The fortress of Kaldabrad loomed in the distance, its ruined towers and shattered walls still as formidable as the day they were built. Undead thronged within, garrisoning the walls and maintaining a relentless watch over the perimeter. Though not individually powerful, their sheer numbers posed a formidable challenge. For Alice, facing them alone would have been perilous. But with Adrien by her side... these undead would have wished to remain undisturbed in their graves.
They concealed themselves in the dense underbrush and dead trees near the fortress, far enough from the undead's gaze. The journey to Kaldabrad had taken its toll on Alice, and Adrien ensured they stopped often, allowing her to rest and even catching food for her. With each passing day, Adrien seemed less like a demon to her, but she knew—deep down—he remained one. A ruthless monster who slaughtered any opposition. An apex predator. Yet to her, Adrien was... kind.
It was certainly better than being chained in the forest. And he had managed to control his... urges. But the idea of a relationship between captor and captive was unthinkable. Despite this, she found herself slowly growing fond of him. His burning, searing red eyes captivated her whenever she met his gaze, and as for his physique...
Her mind trailed off.
Adrien kept a vigilant watch over their surroundings, his gaze scanning the fortress for any weaknesses it may possess. Alice couldn't help but wonder if Adrien ever slept. Dark circles marred the skin beneath his eyes, a testament to his exhaustion. His eyes grew heavier with each passing moment, as if on the verge of closing, yet each time they began to shut, he forced them open again.
Despite the weariness etched on his face, he rarely ate—except when he fed on her, a practice that had become less frequent than before...
Something felt off about him, but she still couldn't tell.
The walls of the fortress may have appeared broken, but rushing into unknown territory wasn't a risk Adrien was willing to take—especially after being ambushed once before. This hesitation sparked a question in Alice's mind. Why didn't he just slaughter the undead? The thought gnawed at her until she finally voiced it.
"Adrien, you could take this castle single-handedly, right?"
"I suppose I could."
"Then why don't you?"
"Patience," he replied, his eyes narrowing as they turned toward the walls. "If we were to rush in, we could fall into the enemy's hands... a truth I'm all too familiar with. For now, we wait for an opening."
"But the undead are relentless. They will never stop guarding those walls."
Adrien considered her words, his expression thoughtful. "Oh... I suppose I didn't think of that."
What...?
"You're right. Now that I think about it, we've been waiting for hours without reason. No wonder the undead haven’t moved an inch since we arrived."
She could tell he wasn't feeling well. He likely needed more blood to sustain himself. It wasn't that she wanted to see him suffer, but the thought of him feeding on her again was unbearable. Each time was a long, painful ordeal.
He glanced at her, as if sensing her disbelief. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "My mistake."
His gaze lingered on her, unsettling her with its intensity. Why was he staring at her? She looked away toward the castle, hoping to divert his attention. "Do you like it?" he asked.
Like him?
"Like what...?" she asked, puzzled.
"The castle," he clarified.
Oh. "I guess... It’s quite imposing. It reminds me of you."
Adrien's eyes shifted back to the fortress. "You might be right about that... Do you think you can stay out here until I return?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Wait... you're not taking me with you?"
"Into a place crawling with undead?"
Alice recalled how difficult it had been for Adrien to protect her while fending off her father. If they were surrounded here, with so many enemies, it would be nearly impossible. But the thought of waiting outside, even if it was for the best, filled her with dread. She wanted to be with him. It was selfish, but she couldn't help it. "I want to go with you."
He looked at her, but instead of irritation, there was something else in his gaze. She had learned to read his expressions, and this one suggested he might have wanted her to come along but also wanted to protect her. "Very well..."
She looked at him, wondering what he was thinking. "What's the matter...?" She asked.
Adrien was acting unusual. "Adrien if there is something I can do... If you need more blood I can"
Adrien appeared distraught by her comment. "It's not that."
Before she knew it, Adrien picked her up in his arms. This had become a normal occurance now. He needed not to warn her , and though it was still a shock to her, it was not as shocking as it was before.
"We're going then?"
He looked down at her in his arms. "Well? Let's not keep our undead waiting for too long."
