Calvin leaned over the map, his finger tracing a marked path. "Alright, everyone, listen up. Thanks to Garven's intel, we now know exactly where Ashren is holed up. His base is situated on the north side, 23 miles from our current location."
The room fell silent, the gravity of the statement settling over them.
Kieran crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing as he studied the map. "What kind of defenses are we looking at?"
Calvin glanced at Garven, who stepped forward. Garven, a lean and sharp-eyed scout, nodded. "The place is heavily fortified. He's got barriers, wards, and a small army of loyalists—mages and their corrupted soldiers. They're using the terrain to their advantage too, setting traps along the main paths."
Calvin nodded. "That's why we need to be smart about this. A direct assault is suicide. We'll need to divide our forces, strike strategically, and dismantle their defenses bit by bit. Timing will be critical."
Barrick, standing near the back, crossed her arms. "If we fail to neutralize those wards early, any attack will end in disaster. Do we have the resources to counter them?"
Calvin smirked. "That's where Kieran and his new gear come in."
All eyes turned to Kieran, who grunted, adjusting his sword. "Fine. Just point me in the right direction, and I'll handle it."
Calvin placed a hand on Kieran's shoulder, his voice calm but firm. "This isn't just about brute strength, Kieran. We need precision. Follow my orders, and together, we'll bring Ashren down."
Kieran locked eyes with Calvin for a moment before nodding. "As long as I get my shot at him, I'll follow your lead."
"Good." Calvin straightened up. "We move at first light. Rest up, everyone. Tomorrow, we bring the fight to Ashren."
The morning sun cast a pale golden light over the marching soldiers, the clang of armor and the rhythm of hooves breaking the silence. Kuroi rode at the head of the column, his armor glinting in the sunlight, his massive sword strapped securely to his back. His expression was as cold and unyielding as steel, a contrast to the camaraderie and anticipation humming among the ranks.
Seraphina rode up beside him, her horse keeping pace with his. She gave him a sidelong glance, her curiosity piqued by his silence. "How did you sleep?" she asked casually, hoping to break through his stoic demeanor.
Kuroi didn't look at her. "Why do you ask?" His tone was sharp but not hostile, more a reflex than an intention.
Seraphina hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Is it wrong for me to check up on one of my men?"
"I slept good, alright," Kuroi replied curtly, his voice lacking warmth but not entirely dismissive.
"That's good," she said, her voice softening. For a moment, there was silence between them, the clinking of metal and the muffled thuds of hooves filling the void. Then, cautiously, she ventured, "So… if you don't mind me asking, what happened to your—"
Kuroi's head snapped toward her, his icy glare freezing the words in her throat. The air between them grew tense, the weight of his stare enough to silence any further questions. Seraphina swallowed hard. "Never mind," she murmured, turning her gaze forward.
But then, to her surprise, Kuroi spoke. His voice was low, tinged with a bitterness that was almost hidden beneath the surface. "You want to know what happened? Fine."
Seraphina turned her head slightly, her expression now cautious but attentive.
"When I was a boy, my mother and I lived deep in the woods, far from anyone. We were out one day, gathering berries, when a bear appeared. Massive. Hungry. It came at us before we even saw it." His jaw tightened, his voice growing colder. "She told me to hide, and I did. She led it away, screaming and waving her arms. I thought she'd come back once it was safe."
Kuroi paused, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the reins. "She didn't come back."
Seraphina's heart sank, but she said nothing, letting him continue at his own pace.
"I waited for hours, and then hours turned into days. On the third day, I left my hiding spot to look for her. I didn't get far before I slipped into a narrow ravine. My arm got wedged between two rocks, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't free myself." His voice trembled slightly but never broke.
"I screamed until my throat bled. Days passed. I was starving, delirious. My body was giving up, but my mind kept repeating the same thought: If I died there, no one would even know."
Seraphina's eyes widened, a chill running through her as Kuroi continued.
"By the sixth day, I realized I had no choice. I wasn't getting out. The only way to survive... was to do the unthinkable." He swallowed hard, his voice steady but heavy with emotion.
"I... I ate my own arm," he said flatly, as though stating a fact rather than recounting a nightmare. "The pain was beyond anything I'd ever imagined. I used my teeth, tearing through flesh and bone. I kept thinking, 'Just one more bite. Just one more bite.' When I finally freed myself, I was barely alive."
