The forest was eerily quiet as the coalition of guilds advanced through the Blightwood. The thick canopy above blocked out most of the light, casting long, jagged shadows across the forest floor. Void moved at the front of the group, his Whispered Blade drawn, his eyes scanning for any sign of the Silver Fangs' forces.
Behind him, MiraNight kept pace, her Shadow Dagger ready in her hand. The Iron Vipers and Crimson Blades formed the core of their army, moving in tight, disciplined formations. To their left, the Shadow Wolves slinked through the underbrush, their black cloaks blending into the shadows. To the right, the archers of the Eagle's Talon took up positions in the trees, their bows ready to rain arrows down on any enemy foolish enough to come near.
Void's heart pounded in his chest. They were close now—he could feel it.
"We're approaching the ruins," Ragnar, the leader of the Iron Vipers, whispered from behind him. "Should we send scouts ahead?"
Void shook his head. "No time. Ironclad will have his own scouts. If we split up, we'll lose the element of surprise."
Ragnar grunted in agreement, but MiraNight shot Void a glance. "What about traps? If Ironclad's expecting us, he'll have set something up to slow us down."
"We'll deal with it when we see it," Void replied. "Right now, we keep moving. The longer we delay, the more time Ironclad has to prepare."
MiraNight didn't argue, though her expression remained tense. She knew as well as Void did that this was going to be a difficult battle—perhaps their most difficult yet.
The ruins came into view as they rounded a bend in the path. Ancient stone pillars jutted out from the ground, half-covered in moss and vines. Broken walls and crumbling archways dotted the landscape, the remnants of a long-forgotten civilization. At the center of it all stood the main tower of the Blightwood Ruins, its tall, decaying structure looming ominously in the mist.
Void motioned for the group to halt, crouching low behind a fallen pillar. "There it is," he whispered, pointing to the tower. "That's where Ironclad will be."
Ragnar knelt beside him, studying the ruins through narrowed eyes. "Looks quiet."
"Too quiet," MiraNight added, her gaze sweeping over the area. "No sign of any guards."
"They're here," Void said grimly. "They're just hiding."
As if on cue, a sharp whistle cut through the air. Void's reflexes kicked in, and he ducked just in time as an arrow flew past his head, embedding itself in the pillar behind him.
"Ambush!" Ragnar bellowed, drawing his massive war axe. "Defensive positions!"
The coalition scrambled into action, shields raised as arrows rained down from the trees. Void rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding another arrow, and scanned the treetops for the source of the attack.
"There!" MiraNight pointed to a group of archers perched high in the trees, their silver armor glinting in the dim light. Silver Fangs.
"Eagle's Talon, take them down!" Void shouted.
In an instant, the archers of the Eagle's Talon returned fire, their arrows streaking through the air with deadly precision. Several of the Silver Fangs' archers fell from their perches, their bodies crashing to the ground below.
But the Silver Fangs weren't done yet.
From behind the ruins, a large group of heavily armored warriors emerged, their weapons gleaming in the faint light. They charged toward the coalition with a battle cry, swords and shields raised.
"Here they come!" Ragnar roared, his voice carrying over the sounds of battle. "Vipers, hold the line!"
The Iron Vipers formed a solid wall of shields, bracing for the impact as the Silver Fangs slammed into them. The clash of steel rang out as the two forces collided, the air filled with the sound of grunts, shouts, and the clang of metal on metal.
Void leapt into action, darting between the combatants with his Whispered Blade flashing in his hand. He parried a strike from one of the Silver Fangs and countered with a quick slash, sending the enemy tumbling to the ground. His movements were fluid, each strike precise and deadly, but he couldn't afford to be overconfident. The Silver Fangs were well-trained, and for every one he cut down, another seemed to take their place.
MiraNight was a blur of movement beside him, her Shadow Dagger slicing through the air as she darted in and out of the shadows, taking down enemies before they even realized she was there.
