The journey to the southern border was swift but tense. Damien and his team split at the fork near Blackthorn Pass, where the path diverged toward the southern outposts and the wilderness beyond. Roland and Lyra led a contingent of soldiers toward the fortified lines, their task clear: hold the border at all costs.
Damien and Cassian, accompanied by a small group of elite scouts, veered west into the shadowed woods, their mission more precarious. They would hunt for the figure orchestrating the Rift attacks, guided only by the fragmented intelligence gathered from the shard.
As the two groups parted, Roland clapped Damien on the shoulder. “Keep your head, Bladebearer. We’ll hold the line.”
“And we’ll find their leader,” Damien replied, gripping Roland’s arm in solidarity.
Lyra smirked, her twin blades glinting in the sunlight. “Don’t take too long. We’ll need you back when the real fight begins.”
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THE FORTIFIED LINE
Roland and Lyra reached the southern outposts by nightfall. The camp was bustling with activity, soldiers fortifying barricades and sharpening weapons under the light of torches. The tension was palpable, the men and women preparing for a battle they knew could be their last.
Captain Thalric, a seasoned warrior with scars to prove it, greeted them at the command tent. “You’re just in time,” he said, his voice gruff. “Scouts report heavy Rift activity moving in from the eastern ridges.”
Roland nodded, studying the map spread out before them. “They’ll hit us here,” he said, pointing to a narrow pass leading into the valley. “It’s the only approach large enough for a full assault.”
Lyra leaned over the table. “We’ll set ambush points along the pass. Use the terrain to our advantage.”
Thalric grinned. “I like the way you think, Lady Lyra.”
The next hours were a flurry of preparation. Traps were set, archers positioned on the cliffs, and infantry readied for the coming fight.
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THE FIRST ASSAULT
At dawn, the silence of the valley was shattered by the distant roar of Rift creatures. The soldiers tensed, their eyes fixed on the horizon as the first wave appeared—twisted beasts with glowing eyes, their bodies warped by Rift energy.
Roland raised his shield, his voice booming across the ranks. “Hold the line! No one breaks through!”
The creatures charged, their snarls filling the air. The archers loosed their arrows, each shot finding its mark, but the beasts pressed on. As they reached the barricades, Roland met them head-on, his shield smashing into the first creature with a thunderous impact. His sword followed, cutting through the next.
Lyra moved like a shadow, her blades flashing as she struck down any beast that slipped past Roland’s defense. Her movements were precise, each strike deadly.
The soldiers fought valiantly, their formation holding strong. But this was only the beginning.
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A NEW ENEMY
As the sun rose higher, the ground trembled. From the ranks of the Rift creatures emerged a new threat—a towering beast, its body covered in jagged, obsidian-like armor. It wielded a massive warhammer, its strikes sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
“A Colossus,” Thalric muttered, his face pale. “We’ve never faced one this close to the border.”
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Roland stepped forward, his shield raised. “Then we take it down. Archers, focus fire on its joints!”
The archers obeyed, their arrows striking the Colossus’s legs and arms. The beast roared, its movements slowed but not stopped. It raised its warhammer, bringing it down in a powerful arc toward the barricades.
Roland braced, the impact slamming into his shield and sending him skidding back. “Lyra, now!”
Lyra darted forward, her blades targeting the creature’s exposed joints. She struck at its knee, forcing it to stumble. The Colossus retaliated, its massive arm sweeping toward her, but she rolled beneath the strike and slashed at its arm.
Roland regained his footing, charging with a roar. He slammed his shield into the creature’s chest, pushing it back. The combined assault forced the Colossus to its knees.
“Thalric!” Roland shouted. “Bring it down!”
Thalric signaled the archers, and a volley of arrows struck the Colossus’s head. Lyra leapt onto its back, driving her blades into its neck. The creature let out a final, bone-rattling roar before collapsing, its body dissolving into mist.
The soldiers cheered, but Roland raised a hand. “Stay sharp. This was only the first wave.”
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THE HUNT
Meanwhile, Damien and Cassian moved through the dense forest, their scouts fanning out to cover more ground. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the faint hum of Rift energy grew stronger with each step.
Cassian crouched, inspecting a series of strange tracks. “These aren’t beast tracks,” he said, his voice low. “Humanoid. Recent.”
Damien nodded, his hand resting on Ebonfang’s hilt. “We’re close.”
The group pressed on, their movements silent. As they reached a clearing, Damien’s eyes narrowed. In the center stood a hooded figure, its back turned to them. Around it, the air shimmered with dark energy.
Damien signaled the scouts to surround the clearing. He and Cassian stepped forward, weapons drawn.
“You’ve led us on quite the chase,” Damien said, his voice steady.
The figure turned slowly, its face obscured by the hood. When it spoke, its voice was calm, almost amused. “And you’ve proven more persistent than I expected.”
Damien tightened his grip on Ebonfang. “Who are you? Why are you leading these attacks?”
The figure chuckled, a low, chilling sound. “You think this war is about conquest? It is far more than that.”
The ground trembled as dark energy surged around the figure. “You cannot stop what is coming, Bladebearer. The Rifts are merely the beginning.”
Damien stepped forward. “We’ll see about that.”
The figure raised a hand, and the shadows around it coalesced into weapons. “Then come. Let us see if you’re ready for what lies ahead.”
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THE DUEL
Damien charged, Ebonfang glowing brightly as he unleashed an Astral Slash. The energy wave streaked toward the figure, but it dissipated against a barrier of shadow.
The figure retaliated, hurling spears of dark energy. Damien dodged, activating Phase Step to close the distance. He struck with a flurry of blows, but the figure moved with inhuman speed, deflecting each strike with ease.
Cassian provided cover, his arrows targeting the figure’s weak points. The figure deflected most, but one struck its shoulder, forcing it back.
“You’ve grown strong,” the figure said, its voice calm. “But strength alone will not save you.”
It raised its hands, and the shadows around the clearing surged, forming a ring of dark energy that pulsed outward. The scouts were forced back, but Damien held his ground, his aura flaring.
“This ends now!” Damien shouted, channeling all his energy into Ebonfang. The blade’s runes blazed as he unleashed a devastating Void Cleave.
The figure raised its arms to block, but the attack shattered its defenses, sending it crashing to the ground.
The shadows dissipated, and the figure rose slowly, its hood falling back to reveal a face marked with strange, glowing runes.
“You are not ready for the truth,” it said, its voice echoing. “But you will be soon.”
With that, the figure dissolved into shadow, leaving only silence in its wake.