Death came from the heavens, a massive shadow descending with terrifying speed.
The people of Kantadar only noticed the danger when the ominous roar of wind slicing through the air reached their ears. Heads turned upward, eyes widening in disbelief. A monstrous figure loomed above; a creature with vast wings, a dark harbinger of death.
"It's a Griffin?!" someone shouted, the terror palpable in their voice.
Before anyone could react, Luke launched himself toward Baron Casoles, using his own body as a shield. They barely escaped the griffin's deadly claws as it swooped down, its talons tearing through the space where they had stood moments before.
The beast's massive form cut a path through the Kantadar ranks, sending chaos rippling through the battlefield. Several knights' servants were effortlessly snatched from the ground, tossed like mere toys into the sky. Panic set in.
"No! No—!" The terrified screams of the servants filled the air, their terror and confusion contagious. Soldiers who had moments before slaughtered villagers with ruthless determination now scattered like frightened sheep, all sense of discipline lost.
The griffin's claws, sharp as razors, sliced through the air with ease, their deadly promise undeniable.
A scream of agony pierced the battlefield as a soldier, clad in full iron armor, was lifted into the air. His body exploded in a crimson cloud of blood and gore, torn apart as though he were nothing but a ragdoll in the grip of the creature's fury. Limbs flew, innards spilled, and blood rained down on the helpless soldiers below, painting the earth red.
Olivia, gasping for breath and momentarily free from immediate danger, stumbled back in shock. Her heart raced as she looked skyward at the monstrous griffin that now circled overhead, clutching the remains of Kantadar soldiers as it ascended.
Her mind spun, disoriented by the overwhelming violence and terror. The reality of what was happening seemed almost impossible to comprehend.
The griffin, wings outstretched, twisted in midair and dove once more, targeting the helpless soldiers below with a predator's precision.
Fear gripped Olivia's heart. Without thinking, she raised her sword, trembling, knowing it would do little to protect her from such a fearsome foe. The beast's shadow engulfed her, and she braced for the inevitable.
From the distance, a voice cried out, full of desperation and urgency.
"Olivia! Stop fighting! Run! It's not our enemy!"
Leon's voice cut through her fear like a lifeline. She turned, seeing him staggering toward her, his face twisted with concern, his sword dragging behind him as though his legs were made of stone. He waved frantically, urging her to flee.
Reality snapped back into focus. Her body moved before her mind could fully catch up. With a burst of adrenaline, Olivia turned and sprinted towards her companions, away from the monstrous griffin.
The battlefield was a scene of chaos; soldiers running aimlessly, their will to fight utterly crushed by the fearsome creature. They were powerless to stop her as she broke free from the fray.
"Protect the lord, you fools!" Luke's voice roared above the noise, yanking Baron to his feet. He grabbed a spear from a fallen soldier and barked orders, desperately trying to rally the scattered men. His face was tense, his mind racing.
"Why in the gods' name is there a griffin here?!" Baron Casoles spat through clenched teeth, glaring at the giant shadow above.
"Get inside! Quickly, my lord!" Luke urged. He knew too well they were no match for such a beast, not without the massive crossbows or the skilled mages of Atias. The men they had were brave, but bravery wouldn't help them now, not against an adult griffin.
A deafening screech tore through the sky as the griffin, the undisputed king of the air, flapped its powerful wings and descended again, this time diving with ferocious intent. Its razor-sharp talons reached for its original target, bent on delivering its final blow of vengeance.
The battle was no longer about survival; it had become a race against time, a scramble for safety before the wrath of the sky came crashing down upon them.
Luke charged toward the beast with fearless determination, drawing its gaze away from the lord and onto himself. Every heartbeat felt like an eternity as the massive griffin descended, its razor-sharp talons poised to strike. Luke's only thought was to buy Baron Casoles the time he needed to escape.
"Hey! You overgrown feathered brute!" Luke shouted, waving his spear in the air. "Come get some of this!"
His voice rang out across the battlefield, a desperate attempt to pull the griffin's attention away from the baron. Baron, watching his knight's courageous act, felt a bitter pang of helplessness. He cursed his own misfortune under his breath, turned on his heel, and sprinted toward the nearest building, seeking shelter like a man fleeing his fate.
The griffin, swooping down at terrifying speed, lowered its massive front claws, talons glinting in the sunlight. It locked its sights on Luke, who stood his ground beneath the descending beast. For a moment, it seemed as though the knight's fate was sealed.
But Luke, quick as a flash, dropped low and slid across the ground, narrowly avoiding the beast's crushing attack. Dust kicked up around him as he came to a stop in a crouch, spear raised to strike at the griffin's exposed belly.
With a mighty thrust, he drove the spear upward, but the griffin was too swift. A single flap of its powerful wings slowed its descent, and Luke's spear jabbed into nothing but air. His heart sank as the griffin's hind claws, as large as a man's head, swung down with lethal force.
Luke raised his spear to block the strike, but the creature's talons snapped it in half like a brittle twig. The griffin's claws clamped around his arms, lifting him effortlessly from the ground. With a powerful beat of its wings, the knight was flung high into the sky.
