Chereads / shadows in the world / Chapter 18 - Marcus Battle against the six sorcerer. 18.

Chapter 18 - Marcus Battle against the six sorcerer. 18.

As the newly formed special force set out on their mission, Marcus and his fellow monks were determined to rid the land of the demonic influence that had taken hold of so many. Armed with enchanted weapons and protective magic chain necklaces around their necks, they began their work by hunting down those who were possessed by the dark power. With each encounter, they fight fiercely, using their newly learned spells to defend themselves and eliminate the threat. At first, their method was brutal. Those consumed by the demonic power were often too far gone, attacking like rabid beasts, and the special forces had no choice but to strike them down. Each kill left a haunting shadow in the hearts of the monks, especially Marcus, who could see the torment in the eyes of the possessed before they were cut down. He knew that these people had once been ordinary villagers, now turned into instruments of chaos through no fault of their own. As the days turned into weeks, Marcus began to feel uneasy about their approach. One night, after a particularly harrowing battle in which they had slain a group of possessed villagers, Marcus sat by the fire with the other monks. The silence between them was thick with the weight of what they had done. Finally, Marcus spoke up, his voice heavy with emotion."This isn't right," he said, staring into the flames. We're killing these people, but they aren't truly evil. They're victims, just like my parents were. There has to be another way. The other monks looked at him, some nodding in agreement while others remained quiet. Master Kaiden, who had led the special forces, listened carefully to Marcus's words. "What do you suggest, Marcus?" he asked, his tone calm but curious. Marcus took a deep breath. The demonic power inside them—it's a duplicate, a corrupted version of the original force wielded by the witches and wizards. If it can be duplicated, then perhaps it can also be destroyed without killing the host. We should focus on capturing the possessed and finding a way to purify them, rather than killing them. There was a murmur of agreement among the monks. Master Kaiden considered this for a moment before nodding. You may be right, Marcus. The destruction of life, even in the face of darkness, should never be our first solution. If there is a way to save these people, we must find it. With the support of Master Kaiden and the other monks, the strategy changed. They begin capturing those possessed by the dark power, using magic spells to subdue them rather than kill them. Once captured, the monks performed powerful rituals to draw out the demonic force, watching as it emerged like thick black smoke from the bodies of the possessed. With coordinated efforts, they destroyed the dark smoke, dissolving it into nothingness. The first time they succeeded, it was like a weight had been lifted from Marcus's chest. The possessed villager, once mad by the influence of the dark magic, returns to their senses, confused but free. Word spread quickly of the special force's new approach, and soon more villages reached out, asking for help. The battle was far from over, but Marcus and his comrades now fought with renewed hope. Each life they saved was a victory, not just for their mission but for the soul of humanity itself. However, as they continued their work, the witches and wizards were not idle. They sensed the disruption to their plans, and their fury grew."They are weakening our power," one of the witches snarled as they watched through their dark mirror. We must stop them before they free everyone.

The six witches and wizards began to craft new, even more dangerous magic, determined to make their next move against Marcus and his comrades. They knew the battle would soon come to a head, and when it did, they intended to unleash a power greater than anything Marcus had ever faced.

On that cold, moonless night, the forest was eerily quiet as Marcus and his fellow monks moved through the dark trees, their breath forming faint clouds in the freezing air. They had been patrolling for hours, searching for any sign of the possessed drink-blood walkers, the cursed souls who had been twisted by dark magic into killers. Marcus led the group, his mind uneasy with the weight of their task. Something felt wrong, and his instincts were on high alert. As they ventured deeper into the forest, the faint echo of chanting reached their ears. Marcus signaled for his group to stop, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make out the source of the ominous sound. Slowly, they crept closer, moving quietly through the dense undergrowth until they reached a small clearing. There, beneath the cover of towering trees, a chilling scene unfolded. The drink-blood walkers, dozens of them, were gathered in a circle, their faces pale and twisted with dark power. In the center of the gathering stood the six witches and wizards, their long, bony fingers extended as they performed a grotesque ritual. One by one, the walkers approached, bowing their heads as they answered the dark leaders' questions. How many humans did you kill today? One of the witches rasped, her voice cold and sharp. Twenty-five, a walker responded, his voice hollow and lifeless. Step forward, the witch commanded, and the walker obeyed. She dragged a long finger across his neck, and immediately blood poured from the wound.

The thick stream of crimson flowed down his neck, cascading into the large dome before him. The air filled with the metallic scent of fresh blood as the witches and wizards chanted louder, their voices merging into a dark symphony of power and death. The possessed warrior staggered backwards, his eyes wide and glazed, before returning to his place among the others, awaiting his next command. The ritual intensified as, one by one, more of the possessed came forward, their blood feeding the unholy ceremony. The dome beneath the witches and wizards pulsed with energy as if the dark forces themselves were stirring beneath the surface, ready to rise. The sky above the forest turned an unnatural shade of red, reflecting the horrors below. Meanwhile, Marcus and the few monks crouched behind a thick line of trees. Marcus's heart raced in his chest as he watched the grotesque scene unfold. Their faces were pale and streaked with sweat. We can't underestimate the strength of our enemies. This was not an ordinary coven; this was a coordinated and deadly force that could not be defeated by a handful of monks alone.  Marcus said, As he prepared to signal their retreat, a sudden shift in the atmosphere caught his attention. The air grew colder, and the wind howled through the trees, carrying with it an ominous whisper.