----------------------------------------
From the skies above, Adrien descended with full fury onto a segment of the wall that surrounded the fortress. The undead atop the walls were many, their eyes glowing with a cold, malevolent light. But this was not a game of numbers to Adrien. Their sheer numbers meant nothing; they were far too weak to stand a chance against a being as powerful as him.
The very moment of his descent, Adrien unleashed a shockwave through the ground, the force of his impact reverberating across the fortress walls. The ground trembled beneath the undead, destabilizing them and causing many to stumble and fall, their formation thrown into chaos.
With a single, sweeping motion of his wings, the skeletal warriors were torn apart where they stood, their lifeless bodies crumbling to dust in an instant, leaving only a cloud of ash in the wake of display of power. Alice watched in awe. Already the enemy forces were almost entirely wiped.
Enemy Info: Skeleton Enemy Info: Zombified Human Enemy Info: Elite Skeleton Enemy Info: Skeleton Archer
Level: 2
Enemy Count: 23/61
level: 6
Enemy Count: 12/21
level: 14
Enemy Count: 2/15
Level: 7
Enemy Count: 8/35
Race: Human
Class: Melee
Alignment: Neutral
Race: Human
Class: Melee
Alignment: Neutral
Race: Human
Class: Warrior
Alignment: Neutral
Race: Human
Class: Ranger
Alignment: Neutral
Stats
Strength: 2
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 0
Charisma: 0
Mana: 0
Health: 200/200
Stats
Strength: 4
Agility: 4
Intelligence: 0
Charisma: 0
Mana: 0
Health: 400/400
Stats
Strength: 15
Agility: 4
Intelligence: 0
Charisma: 1
Mana: 0
Health: 1500/1500
Stats
Strength: 4
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 0
Charisma: 0
Mana: 0
Health: 400/400
Skills: NA
Skills: NA
Skills: NA
Skills: NA
From the fortress, a small, robed figure emerged with haste, his movements frantic as if he had been alarmed by the sudden intrusion. His eyes darted nervously as he hurried across the courtyard, drawn by the sounds of destruction. The figure looked up to the wall, and for a brief moment, his gaze locked with Adrien's glowing red eyes. A shiver of fear coursed through him as he witnessed the dark figure tearing through his forces with terrifying ease, each strike of Adrien's power decimating the undead like they were mere insects beneath his heel.
Adrien's eyes locked onto the robed figure instantly, his predatory instincts honing in on the fear emanating from the small, cloaked man. The robed figure was utterly terrified, his composure shattered as he spun on his heel and hurried back inside the fortress, as if he were trying to flee from an unstoppable force. But there was no escape. Adrien gave chase, his grip firm around Alice, who remained cradled in his arms.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
As he descended the steps leading from the walls, Adrien slaughtered any undead that dared cross his path. His strikes were swift and merciless, bones splintering and bodies disintegrating in his wake. The undead stood no chance; they were nothing more than obstacles to be swept aside.
Adrien soon arrived before the gates of the fortress itself, where the robed figure had disappeared into the shadows within. He paused, glancing down at Alice, but noticed that her eyes were not on him. Instead, they were focused behind him, her expression steely.
"Ice Lance!"
A spear-like lance made of ice materialized in the air, hurling it at an undead foe that had been attempting to sneak up on Adrien. The ice lance pierced the creature, freezing it solid before it shattered into icy fragments.
"Don't waste your magic on them," Adrien said.
She thought she was just doing him a favor, but he was right. The undead stood no chance, even if they caught him by ambush. The realization left her feeling a bit upset, and she looked away, frustration simmering beneath the surface.
Adrien, unfazed by her reaction, turned his focus back to the task at hand. With a single, powerful kick, he sent the fortress gate flying inward, the wood and iron buckling under the sheer force of his blow. The gate crashed to the ground with a deafening thud, the noise reverberating through the fortress. Once the sound had subsided, their attention was quickly drawn to the robed figure, now visible at the far end of the fortress, standing in the shadowed depths of what could only be the throne room.
Adrien moved forward, his cloak trailing behind him like an omen. As they entered the throne room, the grandeur of the place struck Alice. The room was vast, with worn-down coats of arms hanging solemnly on the walls, remnants of a forgotten era. Large pillars lined the hall, their once-majestic carvings now faded, and a torn carpet stretched across the floor, leading to a grand, though decrepit, throne. Overhead, a second level of the throne room formed a balcony, an observation area that overlooked the first floor, adding to the room's imposing atmosphere.
