Ellie pouted but reluctantly agreed to Avi's insistence that she stay hidden near the edge of the forest. "You promise you'll come back fast?" she asked, her wide blue eyes glistening with worry.
Avi crouched to her level, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I promise. Stay out of sight and keep your ears sharp."
With that, Avi and Tyler began their infiltration.
The castle loomed ahead, its silhouette stark against the backdrop of a cloudless night. Its stone walls, once a reassuring sight, now seemed foreboding under the pale glow of the moon. Shadows stretched long across the ground, cast by the jagged parapets and the imposing towers that reached into the sky like silent sentinels.
Guards patrolled along the outer perimeter, their torches sputtering with orange flames that cast fleeting light across their crude armor. Their shadows danced across the castle's walls, making them appear larger and more ominous. From Avi's vantage point, the guards moved with an almost robotic precision, a rhythm that betrayed their inexperience.
Avi moved with deliberate care, his footsteps nearly soundless as he glided from shadow to shadow. The dim light barely caught the edge of his sharp features, and his dark attire blended seamlessly into the night. Every movement was measured, calculated, a testament to instincts honed in countless battles—instincts he barely understood but trusted deeply.
Tyler, however, was a different story. His broad shoulders and towering frame made him stand out like a bear attempting to sneak through a meadow. His boots occasionally crunched against loose gravel, earning a glare from Avi each time.
"Seriously, Tyler?" Avi muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.
Tyler froze mid-step, his expression a mix of guilt and frustration. "It's not like I can shrink myself," he whispered back, his tone defensive.
Avi clenched his jaw, his hand twitching as if battling the urge to facepalm. Every time Tyler misstepped or brushed against a loose stone, the nearest guard would pause, their eyes scanning the darkness. Avi held his breath, ready to act if needed, but Tyler managed to freeze in time, his muscular frame awkwardly pressed against the wall like an oversized statue.
After what felt like an eternity, they reached an unguarded section of the western wall. A narrow window sat high above, its iron bars missing—a weakness likely overlooked in the rush of the castle's new occupants. Avi raised a hand, signaling Tyler to stop, then pointed toward the window.
"Think you can manage?" Avi asked in a hushed tone, his expression half serious, half teasing.
Tyler rolled his eyes. "Just go."
With a quiet exhale, Avi approached the wall. He ran his hand along the rough stone surface, feeling for footholds. Years of erosion had left cracks and grooves, and he began his ascent with practiced ease. His movements were swift but controlled, his boots finding solid purchase on the jagged surface.
Reaching the ledge, Avi peered inside, scanning for any signs of movement. Satisfied it was clear, he leaned down, motioning to Tyler. "Your turn."
Tyler stared up at the window, muttering a string of curses under his breath. His large hands gripped the stone, and he hoisted himself up with effort. The climb was anything but graceful. His boots scraped loudly against the wall, and his fingers slipped more than once.
"Hurry it up," Avi hissed, glancing nervously over his shoulder.
"I'm trying," Tyler grunted, his face red with exertion.
When Tyler finally reached the ledge, Avi grabbed his forearm, pulling him up with a grunt. Tyler flopped onto the stone floor with a muffled thud, panting heavily.
"Stealthy as ever," Avi quipped, shaking his head.
"Shut up," Tyler snapped, his breath ragged.
The corridor stretched before them, dimly lit by flickering torches mounted on rusted iron brackets. The once-pristine stone walls were now marred with cracks and grime, and faded banners drooped lifelessly from their mounts. Dust floated in the stagnant air, carrying the faint scent of sweat and damp stone.
As they moved deeper into the castle, the signs of its hasty occupation became more apparent. Furniture lay overturned or broken, and scraps of torn fabric and discarded weapons littered the floors.
The duo's footsteps were muffled against the cold stone as they wove through the halls, avoiding the occasional patrol. Avi's sharp eyes scanned every corner, his mind piecing together the fragments of what had happened here.
They passed a room where muffled cries caught their attention. Peering inside, they found civilians bound in groups, their wrists and ankles tied with frayed ropes. The captives looked gaunt, their faces pale and streaked with dirt. Some glanced up at the sound of movement, their eyes filled with desperation, but Avi quickly pulled back, his heart heavy but his face emotionless.
Tyler, however, wasn't as composed. His fists clenched, his jaw tightening as he took in the sight. His anger simmered, his breathing growing heavier.
As they continued, they encountered another unsettling scene. Civilians—men and women who once sought their protection—now strutted about in crude leather armor. Their poorly made weapons clanked against their sides as they walked with a newfound arrogance. Smirks painted their faces, as if they had shed their helplessness and donned a false sense of superiority.
Tyler's teeth ground together audibly. "Why are these little shits acting like that?" he hissed, his voice barely controlled. "Where are the real fighters?"
Avi placed a firm hand on his friend's shoulder, his expression a mix of annoyance and concern. "Sshh! That's what we're here to find out. Stay sharp."
Tyler muttered something under his breath but nodded, his knuckles white due to clenching it too much.
The tension in the air grew thicker as they ventured deeper. The corridors seemed to close in around them, the shadows darker, the silence oppressive. Every step felt like a gamble, each corner potentially hiding another danger.
Despite the growing weight of the situation, Avi remained focused, his mind working through possibilities. Tyler, on the other hand, seemed like a ticking bomb, his emotions bubbling closer to the surface with each passing moment.