"We can't hold them off like this forever!" she shouted over the din of battle. "We need to push forward!"
Void nodded. "Agreed. Ragnar, we're moving to the tower. Keep them busy!"
Ragnar grunted in acknowledgment, swinging his axe in a wide arc that sent two Silver Fangs sprawling. "Go! We'll hold the line!"
Void signaled to MiraNight, and the two of them broke away from the main fight, weaving through the ruins as they made their way toward the tower. Arrows whizzed past them, and more Silver Fangs appeared from behind the crumbling walls, but Void and MiraNight moved with the speed and agility of seasoned players, cutting down anyone who stood in their way.
As they neared the tower, Void spotted a group of figures standing at the entrance—Ironclad's lieutenants. There were four of them, each one armed and armored differently, but they all had the same cold, calculating look in their eyes.
One of the lieutenants, a tall woman with a massive war hammer slung over her shoulder, stepped forward. "You must be Void," she sneered. "Ironclad said you'd come."
"And you must be his lackeys," Void shot back, his grip tightening on his Whispered Blade. "Get out of the way."
The woman chuckled darkly. "Oh, we're not going anywhere. You'll have to go through us first."
MiraNight rolled her eyes. "Great. More talking. Let's get this over with."
With a sudden burst of speed, MiraNight dashed forward, her Shadow Dagger aimed straight at the war hammer-wielding lieutenant. The woman barely had time to react before MiraNight was upon her, but she managed to block the strike with the haft of her hammer, grinning as she pushed MiraNight back.
"Not bad," the woman said. "But it's going to take more than that."
Void didn't hesitate. While the woman was focused on MiraNight, he rushed in from the side, his Whispered Blade flashing as he aimed for her unprotected flank. The lieutenant reacted quickly, spinning her hammer around to block his attack, but Void was faster. He feinted to the right, then struck from the left, his blade biting into her armor.
The woman snarled in pain and anger, swinging her hammer in a wide arc that forced Void to backpedal to avoid being crushed.
"You'll pay for that," she growled, raising her hammer for another strike.
But before she could bring it down, a shadowy figure appeared behind her—MiraNight. With one swift motion, she plunged her dagger into the woman's back, and the lieutenant crumpled to the ground with a final, gasping breath.
"That's one down," MiraNight said, wiping her blade on her cloak. "Three to go."
Void glanced at the remaining lieutenants, who were now eyeing them warily. "Let's make this quick."
As Void and MiraNight stood before the remaining three lieutenants, a palpable tension filled the air. The Silver Fangs' lieutenants, each distinct in their weaponry and presence, sized up the duo with cold, calculating eyes. They knew that Void and MiraNight were dangerous opponents—after all, they'd just witnessed their comrade's swift demise. But they had not risen through the ranks by being easy prey.
The first to step forward was a heavily-armored knight wielding a massive shield and sword. His silver-plated armor gleamed even in the dim light of the ruins. Beside him, a wiry rogue spun twin daggers effortlessly in his hands, his sharp, narrow eyes never leaving MiraNight. The third, a tall woman with a staff adorned with glowing crystals, took her place behind the others, preparing to unleash magical havoc.
Void tightened his grip on the Whispered Blade, ready to strike. MiraNight, too, braced herself, her Shadow Dagger gleaming in the fading light.
"We'll take them together," Void whispered, eyes fixed on the knight. "Focus on the mage. I'll keep these two occupied."
"Got it," MiraNight replied, her voice cool and composed. With a flicker of shadow, she melted into the darkness, positioning herself for a strike on the mage.
The knight wasted no time, charging toward Void with a roar, his shield raised like a battering ram. Void rolled to the side just as the shield came crashing down, leaving a dent in the stone floor where he'd stood.
"You think you're fast?" the knight snarled, recovering quickly and swinging his sword in a wide arc. Void parried the blow, the clash of metal ringing out through the ruins.
