The heavy, energy-laden air seemed to vibrate around the group as they made their way toward the exit of the underground labyrinth. The heavy silence was broken only by the sound of their footsteps on the cold, damp stone. They knew they were not yet safe. The Fallen were still there, somewhere in the depths, searching for the same secret they had just discovered.
Just before they reached the tunnel's exit, a massive shadow loomed over the cavern's entrance. A man stood there, draped in black armor, each plate emitting an eerie glow reflected by the surrounding crystals. His imposing helmet hid his face, but the blazing red eyes that glowed through the cracks were no mere soldier. This was the Fallen's captain, the commander of the excavation operation.
"You really thought you could escape with what you found?" » His voice resonated, deep and distorted by a modulator, adding a menacing note to his already terrifying presence.
Caelum was the first to react, as usual, with a hint of dark sarcasm. "We mostly thought you'd have the decency to let us go, but apparently, courtesy is no longer in fashion among the Fallen."
The captain gave a cold sneer before unsheathing a black iron sword, its blade vibrating with the energy of the crystals embedded in the handle. "You'll regret underestimating me."
What followed was a flurry of rapid, brutal movements. The Fallen captain descended upon them with blinding speed, his blade slicing through the air in a series of fluid, deadly attacks. Aldric parried a downward strike with a precise movement, but the shock of the impact resonated throughout his body. The enemy's strength was titanic.
Lyra countered nimbly, her own energy saber crackling through the air as she retaliated with a series of precise strikes aimed at the joints of the captain's armor. But the enemy was fast, dodging each attack with disconcerting ease.
Caelum, meanwhile, opted for a less orthodox approach. Taking advantage of Aldric and Lyra's distraction, he rolled to the side and fired a series of shots focused on the crystals that powered the captain's armor. The bullets, designed to penetrate energy defenses, were deflected by an invisible force field, causing only faint sparks on the black armor.
"He reinforced his armor with a personal shield!" Alaric shouted, narrowly dodging a vicious thrust.
The captain countered with increased power, his movements reminiscent of a predator toying with its prey. He chained attacks together, forcing the group to split up to avoid the deadly blows. Each sword swing that missed its target struck the walls of the cavern, sending shards of rock flying in all directions.
The tension was palpable, and the pace of the fight intensified by the second. Aldric, using his experience as a warrior, changed tactics. He gave a quick signal to Lyra and Caelum, telling them to spread out. The three of them then began to harass the captain with coordinated attacks from different directions.
Lyra attacked from the side, her saber creating arcs of light in the darkness, while Caelum fired bursts of his weapon, aiming for weak points in the armor. Alaric, for his part, began a series of feints and counterattacks designed to disrupt the captain's rhythm.
The atmosphere became a deadly ballet of blows and parries, the group's movements remarkably fluid and coordinated. Each member of the group was in perfect sync, circling the captain like birds of prey ready to pounce on their prey. Despite his brute strength, the captain of the Fallen was beginning to show signs of fatigue. His breathing was getting heavier, and his movements, while still precise, were losing their fluidity.
"You... will not beat me!" he roared, striking the ground with his sword, causing a shockwave that made the group stagger.
Alaric took advantage of the opening created by this desperate attack. He rushed forward, armed with a black iron dagger, and dove towards the captain with deadly precision. His blade found a chink in the armor, a poorly protected joint at the back of the neck. The captain froze, a muffled groan escaping from his helmet before he collapsed, inert.
The group stood still for a moment, their panting breaths echoing in the sudden silence of the cavern. They had succeeded. The Fallen captain was defeated.
"No last words?" Caelum asked, wiping a drop of sweat from his brow. "Disappointing."
"It's not over yet," Alaric replied, his tone serious. "There are surely more to come."Others on the way. We must leave now."
They regrouped quickly, gathering their strength and adjusting their equipment. The fight had been intense, but they were still standing, and most importantly, they still had the tablet.
The group left the cavern in a hurry, the tension still palpable. But despite the danger that surrounded them, one certainty animated them: they had won a decisive victory. And with the secret of the ancient blacksmiths in their possession, they now had the advantage they needed to face the growing threat of the Fallen.
**AN: And yes there are firearms on Arkadia but as you may have noticed they are very ineffective against real soldiers, these weapons are mainly used by gangs.**