Alice couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the scale of the place. It was vast and imposing, a fortress worthy of Adrien's ambitions. She could easily see why he had set his sights on it.
As Adrien marched across the carpet, his steps echoed in the cavernous space. At the very end, just before the throne, the robed figure finally spoke, his voice trembling but defiant. "Step no further!"
Name: Klaus Reifner Level: 34
Race: Human
Class: Mage / Necromancer
Alignment: True Neutral +100
Stats
Strength: 26
Agility: 23
Intelligence: 54
Charisma: 12
Mana: 2700/2700
Health: 2300/2300
Skills: Scan, Flame Wave, Fireball, Deathly Chill, Overseer, Raise Abomination, Summon Undead, flame strike
He's the necromancer... He's not as strong as I thought he would be...
Adrien Took a step closer.
"I said, don't come any closer!" the boy shouted, his voice quivering with fear.
Adrien halted just before the throne; his glowing red eyes set on the robed figure before him. "Reveal yourself, human."
The robed figure hesitated, irritation flashing across his face at Adrien's demand. But after a moment, he obliged, sliding the hood off his head. The face that emerged was that of a young boy, with short brown hair and wide brown eyes, far too young to be in such a place. He looked more like a lost child than anything else. "I do not intend to fight you," the boy said, his voice strained. "Please, be on your way."
Adrien's expression remained unchanged, his voice firm as he responded, "I'm afraid we cannot. This castle is mine. Pack your things and leave."
The boy bit his lip, "If you do not leave, I will have to force you to," he warned, with a slight tremble in his voice.
Adrien glanced at Alice, as if seeking her opinion, her expression making it clear she was wary of the boy. Even so, Adrien did not falter. "I really do not want to fight you," the boy said again, though his voice carried a note of desperation. "But I can certainly defend myself. I am not so weak after all."
As if to prove his point, the boy summoned a short scythe from thin air. The weapon formed out of dark magic, just the right size for him to wield. He lifted the scythe with both hands, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze on Adrien.
Adrien, however, seemed far from impressed. His stance remained relaxed, almost dismissive, as he watched the boy struggle to look intimidating. "You're looking down at me, aren't you?" the boy accused, his grip tightening on the scythe. "That will be your undoing."
Without responding, Adrien gently placed Alice on the floor, his attention still on the boy. The boy, sensing an opportunity, tried to sway Adrien with words. "I am not so dishonorable as to attack an innocent girl. You have my word."
Adrien's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "That, at the very least, makes you better than most," he replied.
Without warning, Adrien's wing lashed out at the boy, a dark blur in the dimly lit throne room. The boy's eyes widened in shock as he barely managed to dodge the attack, the wind from the strike ruffling his hair. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized just how close he had come to death. Adrien's wing retracted, and the boy quickly steadied himself, trying to mask his fear with bravado.
"That's a cheap move," the boy spat, though his voice betrayed how deathly scared he was.
The boy moved with incredible speed, swinging his scythe at Adrien with a determination that bordered on desperation. Adrien blocked each attack with his bare hands, meeting the blade head-on, but the boy didn't let up for a second. He kept the pressure on, forcing Adrien to stay on the defensive. Each clash sent sparks flying into the air, the boy's robes swirling around him as he darted from one pillar to another. He was unbelievably fast for someone who used magic, and it was clear he knew how to fight.
While Adrien's attention was focused on deflecting the relentless strikes, the boy saw his chance. With a quick, whispered incantation, he summoned an abomination
Enemy Info: Abomination Level: 33
Race: Undead
Class: Warrior
Alignment:
Stats
Strength: 30
Agility: 15
Intelligence: 0
Charisma: 0
Mana: 0
Health: 3000/3000
Skills: NA
A hulking, twisted creature made of flesh and bone was born. The creature of evil, so foul it was, materialized with a sickening roar, its misshapen body towering over everything else in the room. It was a grotesque nightmare, a mixture of fat and flesh and muscles of many slaughtered creatures.
