A thick purple mist hung in the air, covering the entire Northern district with a mysterious layer.
Amidst the chaos, Beatrix, a blonde-haired girl in tattered armor, stood tall.
His back was against the rubble of the building that had collapsed due to the explosion, holding the sword carefully, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
Even though he looked tired, he remained calm, a calmness that only someone who had faced many battles could have.
"It really shocked me," he said softly, remembering the events that eventually separated him from Sherly.
A big explosion occurred caused by an unknown little boy.
The presence of an unknown child had broken Beatrix's concentration, lowering her usually very guarded guard.
As a trained warrior, Beatrix knows that on the battlefield, pity or carelessness can be fatal.
However, his instincts as a protector, especially towards children, often overpower his rational vigilance.
And now, he has to face this bitter reality separated from his partner and trapped in a worsening situation.
"I don't know who could be so cruel as to involve a child," Beatrix said in an annoyed tone. "But... if I meet them, I will make them pay."
Although she was upset, Beatrix remained calm. She knew that getting angry would not solve the problem.
Beatrix didn't have any injuries thanks to her extraordinary constitution, but she didn't know how long she had been unconscious from the explosion.
And when he came to, he found himself in a purple mist that enveloped the Northern district.
The situation was complicated by the fact that the fog limited visibility, making it difficult to determine direction.
With her fighting skills and extensive experience, Beatrix begins to slowly move forward, relying on her sixth sense and experience to avoid invisible obstacles.
Every step was carefully calculated, even though the fog almost covered everything around her Beatrix could still move well.
"I seem to be going in circles," Beatrix thought after a few minutes of walking.
It seemed like he had been in the same place over and over again, and the thick fog was not helping him find his way out.
Even with his immense experience, this fog brought an unavoidable sense of frustration.
"It's too thick... what is this fog?" he muttered, trying to find a clue.
However, as if the fog was designed to make her lose her way, Beatrix could only feel more and more depressed.
Nevertheless, Beatrix's composure was unshaken. In a situation full of uncertainty like this, she knew that panic was not an option.
Then, a sound of footsteps was heard approaching quickly from behind.
The suffocating silence of the fog seemed to amplify Beatrix's hearing.
Without turning around, Beatrix was ready with her sword drawn. As usual, in a critical situation like this, she didn't waste time hesitating. Her vigilance was well-trained.
As the sound drew closer, Beatrix turned around, her eyes catching a shadow emerging from within the fog.
The shadow looked like a human figure, but with strange, unnatural movements. In her heart, Beatrix already suspected that something was wrong.
"Is this a kid again?" Beatrix said in an irritated tone, her eyes sharp.
His suspicion led him to carefully point his sword at the approaching shadow. Something felt wrong.
With surprising speed, the figure stepped closer, and Beatrix could hear the sound of footsteps getting louder.
The shadow became clearer and it turned out that his guess was not wrong.
A man covered in serious wounds, with glowing red eyes, was running towards him at an unnatural speed.
His body was in tatters, as if he was no longer in control of himself, his eyes filled with confusion and anger.
"Grrr!" The figure growled as it got closer.
Beatrix, calmly swung her sword. A quick and precise movement quickly slashed the man's body until it was split in two.
However, even though his body had been split in two and fallen to the ground, the man still continued to struggle, trying to get up with the remaining strength he had left.
Black blood flowed from his body, flowing like a terrifying dark liquid.
Beatrix stood before him, unwavering. She already knew what she was facing.
Something bad, an undead, a zombie raised by black magic.
"Zombies..." Beatrix whispered, realizing that this threat was much bigger than it seemed. Her sharp eyes crinkled.
Sometimes, undead could spawn naturally, but this one definitely didn't. This is the result of dark magic used by black magicians.
Quietly, Beatrix stared at the struggling figure before her feet. "This must be the work of a black wizard," she thought. "He must be behind all this chaos."
He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and stepped deeper into the purple mist, ready to face greater danger.
His calmness and sharpness of mind will be his main weapons, because he knows that only by remaining calm can he overcome the problems plaguing this district.