For a terrifying moment, Luke found himself weightless, limbs flailing helplessly as he soared through the air. His armor clanked uselessly around him, offering no protection in the face of the beast's might. Time seemed to slow as he met the griffin's piercing gaze, its beak already open, ready to claim its prey.
The creature struck with merciless precision. Its massive beak closed around Luke's body, crushing him with the force of a thousand pounds. The sharp tip punctured even his thick armor as if it were paper. The griffin shook its head violently from side to side, metal screeching in protest as the knight's body was torn to shreds within the confines of his own armor.
With a final swing of its head, the griffin discarded what remained of Luke like a piece of unwanted debris. The once-proud knight was now little more than a bloody heap of flesh and twisted metal.
The griffin soared into the sky once more, circling above the battlefield. Its eyes, still burning with hunger and rage, searched for its next target. The soldiers below were no longer a force of warriors, they were a terrified, broken mob. Panic spread like wildfire, and the survivors scattered in every direction, abandoning their weapons and their lord in their blind fear.
Baron's remaining loyal men; those few who still had the courage to follow him, raced toward him as he broke down the door of a nearby house and dove inside. Safe for a moment, Baron leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. The screams of his soldiers outside were nothing but a grim reminder of the bloodshed that continued.
But his reprieve was short-lived. Above, the roof groaned under the weight of something immense. Baron looked up, eyes wide with dread. Before he could move, the ceiling caved in with a deafening crash, raining debris and wooden beams down upon him.
Baron swung his halberd in a wild arc through the dust and falling rubble, knocking aside the debris with sheer force. But as the dust settled, he saw the griffin's hulking form clinging to the wall, its massive beak already pushing through the broken roof, reaching for him with lethal intent.
"You damned beast!" Baron roared, gripping his halberd tightly. In a surge of desperate fury, he swung with all his strength, the blade whistling through the air. It struck the griffin's beak with a resounding clang, causing the creature to momentarily recoil. The strike had barely left a scratch on the beast's hardened beak, but it was enough to throw it off balance for an instant.
The griffin let out an enraged screech, its wings flapping furiously as it lifted off the ground, preparing for another assault. Baron had no time to savor his minor victory. The creature was already adjusting its angle, its golden eyes gleaming with vengeance.
With terrifying speed, it swooped down once more, talons outstretched, aiming to finish the job.
Baron Casoles was cornered, trapped in the narrow space as the griffin's talons rushed toward him. With no way out, he gritted his teeth, gripping his halberd tightly, and thrust it forward in a desperate attempt to block the incoming attack.
Bang!
The impact was immediate and brutal. The force of the griffin's strike sent Baron flying through the wall, his body smashing through it like a ragdoll tossed by a violent wind. He tumbled across the ground, skidding and rolling like a puppet with its strings cut.
Pain exploded in his chest, and blood spurted from his mouth, splattering onto the dirt as he came to a crashing halt against the stone wall at the entrance of an alley. Gasping for breath, he tried to push himself up, his body trembling from the blow. Every inch of him screamed in agony, but he couldn't afford to stay down.
The gem embedded in his chest armor pulsed faintly, channeling magical energy into his battered body. Slowly but surely, it worked to mend his internal injuries, giving him a sliver of strength to keep moving.
As he raised his head, his blurred vision cleared, and there, by some stroke of fortune, stood a warhorse; tied up at the alley's entrance by a servant who had long since fled. The horse's wild neighing echoed in the narrow space, its eyes wide with terror, but it was Baron's only chance.
Groaning, Baron forced himself to his feet, every movement a trial of willpower. He lunged toward the horse, grabbing the reins and, with a painful grunt, hauled himself onto its back. Clutching the reins tightly, he spurred the panicked beast forward, charging toward the village entrance.
As he approached, he saw them; mercenary cavalrymen gathered in the street, their eyes wide with disbelief as they watched the massive griffin, its wings flapping powerfully as it flew low over the village in the distance. The soldiers sat frozen, murmuring in confusion.
"A griffin!? Where in the blazes did a griffin come from?!"
"What's happening? Is that real?!"
The mercenaries exchanged looks of panic, their usual bravado crumbling in the face of the monstrous sight.
One of the men leaned toward the mercenary leader, his voice low and hesitant. "Boss, what do we do? Do we go after the baron, or…?"
The leader's face was pale, his eyes darting between the griffin and his men. "What the hell are you talking about?! We don't have a heavy crossbow, or any way to take that thing down. You want to fight a griffin? You want to die?!"
His decision came swift and sharp. "Tell the men to turn around and get out of here!"
He had no intention of throwing their lives away for a doomed cause. Mercenaries might risk their necks for coin, but they weren't fools. You could make money, sure, but what good was it if you didn't live to spend it?
The sound of the horn echoed through the streets as the retreat signal was given. The cavalrymen, without hesitation, turned their horses and galloped away, leaving the village and their employer behind in the dust.
Baron watched them flee, the grim reality settling over him. Alone, with the griffin still on the prowl, his only choice was to ride hard and fast, hoping the beast's wrath wouldn't catch up with him before he could escape. The sky behind him darkened as the griffin circled once more, its hungry gaze still searching for prey.