As the grand doors of the throne room closed behind them, the floor guardians made their way through the shadowed halls of the Citadel of Nightfallen. The air was thick with tension, a shared awareness of their situation settling in. This was no longer the Eternal Night world they were to protect; this was something far more dangerous—and real.
Lira, the shadow sorceress, was the first to break the silence as they walked. Her voice was a low, almost seductive whisper, barely audible but carrying a sharp edge. "So, it seems our master isn't as invincible as he once believed. Not even he knows what brought us here."
Elandris, the Elven Blademaster, glanced at her with a look of caution. His hand rested on the hilt of his ornate blade, a habit he had developed over centuries of honing his skills. "Careful, Lira. Our master's strength is unquestionable. This world may be different, but he remains our guiding force."
Lira's lips curled into a sly smile as she walked, the shadows around her shifting as if alive. "Oh, I don't doubt his power. But it is clear we must tread lightly in this new world. We are no longer bound—our actions have consequences."
Tharos, the towering Demonic BeastLord, let out a deep, rumbling growl. "Consequences or not, I say we crush anything that stands in our way. This world is ripe for conquest. The strong will rule, and we are stronger than anything out there."
Seraphine, the Abyssal Priestess, drifted beside him, her haunting presence almost ethereal as her voice floated in the air like a soft melody. "And yet, brute force will not always serve us well, Tharos. There are unknowns in this world—dark forces that may rival our own. We must move with caution, as our lord instructed."
Kaïn, the Phantom Assassin, who had been silent until now, materialized from the shadows beside them. His voice was barely more than a whisper, but it cut through the air like a blade. "I agree. Stealth and patience. We must learn before we strike. There are eyes in this world we have yet to see, and they will surely be watching us."
Azrael, the Eternal Watcher, whose stoic demeanor had always been his strength, nodded in agreement. His golden armor reflected the dim torchlight, giving him an almost celestial appearance. "This world is vast. I sense energies far beyond what we've encountered before. There may be beings here who possess knowledge that could challenge even our lord."
Reynard, the Arcane Strategist, smiled faintly, his mind already racing with plans and contingencies. "Then it's settled. We gather intelligence first. No rash movements, no unnecessary confrontations. We operate in the shadows, observe the powers at play, and only then will we make our move."
Lunara, the Silver Valkyrie, added her voice to the conversation. "If we act carefully, we can assess this world's weaknesses. And once we know where to strike, we can take it down piece by piece. Our lord's plan is sound."
Cassandra, the Enchantress of Illusion, gave a small, mysterious laugh as she walked beside Lunara. "Oh, what fun it will be to toy with the minds of these new beings. I can't wait to see their reactions when their reality bends to our will."
Finally, Orion, the Silent Watcher, said nothing, his eyes trained forward, his thoughts hidden beneath the stoic mask he always wore. He rarely spoke, but when he did, his words carried weight. His silence, however, was enough for the others to know that he would do as ordered—watch, wait, and strike when the time came.
The group fell into silence once more as they made their way deeper into the citadel. The weight of Lucian's orders hung over them, but there was also an unspoken excitement. This world was an unknown, a vast new territory full of potential, and each of them had their own vision for what it could become.
Tharos, his deep voice rumbling once more, glanced at the others. "I still say we crush anything that stands in our way. We are the apex predators in this world now. Let them try to challenge us."
Kaïn's form flickered in and out of the shadows as he spoke, his tone as cold as ever. "Predators are most dangerous when they strike unseen. Remember that, Tharos."
Seraphine's soft laughter drifted in the air. "A wise sentiment. Our lord has chosen his guardians well. We shall see who adapts best to this new reality."
Elandris, ever the voice of reason, spoke again as they neared the exit to the citadel's inner halls. "This world will not fall to us overnight. We must be patient. Our lord has given us our orders—gather information, observe the powers at play, and remain unseen."
As they reached the citadel's outer halls, Vaelor, the Death Knight General, who had been walking silently at the rear, spoke for the first time. His voice was deep and resonant, filled with unwavering loyalty. "Remember, we serve our lord above all else. His will is our command. And his command is to proceed with caution."
The other guardians nodded in silent agreement, and one by one, they each vanished into the shadows of the citadel, preparing for the tasks that awaited them in this strange new world.
The Nightfallen Guild had awakened, and the world outside had no idea what was coming.
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