Deep within the ancient cave, the members of the Glazier Cult were gathered, their presence hidden from outsiders. They stood around a massive stone altar, the air thick with anticipation and tension.
Standing before the altar, a tall and imposing figure could be seen. This was Eclipse, the leader of the cult, his face concealed by shadows.
Eclipse, the cult leader, stood before the altar, his eyes cold and calculating. Several members of the cult, loyal yet ignorant, stood around the altar, their faces filled with a mixture of devotion and fear.
Without warning, Eclipse began chanting an incantation, his voice growing louder and more intense. Suddenly, he raised a sacrificial blade, plunging it into the chest of one of the members without their consent, sacrificing him as part of the ritual.
Eclipse continued the ritual, sacrificing one member after another, his voice echoing through the chamber. The air grew tense, and the other members began to realize the horrifying truth of what was happening. One by one, they were being sacrificed, their lives snuffed out without their consent.
However, none were able to speak or resist, bound by some unseen force that prevented them from defying their leader.
Eventually, all the members of the cult were sacrificed by Eclipse's hand, their life forces drained away. The air in the cave grew thick with the stench of blood, and the ground was stained with dark crimson.
Eclipse stood alone, his eyes fixed on the altar before him. The ritual was complete, and he seemed satisfied with the results.
Eclipse, his eyes filled with determination, held the five ancient artifacts in front of him. In a strong, steady voice, he began chanting an ancient, ominous ritual.
The air in the cave seemed to grow colder, and a sense of unease filled the space. The artifacts, each pulsing with a faint yet sinister energy, seemed to respond to the leader's chanting.
Eclipse's chanting grew louder and more intense as he approached the climax of the ritual. With the ancient artifacts pulsing in his hands, he spoke out, his voice echoing through the chamber.
"By the power of these ancient artifacts, I shall make my wish!"
The artifacts seemed to react to his command, their energy intensifying. A dark aura began to radiate from Eclipse, enveloping him in an ominous aura.
Eclipse, his voice filled with authority and ambition, spoke his wish aloud.
"I wish for an army of one billion undead soldiers, to do my bidding! Let them rise from the shadows and follow my command!"
The air in the cave began to crackle with an electric energy, and the sound of distant howls could be heard as if the dead were responding to Eclipse's wish.
Back in the Royal castle, Princess Alessia was in the throne room, flanked by her loyal guards. Kenta and Sarah stood before her, the battle still fresh in their minds.
Alessia's expression was filled with gratitude as she looked at Kenta and Sarah.
"I cannot thank you both enough for your assistance in rescuing me and bringing an end to the Glazier Cult's menace," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.
"I owe you my life and the safety of my kingdom," Alessia continued, her eyes meeting Kenta and Sarah's. "You are true heroes, and I want you to know that I will forever be in your debt."
Despite the initial victory, Alessia was perceptive. She had a sense that the threat posed by the Glazier Cult had not been entirely eliminated.
Her expression grew serious, and she spoke, her voice filled with a hint of caution. "I realize that the threat posed by the Glazier Cult may not be entirely over. They have already achieved so much, and their leader, Eclipse, seems more determined than ever."
"We must remain vigilant," Alessia continued, her eyes fixed on Kenta and Sarah. "The Glazier Cult may still hold unexpected threats and plans. We can't afford to underestimate them or lower our guard."
Kenta and Sarah nodded in agreement, acknowledging the princess's wisdom. They knew that the battle may have been won, but the war was far from over.
Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere in the castle was shattered by the panicked voice of a guard.
"Your highness! We've received a report! There's a massive swarm of the undead approaching from the west!"
The guard's voice echoed through the castle, causing an instant commotion. The air filled with a sense of panic and alarm as the magnitude of this new threat became apparent.
Kenta and Sarah, their senses heightened, instantly went on high alert. They knew that the threat of the Glazier Cult had not been eliminated, and now this news of a massive swarm of undead only confirmed their worst fears.
Alessia, her expression becoming serious, turned to the guard and inquired, "How many undead are we talking about?"
The guard, his voice filled with panic, quickly replied, "They estimate it to be an army of at least one billion undead, Your Highness!"
The room fell into a stunned silence at the guard's words. The magnitude of the threat was far greater than they anticipated. One billion undead was an almost unimaginable number of enemies to face.
Kenta and Sarah, their expressions grim, broke the tense silence that had fallen over the room. They had been anticipating something like this, but the scale of the impending threat was beyond anything they could have imagined.
"One billion... that's an army of unimaginable size," Sarah muttered, her voice tinged with both worry and determination.
Kenta, his eyes fixed on the guard, asked, "How far away are they? And how long until they reach the castle?"
The guard, still visibly rattled, replied, "They're approximately a day's march away from the castle, Sir. If they maintain their current pace, they'll be at our gates by tomorrow evening."
This news only heightened the sense of urgency and dread in the room. The clock was ticking, and they had precious little time to prepare for the onslaught of the undead army.
Kenta and Sarah exchanged a quick glance, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on them. They knew they had to act fast and strategize, but the odds seemed astronomically stacked against them.
~Next chapter "The Saviour"