The land of the pinesilver, nestled on the eastern side of the Ashrone kingdom, is a charming yet mysterious village that has been shielded by two towering hills, making it impervious to magical intrusion from all sides except for one. The villagers have long held onto traditions passed down through generations, creating an aura of enchantment and allure around the village.
On a particular day, a squad from the Ashrone kingdom, led by the skilled Nakao Akira from squad two under the command of Silas Cardonell, make their way towards the village gates. Dressed in sleek black combat suits adorned with magical enhancements to deflect damage, the team moves with purpose and determination.
As they approach the gates, Nakao's keen senses pick up on an unsettling quietness that shrouds the village. With a gesture, he commands the squad to halt, realizing that they have traversed the distance without encountering any gate guards. This anomaly raises a flicker of unease within him, prompting him to take charge and announce their arrival in a booming voice.
"The sorcerers of the Ashrone kingdom have arrived and seek an audience with the priestess!" Nakao's voice echoes through the stillness, breaking the eerie silence that hangs in the air like a dense fog.
Surveying the surroundings with a wary eye, Nakao instructs Nikita to deploy her barrier magic, creating a protective shield that engulfs the team as they step through the gates. The village, usually bustling with life, appears deserted, adding to the air of mystery that cloaks the land of pinesilver.
Amidst the abandoned streets and silent houses, Oliver's sharp gaze sweeps the area, his instincts on high alert. Unable to spot any signs of life, he exchanges a glance with Nikita, who extends her magical barrier to cover a wider expanse of the village.
"Barrier magic: essence of the past," Nikita murmurs softly, weaving her magic to unveil hidden truths as shadowy figures materialize, reenacting scenes from the village's history.
The magic shadow revealed a disturbing scene from the past few days: a male figure biting his daughter's neck, causing her to collapse with blood gushing out of the wound. The girl's body twitched unnaturally as she started to rise and walk in a disturbing manner, indicating that dark forces were at play.
With a sense of urgency, Charlotte declared, "We need to find the priestess." Nakao quickly signaled the team to make their way to the temple, and they set off at a breakneck pace through the city.
Upon reaching the temple, the team was met with a horrifying sight: a pale man with bloodshot eyes and torn skin was feasting on another man's neck. The area was overrun with similarly infected individuals, their gruesome actions painting a grim picture of the situation.
Taking charge, Natsu unleashed his dark magic in a powerful wave, clearing a path through the infected horde and allowing the team to push forward towards the temple entrance. The barrier at the entrance recognized their patches on clothes, granting them access to the sacred grounds.
The group slowly approached the priestess down a narrow path, lined with flickering torches that barely illuminated the darkness around them. The air was heavy with the stench of blood and fear, mixed with the soft sobs of the wounded as the priestess tended to their injuries. Behind her, huddled together like frightened sheep, were around 50 villagers who had somehow managed to escape the clutches of the mysterious disease that plagued the rest of the town.
Nakao, the leader of the group, bowed his head respectfully as he approached the priestess. He could see the fatigue and desperation etched on her face, but there was also a glimmer of hope as she looked up at them, grateful for the help that had finally arrived in their time of need.
"Thank the goddess that help has arrived," the priestess, named Hina, said with a weary smile as she stood up from tending to a child's wounds.
"Lady Priestess, can you please inform us of what has transpired here?" Nakao asked, his voice steady and reassuring despite the tension that hung thick in the air.
"I think I can shed some light on that matter," a voice suddenly cut through the silence, drawing everyone's attention to a man who stood behind Lady Hina. He was clad in black armor, a massive sword strapped to his back, and it was evident that he carried himself with the authority of someone accustomed to commanding respect. This man was the general of Pinesilver, responsible for the protection of the town and its people.
"It all started about a week ago," the general began, his eyes scanning the group as he spoke. "Some of the villagers discovered graves that had been disturbed, and soon after, people began to go missing. At first, we dismissed it as mere superstition, but last night, all hell broke loose when they attacked."
Nakao listened intently, his mind already racing to formulate a plan to ensure the safety of not only his group but also the innocent villagers who looked to them for salvation.
"I find their behavior quite peculiar," a red-headed girl among their group spoke up, her gaze fixed on the infected people who pounded on the magical barrier that surrounded them, weakening it with each blow.
"Well, they are monsters, after all," Helene remarked, a hint of mockery in her tone.
"No, she's right," Natsu chimed in, his eyes narrowed in concentration. "The monsters seem to be organizing themselves, coordinating their attacks in such a way that the villagers would have little chance of survival if they tried to escape."
"No mindless beast would possess such cunning," Oliver mused, joining in on the conversation.
"They are trying to corner us," Helene stated matter-of-factly, her words hanging heavy in the air as the gravity of their situation became apparent to all.
As the group members exchanged knowing glances, it became clear that the attack on the village was not a random act of violence. The monsters were strategic in their approach, targeting the priestess and anyone else who dared to stand in their way.
...
On top of a hill, there stood a striking figure sporting a flamboyant look that caught the eye. With star-shaped glasses perched on his face and a matchstick hanging casually from his lips, he observed the chaotic scene unfolding below with a mischievous grin playing on his lips. The infected individuals, driven by an unknown force, launched relentless attacks on the temple's magical barrier, causing it to weaken with each passing moment.
A voice cut through the tension as a subordinate approached the flamboyant figure. "Sir, should we be worried about the knight?" the subordinate inquired, echoing the concerns that hung in the air.
Garvin Barrister, the enigmatic and flamboyant figure in question, simply chuckled in response. "No, I expected this," he said with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, hinting at a deeper understanding of the unfolding events.
Meanwhile, down at the temple, the squad faced a critical decision. In a bid to save the priestess from the clutches of the encroaching darkness, they devised a daring plan. Breaking into three teams, they aimed to confuse their enemies by concealing the whereabouts of the priestess among them.
Leading the charge was Oliver's team, entrusted with the task of safeguarding the real priestess, who was discreetly hidden with Charlotte leading the way. Oliver, with his unwavering determination, took point in the formation, while Nikita provided a protective magical barrier at their rear.
As they ventured beyond the safety of the temple's magical shield, Oliver braced himself for the imminent confrontation. The monsters, infected and driven by a malevolent force, surged forward in a frenzied assault. Drawing his sword in a swift motion, Oliver met the first monster head-on, evading its infected claws with practiced ease before swiftly dispatching it with a precise strike. Without missing a beat, he continued to engage the onslaught, his blade a blur of motion as he cleaved through the creatures with precision and skill.
A moment of respite presented itself as Oliver seized the opportunity to unleash a devastating spell. With a whispered incantation, "Fire: magic: plasma cutter," his sword ignited with magical flames, casting an ethereal glow around him. With a swift motion, he unleashed a torrent of searing energy, carving a path through the horde of monsters and creating an escape route for his team.
Back on the hill, Garvin observed the unfolding chaos with a predatory gleam in his eyes. As the teams of defenders scattered into the forest, splitting off in three different directions, a wicked smile crept across his features, betraying his malevolent intentions.
"Let the hunt begin," Garvin declared with a chilling certainty, signaling the start of a dangerous game where the lines between predator and prey blurred in the shadows of the looming conflict.