The Shadeborne surged forward in a mass of clawing limbs and glowing red eyes, their guttural cries filling the clearing. Kael stood his ground, his greatsword gleaming in the dim light. Behind him, Sylara's magic flared, illuminating the grotesque forms of the advancing creatures.
"Stay back!" Kael barked, his voice sharp.
Sylara nodded, retreating just enough to maintain her wards, but her eyes never left the monstrous horde. Her trembling hands betrayed her exhaustion, though her determination remained unwavering.
Nightshade watched from the base of the twisted tree, his dark robes shifting as though alive. "You can't win, Kael," he said, his voice a silken taunt. "Every swing of your sword only delays the inevitable."
Kael didn't respond. Instead, he raised his blade and charged.
A Battle Against the Endless
The first Shadeborne fell in a single stroke, Kael's sword cleaving through its chest. Ash and black ichor sprayed across the ground as the creature crumbled, but another quickly took its place.
Sylara unleashed a blast of energy, the light searing through three of the monsters in a single strike. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, each spell draining her further.
"We can't hold them forever!" she shouted.
Kael grunted, parrying a clawed strike before driving his sword through another creature's skull. "We don't need forever. Just long enough."
"Long enough for what?"
Kael didn't answer. His focus was on the fight, his body moving with practiced precision despite the mounting odds. For every Shadeborne he felled, two more seemed to rise, their bodies coalescing from the shadows as though summoned by the forest itself.
Nightshade's laughter rang out, a cruel and mocking sound. "Do you see now? The curse of the Nithralis cannot be undone. You are fighting against the very essence of this world!"
Sylara gritted her teeth and cast another spell, a shimmering barrier that slowed the advancing horde. "Kael, we need to break his link to the tree! He's drawing power from it!"
Kael's gaze flicked to the corrupted tree, its pulsating light a stark contrast to the darkness surrounding them. The truth of Sylara's words was clear—Nightshade's magic was feeding off the ancient corruption of the forest.
"Cover me," Kael said.
Sylara nodded, pouring what little magic she had left into the barrier as Kael charged toward the tree.
The Heart of Corruption
As Kael approached, the air grew heavier, pressing against him like a physical weight. His steps slowed, his sword feeling impossibly heavy in his hands. The whispers in his mind grew louder, a cacophony of voices screaming and pleading.
"You cannot save them, Kael. You couldn't save us."
He shook his head, forcing the voices down. He had no time for doubt.
Nightshade stepped into his path, raising one hand. Tendrils of dark energy shot out, writhing like serpents as they lashed toward Kael. He barely managed to dodge, the tendrils striking the ground with enough force to leave deep gouges in the earth.
"You think you can destroy me?" Nightshade sneered. "You are nothing but a broken relic, clinging to a world that no longer exists."
Kael swung his sword, the blade cutting through the tendrils as he advanced. "Maybe," he said, his voice low and cold. "But I'm still standing."
The two clashed, Kael's brute strength meeting Nightshade's dark magic in a furious battle. Each strike of Kael's blade was met with a counterattack of shadowy tendrils, the corrupted energy searing his skin where it grazed him.
Behind him, Sylara struggled to maintain her barrier, her face pale and drawn. The Shadeborne clawed at the shimmering wall of light, their numbers growing with each passing moment.
"I can't hold them much longer!" she cried, desperation in her voice.
Kael knew they were running out of time. He feinted to the left, then brought his sword down in a powerful overhead strike. The blade shattered Nightshade's defenses, slicing deep into his shoulder.
Nightshade let out a hiss of pain, but his crimson eyes burned brighter. "You cannot kill me, Kael," he said, his voice echoing unnaturally. "The Nithralis binds us all. You destroy me, and you only strengthen its hold on you."
Kael hesitated, his sword poised for the killing blow.
And that was when Nightshade struck.
A wave of dark energy erupted from his body, slamming into Kael and sending him flying backward. He crashed into the ground, his sword slipping from his grasp.
Nightshade loomed over him, his robes billowing as though caught in an unseen wind. "Do you understand now, knight? You are nothing but a pawn. The oath you cling to is a chain, binding you to a cause that no longer matters."
Sylara's Gamble
"Kael!" Sylara screamed, abandoning her barrier as she rushed toward him. The Shadeborne surged forward, but she ignored them, focusing all her remaining energy on a single spell.
Her hands glowed with a brilliant light, and she hurled the energy at Nightshade. The blast struck him square in the chest, sending him staggering back.
Kael seized the opportunity. He grabbed his sword and rose to his feet, his movements slower but no less determined.
"Together!" Sylara shouted, her voice hoarse.
Kael nodded, and the two charged as one.
Nightshade raised his hands, but the combined force of Kael's blade and Sylara's magic overwhelmed him. The blow struck true, shattering the dark energy surrounding him and driving him to his knees.
For a moment, the forest seemed to hold its breath.
But then Nightshade laughed—a low, rasping sound that sent chills down their spines. "You think this is over?" he said, blood dripping from his lips. "The Nithralis doesn't die. It only spreads."
With those words, his body dissolved into shadow, vanishing into the air.
A Fragile Victory
Kael and Sylara stood in silence, their breathing ragged. The Shadeborne had disappeared along with Nightshade, but the corruption of the forest remained, its oppressive presence as strong as ever.
"We didn't kill him," Sylara said, her voice trembling.
"No," Kael replied, his grip tightening on his sword. "But we stopped him. For now."
Sylara sank to the ground, her strength finally spent. "This isn't just about him, is it? The Nithralis… it's everywhere."
Kael didn't answer. He stared at the twisted tree, its light dimming but not extinguished. He could still feel the whispers in his mind, a constant reminder of the curse that bound him to this world.
"What do we do now?" Sylara asked.
Kael turned to her, his expression grim. "We keep fighting."
Sylara managed a weak smile. "You really are a stubborn bastard, aren't you?"
Kael sheathed his sword and helped her to her feet. "Someone has to be."
As they left the clearing, the forest seemed to close in behind them, the darkness swallowing the path they had forged.
Unseen, the tree's faint light pulsed once more, and a shadow emerged from its base—a pair of crimson eyes watching as the two travelers disappeared into the gloom.
End of Chapter 3