The battlefield stretched endlessly beneath a sky darkened by unnatural clouds. Shouts of war, the clash of steel, and the chilling cries of the nightspawn created a cacophony that echoed across the valley. Yet, to Lucian, all of it faded into the background as his gaze remained fixed on the distant figure atop the hill.
His feet moved with purpose, the world around him blurring as adrenaline surged through his veins. Whoever this figure was, they exuded a power unlike any he had felt before—a power that felt hauntingly familiar.
"Lucian!" Lyra's voice rang out from behind him, but he didn't slow down. He couldn't. Something about that figure called to him, like a forgotten memory surfacing from the depths of his mind.
As he drew closer, the figure turned, lowering their hood to reveal a face Lucian hadn't seen in centuries. A face he had thought lost to time.
"Cassius…" Lucian whispered, his voice barely audible over the sounds of battle.
Cassius, once a brother-in-arms, a fellow warrior of Nightfang, and Lucian's closest friend before the fall of the old order. But unlike Lucian, who had remained steadfast in his resistance against the Abyss, Cassius had vanished—rumored to have fallen to the very darkness they had sworn to fight.
"I wondered how long it would take you to recognize me," Cassius said, his voice smooth, carrying a trace of mockery. "It's been a while, hasn't it, old friend?"
Lucian's grip tightened on his sword. "I thought you were dead."
Cassius smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "In a way, I was. But death isn't always the end, is it? Sometimes, it's just the beginning of something… greater."
"You joined them," Lucian said, his voice low and cold. "You betrayed us."
"I chose survival," Cassius corrected. "While you clung to a crumbling ideal, I saw what was coming. The Abyss isn't a plague to be fought—it's an evolution. And those who resist it will be left behind."
Lucian's eyes burned with fury. "You sold your soul for power."
Cassius shrugged, unfazed by the accusation. "Power is the only thing that matters in this world. And soon, when the Abyss rises, those who stand with it will rule over the ashes of the old world. I'm offering you a chance, Lucian. Stand with me. Together, we can reshape this world as we see fit."
For a moment, silence hung between them, the weight of Cassius's words pressing down on Lucian. Memories of their shared past flickered through his mind—nights spent planning battles, victories won side by side, vows made to protect their people.
But those memories were ghosts, remnants of a time long gone. The man standing before him was no longer the friend he had once known. He was something else—something twisted by darkness.
"I'll never stand with the Abyss," Lucian said, his voice steady. "And I'll never stand with you."
Cassius's expression hardened, the last vestiges of warmth vanishing from his eyes. "So be it. But know this—when the Abyss claims this world, I will ensure you are among the first to fall."
Without another word, Cassius raised his hand, and the shadows around him surged forward like a tidal wave. Lucian braced himself, his sword glowing with silver light as he met the onslaught head-on.
Meanwhile, back at the stronghold, the battle had reached a fever pitch. Despite the valiant efforts of Nightfang's warriors, the nightspawn continued to press forward, their numbers seemingly endless.
"Hold the line!" Lyra shouted, rallying the defenders. Her blades flashed as she cut down one nightspawn after another, her movements fluid and precise.
Nearby, Kael swung his great axe in wide arcs, each strike sending nightspawn flying. "Where's Lucian?" he growled, his voice filled with frustration. "We can't keep this up forever!"
Lyra spared a glance toward the hill where Lucian had disappeared. "He's dealing with something… important."
"Important or not, we need him here!" Kael snapped, blocking an incoming strike with the haft of his axe.
"We'll hold," Lyra said, determination hardening her voice. "We have to."
---
Back on the hill, Lucian fought with a fury born of righteous anger. His sword clashed against Cassius's shadow-forged blade, each strike sending shockwaves through the air. Though Cassius was fast, Lucian was faster, years of battle-hardened skill guiding his every move.
"You've grown stronger," Cassius admitted, parrying a strike aimed at his heart. "But strength alone won't save you."
With a flick of his wrist, Cassius unleashed a wave of dark energy that sent Lucian skidding back. Before he could recover, tendrils of shadow lashed out, wrapping around his limbs and pinning him in place.
Cassius approached slowly, his blade gleaming ominously. "It didn't have to be this way, old friend. You could have joined me, ruled beside me. But instead, you chose to cling to a dying cause."
Lucian struggled against the shadows, his eyes blazing with defiance. "This 'dying cause' is what keeps the world from falling into eternal darkness. And as long as I draw breath, I'll fight to protect it."
Cassius raised his blade, preparing for the final strike. "Then breathe your last, Lucian."
Just as the blade descended, a burst of light erupted from Lucian's chest, shattering the shadows binding him. Cassius stumbled back, shielding his eyes from the blinding radiance.
When the light faded, Lucian stood tall, his sword glowing brighter than ever before. "You're right about one thing, Cassius. Power is what shapes the world. But true power comes not from darkness… but from the light we protect."
With a roar, Lucian charged forward, his blade slicing through the shadows like they were nothing. Cassius barely had time to react before Lucian's strike sent him flying back, crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact.