"Maybe you are a god. But gods can fall. And today, you will be the one." - Luna
The clattering of bones echoed through the still night, as though the earth itself sensed the impending danger. A cold, hollow sound crept through the fog and pierced the darkness, like the eerie whisper of a long-forgotten curse. The air was heavy and oppressive as the undead army marched relentlessly toward the camp of the Forbidden Army with heavy, synchronized steps. Each step was a clear, ominous signal—the end was near. The number of skeletons was overwhelming, an endless mass flooding the landscape like a tidal wave. Their eye sockets, deep black and hollow, shimmered in the pale light of the rising moon, as if the very moonlight itself breathed life into them. Yet it was a cold, unnatural life that, with every movement of their rattling bones, reminded all of the end that awaited the living. "Damn..." murmured Liang Wei, his gaze fixed on the army looming in the distance, an endless, unstoppable wave of death. His heart raced, but he showed no sign of it.
The moon hung in the sky like a silent observer, a mute witness to the impending doom. The night was still—too still. Not a breath of wind stirred, no rustle in the grass. Only the clattering of bones broke the oppressive silence. It was as if the world itself had held its breath in the face of the coming destruction.
"Gather the others!" Liang Wei finally shouted with a steady voice, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight, a mixture of determination and concern. "We need every fighter we can get!" His voice cut through the silence like a knife slicing through the fog. Luna and the fighter brothers who stood beside him gave quick nods and rushed off to rally the scattered troops. Their resolve was firm, their hearts heavy. The coming battle would surpass anything they had ever experienced— a battle more merciless, more deadly than ever before.
Episode 5 - God of the Undead (Part 1)
Minutes passed in a blur, and soon the entire Forbidden Army had gathered. Every warrior stood ready, gripping their weapons tightly, their faces etched with grim determination. The unease in their eyes reflected the knowledge that this enemy was unlike any other they had faced. These were no mere warriors of flesh and blood but creatures of bone and dark magic with nothing to lose. Liang Wei stepped before the troops, his voice cutting through the charged air.
"Listen up!" he began, his voice deep and steady as he swept his gaze across the crowd. "We've fought the undead before, and this time will be no different! They're weak, as long as we keep their numbers under control. If each of you takes down just one skeleton, they won't stand a chance!" His eyes roved over the warriors as he spoke, igniting a spark of hope in their hearts. "Fight with pride! Run, charge— and do the Forbidden Army proud!"
The soldiers roared in response, and like an unstoppable wave, the Forbidden Army charged forward, heading straight toward the encroaching threat. The ground trembled beneath the thunderous footsteps of the warriors, the air filled with their battle cries. Then, they collided—flesh against bone, life against death.
The battle began in a wild, chaotic frenzy. Swords clashed against bone, arrows whizzed through the air, hitting their targets with ruthless precision. Shields were shattered as the undead struck with unnatural strength. Each warrior gave their all to hold back the skeletal horde. But the enemy was inexhaustible— for every skeleton that fell, two more rose in its place.
Then, suddenly, like a dark omen, a tremendous crash echoed across the battlefield. A massive skeleton clad in dark gray armor appeared, its hollow eye sockets glowing like burning embers. In its hands, it wielded a colossal sword that it swung effortlessly, cutting down multiple soldiers with a single blow. Above its head, a glowing inscription flickered: Skeleton Betrayer.
Before the betrayer could slaughter more warriors, its blade was enveloped by a dark, viscous substance. Morvan emerged from the shadows, his eyes fixed on the towering skeleton. "This ends here for you," he said calmly, though his voice carried a threatening sharpness. "I am your opponent." Without hesitation, they both plunged into a fierce duel, their swords flashing in the moonlight as they clashed. Morvan's eyes burned with determination— he knew this fight would decide the fate of many.
Another soldier, witnessing the scene, rushed off to inform Liang Wei about the Skeleton Betrayer. But he didn't make it far. Two daggers pierced his back with lightning speed before he even realized what had happened. He collapsed to the ground, and from the shadows stepped a skeletal warrior draped in a violet cloak, her daggers gleaming menacingly in the moonlight. Her eye sockets were empty, yet a chilling cold radiated from her—it was the Skeleton Assassin.
Luna saw the soldier fall and, without hesitation, charged toward the assassin. Their hearts beat in sync with their steps—fast, unrelenting. The two women's blades collided, and the sound of steel filled the air. The Skeleton Assassin moved with inhuman speed, her daggers slicing through the air like deadly serpents. Luna had to muster all her strength and agility to fend off the attacks.
"You're fast," Luna panted as she blocked another thrust, "but that won't be enough!" The assassin remained silent, her movements cold and precise like a machine as she struck again. The battle was a deadly dance of blades and steps, each strike potentially the last.
Luna could feel her strength waning, but she knew she couldn't give up. With a skillful sidestep, she dodged a dagger thrust, and in the moment the assassin lost her balance, Luna struck. Her blade drove deep into the undead's chest, and for a brief moment, they both stood still. The Skeleton Assassin stared at her with empty eyes before her bones crumbled into dust, carried away by the wind. Luna remained, panting, her hand pressed against a bleeding wound at her side. The fight was won, but the battle was far from over.
Meanwhile, the fighter brothers clashed with three elite bone warriors. These skeletons were larger and stronger than the rest of the undead, their armor glimmering with dark magic. The battle was ruthless—each strike was met with another, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.
