After the tense encounter with Raizer, Talon trudged through the city in frustration, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. The journey led him to an isolated area at the city's edge, where his desolate home stood. Here, an atmosphere of emptiness enveloped the surroundings, as if the darkness itself had seeped into the very essence of the place. A haunting silence accompanied him as he pushed open the door, revealing the somber interior.
Wordlessly, Talon began the ritual of removing his armor, each piece echoing with the weight of his emotions. In this quietude, his eyes were drawn to a painted picture adorning the wall—a relic from a time when joy seemed more than a distant memory.
The image portrayed a happier era, capturing a younger Talon standing beside his parents. However, as his gaze lingered, an abrupt and intense headache struck him like a sudden storm. In that painful moment, a deluge of haunting memories and regrets inundated his mind, replaying the painful experiences he had desperately tried to erase. Talon's eyes, once filled with sadness, now mirrored the profound torment of his past.
Turning back to the painting, he noticed a stark transformation. The sadness that once clouded his eyes had dissipated. Instead, they were vacant, stripped of any emotion—no sadness, no hatred, nothing. It was as if a curtain had fallen, concealing his true feelings in an impenetrable darkness.
The night sky cast a heavy veil over the hunter village, ominous clouds gathering and cloaking the surroundings in an eerie darkness. In the aftermath of the inexplicable attack, Raizer found himself amidst chaos. Guards and knights rushed in all directions, carrying lifeless bodies and grisly remains. The air was thick with despair, and some struggled to contain their horror, succumbing to the gruesome scene before them.
Zephyr, though visibly shaken, rallied the forces with a stern determination. "Pull yourselves together! I want everyone searching the village for survivors and scouring the surrounding areas," he commanded, his voice cutting through the unsettling atmosphere. The urgency in his tone mirrored the gravity of the situation, as the once-peaceful village now bore witness to a bloodbath that defied reason.
Moments passed as the knights diligently collected the corpses strewn across the village. Zephyr, fraught with concern, awaited any news of survivors. A knight approached him, his expression grave as he delivered the grim report.
"Sir, there are no survivors," the knight stated.
Zephyr's face darkened further. "And the surrounding area?"
The knight responded solemnly, "We found no survivors there either, but there were numerous dead animals scattered around."
"Dead animals?" Zephyr echoed, a note of bewilderment in his voice. The revelation added another layer of mystery to the already perplexing and tragic situation.
Another voice pierced the air, shouting, "We found the bodies of the patrol knights."
The knights gathered the remains and solemnly placed them before Zephyr. He gazed at the lifeless forms with a heavy heart, his voice carrying a somber tone as he spoke, "Shame. I knew their captain. He was a fine knight."
The weight of the loss settled on the group, a collective mourning for the fallen comrades and a deepening sense of the tragedy that had befallen the once-peaceful village.
Raizer exclaimed, "How could this have happened? It's not just a normal monster."
Zephyr replied, "Do you think some monsters did this?"
"These cuts weren't from a monster. They're too clean, as if made by a sword or something larger."
"What are you suggesting?"
Zephyr looked at him with a concerned expression, "I don't know for sure. But whatever did this is not a typical threat we've faced before. We need to be prepared for anything."
"Rowan!!" Zephyr called. "How many villages are nearby?"
"Three, sir. Each one is two to three hours' walk from this village."
"And with horses?"
"Half an hour, sir."
"Good. I want you to take three squads, each squad consisting of ten elite knights. Go to these villages, and have each squad guard them with their lives. If any village has already been attacked, report to me immediately." Zephyr instructed.
And you, Raizer, I want you to go ahead of us and report to the king about the situation."
After Zephyr issued his commands and the knights began gathering the dead and body parts, he noticed something strange. A faint, black smoke seemed to be emanating from the corpses. Zephyr realized that he needed to act quickly.
"Raizer!" he shouted.
Raizer, who was about to leave, turned back.
"Before you go to the king, get me at least two priests here and now," Zephyr ordered.
"I do not think it's the time for the dead to be blessed, sir," Raizer replied.
"Just follow the orders now," Zephyr exclaimed.
Raizer looked at him with confusion but complied, saying, "As you command."
"Commander!" someone shouted.
Zephyr, frustrated, responded, "Ah, for fuck's sake, what now?"
"You need to see this, sir," the knight urged.
Zephyr hurried to see what was happening. He found a strange ring on the ground, created by body parts and blood.
"Shit... how many of you can use the Flame of Malachi?" Zephyr inquired.
Only two knights responded affirmatively.
"Good enough, come with me now," Zephyr commanded.
He instructed one of the two knights to stand on one side of the gathered corpses and the other on the opposite side.
"At the same time, we will cast the flames on them. Until the priests arrive, we will not stop," Zephyr directed.
He also gave orders to the other knights.
"Any of you who see anything that isn't alive move, cut it down without hesitation."
The knights looked at each other, confused and unaware of what was happening. Zephyr swiftly approached the smoking corpses, his eyes narrowing in concern. The black smoke snaked its way into the air, creating an unsettling atmosphere.
Without hesitation, Zephyr and the other two knights summoned a transparent blue flame into their palms. The flame flickered with otherworldly energy as they cautiously extended it towards the smoke. As the flame made contact, a reaction occurred—the smoke recoiled as if repelled by an unseen force.
As the knights stood in a state of shock, they exchanged bewildered glances, murmuring among themselves.
"What is the commander doing?" one of the knights stated.
"It's the Flame of Malachi. It's a technique used in purifying. I've never seen it been used before," another knight said with a surprised face. The unfamiliarity of the situation hung heavily in the air, and an air of tension permeated among the knights.
Zephyr's sharp command cut through the uneasy tension, "Cut this useless talk and stand at the ready. Something is lurking in the forest shadows." His voice echoed with authority, and the knights snapped into action, their senses heightened.
The minutes ticked by, and an eerie silence filled the air, interrupted only by the putrid stench of decaying flesh that grew stronger. The knights, standing at the ready, exchanged vigilant glances, the anticipation of an unseen threat keeping them on edge.
Suddenly, a sense of unease descended upon them. From the nearby forest emerged animals not just animals monsters as will, once living but now among the dead. The sight sent shivers down the spines of the knights, and panic began to ripple through their ranks.
"What the hell are you standing for? Cut them down!" Zephyr's command echoed with urgency and authority.
As the knights, under Zephyr's directive, gathered their courage and launched a fierce attack, the eerie event unfolded before them. Swords and weapons swung through the air, striking down the grotesque creatures. However, fear hung heavily in the air, for this unnatural occurrence was unlike anything they had ever encountered. The unsettling feeling persisted, casting a pall over the once-peaceful village.
As the battle against these twisted, undead creatures raged on, Zephyr couldn't shake the foreboding sense that something much more malevolent was lurking in the shadows. The air crackled with an eerie energy, and every swing of the sword seemed to echo the unnerving presence that had descended upon the village.
The knights, standing amidst the aftermath of their battle, "That was close," one of them remarked. "Yeah," another knight responded with a sense of relief. "These monsters were not easy to cut."
However, their moment of respite was short-lived as they suddenly found themselves facing an even greater horror. From the pooling blood and scattered remains of the creatures, a grotesque monster with a singular, nightmarish visage began to take shape. Its form was an abomination, and it emitted a dense, malevolent aura that sent shivers down the spines of all who beheld it.
The putrid stench that emanated from this entity was overpowering, and some of the knights couldn't bear it, causing them to retch in disgust.
The shock and fear in the knights' faces were palpable as they stared at the horrifying creature that had materialized before them. One knight, unable to contain his terror, blurted out, "What the fuck is that!"
The grotesque monster, an amalgamation of blood, flesh, and dark energy, seemed to pulse with unholy life. Its nightmarish face bore a twisted, malevolent expression that sent chills down the spines of all who witnessed it.
"It's a Carrion Titan, born from the amalgamation of dead creatures," Zephyr answered.
