Aria rushed out of the throne room, her boots skidding to a halt as she reached the front of the palace. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight before her—a monstrous tide stretching across the horizon. Snow Howlers prowled at the forefront, their frost-laden fur bristling as their growls resonated through the cold air. Beside them, the chittering swarm of millipede-like creatures moved in eerie unison, their segmented bodies rippling like a living wave.
But it wasn't just them. The ranks were chaotic, filled with an assortment of twisted creatures, each one more horrifying than the last. It was a grotesque army, ready to raze the fortress to the ground.
And towering at the back were them—the tyrants. Aria's stomach churned as she laid eyes on Crysalynth, a massive black, chitinous worm bristling with hundreds of serrated claws—or were they legs? Its surface glistened like polished obsidian, and its maw, filled with countless needle-like teeth.
Beside it strode Wendralith, a stark contrast to Crysalynth's grotesque form. Majestic and unnervingly serene, it looked like something pulled from an ancient myth. A massive creature that seemed to be a mix between a reindeer and a lion. It had a regal white mane that seemed to shimmer even under the dull gray sky. Its antlers, impossibly intricate, branched out like frozen trees, and its powerful reindeer-like legs moved with a grace, leaving faint grooves in the snow as it walked. A long, sinewy tail swept behind it. It was truly a beautiful creature, if it didn't want to obliterate this entire fortress that was.
The faintest glimmer of relief flickered in Aria's mind. Only two tyrants, not five. A small mercy, though the thought hardly made the situation more bearable. It was still an overwhelming force, one that could obliterate the fortress without breaking stride.
Blake's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, sharp and impatient.
"What are we standing around here for?" he barked, turning his gaze to the knight commander. "Mind telling us where this last defensive resort is?"
The knight commander hesitated, his brow furrowed, and his voice low. "It should be somewhere in the throne room… but you don't understand. If it's activated, everyone here will die. The entire fortress will be wiped out."
Aria stepped forward, her tone cutting through his doubts like a blade. "And if it doesn't go off, we all die anyway. So stop wasting time." She pointed back toward the fortress gates, her voice rising. "Get the citizens evacuated. Now. And find this damned 'last resort' before those things tear through our walls!"
Her words lit a fire under the commander, and he nodded reluctantly before barking orders to the knights behind him. The group split off, some rushing to organize an evacuation, others heading back to the throne room to search.
Blake smirked faintly, his sword already in hand. "Guess we know who's calling the shots now."
Aria shot him a sidelong glare. "We don't have time for your jokes."
He laughed under his breath. "Just saying. Let's get to it before we're out of options."
The ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble with the advancing army's fury. The clock was ticking, and every second brought the fortress closer to annihilation.
Rushing back into the throne room her eyes glanced over the dead king once more, he looked as grotesque as before but something was missing...
The crown, the crown was missing.
'That's right, the memorie.' Realization hit her and she quickly took a look at her runes, searching for the memorie.
[King's Crown: A key crafted for times of doom, just to be spiteful.]
Her lips curled into a dry smile. A key for times of doom. How fitting. The realization struck immediately. Only the king had acces to the last resort, so of course the crown was the key. Summoning it into her hands, she turned to the others.
"Start looking," she commanded, her voice sharp and urgent. "This crown's a key. Find where it fits."
Her confidence left no room for argument, though a few raised eyebrows hinted at lingering doubt. Still, the room erupted into movement as guards, knights, and her companions began scouring every inch of the chamber. Minutes stretched on, filled with the clatter of overturned furniture and scraping stone as they searched desperately.
Finally, a shout broke the tension. "Here! Over here!"
Aria dashed across the room to where a guard stood, his hand pressed against a seemingly ordinary section of the wall. But nestled within its intricate patterns of carvings and grooves was an unmistakable shape—the crown's outline.
Without hesitation, Aria placed the crown into the grooves, its jagged edges aligning perfectly with the design. She paused for a heartbeat, then gave it a twist. At first, nothing happened. She frowned, twisting it further until...
Click
A deep rumble echoed through the chamber as the wall began to tremble. Stone scraped against stone, and a hidden section of the wall slid downward, releasing a gust of stale, dusty air. Behind it lay a staircase that spiraled downward into the earth, lit dimly by flickering torches embedded in the ancient walls.