Liang Wei and Aiden fought their way through the seemingly endless ranks of the undead, their swords flashing in the pale moonlight as they cut down one skeleton after another. Their objective was clear: Azrael, the God of the Undead, the malevolent ruler of life and death, who stood atop a hill overlooking the battlefield. Amidst the chaos, he loomed like a dark beacon, surrounded by a pulsating, ominous aura that seemed to make the very air shudder. His eyes, glowing red, surveyed the carnage below with cold calculation, as if the outcome of the battle had already been determined.
"There he is!" Aiden shouted, his voice cracking with tension as he spotted Azrael. "That's him!" His finger pointed toward the dark figure standing tall above them, gripping a bone-white spear. Azrael was the embodiment of death, his presence alone enough to paralyze the bravest warriors. Every breath felt heavy in his presence, as though the very air around him collapsed under his weight.
Azrael straightened as he noticed the two approaching, and his aura darkened, as though the shadows themselves answered his call. "You dare to challenge me?" His deep, resonant voice boomed across the battlefield. It wasn't loud, but it reverberated through the minds of the warriors as though it had emerged from the depths of their nightmares. "I am the master of life and death!"
Liang Wei and Aiden exchanged a brief, determined glance before charging at Azrael, their swords raised. But the God of the Undead was faster. With a single, inhumanly swift motion, he swung his colossal bone spear, bringing it down upon them with devastating force. Aiden dove to the side, barely dodging the blow, while Liang Wei braced himself and blocked the impact with his sword. Yet the force of the strike was overwhelming, and Liang Wei was hurled backward, rolling across the dusty ground.
"He's incredibly strong!" Aiden gasped as he scrambled to his feet, his exhaustion showing in every movement. "We have to attack together!" Liang Wei called out, charging at Azrael once more, his sword ready. Azrael watched them, emotionless, his red eyes gleaming in the pale moonlight. "You are nothing but children," he sneered, "who do not yet understand the fear of death." With a mocking laugh, he swung his spear again.
Aiden darted to the left, attempting to flank Azrael while Liang Wei attacked head-on. But Azrael moved with unnatural speed, effortlessly parrying Aiden's strike and countering Liang Wei's attack with a brutal kick that sent him sprawling to the ground. Dust swirled around the fallen warrior, but Liang Wei gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand once more, his muscles burning with effort.
"Do you really think you stand a chance?" Azrael taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "I am the ruler of life and death!"
Luna, who had by now ascended the hill, watched the desperate fight from a distance. Her eyes blazed with determination despite the exhaustion that weighed on her. Without hesitation, she sprinted into the fray, her sword clutched tightly in her hand. Just as Azrael raised his spear to deliver the final blow to Liang Wei, Luna let out a battle cry and plunged her blade deep into Azrael's side.
The God of the Undead roared in pain, his dark aura flickering like a dying flame. But the battle was far from over. With a brutal sweep of his bone spear, Azrael struck Luna hard in the side. Her scream echoed across the battlefield as she fell, bleeding, to the ground. Azrael's cold laughter filled the air as he grinned maliciously. "Fools!" he thundered. "Do you truly believe you can defeat a god? I will reign over life and death, and you will all perish!"
His dark aura swelled even further, and the sky above the battlefield darkened as if the world itself was cowering under his power. Lightning crackled through the clouds, and it seemed as though the end was drawing near. But Liang Wei, bloodied and battered, rose to his feet once more. Blood dripped down his face, but his resolve never wavered. His eyes locked onto Azrael with unwavering determination.
"Azrael…" he muttered, his voice weak but steady. "You made a mistake."
Azrael turned slowly, his glowing red eyes narrowing in confusion. "What?"
"You underestimated us," Liang Wei answered, and in one final, desperate move, he drove his sword with all his remaining strength deep into Azrael's chest. The blade pierced the god's flesh, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. Azrael stared down at the wound, as if in disbelief that a mortal had managed to harm him. His dark aura flickered, and the air around him shimmered as if reality itself had been disturbed.
But the moment of victory was short-lived. Suddenly, black tentacles writhed out from the wound, wrapping around the sword and pulling it deeper into Azrael's body. The wound sealed itself almost instantly, and Azrael let out a maniacal, spine-chilling laugh, one that echoed across the battlefield like the clang of steel on bone.
"Did you really think you could defeat me?" Azrael bellowed, his form shifting grotesquely. His body dissolved, turning into a thick, black liquid that spilled across the ground. Instead of spreading further, the liquid began to pull itself together, slowly reforming. Soon, Azrael stood before them again, whole and unscathed, his eyes gleaming with malevolent glee. A sinister, hysterical laugh escaped his lips.
"Hehe…" he said at last, "while I was in the air, I realized something. The god you all believe in doesn't exist! There is only one true god…"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the battered warriors with a cruel grin. Then, with chilling finality, he concluded:
"…and that god is me alone."
Hey! Thanks for reading Episode Five of Tales of Seven! The battles have truly begun now!
If you enjoyed the story, feel free to follow me on Instagram for updates, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes insights. Your support means the world to me and helps me continue crafting these creative tales.
Instagram: @writerphleg
Stay tuned for the next chapter and don't forget to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments. Until next time!