate for a brief moment, a result of her spell fading. Immediately, several nearby Kungwans turned their attention towards the group. They charged forward, screeching as they sprinted across the marshy ground.

"No choice," Bjorn growled as he drew his blade. "We fight."

The four sprang into action, each dashing towards a different enemy.

Serrandyl rushed a charging Kungwan, meeting it head-on. She blocked its strikes with her gauntlets, causing the creature to stagger backwards. A well-placed kick to the gut sent the monster tumbling to the ground. With a cry, she leapt into the air and landed atop the Kungwan, driving her fist into its face. She punched its skull, over and over, until its head caved in.

Meanwhile, Th'maine focused his attention on a group of two Kungwan approaching him. He thrust his staff outwards and released a bolt of energy, hitting one in the chest and blasting it off its feet. The remaining creature lunged, swiping its claws at his head, but Th'maine raised his staff to block the strike, the runes on its surface glowing bright blue. A blast of energy exploded from the contact, sending the Kungwan reeling away. Before it could recover, Th'maine channeled more arcane power through his staff and unleashed a torrent of lightning into its chest, vaporizing the creature.

Bjorn intercepted two Kungwans, slicing through their hides with his rune-etched claymore. His movements were a flurry of steel, his muscles rippling as he parried, cut, and evaded the beasts' attacks. In a single fluid motion, he spun and delivered a powerful strike against one creature's shoulder, severing its arm clean off. The beast collapsed, writhing in agony as it bled profusely from the gaping wound.

He sidestepped another Kungwan as it tried to tackle him. He retaliated with a horizontal slash, tearing a deep gash across its back. The creature fell to the ground with a pained cry. As he brought his blade down to deliver the finishing blow, the second Kungwan rammed him, knocking him off balance and preventing him from completing the execution.

"Bloody vermin," Bjorn spat. He pivoted on his heel and swung his sword at the charging Kungwan, scoring a glancing blow across its flank. The creature howled, staggering backward. Bjorn did not relent, unleashing a series of rapid cuts and thrusts. His attacks landed with deadly precision, piercing through the creature's defenses and opening several wounds on its body. With one final strike, he drove his blade through the creature's neck, separating its head from the rest of its body.

Lira quickly uttered an incantation, summoning a wisp of energy that coalesced into a sphere of frost in her hand. She launched the orb at a charging Kungwan, the projectile streaking through the air and detonating upon impact. A cloud of frigid mist erupted, engulfing the creature in a veil of ice. It shrieked, its body frozen solid, and tumbled to the ground, shattering into thousands of fragments that scattered across the field in a shower of icy shards.

Bjorn surged through the group of Kungwans, felling each with a single mighty swing. His blade was a whirlwind of steel, cleaving through flesh and bone as he tore through the ranks. Arrows flew overhead, sinking into the Kungwan's bodies. Bjorn's skin prickled from the static energy emanating from nearby blasts of magic.

All around him, the sounds of battle filled the air, echoing in his ears as he lost himself to the heat of combat. Time slowed, and every moment seemed like an eternity. His world had shrunk down to this singular, brutal task.

The Kungwans' regenerative capabilities and their hide which was resistant to mundane weapons proved an irritating obstacle to overcome, but his rune-etched weapon granted him an advantage. Their tough hide parted under his blade's enchanted edge, allowing his strikes to land deep.

One by one, the creatures reeled away, screaming as they clutched their gaping wounds.

As he made his way through the throng, he noticed the Kungwans' resistance had wavered. The creatures retreated, slowly backing away from the advancing Seraphidae, attempting to regroup. Several Kungwans lay dead, and the remainder of the creatures limped and hobbled back to the relative safety of their nesting ground.

Taking a brief moment to catch their breath, the group surveyed the area. Many of the Seraphidae warriors were lying on the ground, either grievously wounded or fatally impaled with Kungwan talons, serrated teeth, or barbs. The archers, though weary, still kept their bows taut. They maintained vigilance, poised to launch their arrows into the air should the Kungwan decide to charge once more.