For a moment, the group stood frozen, staring at the dark passage. The atmosphere felt heavy, as though they had unearthed something that had been meant to stay buried.
Aria didn't hesitate. "Let's go."
She descended the steps without a second glance, her resolve unwavering. The rest followed close behind, their footsteps echoing against the cold stone as they ventured deeper.
Reaching the bottom of the staircase, the group stepped into a cavernous, empty hall. The air was thick with the weight of age and mystery, the faint flicker of torchlight casting long shadows over the stone walls. But amidst the emptiness, one object stood out: a large stone slab in the center of the room, etched with grooves that mirrored the shape of the crown perfectly. Behind it, an intricate circle of runes was carved into the ground. Within the larger circle were smaller ones, connected by a web of lines and symbols. It looked like a massive magical diagram—or perhaps the fevered scribblings of a madman.
Aria's gaze fell on the knight commander. "Do you know what this is?"
The man hesitated, his expression uncertain. "No," he admitted.
Before she could reply, Reese stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he examined the runes. "I can read some of it," he said, drawing everyone's attention.
Aria raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "You can read ancient runes?"
Reese nodded, glancing at her. "Yeah, sort of. My dad was an archaeologist. He taught me a bit" He crouched near the circle, running his fingers just above the carved lines. His brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to make sense of the cryptic engravings.
After a moment, he spoke. "I can't read all of it, but I can make out enough to understand the gist. This... this is a spell. A spell of destruction. Complete, absolute destruction." He pointed to the smaller circles within the main one. "It's designed to spread outward in waves. Looks like it needs time to charge before it activates."
Aria's expression darkened. "How long are we talking?"
Reese shook his head, the uncertainty evident in his voice. "I can't say for sure. Judging by the size of the circle and the complexity of the runes, I'd guess anywhere between fifteen and thirty minutes."
Aria nodded, her expression resolute as she placed the crown into the grooves on the stone slab. "Anyone who wants to get out of here," she said, her voice firm and steady, "you've got fifteen minutes to do it." Without waiting for a response, she turned the crown.
A faint hum echoed through the chamber as the innermost runes of the circle began to emit a soft, blue light. The glow pulsed rhythmically, slowly spreading outward toward the larger circles. The temperature in the room dropped noticeably, and a light, icy breeze swirled around them. The runes seemed alive, pulling energy from the very air, as if the spell were feeding on the world itself.
For a moment, everyone stood frozen, transfixed by the ominous display. Then Blake broke the silence, his voice cutting through the tension. "What are we standing around here for?" he asked, his grin returning despite the gravity of the situation. "Let's get to defending this fortress."
His words snapped the group into action. Aria glanced back at him, nodding sharply. "Let's move."
-------
Emerging from the castle, the group's eyes were drawn to the monstrous wave looming in the distance. The horde had already reached the ruined outer wall, spilling over it like an unstoppable tide. Aria gritted her teeth, it was going to be a long thirty minutes. Hopefully less.
They rushed down the stone steps, through the gates, and into the heart of the city. The empty streets stretched eerily before them, devoid of life. What had once been a lively, bustling town was now a ghostly void. It was unsettling how efficiently the citizens had evacuated. Aria was impressed, apparently the king had always been adamant about a thorough evacuation plan. It certainly worked.
As they reached the second wall, Aria paused for a moment, taking deep, measured breaths. From atop the wall, the monstrous wave was a harrowing sight. The sheer number of creatures, their growls and screeches audible even from here, sent a chill through her spine. Shaking off the fear, she stepped into one of the armories inside the tower, scanning the racks of weapons and shields. Her eyes settled on a heavy knight's shield and a sturdy spear. Testing its weight and sturdiness, she nodded in satisfaction.
Guards began flooding into the armory behind her, hurriedly grabbing swords, shields, and spears. Emerging back outside, Aria's gaze fell on her companions. Blake stood front and center, his cocky grin as unshakable as ever. Reese was nearby, his wide smile masking the tension of the moment, while Lyra remained calm and composed, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Tarin, perched on the wall, was already drawing his bow, arrows glinting in the faint light.
