The quiet before dawn was shattered by the urgent approach of a rider, his horse kicking up dust as he galloped towards Chalassy's gates. The rider, a young scout with dirt-smeared cheeks, nearly fell from his saddle as he leaped off and raced into the castle. "The Bringers of Death!" he shouted breathlessly, his eyes wide with terror. "They're marching towards the southern border!"
The news hit Anu like a punch to the gut. Jam, the man who wielded the cursed Wand of Death, was returning and not coming alone. The previous battle had only driven him back, and now he was moving with renewed fury. Anu summoned his squad immediately, and the situation's urgency was evident in his tone.
"Prepare yourselves," Anu ordered, his voice firm as he addressed his squad in the castle courtyard. "This won't be like the last encounter. Jam is coming with a vengeance, and he won't be holding back."
The soldiers around him nodded their expressions of determination and lingering fear. Merna tightened the straps on her armor, her face set in a mask of focus. Anu caught her eye and offered a brief nod of reassurance. She returned the gesture, her confidence in him unwavering despite the daunting challenge ahead.
The squad rode out as the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. The air was cold, and a thick fog hung over the path leading to the southern border. The rhythmic thud of hooves against the dirt road echoed in the silence, a sad reminder of the weight of the battle they were riding toward.
As they approached the border, Anu raised a hand to signal a halt. He dismounted and motioned for his squad to do the same. The dense fog made it difficult to see beyond a few feet, but Anu could feel the tension in the air—a familiar unease that came with facing a foe as powerful as Jam.
"Stay sharp," he murmured to Merna, who was standing by his side. She nodded, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her dagger.
The silence was broken by the distant sound of heavy footsteps—a rhythmic, deliberate march that sent a chill down Anu's spine. The Bringers of Death were close, and they were moving with purpose.
When the fog parted, Jam's forces came into view. The soldiers of Osta were clad in dark armor, their faces obscured by iron helms that gleamed in the dim light. At the front of the line stood Jam, his presence unmistakable. He wore a black cloak that billowed like a raven's wings, and in his hand, he held the twisted staff known as the Wand of Death.
Jam's eyes locked onto Anu, a cruel smile spreading across his lips. "General Anu," he called out, his voice dripping with mockery. "You look well for a man who thought he had defeated me."
Anu tightened his grip on his sword, his jaw clenched in determination. "This ends today, Jam," he replied, his voice steady despite the anger simmering beneath the surface.
Jam chuckled darkly, raising the Wand of Death. "Bold words," he said, his tone mocking. "Let's see if you can back them up."
With a flick of his wrist, Jam unleashed a wave of dark energy that surged towards Anu's forces. The soldiers braced themselves as the shadows swept over them, disorienting and draining their strength. Anu could feel the familiar pull of despair, the dark energy whispering of inevitable defeat.
But he pushed the fear aside, focusing on the battle at hand. "Form up!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Hold the line!"
The soldiers rallied, their training and discipline taking over as they formed a defensive formation. Anu moved through the ranks, his sword flashing as he cut down enemies with practiced precision. Merna was constantly at his side, her daggers a blur of motion as she defended their flanks.
As the battle raged on, Anu became increasingly aware of the weight of the Wand of Destruction hanging at his side. The ancient relic seemed to hum with dark energy, its power tempting him to unleash its full might and end the battle instantly. But he couldn't—he wouldn't—risk losing control again. The memory of his last transformation still haunted him, the fear of becoming something monstrous lingering at the edges of his mind.
Instead, he focused on leading his squad, relying on strategy and coordination to counter Jam's relentless assault. Slowly but surely, they began to gain ground, pushing the Bringers of Death back step by step.
But Jam wasn't finished yet. He raised the Wand of Death high, and a dark mist swelled around him. Anu recognized the technique—it was Rashnu's Song, a powerful and fear-inducing melody that had the potential to break the will of even the bravest warrior. Anu had encountered it before, and he knew what was coming.
"Cover your ears!" Anu shouted to his squad, his voice rising above the din of battle.
The dark mist spread from Jam in all directions, and a haunting, otherworldly melody filled the air. The soldiers closest to Jam dropped their weapons, clutching their heads in agony as the melody took hold of their minds. Anu felt the fear creeping in, the dark melody whispering of inevitable death and despair.
He clenched his jaw, refusing to give in to the dread. He had faced this before, and he had survived. He would survive again.
Anu charged towards Jam, his sword raised high. He fought through the dark mist, his mind pushing back against the haunting melody. His vision blurred, and for a moment, it seemed as if the shadows themselves were reaching out to pull him under. But he pressed on, his focus narrowing until all he could see was Jam.
A flash of bright steel cut through the mist beside him as he closed the distance. Merna had joined him, her daggers glinting in the dim light as she cut a path through the enemy lines. She was moving with a renewed sense of urgency, her eyes locked on Jam as if she were drawn to him by some unspoken determination.
Anu felt relief knowing she was there, fighting by his side. He couldn't explain why, but her presence seemed to give him strength—strength he hadn't realized he was missing.
Together, they pushed forward, their movements synchronized as if they had fought this battle a hundred times before. Anu struck high while Merna struck low, their combined attacks forcing Jam to retreat step by step.
Jam's confident smirk faltered, replaced by a look of frustration and anger. "You think you can stop me?" he hissed, his voice dripping with malice.
Anu didn't respond—he didn't need to. He let his actions speak for him, his sword flashing as he pressed the attack. Jam was a skilled fighter, and his mastery of the Wand of Death made him a formidable opponent. But Anu and Merna were relentless, and their teamwork allowed them to anticipate and counter every move Jam made.
With a final, desperate swing, Jam aimed the Wand of Death directly at Anu. Dark energy erupted from the staff, a torrent of shadow and despair threatening to consume everything in its path. Anu was ready. He raised his sword, channeling his remaining strength into a decisive strike.
The blade met the dark energy head-on, sending a shockwave through the battlefield. Anu felt the force of the impact reverberate through his body, but he refused to back down. He held his ground, pushing against the torrent of darkness with all his might.
Beside him, Merna struck at Jam's exposed flank, forcing the enemy to break his focus and withdraw the dark energy. The battle wasn't over, but Jam realized he couldn't achieve victory today. He slowly backed away, his eyes narrowing as he studied Anu and Merna, calculating his next move.
"Another time, General Anu," Jam called out, his voice laced with bitterness. He disappeared into the retreating mists with the remnants of his forces, leaving only the echoes of Rashnu's Song in his wake.
Anu watched Jam's retreat with a sense of both relief and frustration. They had won the battle, but the war was far from over. Jam and the Wand of Death remained a looming threat—a reminder that the real fight was still to come.
Merna approached him, her breathing heavy but her expression resolute. "We did it," she said quietly, her voice filled with determination rather than triumph.
Anu nodded, feeling grateful for her presence and unwavering support. "Yes," he replied, his voice steady despite the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. But this isn't the end."
The dawn light began to break through the lingering fog, casting long shadows across the battlefield. Anu turned to his remaining soldiers, his voice rising above the murmur of the wounded. "Gather the injured and prepare to return to the capital," he ordered. "We need to regroup and prepare for whatever comes next."
As the soldiers moved to carry out his orders, Anu felt a renewed sense of purpose—a determination to see this war through to its conclusion, no matter the cost. With Merna by his side and his soldiers at his back, he knew they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.