Kael's pulse quickened. They had no more time.
"It's starting," Varin's voice cut through the noise as he reappeared, bags of supplies in hand. His face was pale, his Rebirth Core flickering weakly, but his resolve had not wavered. "We have to leave now."
Kael nodded, his Avatar already standing ready by his side, its eyes glowing with the same fierce determination.
They ran through the city, Varin leading the way, Kael's mind racing as he scanned the horizon. It wasn't long before they reached the edge of Natharak, where the once peaceful plains now teemed with an advancing horde.
Darkspawns.
They slithered and lurked, their forms shifting in the shadows, eyes glowing with malevolent hunger. But it wasn't just ordinary Darkspawns—Kael spotted towering figures amidst the swarm, far more powerful than anything he had faced before.
"This is no ordinary attack," Varin growled, drawing his blade. "They're coming for you, Kael."
Kael swallowed hard, the weight of that truth settling in his gut. But he wasn't about to back down.
He drew his Void Daggers, their edges crackling with shadow energy. His Shadow Avatar stood by his side, twin blades of darkness already in hand. Together, they were ready.
"Are you ready?" Varin asked, adjusting the blade strapped to his side, the dark steel glinting faintly in the twilight.
Kael nodded, forcing a breath into his lungs. "I don't think we have much time."
As if on cue, the wind shifted, bringing with it the stench of decay. Kael's eyes widened as he spotted the shadows coalescing in the distance, dark forms flitting between the trees like a storm gathering. "Darkspawns," he breathed, a chill creeping down his spine.
"Not just Darkspawns," Varin said, squinting into the gathering gloom. "There's something else. They're organized."
Before Kael could respond, the horde surged forward, a wave of darkness cascading toward them. The first line broke into a sprint, a blend of shadow Darkspawns and their more sinister elite cousins, their grotesque forms morphing as they raced through the underbrush.
"Let's give them a warm welcome," Varin growled, stepping forward.
Kael summoned his shadow avatar, feeling the familiar rush of energy. The avatar emerged beside him, a dark reflection of his own power, eyes glowing like twin embers. Together, they stood ready to meet the onslaught.
With a battle cry, Varin charged into the fray, phasing in and out of existence with his Void Step. He sliced through the first line of Darkspawns with precision, his blade shimmering with Void energy.
Kael grinned, invigorated by Varin's enthusiasm. "Let's finish this fast!"
He dashed forward, enveloped in shadows, activating his own Void Step. He felt the surge of speed as he moved through the Darkspawns, dodging and weaving through their grasp. With each step, his twin Void Daggers flashed in the dim light, slashing through the flesh of the charging creatures. He became a blur, an embodiment of death among the chaos.
"On your right, Kael!" Varin called as he executed a perfect Phantom Strike, disappearing into the shadows and reappearing behind a group of Elite Darkspawns.
Kael took a breath, focusing his energy. He activated his Deathcaller class.
"Soul Summon!"
With a flick of his wrist, Kael unleashed his Soul Summon. Wisps of energy formed into spectral shapes, ghostly figures rising from the ground. They joined the fray, swirling around him, fighting alongside the two warriors.
The spirits latched onto the Darkspawns, tearing at their shadows with ethereal claws. The chaotic scene erupted into a storm of blades and shadows, each combatant lost in the frenzy.
As the battle raged, Kael and Varin pushed deeper into the throng, every swing of their weapons creating a deadly rhythm.
Varin's Void Pulse radiated out, disorienting a cluster of Darkspawns, while Kael's Echoing Strike inflicted devastating damage. The air was thick with the screams of the fallen, the dark energy crackling like lightning around them.
But just as victory seemed within reach, the ground trembled underfoot. Kael's heart sank as five Darkspawn commanders emerged from the shadows, towering over the battlefield. Their eyes glowed a malignant red, and behind them surged a wave of Darkspawns—hundreds, if not thousands, drawn to the scent of blood and chaos.
"This is too much, Varin!" Kael shouted, panic rising in his throat as he glanced around at the overwhelming horde.
Varin's breath came in quick gasps, his eyes narrowing in focus. "Stay sharp! We can't let them surround us!"
The commanders charged, their presence sending ripples of fear through the air. Varin met the first one head-on, his blade meeting the creature's gnarled claws with a resounding clash. The sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves through the ground.
Kael stepped back, assessing the battlefield. His spectral allies swirled around him, but they were no match for the numbers that pressed in. He could feel his heart pounding in his ears, drowning out the chaos surrounding him. His shadow avatar fought valiantly, mirroring his every move, but Kael could sense the strain.
As the Darkspawn continued to surge forward, Kael felt the connection with his Avatar deepen. The clone shadowed him, darting in and out of the fray with a lethal grace that mirrored Kael's own.
In a seamless flow of motion, Kael executed a devastating kick that sent one Darkspawn sprawling, while the Avatar followed up with a swift slash of its VoidBlade, eliminating another threat.
They danced through the chaos, each attack a testament to their bond, felling foes with ruthless efficiency. But just as Kael thought he had the upper hand, a hulking Darkspawn emerged, its eyes burning with fury.
Kael's instincts flared.
The beast charged, its massive claws poised to strike. Without hesitation, Kael invoked his Deathcaller skills, summoning tendrils of darkness that lashed out at the creature, ensnaring its limbs.
The Darkspawn roared in frustration, but before it could retaliate, Kael surged forward with his Avatar at his side, thrusting his VoidBlade into the creature's heart.
The impact sent shockwaves through the air, and as the Darkspawn collapsed, Kael and his Avatar stood side by side, panting, their silhouettes framed against the moonlight. But a new sound echoed through the forest, a low rumble that sent a chill down Kael's spine—an ominous portent of the darker forces yet to come.
"I can't keep this up!" Kael yelled, his voice barely cutting through the din of battle.
"Then we need to find a way out!" Varin shouted back, slashing at another commander, his Void Blade creating deep gashes that shimmered with dark energy.
Kael felt the encroaching darkness, a wave of despair washing over him as he surveyed the endless tide of enemies. He activated Shadow Dash, weaving through the mass of Darkspawns, striking with precision, but the exhaustion was creeping in.
His energy waned, and the darkness around him felt suffocating. "What should I do?" he frantically thought, grappling with the fear clawing at his mind.