The forest loomed ahead, its twisted trees casting dark shadows that seemed alive. Morrath stood at the front, his Shadow Blade resting in his grip as tension rippled through his forces. The air was heavy and foreboding as they prepared to face the unknown.
Vivienne spread a map across the ground, her blade's tip tracing the area marked by disappearances. "We've lost more than patrols," she said grimly. "Villagers—men, women, even children—vanished without a trace."
Kaela clutched her glowing staff, her gaze wary as it swept the edge of the forest. "There's a darkness here," she said softly, her voice trembling. "It feels unnatural, wrong."
Morrath nodded, his crimson eyes hardening as he turned to his group. "We'll find out what it is," he said firmly. "Vivienne, Klara, take point; Durak, keep the reserves ready."
Vivienne adjusted her cloak, her voice sharp and steady. "This feels like a trap," she said, her eyes scanning the trees. "But we'll spring it on our terms."
The forest grew darker and more oppressive with every step, the stench of decay hanging heavy in the air. Kaela's staff pulsed faintly, her face pale as she whispered, "This place is cursed." Klara drew her twin blades, her body tense as she muttered, "We've got company."
A low growl echoed from the shadows, followed by the system's soft chime in Morrath's mind.
[Corrupted Werewolves Detected: Feral Pack. Status: Enchanted by Blackthorn Magic.]
Morrath exhaled slowly, steadying himself. "They're lycans," he said, his voice even. "Twisted by magic. Their claws will shred through armor, stay sharp."
Vivienne's sharp gaze landed on him, her voice laced with suspicion. "How do you know that?" she asked. Morrath's tone remained calm. "Because I've fought their kind before."
The guttural howls came first, and then the beasts burst from the underbrush. Hulking shapes with glowing yellow eyes closed in, matted fur glinting faintly in the dim light. Morrath stepped forward, his blade humming with dark energy. "Hold the line!" he roared.
The battle was chaos as Morrath cut through the first werewolf, its form dissolving into dark mist. He cast Shadow Tendrils, the writhing energy binding two more in place. Klara darted through the fray, her twin blades flashing as she shouted, "These things don't die easy!"
Vivienne moved with precision, her longsword slicing cleanly through a charging beast. "They're stronger than they look!" she called out, her voice commanding. "Don't let them flank us!"
Despite their efforts, the werewolves overwhelmed them with sheer numbers. Morrath's spells erupted in devastating waves, but the relentless onslaught pushed his forces closer to collapse.
"We're outnumbered!" Vivienne yelled, her voice cutting through the chaos. "We need to retreat!"
Morrath's jaw tightened as he scanned the battlefield, his voice rising above the chaos. "Fall back to Durak's position!" he commanded. "Move now!"
The retreat was desperate, Morrath's forces barely holding formation as they fought their way out of the cursed forest. By the time they regrouped at the reserve line, exhaustion was etched into every face. Morrath lowered his blade, his breaths even but his expression grim. "We underestimated them," he admitted quietly.
Vivienne approached, brushing dirt from her armor, her longsword resting heavily against her shoulder. "They were prepared for us," she said, her tone edged with frustration. Kaela stepped closer, her staff dim in her grip. "We lost too many," she said softly. "What do we do now?"
Morrath straightened, his crimson eyes hardening with resolve. "We regroup," he said firmly. "Next time, we finish this."
…Kazreth dismounted his armored steed, his boots sinking into the damp earth of the clearing. His orange eyes scanned the Dominion soldiers assembling defenses with precise, practiced movements. Without a word, he strode into the command tent, his jagged armor glinting in the torchlight.
Inside, a Dominion general waited, his robes layered with plated armor blending the roles of mage and warrior. "The Demon Lord's forces retreated, but they'll return," he said, gesturing to the map. "We've fortified the main paths with traps. They won't leave this forest alive."
Kazreth leaned over the map, his claws grazing the table's edge. "Fortifications are useless if they fail," he growled, his voice cold. "What makes you so certain they'll hold?"
The general straightened, his tone steady despite Kazreth's looming presence. "We've prepared," he said, a faint edge of pride in his voice. "The locals from nearby villages were... repurposed."
Kazreth's gaze darkened as he demanded, "Explain."
The general smirked, confidence returning. "Lycanthropic curses bound with Blackthorn enchantments. The villagers have become werewolves, bound to us by magic. They won't stop until Morrath's forces are destroyed."