A small smile tugged at Aria's lips. Seeing them so composed and ready steadied her nerves. If they could face this without hesitation, so could she. She walked up to Blake, patting him firmly on the shoulder.
"Come on," Aria said, her voice steady but charged with determination. "Let's meet these bastards head-on."
Blake scoffed, shaking his head with a lopsided grin. "Wow, our princess is suddenly all fired up."
Aria gave a small shrug, a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. "Just a little bit."
Descending the stairs toward the wall's gate, the tension in the air was palpable. Tarin's voice cut through it sharply, commanding from his perch atop the wall. "Draw… Fire!" The whistle of arrows slicing through the air was followed by the dull thuds of impact. The front line of the monstrous horde staggered as a dozen arrows found their marks, but the wave pressed on, relentless.
The sheer size of the horde was staggering—hundreds, maybe a thousand strong. Snow howlers, massive millipedes, and a chaotic assortment of other creatures surged forward, their roars and screeches a deafening cacophony. Against them stood a mere 71 defenders: 36 guards and 35 knights. The rest of their forces—20 knights and the remaining scouts—were escorting the citizens to safety, navigating the treacherous ice over the frozen lake. Their path was perilous, but it was the only hope for survival.
Despite the grim odds, despair did not hang over the defenders here. Their lives were already forfeit, and every one of them had made peace with it. They fought not for victory, but for time. Every second they held this line brought more time for the evacuation, and the longer they lasted, the closer the magic circle came to activation.
Their goal was singular and unwavering: to stall the monstrous tide and ensure the magic's cataclysmic detonation would take the creatures with them. Each defender knew they were living their final moments, yet none faltered. Determination blazed in their eyes, their resolve as unyielding as the castle walls they defended.
Aria stood silently in front of the gate, gripping the spear tightly in her hands. The monstrous cacophony of howls and screeches reverberated through the air, mingling with the clash of arrows and the crash of boulders raining down from the walls. Her heart hammered in her chest, but her expression remained resolute, her focus pinned to the shaking gate.
Then came the first thud—a resounding crash that sent vibrations up the stone walls. The gate groaned under the pressure, its sturdy wood splintering slightly. Another thud followed, louder this time, shaking the entire wall and sending a shiver through the defenders. Cracks began snaking through the gate's surface, widening with every impact.
Aria's sharp eyes caught movement through the growing fissures. The jagged tip of an icy horn punched through the wood, piercing it with a sickening crack. Another horn followed, then another, as the monstrous force on the other side tore into the barrier. The gate gave a tortured wail before shattering entirely, ripped apart in a storm of splinters.
The defenders braced themselves as the wave of howlers surged forward, their snarling faces and snapping jaws pressing against an iron grate that still held firm. The snarling beasts clawed and battered the bars, their frost-coated forms illuminated by the dim, flickering light of nearby torches.
Aria stepped forward, her spear at the ready, standing shoulder to shoulder with others armed with long weapons. Her eyes narrowed, her breathing steady as she positioned the spear between the gaps of the iron grate. In a swift, practiced motion, she thrust forward. The spear glided through the narrow space with precision, piercing through the gaping maw of a snow howler. The beast let out a guttural snarl as the spear's tip burst through the back of its skull, silencing it instantly.
[You have slain a dormant beast, Wendralith's thrall]
Aria sighed, she had a feeling she would be hearing that a lot today.
Around her, other defenders followed suit, spears plunging through the gaps and finding their marks in the horde. For every beast brought down, another took its place, pressing against the grate with relentless fury. Frost began to form along the bars from the sheer cold radiating off the howlers.
Aria pulled her spear back, its blade slick with blood, and readied for another strike. The iron bars groaned under the relentless assault of the monsters, their violent shaking punctuated by the rhythmic pounding of claws and horns.
Shing!
Another thrust, another kill.
[You have slain...]
She brushed the Spell aside, her focus unwavering as she drove her spear forward again. Her strikes were relentless, yet each thrust carried an increasing sense of futility. The iron bars screamed in protest, warping under the mounting pressure. Then, with an ominous snap, her spear's shaft cracked in her hands.
