Chapter 11: Into the Unknown
The morning was grim and cold, with a biting wind that cut through even the thickest of cloaks. Darius stood with Tobias, Seraphina, and the soldiers tasked with scouting the Orval Kingdom's encroaching forces. The tension was palpable, the soldiers murmuring nervously amongst themselves as they prepared for the journey.
The Orval Kingdom had been a thorn in the empire's side for decades, a relentless aggressor that sought to expand its borders into Lionhart's territory. Their tactics were as brutal as they were cunning, and their forces often relied on guerrilla warfare, ambushes, and dark magic. Scouting missions were essential for survival but notoriously dangerous.
Darius adjusted the chains draped over his shoulders, their metallic sheen catching the weak sunlight. His dark onyx hair was tied into a loose ponytail, his piercing gray eyes scanning the assembled group with calculated indifference.
Seraphina approached him, her silver hair glinting like moonlight against her pale complexion. "Darius," she began, her tone clipped and formal, "I assume you understand the gravity of this mission?"
Darius smirked, his gaze flicking to her. "You assume correctly, dear sister."
"This isn't a game," she pressed, her light blue eyes narrowing. "If you're reckless, people will die."
"And if I'm not reckless," Darius countered, his voice calm but cold, "people will still die. That's the nature of war."
Tobias, standing nearby, scowled. "You talk big, but let's see if you can back it up when it counts."
Darius didn't bother to respond. Instead, he turned and began walking toward the group of scouts, his chains clinking faintly with each step.
---
The scouting party moved through the dense forest in near silence, the only sounds the rustle of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot. Darius walked at the center of the group, his senses sharp and alert. The Sovereign Chains wrapped around his arms shifted slightly, almost as if they were alive, responding to the faintest hint of danger.
The forest was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of birds and insects absent. It felt as if the very air was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
"Stay alert," one of the soldiers muttered, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
Darius glanced at him, amused. "Nervous?"
The soldier shot him a sharp look but said nothing.
Suddenly, a faint rustling sound came from ahead. The group froze, their weapons drawn. Darius held up a hand, signaling for silence, and stepped forward cautiously.
He extended one of his chains, the metallic links slithering through the air like a serpent. It wrapped around a low-hanging branch, allowing him to pull it aside and reveal a small clearing.
The sight that greeted them was grim. The remains of an Orval scouting party lay scattered across the ground, their bodies mangled and torn. Blood stained the grass, and the air reeked of death.
"What the hell happened here?" Tobias muttered, stepping into the clearing.
Darius crouched beside one of the bodies, his fingers brushing against the torn fabric of the soldier's uniform. The wounds were deep and jagged, as if inflicted by claws rather than blades.
"Beasts," Darius said simply, rising to his feet.
"Beasts?" Seraphina repeated, frowning.
"Orval employs them in their forces," Darius explained. "They're not just soldiers; they're hunters. And judging by the tracks here, they're not far."
As if on cue, a low growl echoed through the forest. The group tensed, their eyes darting toward the source of the sound. From the shadows emerged a pack of massive, wolf-like creatures, their eyes glowing an unnatural red. Their fur bristled, and their jaws dripped with saliva as they advanced, snarling.
"Formation!" one of the knights barked, the soldiers quickly moving into a defensive stance.
Darius, however, stepped forward, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Let's see what they've got."
With a flick of his wrist, his Sovereign Chains shot forward, wrapping around the nearest beast. The creature howled in fury, thrashing against the unyielding metal. Darius pulled, slamming it into the ground with bone-crushing force.
The other beasts charged, but Darius was ready. He spun his chains with expert precision, the metallic links moving like extensions of his own body. One chain wrapped around a beast's leg, tripping it, while another struck a second creature square in the chest, sending it flying.
"Rupture," Darius murmured, activating the deadly move he had honed during his months of training.
The chain wrapped around one beast began to glow, an intense heat radiating from the links. A moment later, the creature exploded in a burst of fire and shrapnel, its remains scattering across the clearing.
The other soldiers stared in shock, their movements faltering.
"Focus!" Seraphina snapped, drawing her rapier and moving to engage another beast.
Tobias, not to be outdone, charged into the fray, his sword flashing as he cut down one of the creatures.
Darius, meanwhile, continued his assault, his chains dancing through the air with deadly precision. His movements were fluid and almost graceful, a stark contrast to the brutal efficiency of his attacks.
Within minutes, the clearing was silent once more, the beasts lying dead at their feet.
"Well," Darius said, brushing a speck of blood from his sleeve, "that was fun."
Tobias glared at him, his chest heaving. "You're insane."
"Perhaps," Darius replied, his smile widening. "But I'm also alive. And that's what matters, isn't it?"
Seraphina sheathed her rapier, her expression unreadable. "This is just the beginning," she said quietly.
Darius glanced at her, his gray eyes glinting. "Good. I'm just getting warmed up."
As the group regrouped and prepared to move on, the tension in the air was heavier than ever. The Orval Kingdom was out there, watching, waiting.
And Darius was ready to meet them head-on.