Serrandyl whistled in awe, shaking her head. "That was intense! Nice work, guys!"

Lira winced as she examined the corpses littering the ground, while Th'maine frowned, furrowing his brow.

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Bjorn grunted, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Where's the leader of this lot?"

Lira gestured towards the rearguard, where a small contingent of Seraphidae appeared to be gathered around a larger, more ornately armored figure. "Over there, I assume."

Th'maine sighed. "Let's meet with them. Hopefully, they're amicable to a chat."

Bjorn led his party over to the group of Seraphidae, who bristled and prepared their weapons at the sight of the group. Several of the warriors turned toward them warily as they approached, their gazes lingering on his sword. One of the warriors, an imposing male Seraphid, stepped forward, putting himself between Bjorn and the others. His crest flared up, and he brandished his spear with a growl, the sharpened tip leveled at Bjorn's chest.

"Begone, human! We have no quarrel with you, but if you stand in our path, I will run you through," he snarled, baring his fangs. "Our fight is with the Kungwan alone. Leave now!"

"Relax, friend!" Bjorn put his hands up defensively, giving the warrior a nod of reassurance. "I'm no foe of yours. I hail from Ebonheim, a small settlement north of here. The Kungwan are our shared adversaries. I only want to talk."

The Seraphid warrior glared at the four skeptically, his expression hardening.

"Stand down," said their leader, placing a hand on the Seraphid warrior's shoulder. He wore armor similar to the other warriors, but his helm and cuirass were more elaborately decorated, with ornate engravings adorning its surfaces. "It is alright. They appear to be allies."

He slithered toward them and removed his helm, revealing a stern, weathered face with sharp, angular features.

"I thank you for your help." His voice was deep and authoritative, echoing with an eerie quality. He cocked his head slightly, studying the group with narrowed eyes. "I am Ophis, commander of this band. Who might you be, and what brings you here?"

Bjorn cleared his throat, inclining his head to Ophis in acknowledgment. "My name is Bjorn, and this here is Th'maine, Serrandyl, and Lira. We came seeking audience with Calyxia, the Southern Lord. Is she here with you?"

Ophis's eyes widened. He stared at Bjorn for a long moment, then laughed and shook his head, his voice like gravel. "Ha! No, Lord Calyxia and your goddess are fighting the Kungwan on another battlefront. She cannot be reached at this time, but I can assist you with whatever matter you have come here to discuss. Speak, warriors of Ebonheim."

Bjorn exchanged glances with the others before regarding Ophis once again. "We learned about a Magitech mechanism beneath the Dragon's den in the mountains. We also discovered a portal in another cave connected to the mechanism, and found it transports people here for the Kungwans to use as hosts for their brood. The dragon, Kelzryn, informed us that only your lord, Calyxia, could shut it down and free the dragon. We figured we'd ask for her aid and bring her back with us, but it seems like she's preoccupied at the moment..."

Ophis let out a long, deep hum. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, nodding along as Bjorn's explanation came to an end.

"So, that is why the Kungwan's numbers have grown so drastically over the years, and why they are expanding their reach farther afield..." The Seraphid commander mused aloud, his expression darkening. "We suspected there may be foul magic at work, but could never prove our suspicions until now."

"The dragon has offered its aid in exchange for the southern lord's assistance," Th'maine cut in, eyeing Bjorn. "Once it's freed, Kelzryn will rein over the Kungwan brood and bring this whole affair to a close."

Ophis hissed through clenched teeth. "The Kungwan must be dealt with first. They threaten the existence of all who inhabit the valley, not just us here. I'm afraid our forces are stretched thin as is. Releasing this...dragon, while ideal, will have to wait until we eradicate this infestation once and for all."

"What would you suggest we do then?" Bjorn inquired, folding his arms across his broad chest. "The Kungwan have retreated to their nest, but do you have enough people to press on and finish the job?"

