The riverbank was eerily silent as Haizen and Orion continued their search. The air was heavy, the stillness unsettling. Cloaked and masked in their Brotherhood attire, they moved like shadows, scanning the surroundings for anything unusual.
Haizen stopped and turned to Orion, who seemed distracted, his gaze fixed on the water's surface. "What are you doing? We were supposed to search," Haizen asked, his tone sharp with impatience.
Orion didn't respond immediately, his eyes still locked on the river. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm but distant. "You wouldn't understand."
Haizen was about to retort when something moved in the corner of his vision. His body tensed, and time seemed to slow. From the river, humanoid creatures with grotesque, twisted features emerged, leaping toward Orion, who remained oblivious to the impending danger.
"Orion!" Haizen shouted, breaking into a sprint. He reached for his teleportation skill, but he knew it wouldn't be fast enough. The creatures were mere inches from Orion when a chilling whisper escaped the mage's lips.
"Veil of Void."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. A suffocating wave of despair washed over Haizen, freezing him mid-step. The world darkened, shadows consuming the area as if the light itself was being devoured.
"Chains of Abyss," Orion murmured, still not turning his gaze from the river's reflection.
Dark, spectral chains erupted from the ground, snaking through the air and wrapping around the necks of the creatures. They thrashed and screamed in agony, their inhuman cries echoing through the void-like surroundings. Haizen stopped, stunned by the display of power. He had heard of Orion's abilities from Urilo—something about him being a Voidwalker—but witnessing it was entirely different.
Orion finally stood, his expression cold and unyielding. He stepped closer to the restrained creatures, his voice cutting through their screams. "Who sent you?"
The creatures writhed but gave no coherent response. Their agony deepened as black flames consumed them, reducing them to ash.
Before Haizen could process what had happened, a sudden impact sent Orion flying backward. A magical barrier flared around him, absorbing much of the force, but he was still thrown near Haizen. Haizen rushed to his side and helped him to his feet.
From the shadows, a figure emerged, his laugh sharp and mocking. "Welcome to my village!" the man said, his voice dripping with malice. "Who would've thought I'd have the honor of meeting such delightful specimens?"
The man's appearance was refined, almost noble, an unsettling contrast to the chaos around them. Haizen narrowed his eyes, daggers at the ready. "Who are you?" he demanded.
The man smirked. "My name doesn't matter," he said dismissively. "But my work… well, it speaks for itself. Get them, my beautiful children."
The ground beneath them began to vibrate. Haizen and Orion exchanged a quick glance before Orion grabbed Haizen's collar and shot into the air using his magic. Moments later, the ground collapsed, and from the chasm emerged a monstrous creature, stitched together from the parts of humans. Its grotesque form radiated agony and rage, a horrifying amalgamation of the villagers' suffering.
As Orion set Haizen down, the man's voice rang out again. "Beautiful, isn't it? A true masterpiece of evolution! This creature can survive anything—water, fire, the depths of the earth. It's the pinnacle of survival!" He spread his arms, basking in his creation's horror. "Now, my child, show them your strength."
The creature roared, its monstrous cry shaking the air. Haizen and Orion readied themselves for the battle. Haizen teleported directly toward the man, aiming to neutralize him, while Orion turned his full attention to the monstrosity.
The man evaded Haizen's initial strikes with surprising agility, throwing knives that Haizen dodged with ease. Meanwhile, humanoid monsters swarmed Haizen, but he moved like a whirlwind. His daggers slashed through the air, cutting down the creatures with deadly precision. One fell with a dagger through its mouth, another with a quick slash to its throat. Haizen moved so fluidly that he seemed like a predator among prey.
Despite his efficiency, Haizen's heart ached. "Why couldn't we save these people before they became monsters?" he thought, his frustration fueling his relentless attacks.
The man, now visibly unnerved, stepped back, watching the blood-soaked figure before him. Haizen, cloaked and masked, with his daggers dripping crimson, resembled the embodiment of death. "What… what are you?" the man stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
Suddenly, a scream tore through the air. Orion, standing amidst the rubble, unleashed a torrent of black lightning. The monstrosity screeched as the energy consumed it, disintegrating parts of its body and the ground it stood on. The mysterious man tried to retaliate, but before he could act, Haizen teleported behind him, delivering a swift kick that sent him crashing to the ground.
The fight wasn't over, but for a brief moment, Haizen and Orion stood victorious, their figures illuminated by the faint glow of the moon. The village, once silent, now bore the scars of battle, a testament to the horrors lurking in the shadows.
The riverbank remained ominously quiet as Haizen and Orion regrouped after the fierce battle. The eerie silence was punctuated only by the occasional rustling of leaves in the cold night breeze. Haizen crouched over the mysterious man who had orchestrated the attack, his dagger already embedded into the man's hand. With a ruthless twist, Haizen leaned closer, his voice low and menacing. "Who are you?"
The man, his face contorted with pain, laughed—a sound that sent shivers down Haizen's spine. "You think you've won? Hahaha!" the man spat through the blood trickling from his lips. "This… this is far from the end."
Orion, standing nearby, exuded a chilling aura, his eyes cold and calculating. Most of the monstrous creatures had been destroyed, their grotesque bodies littering the riverbank. Yet, this man's deranged laughter persisted, despite the obvious toll on his body. His eyes and nose bled profusely, his frail frame trembling as if on the verge of collapse. And still, he laughed.
Haizen pressed the dagger deeper, his patience wearing thin. "What's so funny?" he growled, his tone laced with frustration. But the man's crazed grin only widened.
"Laugh all you want," Orion said, stepping forward. His voice carried a deadly calm, and a faint magical aura surrounded him. "Something isn't right about him."
Both Haizen and Orion could feel it now—an unnatural presence surrounding the man. Orion extended his hand, summoning a faint magical glow as he probed the mysterious figure with his arcane powers. Meanwhile, Haizen, using his assassin's instincts, examined the man for any signs of manipulation. The answer became clear to both of them almost simultaneously.
"This man isn't the mastermind," Orion stated, his voice sharp. "He's being controlled—like a puppet."
Haizen grimaced, his gaze shifting to the man's lavish clothing and noble features. "If he's a puppet, then who's the puppeteer?" he muttered to himself. He remembered the stories he'd heard in the Brotherhood about the nobility near the village of Revona. This man must have been from one of those families.
"Could he be from one of those fallen noble houses?" Orion asked, echoing Haizen's thoughts. Haizen nodded slowly. He recalled the rumors: a noble family that had helped establish Revona long ago but had mysteriously disappeared, their name fading into obscurity.
The man's body slumped lifelessly as the control over him seemed to wane. Haizen sighed heavily, his grip loosening on the dagger. "Whatever this is, we'll need to report it," he said, his voice grim. He began gathering the bodies of the fallen villagers, arranging them with as much respect as the situation allowed. Orion, seeing Haizen's silent gesture of mourning, joined him in honoring the innocent lives lost.
"This cruel world…" Haizen muttered under his breath, his masked face tilting slightly toward the sky.
After a moment of silence, the two headed back toward the village square, where the team was supposed to regroup. But when they arrived, the square was empty. A wave of unease washed over Haizen as he scanned the area.
"Where is everyone?" he muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Acting quickly, he leaped up into a large tree to get a better view of the village. From his vantage point, he spotted a massive clash occurring in the north side of the village. Bright flashes of light and the sounds of destruction echoed faintly through the night air.
"That way!" Haizen called to Orion, pointing toward the disturbance. Without hesitation, the two recruits sprinted toward the north side of the village, their cloaks billowing behind them like shadows. Whatever was happening there, they knew they had to act fast.