Turning to the two knights, he commanded, "Both of you, keep casting without ceasing. I'll leave it to you. The Carrion that forms from dead humans is considerably stronger, and we can't afford to let it happen."
Zephyr knew that this battle was far from over. With the Carrion Titan standing before them and the possibility of an even deadlier foe lurking, they had to act swiftly and decisively.
Quickly assessing the situation, Zephyr issued orders, "Every knight who can use the fire element, come with me now. The rest of the knights, create a sticky mud trap underneath the monster to disable it."
The knights' courage was bolstered when their commander joined the fight. Zephyr's presence, along with his strategic commands, gave them renewed determination as they faced the formidable Carrion Titan.
"I need two knights by my side for physical attacks," Zephyr commanded. Two knights stepped forward.
"Alright, you will attack from the left, and you from the right," Zephyr instructed.
"Any advice, sir?" one of the two knights asked.
"Focus on the legs and be wary of its attacks; it's most likely an acid attack."
All the knights activated their Pyroguard and readied themselves to charge. There was a total of fifteen knights, four in full Pyroguard form, and the rest without helmets. They charged the Carrion, their hearts filled with determination. Zephyr and the two knights attacked, but their advance was met with an acid attack. Zephyr quickly struck the ground with his sword, sending a wave that shattered the earth, making the Carrion lose his balance. "Now it's the chance to attack," Zephyr said urgently.
The two knights followed Zephyr's instructions. One attacked from the left, while the other came in from the right. They relentlessly attacked the legs until they managed to make the Carrion unable to stand. Then the other knights began shooting fire spikes at the Carrion Titan to overwhelm him, but with no success.
The Carrion regained his strength and stood defiantly in front of the knights, exuding a monstrous presence. Charging forward with a force that disrupted the air, the creature seemed to defy the very laws of nature. The knights, momentarily taken aback by the sheer power before them, quickly regrouped, readying themselves for the next phase of the battle.
He began attacking left and right, sending knights flying with each powerful strike. In an instant, Zephyr entered his third envelop stage, the Absolute Control. He summoned a shield of unparalleled strength, wielding it with precision as he positioned himself at the forefront, ready to face the monstrous onslaught. The shield gleamed with a transparent, protective energy, a testament to Zephyr's envelop abilities.
"Get back, all of you!" Zephyr ordered, his voice cutting through the chaos of the battlefield. The knights, recognizing the urgency in their commander's tone, swiftly retreated from the relentless attacks of the Carrion Titan.
In a swift act, just as the Carrion Titan prepared to launch another devastating attack, Zephyr with his shield, created a protective barrier that absorbed the monstrous assault. The impact of the Titan's force against the shield sent shockwaves through the area, but the knights remained unharmed behind the sturdy defense.
Amidst all the relentless attacks, Zephyr patiently awaited the opportune moment to counter the Carrion Titan's assault. In an instant, he seized the perfect opening and delivered a powerful blow that sent the monstrous entity soaring through the air. The Carrion Titan crashed to the ground, momentarily incapacitated by the force of Zephyr's calculated strike.
As the Carrion Titan writhed in agony, the knights tasked with purifying the corpses faced an increasingly daunting challenge.
"Sirs, we can't bear it anymore!" shouted one of the knights.
The black smoke surrounding the area intensified, making their efforts more difficult. Zephyr, recognizing the urgency, thought to himself, "I need to finish this quickly." He then shouted, "Just hold on a little longer," urging them to endure a bit more.
Focused and determined, Zephyr summoned a fiery spear in his hand. With precise aim, he thrust the fiery weapon into the Carrion's chest, creating a gaping hole from which oozed a dark, viscous substance.
The Carrion Titan's agonized screech resonated through the battlefield, signaling the profound impact of Zephyr's strategic assault. The creature, now writhing in pain, succumbed to its injuries and collapsed onto its back. This momentary calm, however, was abruptly shattered by a thunderous roar that reverberated with unparalleled intensity.