Ophis paused for a moment, considering the question. Finally, he gave a curt nod, straightening up and tapping the butt of his spear on the ground. "Lord Calyxia and your goddess will join us on the final push once they've dealt with their respective Kungwan threat. I am confident in our ability to regroup and move out with them. As for you, Ebonheim warriors, I ask that you lend your strength to our cause as well."

Bjorn and Th'maine glanced at each other. Both men shrugged, unable to give an answer immediately.

Serrandyl spoke, breaking the silence. "If we manage to kill all the Kungwans, then why would we even bother freeing that dragon or messing with that weird portal and whatnot?" She furrowed her brow in confusion.

She had a point. But this had become more than just dealing with the Kungwan problem. This had spiraled into something greater. There was another force at work orchestrating events unseen. Whatever plans these mysterious artificers had for this region, Bjorn would be damned if he let them proceed unchecked.

"Because it doesn't stop here," Bjorn began, addressing Serrandyl. "From what I understand, that contraption was designed to siphon the dragon's power. If that's the case, what else do they plan to do with it? The valley won't rest easy unless we get rid of this problem at the source. Besides, Kelzryn offered us an alliance with the promise to keep the village safe, so we should probably honor that deal. Don't you think?"

"Good point." Serrandyl nodded slowly, understanding dawning in her eyes. "Alright, I'm in."

"Well," Th'maine interjected, clearing his throat, "The dragon won't take kindly to all of the Kungwans being dead, since it initially intended for them to serve as its guards and all, but I suppose that's a bridge we can cross when we get there."

Bjorn looked at Lira, waiting for her opinion.

"Kelzryn never mentioned caring for the Kungwans. It only requested our aid in its liberation," Lira pointed out. "I don't think we need to concern ourselves with Kelzryn's feelings towards the Kungwans. But the dragon's potential discontent with our actions afterward may lead to unforeseen complications if not handled properly."

"We'll sort all of that out after we destroy the Kungwans for good," Bjorn muttered, shaking his head. "Regardless, we'll play our part and do what we can to help."

"Then it is settled!" Ophis announced with a pleased hiss. "I am glad to count you among our ranks, warriors of Ebonheim." He inclined his head slightly before gesturing to his fellow Seraphidae. "We shall rally our forces and prepare to march out shortly. Be ready."

Bjorn watched as Ophis slithered back to his soldiers, issuing orders and instructions. The group broke away, making preparations for the final push.

"Well, this is turning out to be quite the adventure," Serrandyl remarked cheerfully, grinning at the other three. "And just when things were getting dull around Ebonheim as well! Thorsten would be fuming right about now if he knew what we'd gotten ourselves involved in."

Th'maine groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation. "Must you always be so cheerful? Sometimes, your relentless optimism is truly grating."

"Oh, lighten up, you old grump," Serrandyl chided. She stuck out her tongue playfully at the mage and chuckled. "Look on the bright side. We'll be done with the Kungwans soon, and we can go back home! We'll be heroes!"

Th'maine rolled his eyes, but made no further comment. He leaned against his staff and continued observing the Seraphidae preparing for battle.

"Bjorn," Lira spoke up quietly, leaning closer to him. "I'm going to help tend to their wounded. I noticed that some of their healers are having trouble with those who had been infected by the Kungwan larvae. I'll be able to cure them with my magic."

Bjorn patted her shoulder gently. "Go ahead. Let me know if you need any help. I'll stay here with the others until we're ready to leave."

She nodded, offering him a faint smile before slipping away. Bjorn turned to Serrandyl and Th'maine as Lira departed.

"How are we holding up, everyone?" Bjorn asked.

Serrandyl grinned. "Fit as a fiddle, boss!"

Th'maine grunted with a noncommittal shrug. "Couldn't be better. Though I must admit, this is shaping up to be a most taxing afternoon. I can scarcely remember the last time I had engaged in this much physical exertion. My knees aren't going to appreciate tomorrow."

Bjorn nodded in understanding. "Rest up while you can. We still have a long day ahead of us."