The rogue darted forward at the same time, a blur of movement as he lunged at Void with his twin daggers. Void barely managed to twist out of the way, one dagger slicing across the fabric of his cloak.
"You can't take us both, Void!" the rogue taunted, his grin wicked as he spun around for another attack.
"We'll see about that," Void muttered, his eyes flashing with determination.
He kicked off the ground, moving in a swift, calculated motion. His Whispered Blade met the knight's sword again with a sharp clang, but this time Void didn't hold back. He shifted his weight, sliding the blade downward and spinning into a counterattack, striking at the knight's unprotected thigh.
The knight grunted in pain but pushed forward, swinging his sword in a brutal downward strike. Void blocked it just in time, the force of the blow pushing him back a few steps.
Meanwhile, MiraNight had already closed in on the mage. She appeared out of the shadows, her dagger aimed for the woman's throat. The mage, however, was no novice. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a shimmering shield of arcane energy, stopping MiraNight's dagger mere inches from her skin.
"You'll have to try harder than that," the mage sneered, her eyes glowing with magic. She thrust her staff forward, and a pulse of energy sent MiraNight stumbling back, barely managing to keep her footing.
The mage raised her staff high, the crystals atop it glowing brighter as she prepared to unleash a devastating spell. "You're finished!"
But MiraNight wasn't out of tricks yet. She vanished once again into the shadows just as a bolt of lightning crackled from the mage's staff, striking the spot where she had stood. The mage cursed under her breath, eyes darting around for any sign of her elusive opponent.
MiraNight reappeared behind her, her dagger flashing as it sliced through the mage's barrier before the woman could react. The spellcaster let out a gasp as the blade cut deep into her back, and she crumpled to the ground in a heap.
"One down," MiraNight muttered, wiping her dagger clean.
Void, still engaged with the knight and rogue, caught a glimpse of MiraNight's success and smirked. "You're next," he said, his eyes locking on the rogue, who had just lunged at him again. This time, Void anticipated the move, sidestepping just enough to avoid the blow before delivering a swift kick to the rogue's midsection.
The rogue stumbled back, eyes wide with surprise. "What the—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Void's Whispered Blade was already descending. The rogue's reflexes kicked in, and he brought his daggers up to block, but Void's speed and precision were too much. His blade slipped past the rogue's defenses, cutting deep into his side.
The rogue let out a choked cry and dropped to his knees, clutching his wound. "Damn... you…"
Void didn't waste any time finishing him off with a quick, clean strike. The rogue fell to the ground, lifeless.
The knight, now alone, roared in frustration. "You think you can win this, Void?! You're nothing but a lucky low-level!"
Void smirked, wiping the blood from his blade. "Luck has nothing to do with it."
With a final, powerful swing, the knight charged at Void again, but this time, Void was ready. He sidestepped the attack with ease, using the knight's own momentum against him. As the knight stumbled past, Void delivered a quick slash to the back of his leg, bringing the heavily-armored warrior to his knees.
Before the knight could recover, Void was on him, his blade pressed against the man's neck. "Yield."
The knight glared up at him, panting heavily. For a moment, it seemed like he might refuse, but then his shoulders slumped in defeat. "Fine," he growled. "I yield."
Void stepped back, allowing the knight to drop his sword. As he did, MiraNight approached, her eyes scanning the battlefield. "That was almost too easy."
Void chuckled, sheathing his Whispered Blade. "Don't get cocky. Ironclad's still waiting for us."
MiraNight nodded, her expression turning serious once more. "Then let's not keep him waiting."
As they fought their way through the lieutenants and deeper into the ruins, Void's mind raced with anticipation. The final confrontation with Ironclad was close. They had fought hard to get here, and they couldn't afford to lose now.
But even as they cut down the last of the lieutenants and reached the entrance to the tower, Void couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
The doors to the tower creaked open, revealing a dark, ominous stairway leading up into the heart of the ruins.
Ironclad was waiting for them.
And Void knew this was only the beginning.
.
.