Aria cursed under her breath, tossing the broken weapon aside. "I really am shit with spears," she muttered to herself, retreating a few steps to regroup. Her hand tightened around the handle of her shield.
The wall above trembled violently. Chunks of stone fell as the howlers slammed against the weakened structure, their roars mingling with the sharp creaks of the iron grate. The only thing keeping the monsters from flooding over the wall was the treacherous, icy incline they struggled to climb. But that slim advantage was waning fast. The millipedes had arrived, their segmented bodies slithering and drilling into the frozen earth beneath the wall.
The ground shook as parts of the wall crumbled, the vibrations reverberating through Aria's boots. She saw it then—the iron grate bending inward, its once-unyielding strength giving way as it was wrenched from its stone frame.
"Get back!" Aria shouted, her voice cutting through the din. The spearmen retreated without hesitation, moving behind her just as the iron bars gave one final, heart-wrenching groan.
Crash
The grate fell with a resounding thud, and for a brief moment, silence descended. Time seemed to slow as the wave of monsters surged forward, their maddened screeches shattering the stillness. Aria inhaled deeply, steadying herself as the world blurred into motion.
She took one decisive step forward, her arm coiling like a spring. As the first howler lunged toward her, its frothing maw wide, Aria struck. Her fist drove forward with explosive force, slamming into the creature's skull. The satisfying crack of bone echoed in her ears as the beast's lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
[You have slain...]
And then, all hell broke loose.
The monsters poured in, a tidal wave of teeth, claws, and frost-coated fury. Aria planted her feet firmly, raising her shield to block a lunging millipede's snapping jaws. Her arm trembled under the impact, but she held, twisting her body to slam the creature against the wall before bashing its head with her shield.
Around her, the defenders fought with everything they had. Spears and swords flashed in the dim light, cutting through the horde, but for every monster slain, another seemed to take its place. Blood—both human and monstrous—spattered the icy ground, turning it into a treacherous, slippery battleground.
Aria slammed her shield into the snarling face of a Howler, sending it reeling with a sickening crunch. "Tarin!" she bellowed, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Bring this wall down!"
The knight commander's voice rose above the cacophony, commanding the retreat. "Everyone! Fall back to the third wall!"
From his perch, Tarin's sharp order rang out. "Light the explosives!"
The second wall, like the fortress itself, had a built-in self-destruct mechanism—not one designed for devastating destruction, but enough to slow the enemy and buy precious time.
As Tarin and the remaining soldiers scrambled down from the wall, the retreat began in earnest. Only Aria, Blake, and Reese stayed behind to hold the line. Blake moved with deadly grace, weaving through the chaos, turning the corpses of fallen monsters into shields and barriers. Reese swung his massive hammer in wide arcs, each strike sending creatures sprawling or crushing them outright. Meanwhile, Aria held the center, her battered shield absorbing blow after blow as she deflected claws and teeth, pushing the monsters back with sheer grit. The cracks in her shield deepened, and it trembled with each hit, but she kept her stance firm. She didn't need to overpower them—just hold the line. It was a battle of endurance, not aggression.
Moments later, a deafening boom split the air as the explosives detonated. The stone wall groaned and began to crumble. Dust and debris exploded outward, and the collapsing wall surged toward them like an unstoppable tide.
Time seemed to slow as Aria braced herself, but before the falling stones could reach her, a strong arm wrapped around her waist. Blake yanked her back, pulling her out of harm's way just in time as the wall collapsed into a heap of rubble, forming a temporary barrier between them and the advancing horde.
"Close call, princess," Blake said with a smirk, his tone light despite the chaos around them.
Aria exhaled sharply, steadying herself. Her eyes darted over the rubble, the wall had barely bought them seconds. Monsters were already clawing their way over the debris, their snarls and screeches growing louder.
The sheer number of creatures pouring toward them, unstoppable and relentless. There wasn't a chance to hold them here. Not anymore.
Aria inhaled deeply, her voice erupting like a thunderclap.
"Ruuuuuun!!!"
The command reverberated through the air, spurring the defenders to hurry. Adrenaline surged, and the group sprinted toward the third wall, the sound of claws scraping stone and guttural growls closing in behind them.