The clearing was quiet, save for the restless shuffling of horses and the murmured conversations of knights. Orlan Herdan sat slumped on a fallen log, his face pale and his breath labored. A makeshift tourniquet bound his severed arm, the blood-soaked fabric a stark reminder of his recent humiliation.
The knights stood in small clusters, their faces shadowed with exhaustion and grim determination. One older knight crouched beside Orlan, tightening the tourniquet with precise, almost indifferent movements.
“This is your fault,” Orlan hissed through clenched teeth. “If you’d simply done as commanded, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”
The knight didn’t respond, his focus fixed on his task. But the murmurs among the others grew louder.
“No, my lord,” a younger knight said coldly, stepping forward. “This mess is yours. And you’ll answer for it when we return to the capital.”
The statement hung in the air, met with quiet nods from several others. Orlan’s attempts to reassert his authority faltered in the face of their growing defiance.
“We bring you back alive,” another knight muttered, his tone bitter. “Not out of loyalty. Out of necessity. Our families…” His voice trailed off, but the meaning was clear. The weight of their decision was written on their faces—an act of survival, not allegiance.
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The group began preparing to move, their horses saddled and their supplies hastily gathered. The forest around them seemed unnervingly still, the usual rustle of leaves and chirping of insects conspicuously absent.
Then, a low growl rumbled through the trees, sending a shiver down their spines.
Before anyone could react, a sentry cried out, his scream abruptly cut short. The remaining knights drew their weapons, their training taking over as they formed a defensive circle around Orlan.
From the shadows emerged the monster, its grotesque form barely resembling the Bramblehound it once was. Its sinewy body pulsed with dark veins, its glowing eyes radiating a malevolent intelligence.
The knights held their ground as the creature lunged, its movements swift and feral. Shields clashed against its claws, and the ring of steel filled the air.
“Hold formation!” barked the older knight, his voice steady despite the chaos.
The monster prowled along the edge of their circle, testing their resolve. It snarled, lunged again, but was met with a wall of raised shields and coordinated thrusts. After several tense moments, it let out a guttural growl and retreated into the shadows, disappearing as swiftly as it had appeared.
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Deep within the forest, the monster prowled silently, its glowing eyes scanning its surroundings. Ahead, it caught sight of a small, trembling creature—a deer-like animal writhing in pain.
The creature’s body contorted unnaturally, dark energy coursing through its veins as it underwent a grotesque transformation. Its limbs elongated, its fur bristled, and its eyes glowed faintly with Void Mana.
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The monster observed with a predatory stillness, its head tilting slightly. Then, with a sudden, brutal motion, it pounced. Its claws crushed the creature’s skull, silencing it before the mutation could complete.
From the broken body, a shimmering core of pure Void Mana emerged. The monster leaned down, devouring it in one fluid motion.
The transformation was immediate. Its muscles rippled, its frame growing larger and more menacing. Its sleek body retained the speed and agility of its Bramblehound origins, but its glowing eyes burned brighter with malevolence. A piercing roar erupted from its throat, echoing through the forest and sending a wave of fear rippling through the trees.
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Back in the village, the air was thick with an unspoken tension. The villagers moved purposefully, preparing for the coming challenges, but the sense of unease lingered.
Kael found Elira organizing supplies near the central square. She looked up as he approached, her expression softening for a moment before she raised an eyebrow. “Back already? I thought you’d be off finding more mysteries to uncover.”
Kael smirked. “Mysteries don’t stand a chance against you. You’d solve them first.”
Elira rolled her eyes, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “What’s on your mind, Kael?”
Kael’s tone shifted, growing serious. “We need to talk. Privately.”
She nodded, leading him to a quieter corner of the village.
“Elira, we both know what’s coming,” Kael began, his voice low. “The Seventh Brigade was just the start. The next wave will be larger—an army.”
Elira’s brow furrowed. “And we can’t fight them off. Not with what we have.”
Kael nodded. “That’s why we have to move. There’s a place—Zharakai. It’s an ancient underground city. I’ve been there. It’s defensible, hidden, and it has the resources we’ll need to survive.”
Elira frowned, her gaze questioning. “Zharakai? I’ve never heard of it. How can you be so sure it’s what we need?”
Kael’s expression grew somber. “It’s real. The Molvani, the people who guided me there, consider it sacred. But it’s more than that. It’s a place built to withstand time, a sanctuary unlike anything you’ve seen.”
Elira hesitated, the weight of his words settling over her. “If it’s so perfect, why isn’t it already populated?”
Kael sighed, leaning against the wall. “It’s been abandoned for centuries. Overgrown, full of dangers, but it’s still our best shot. The world out here isn’t getting safer, Elira. Zharakai could be the answer.”
Her expression softened, but doubt lingered in her voice. “And you think the villagers will leave everything behind? Their homes, their memories?”
Kael met her gaze firmly. “I don’t just think they will. We’ll make them see why they have to. Together.”
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On the central square, Berry was guiding Felix through another training session.
“Focus, Felix,” Berry said, his tone sharp but encouraging. “Neutral Mana isn’t about brute force. It’s about control.”
Felix gritted his teeth, sweat dripping from his brow as he attempted to channel his energy into his shield. Slowly, a faint shimmer appeared, expanding along the edges of the wooden surface.
Berry nodded approvingly. “Good. Now hold it steady.”
Felix’s breath came in quick gasps as he poured everything he had into maintaining the mana flow. His shield began to glow faintly, the shimmer stabilizing into a thin, translucent barrier extending beyond the physical edge of the wood.
Kael, watching from the edge of the square, offered a small nod of approval. “Looks like you’re finally starting to get it.”
Felix lowered the shield, his arms trembling from the effort but his expression triumphant.
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Suddenly, Berry froze. His head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the forest.
“What’s wrong?” Felix asked, his shield lowering slightly.
Berry hesitated before responding. “An anomaly… far off. It’s faint, but there’s something wrong. Something… shifting.”
The sensation faded almost as quickly as it had come, but the unease lingered. Berry’s expression darkened as he glanced back at Felix and Alma.
“Whatever it is,” he said quietly, “it’s out there. And it’s not staying still.”