Seraphina's voice wavered as she asked, "And your mother?"
"I found her days later," he said, his voice growing colder. "What was left of her, anyway. The bear had finished its meal and moved on. She saved me, but at the cost of her life."
The silence between them was deafening. Seraphina looked at him, her eyes full of sorrow and admiration. "Kuroi, I—"
"Don't," he cut her off sharply. "I don't need your pity. I survived because she taught me how to fight, how to endure. That's all that matters."
Seraphina nodded slowly, choosing her words carefully. "You're stronger than most people could ever hope to be, Kuroi. Not because of what you endured, but because you chose to live."
Kuroi didn't respond, his focus already back on the road. The soldiers rode through the dense forest trail, their horses' hooves thundering against the earth, when the ground suddenly began to shift. An unnatural groaning filled the air, accompanied by the sickening sound of dirt being pushed aside. Rotten hands burst from the soil, skeletal and decayed, clawing their way to the surface.
"What the hell is that?" Garven called out, his sharp eyes darting across the terrain.
Calvin, at the front, raised his hand to halt the group. "Hold steady!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the rising panic.
But before anyone could respond, the undead surged from the ground, dozens of rotting corpses clawing and stumbling toward the living. Their hollow eyes burned with a malevolent hunger, and their broken jaws gnashed hungrily.
"Zombies!" Seraphina yelled, drawing her sword in one swift motion.
"They're surrounding us!" Barrick bellowed, already dismounting with his massive warhammer in hand.
The soldiers broke formation as the first wave of undead closed in.
Kieran wasted no time. His massive blade sang as he drew it from his back, cleaving through the first two zombies that lunged at him. Their decayed bodies fell in pieces to the ground, but more were already closing in.
"Stay with me!" he shouted to the soldiers near him, his voice booming as he swung his sword in wide arcs. The weight of the blade crushed ribs and shattered skulls, but the horde showed no signs of slowing.
Seraphina, still on horseback, charged into the fray. Her blade flashed in the moonlight as she sliced through one zombie after another, her precision and grace a stark contrast to the chaos around her. She guided her horse expertly, weaving through the undead and shouting commands.
"Don't let them swarm you! Keep moving!"
Calvin remained on horseback, his golden pauldrons glinting as he raised his sword. "Form a perimeter! Protect the wounded!" he ordered. With a fierce cry, he plunged his blade into the nearest zombie, pulling it free with a spray of putrid black ichor. His strikes were efficient and calculated, each swing of his sword cutting down another foe.
Loris fought with the experience of a seasoned soldier. Dismounting, he stood his ground, his shield raised to block a clawed swipe before countering with a quick thrust of his sword. "Hold your line!" he shouted to the soldiers nearest to him, his scarred face grim with determination.
Garven stayed on horseback, his bow singing as he loosed arrow after arrow. Each shot found its mark, piercing skulls and dropping zombies mid-step. "They just keep coming!" he muttered, his green eyes scanning the area for any advantage. Spotting a cluster of zombies closing in on Barrick, he aimed and fired, thinning their numbers.
Barrick roared like a thunderstorm as his warhammer smashed into the horde. The sheer force of his strikes sent zombies flying, their brittle bones shattering on impact. "Come on, you bastards!" he yelled, relishing the chance to unleash his full strength.
The rest of the soldiers fought valiantly, their swords, spears, and shields clashing against the undead. A few fell, dragged down by the relentless horde, but most held their ground, rallying around their commanders.
The battle raged on, the group slowly carving their way through the swarm. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the ground was littered with the remains of the undead.
As the last zombie fell to the ground, headless and twitching, silence finally descended. The soldiers, bloodied but victorious, regrouped.
Kieran sheathed his sword, his breathing heavy. "That was too close," he muttered, wiping black ichor from his armor.
Seraphina rode up beside him, her face pale but resolute. "We need to keep moving. If there are more of them out there, we can't afford to stay in one place for long."
Calvin nodded, his expression grim. "Agreed. Everyone, regroup and prepare to move out. We're not safe yet."
The soldiers, though weary, rallied once more, ready to face whatever lay ahead.