The sheer force of the roar proved overwhelming, causing the knights, with the exception of Zephyr, to falter and crumble under its effect. This manifestation of the Carrion Titan's power is a testament to the potent energy encapsulated within these grotesque entities.
The Carrion Titan, defying the odds, surged back to its feet with an eerie resilience. Channeling the dark energy inherent within its monstrous form, the creature initiated a regenerative process, mending its wounds and restoring its formidable vitality. The air crackled with an ominous energy as the Carrion focused the dark essence into its hand, exhaling a noxious acid that seamlessly transformed into a grotesque sword crafted from bone. The blade glimmered with an unsettling radiance, emanating a malevolent aura that heightened the palpable tension.
Undeterred by the Carrion Titan's resurgence, Zephyr prepared to face the looming threat once more. His authoritative command sliced through the tense air, directing the knights to target the creature's legs and preempt its malevolent actions. The imperative to prevent the Carrion Titan from seizing the initiative echoed with urgency.
As the Carrion Titan commenced its assault, it harnessed the dark energy to vanish from sight, only to reappear behind one of the fully armored knights with unnerving swiftness. In a devastating display of power, the creature executed a lethal strike, cleaving the knight in half from the crown of the helmet to the base of the armored boots. The remaining knights, momentarily gripped by shock at the gruesome spectacle, faced the harsh reality of the Carrion Titan's deadly prowess.
As the realization of the Carrion Titan's overwhelming strength settled among the remaining knights, panic and despair echoed through their ranks.
"What the hell are we going to do? We can't defeat him!" one knight exclaimed, voicing the collective fear that gripped them all.
Zephyr, perceptive to the palpable fear in the knight's voice, understood the gravity of the situation. The Carrion Titan's capability to bypass full Pyroguard armor was an alarming revelation, raising the stakes of the battle. Zephyr grappled with the challenge of defeating this monstrous foe without jeopardizing his knights further.
Recognizing that unleashing his full power could pose risks to his comrades, Zephyr issued strategic orders to the remaining knights. He directed them to create obstacles and magical barriers, aiming to impede the Carrion Titan's relentless advance. The knights, despite their fear, collaborated to erect mystical defenses, hoping to hold off the monstrous creature.
For another ten intense minutes, the battle raged on. The knights launched fervent fire-element attacks, and Zephyr complemented their efforts with precise sword strikes. However, their collective endeavors seemed futile against the Carrion Titan's formidable regenerative abilities. Signs of fatigue began to manifest on the faces of the elite knights. Inexperienced in confronting such a formidable adversary, they grappled with the harsh reality that victory was slipping from their grasp.
Zephyr's concern deepened as he sought an opening in the relentless assault. "Why isn't the Carrion Titan using that attack again?" he pondered amidst the chaotic battle. As the monstrous entity swung left and right, Zephyr skillfully parried its attacks, responding with precise slashes of his own. In the midst of the fierce combat, a significant observation emerged— the Carrion Titan's once-rapid healing rate began to decelerate.
A realization dawned on Zephyr: the monster's accelerated healing came at the cost of expending its energy, rendering it unable to utilize certain attacks. This revelation provided a crucial insight into their adversary's strategy.
Without hesitation, Zephyr issued swift instructions to his knights, "All of you, unleash your magic elements on him simultaneously. Don't give him a chance to react. I need just ten seconds."
Responding promptly, the knights channeled their elemental powers towards the Carrion Titan, subjecting it to an overwhelming barrage of magic attacks. Seizing this opportunity, Zephyr concentrated his energy for a decisive move. He gripped his sword firmly, deactivating his Pyroguard, only to activate the second stage of Pyroguard (iron soul). Veins aglow with fiery intensity, his sword ablaze in scorching red, Zephyr charged forward with incredible speed, seemingly vanishing as he moved. The ground beneath him turned to molten lava, scorched by the searing heat radiating from his body. Eyes burning with determination, he closed in on the Carrion Titan.
With a resounding shout, "Die!" Zephyr swung his blazing sword down upon the Carrion Titan's head, cleaving its body into two halves.