Kazreth's lips curled into a cruel grin, his fangs glinting faintly in the firelight. "Clever," he said darkly. "But Morrath's victories have been anything but ordinary. Is this enough?"
The general nodded, unwavering. "Even if his forces break through, they'll be funneled into choke points where our mages are waiting. Morrath won't leave this forest intact."
Kazreth's claws traced the map slowly, pausing on a sigil near the forest's center. "And his... allies?" he asked coldly. "Vivienne Corvalis. I hear she fights for him now."
The general faltered briefly but recovered, his smirk returning. "She won't be a problem," he said smoothly. "Her betrayal will not go unanswered."
Kazreth's claws tapped the table rhythmically, his orange eyes narrowing. "Ensure it doesn't," he said, his growl deliberate. "If Morrath survives, the Dominion weakens. If his allies remain, they'll grow bolder."
Dark mist swirled in the corner of the tent, and Malvaris materialized with unsettling grace, his presence like a chill settling over the room. "Kazreth," he said smoothly, his pale face illuminated by the torchlight. "I trust you're prepared to make Morrath suffer?"
Kazreth turned slowly, his orange eyes narrowing at the Watcher. "What do you want, Malvaris?"
Malvaris's smirk widened, his hands clasped lightly behind his back. "To ensure you don't squander this opportunity," he said lightly. "Let your general lead the charge. If you face Morrath yourself and fail, the Dominion will lose its strongest leader."
Kazreth growled low in his throat, his claws flexing. "You want me to let someone else do my work?"
Malvaris stepped closer, his tone sharp but calm. "I want you to think strategically. If you die here, the Dominion collapses. Morrath expects you to be here. Your absence will unsettle him—and if the general dies instead, it will wound Morrath far more deeply."
Kazreth's claws tensed, his expression unreadable as he considered the Watcher's words. After a long moment, he nodded curtly. "Fine," he said. "But I expect results."
The general bowed deeply, his voice firm. "The traps will hold, my lord. Morrath's forces won't leave unscathed."
Malvaris's smirk lingered as his form dissolved into dark mist. His voice whispered from the shadows, faint and cold. "Trust me. This will hurt him more than you know."
…The forest was eerily silent as Morrath's forces advanced, their movements deliberate and wary. Morrath led from the front, his blade steady in his grip as his crimson eyes scanned the treeline. "Stay close," he said calmly. "We'll be ready this time."
Vivienne walked beside him, her longsword gleaming faintly in the dim light. "They'll expect us," she said, her tone firm but confident. "But we'll make them regret it."
The ambush came swiftly, Dominion forces emerging from the shadows with practiced precision. Morrath's blade lit with shadow energy as he clashed with the first wave, his spells erupting in devastating bursts. "Focus on their leader!" Vivienne shouted, her longsword striking with deadly accuracy.
The Dominion general stepped forward, his armor gleaming as he pointed his blade at Morrath. "Demon Lord!" he bellowed. "You'll die here!"
The battle raged on, the forest alive with the clash of magic and steel. Morrath faced the general head-on, their weapons colliding with explosive force. Each strike pushed Morrath harder, but he fought with unyielding focus.
A sharp cry pierced the chaos, and Morrath turned to see Vivienne collapse, blood pooling around her as the Werewolves under the Generals command tore he body to pieces. "Vivienne!" he roared, his voice breaking with fury.
Kaela rushed to her side, her staff glowing as she cast Divine Smite on the beasts incinerating a few, and causing the rest to flee. She desperately tried to heal her. "Stay with me!" she pleaded, her voice trembling. But the light in Vivienne's eyes faded, her final breath slipping away.
Rage consumed Morrath as he unleashed Shadow Nova, the devastating blast ripping through the Dominion forces. With a final, furious strike, Morrath ended the general, cutting him down with precision, his body slowly split into two halves down the middle, blood spaying everywhere. The battlefield fell silent as the remaining Dominion soldiers fled.
Morrath dropped to his knees beside Vivienne's lifeless body, his voice hollow. "We won," he said quietly. "But at what cost?"
Kaela placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice soft but steady. "We'll honor her," she said. "And we'll finish what she started."
The system's chime echoed coldly in Morrath's mind.
[Objective Complete: Investigate Blackthorn Forest and Eliminate Rogue Faction Leader.]
[Rank Progression: 35%. Artifact Acquired: Soulbound Pendant. Spell Unlocked: Arcane Ward.]
Morrath rose slowly, his blade steady in his grip. "This isn't over," he said, his voice filled with quiet fury. "Not until the Dominion falls."