Adrien’s gaze shifted to the abomination. The boy, seizing the opportunity, attacked once more, his scythe whistling through the air as he tried to exploit Adrien's momentary distraction. But Adrien wasn’t easily rattled. Summoning his strength, he deflected the boy’s next strike with enough force to send him sliding back across the floor. He looked to Adrien as he used his scythe to slow his knockback. Adrien then turned his full attention to the abomination engaging in combat with the beast.
Multiple skeletons with magical infused bows moved to their positions on the second floor, their bones creaking softly as they took up their silent formation. Their steps were almost soundless as the moved through the shadows. The dim light barely caught on their hollow eye sockets, their skeletal hands gripping firmly to their bows.
Adrien stood in the center of the throne room, his gaze following the abomination that lunged forward with a roar that shook the very foundations of the fortress. At the same time, the boy, wielding his scythe, launched himself toward Adrien while throwing fireballs from the air, hoping to catch him off guard.
Adrien dodged the abomination’s massive, clawed hand as it swiped at him with bone-crushing force. He single-handedly destroyed the flame magic with his bare hands, catching everyone by surprise. As the boy came to deliver a blow, Adrien struck him with the palm of his hand to his chest. The force of the impact sent the boy stumbling back, but he quickly regained his footing. Just how powerful was this monster? He was holding off both him and his abomination at the same time.
In a blink of an eye, Adrien closed the distance. With a swift, brutal strike, Adrien sent the boy crashing into a nearby pillar, the force of the blow cracking the stone. The boy gasped for breath, his body trembling from the impact, as he fell to his knees.
Adrien seemed on the verge of collapsing, his eyes heavy with exhaustion as he struggled to stay awake. Despite staggering frequently, he somehow managed to hold his ground, putting up an incredible fight, frustrating the boy even further.
Hundreds of undead poured into the fortress, swarming around Adrien. Their numbers seemed endless, yet Adrien continued to cut down each and every skeleton or undead that crossed his path. What agitated the boy even more was the realization that Adrien hadn't even used a single ounce of his mana throughout the entire fight, relying solely on his physical strength to tear through the horde.
The boy looked up to see Adrien locked in combat with the undead and the abomination. His hand instinctively pressed against his ribcage, where he could feel the sharp pain of broken bones—he knew he was seriously injured. He looked up to the second floor and gave a nod. As Adrien fought below, the skeletons on the second floor began to nock their arrows, their skeletal hands moving with silence as they prepared themselves. Once ready, the boy gave the order to his skeletons.
"Kill him."
The skeletons unleashed their arrows at Adrien. Each arrow was imbued with powerful magic, their tips slicing through the air itself. There were too many to evade. Adrien, drained from the relentless battle, didn't register the danger in time. One arrow pierced through his leg, another through his shoulder, and a third struck his chest. The force of the attack brought him to his knees before Alice, severely wounded. As if on command, the abomination halted its assault, standing still as Adrien struggled to stay upright.
"Adrien!" Alice cried out as she watched him fall.
As Adrien fell to his knees, the arrows in his body began to glow with an unsettling light. Dark, twisted chains erupted from the arrows, slithering through the air with a life of their own. These chains connected the arrows in his leg, shoulder, and chest back to the bows of the skeletal archers above. Quickly, the undead used wrapped the chains around the pillars, the pull of the chains causing the arrow to cut through Adrien's body.
The remaining undead quickly poured forth, binding Adrien's unresponsive body. They placed chains upon him so crude that made Alice's stomach churn. The chains anchored Adrien on his knees. The light in his eyes faded. The boy, catching his breath, leaned heavily against a pillar for support. Alice turned to him, her eyes wide with shock. "What on earth was that?"
The boy struggled to stand, determined to appear strong despite his injuries. "Those arrows... they're imbued with magic..." He gasped for breath, forcing a pained smile. "Each one... powerful enough to take down... a level 80 threat..."
Adrien was bleeding profusely. She stared at him, unsure of what to do. "Elven girl... I don’t know your name... but you're free to leave... My business was with this monster... not with you."
She glanced back at Adrien, her mind racing. "He was... difficult..." the boy muttered, before collapsing to the floor as well, his strength finally giving out.
Alice struggled to process what had just happened, her mind reeling as she stared at Adrien's lifeless form. "So... is he dead?" she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"Even a monster can't survive an attack like that..." The boy coughed, opening one eye to glance at Adrien before closing it again. "He's dead."
The words were incomprehensible to Alice. How could this have happened? What would become of her now? Desperation clawed at her as she used her foresight, yet Adrien's attributes remained obscured. She crawled to him, grasping his hand tightly, tears streaming down her face. She was crying—for him, no less. "You loved him dearly, I see. I am sorry," the boy murmured.
"How... could he die like this..." she whispered, her voice trembling.
"He would have to be," the boy coughed, struggling to speak. "A monster beyond monsters to survive an attack like that..."
"But he is! Adrien... Adrien is no man... He is a demon!" Alice cried out, her voice filled with anguish.
The boy's heart sank at her words. A demon inhabiting a human body? That was unheard of. All the demons had been eradicated by the combined forces of humans and elves—it was impossible. In his mind, Adrien couldn't have been a demon. Yet as he looked at Adrien again, he was certain—Adrien was dead. There was no denying it.
The only doubt he held were his red eyes. Adrien's gaze had the capability to surface fear in others, a trait common in demons... And his wings, well... He still refused to believe Adrien was a demon. It didn't matter now. He was dead.
"If he is a demon then why cry for him." The boy asked in disbelief.
The skeletons retreated into the shadows, their bony forms fading from view, allowing Alice and the boy a moment to collect themselves. Both of them stared at Adrien, who, even in his current state, still radiated an aura of power.
The boy called forth the abomination, commanding it to pick him up. He settled onto the abomination's neck, glaring down at Adrien with a look of deep anger. "This monster... He killed hundreds of my undead. My dear undead, to whom I gave life. This pathetic death is what a being like him deserves. Do not cry over him, girl—your tears are wasted."
Alice glanced up at him, her voice caught in her throat. She couldn’t find the words to respond. "I can have my undead escort you out of the fortress," the boy continued. "It's the least I can do for you. Please, accept my offer and leave this forsaken place. You do not belong here."
The skeletons began to circle Alice, as if waiting for her to rise. But she couldn’t move—her legs felt as if they were made of lead. "Take her," the boy commanded.
The undead obeyed, lifting Alice by her arms. Her legs dragged across the ground, limp and unresponsive, but the boy didn't question it, assuming she was in shock. As the undead gently carried her through the fortress, Alice’s eyes remained fixed on Adrien, unwilling to look away.
With each step, time seemed to slow. The night sky darkened, the last light of day fading into the horizon. The boy dismounted from the abomination and approached Adrien, kneeling beside him. He grabbed Adrien’s face, staring into his unresponsive eyes, searching for any sign of life. But there was nothing—no flicker, no breath. The boy's undead stood watch around him, vigilant and still, as he confirmed what he already suspected. Adrien showed no signs of life.
"I really killed him..." The boy said, unable to believe his own words.
The undead carrying Alice stepped over the crumbled remains of the fortress gates, moving steadily toward the outside world. But as they crossed the threshold, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The fortress itself started to vibrate, a low, ominous rumble that seemed to emanate from its very foundations.
Alice, still in the grip of the undead, felt the vibration reverberate through her body. She glanced into the fortress, her heart pounding in her chest. The walls seemed to shudder, dust falling from the stones as the entire structure began to quake. The undead paused, their skeletal forms hesitating as if uncertain how to proceed. The vibration grew stronger, the ground beneath them shaking more violently with each passing second. Where Adrien was bound, a dark mist had begun to envelop around his body.
Alice instinctively screamed, her voice piercing the air and echoing through the entire fortress. "Everybody, RUN!"
Panic surged through the boy as the urgency in her voice registered. He jerked his hand away from Adrien’s face, but as he did, a cold shock ran through him. He glanced down, and to his horror, his entire arm had vanished, disappearing as if it had never existed.
Before he could even comprehend the loss, a malevolent energy coiled around Adrien's body, swirling with sinister whispers. The boy's eyes widened in terror as the darkness around Adrien thickened, pulsing with an ominous power. Instinctively, he took one step back, then another, shock gripping him as he noticed a subtle movement from Adrien. "Impossible..." he breathed, his voice trembling.
The boy's heart pounded wildly in his chest, his mind struggling to grasp the reality before him. A primal fear seized him, one that Alice knew all too well. But before he could even consider his next move, it was already too late... Everything. Went. Black.