They continued their exploration, covering most of the upper floors. However, the basement and the great hall remained unchecked, both heavily guarded. When they approached the latter, Tyler's restraint began to crumble.
Hidden behind a broken pillar, he muttered curses under his breath as he spotted familiar faces among the guards stationed at the great hall's doors. "Lance and Jerich," he hissed, his grip tightening on his axe hammer. "Those were my lackeys."
Avi glared. "Keep it together, Tyler. Don't—"
Before he could finish, Tyler stormed out of their hiding spot, his heavy footsteps echoing. Avi silently cursed, ducking deeper into the shadows.
"Lance! Jerich!" Tyler's voice thundered through the corridor, reverberating off the cold stone walls. The guards flinched, their casual banter abruptly silenced as they turned toward the source of the sound. Tyler stepped into the dim light of the torches, his broad shoulders and towering frame casting an imposing shadow.
In his hand, his axe hammer materialized from his dimensional inventory, the sudden appearance accompanied by a faint, otherworldly hum. The weapon gleamed ominously, its polished surface reflecting the flickering torchlight. The sheer weight of it seemed to promise devastation, the edge honed to a menacing sharpness.
The guards exchanged glances, surprise briefly flashing across their faces before Lance's lips curled into a cocky smirk. He adjusted his stance, the leather straps of his patchwork armor creaking softly as he drew a rusted longsword from his belt. Beside him, Jerich mirrored the motion, his crude spear angled forward, its jagged tip catching the light.
"You really walked in here thinking you're still above us, huh, Tyler?" Jerich sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
Tyler's gaze hardened, his grip tightening on the haft of his weapon. The muscles in his arms bulged slightly as he resisted the urge to swing immediately. His tone, however, was ice-cold. "Where's Alex? What's happening here?"
Jerich's laugh was sharp and mocking, the kind that grated on nerves. He twirled his spear lazily, its tip tracing an invisible arc in the stale air. "Your little leader? Pfft. Our lord has no use for weaklings like him—or you, for that matter. But hey, maybe you can join us. Help us hunt that nerd Avi down. Should be fun."
Tyler's eyes narrowed, but he didn't rise to the bait. Despite the heat in his chest, he kept his tone deceptively neutral. "Lord? What lord?" His voice carried a note of feigned curiosity, masking the storm brewing within him. "Who's this guy you're groveling to?"
Lance's grin widened, the torchlight casting sinister shadows across his face. "You don't know?" His voice carried a mocking incredulity, as if Tyler's ignorance was amusing. "He's one of us—well, was. Ethan. Remember him? Said he had some kind of revelation. Showed us how to grow stronger. You wouldn't get it, big guy. You're too busy playing hero."
From his hiding spot in the shadows, Avi's stomach twisted. Ethan. The name hit like a punch to the gut, and memories of the chaotic battle flooded his mind. Ethan, their classmate, had succumbed to dark power, transforming into a demonlord. But hadn't Ethan been defeated? Then how…?
Tyler's voice, rising with restrained fury, yanked Avi from his thoughts. "Where's Alex? I asked you a question!"
Lance tilted his head, his grin fading into a sneer. He unsheathed his blade fully, the rusted steel glinting maliciously. "You think we'd follow you again? You're nothing now, Tyler. Just like Alex."
The words hit like a slap, and Tyler's jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached. His knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip on his axe hammer, his anger boiling dangerously close to the surface. "What did you do to Alex?"
Jerich laughed, a cruel, hollow sound. "He got what he deserved. Same as you will."
That was the breaking point. A roar ripped from Tyler's throat, echoing with raw fury. He charged forward, his heavy boots pounding against the stone floor. His axe hammer swung in a wide arc, a blur of metal and force. The weapon struck with a deafening crash, splintering the wooden door behind the guards into jagged shards.
Lance and Jerich barely leapt aside in time, their eyes wide with shock. Tyler's next swing came faster than they could react, the sheer force of the strike knocking Jerich's spear clean from his hands.
Inside, the great hall stretched out before them, its familiar grandeur twisted into something grotesque. The walls, once adorned with banners of hope and unity, now bore dark scorch marks and jagged gouges. The torches burned with an unnatural intensity, their flames tinged with an eerie green hue.
A pungent smell of burnt incense and decaying flesh hung heavily in the air. Faint chants echoed from unseen corners, their guttural tones sending shivers down Tyler's spine.
And then, breaking the oppressive silence, came a slow, deliberate clap. The sound was mocking, each strike of palm against palm calculated to provoke.
Tyler turned sharply, his gaze locking onto the throne at the far end of the hall.
There, lounging as though he owned the world, was Ethan. Or rather, what Ethan had become. His once-boyish features were marred beyond recognition. Pale, cracked skin leaked black sludge that dripped onto the floor in slow, viscous drops. His eyes, blackened voids with glowing red irises, burned with malevolent amusement. From his left temple curled a single horn, its surface jagged and ridged like molten rock cooled into shape.
"Ah, the jock returns with a bang," the demonlord drawled, his voice a sickening mix of mockery and malice. He leaned forward, his cracked lips curling into a sinister smile.
Tyler froze, his breath catching in his throat. For all his bravado, the sight before him sent a chill down his spine.
From the shadows, Avi grit his teeth, the scene before him equal parts horrifying and infuriating. He clenched his fists, whispering harshly to himself, "That moron. What part of 'stay hidden' doesn't he understand?"