In the tense silence, he felt something with bad intentions coming towards him.
There was a lot of movement approaching, but not human footsteps.
Beatrix could feel the shift in energy in the air, a dark, ominous energy. She realized, this was no ordinary threat.
"Grrr..." The growl sounded closer. Beatrix frowned, recognizing the familiar voice.
A group of zombies began to charge towards her. The stench of rot grew stronger, and Beatrix knew that they were coming because they sensed the death she had just spread.
The one zombie he cut down, now became the trigger for the group to come.
He took a deep breath, calming himself. His eyes remained unmoving, focused on the shadows that were drawing closer.
Even though she couldn't count their numbers, Beatrix knew that this wasn't the first time she had faced this kind of danger.
Calmly, he raised his sword. The sword gleamed sharply, ready to face the incoming horde of zombies.
However, before he could move, something much larger began to approach.
Beatrix could feel it. The sound of heavy footsteps, and also the sound of metal creaking, like a giant weapon moving.
Beatrix adjusted her stance and the look in her eyes grew sharper.
The surrounding silence seemed to envelop everything, filled only by the sound of the footsteps of a large creature coming through the mist.
The tall silhouette finally came into Beatrix's view, and as the creature got closer, Beatrix knew exactly what she was facing.
The image was already etched in his memory. A man or rather, a creature that was more than two meters tall, with dark black armor covering his entire body.
But the most terrifying thing was his skinless face, leaving only a skull with sharp, hateful, glowing red eyes. The face radiated a dark aura that was so strong.
"Ghaaa!" The creature let out a loud groan that shook the mist.
His voice sounded like destruction, like death itself.
Beatrix didn't need to guess anymore. She knew this was a completely different opponent.
"Deathknight..." Beatrix whispered softly, realizing the danger that now lay before her.
An evolved undead knight, with extremely powerful swordsmanship and black magic. Beatrix knew very well how terrifying an enemy like this was.
Even a skilled knight would have a hard time fighting a deathknight who has been trained in dark arts and incredible physical strength.
Beatrix remained calm. Her usually cheerful face was now painted with a bitter smile. "This will be a troublesome opponent," she said to herself.
However, there was no hesitation in his eyes. He knew that, even when facing a terrifying creature, calmness was the key to victory.
At that moment, Beatrix pondered for a moment.
He and Sherly come to the Northern district in hopes of finding a mysterious man who may be involved in the chaos that has rocked the city.
They had dealt with this kind of mess many times in the past, and Beatrix thought this would be an easy ride.
But it turns out, what they are facing is more complicated and more dangerous than he expected.
This wasn't just any ordinary chaos, this was chaos that brought many deaths, and what was even more troublesome, they had no clear leads.
With a sigh, Beatrix slightly regretted their decision not to seek further advice before leaving.
"I should have asked Miss Lily for advice before coming to this city," he thought with a little regret.
However, as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he quickly pushed it aside. There was no time to regret the choice that had been made.
"Looks like we're going to be in big trouble this time," Beatrix thought, staring at the approaching Deathknight.
Right now, the only thing that mattered was to focus on fighting against the enemy in front of him.
Beatrix stared at the Deathknight with great caution.
The only way to win is to stay calm, plan your moves carefully, and take advantage of every opportunity. The sword in his hand glints, ready to move. There is no room for fear.
As the Deathknight stepped closer, Beatrix steeled her resolve. This was going to be a grueling battle.
***
The Northern District was now completely surrounded by warriors and mages, with the purple mist growing thicker, indicating the presence of a threat that could not be underestimated.
Several zombies began to crawl out from within the dark fog, but the troops who were already on alert quickly managed to stop them before they could spread further.
Zefen, Commander of the Knights of Divrik City, stood atop a building in the Eastern District, his eyes glued to the growing, threatening purple mist.
Beside him, stood an old man wearing a long robe, holding a magic staff with great authority.
The man, a wizard commissioned directly by the kingdom, was the last hope for help in dealing with the disaster threatening the Northern District.
"All the wizards have gathered at the designated location," the old man said in a respectful tone, bowing his head slightly.
Zefen nodded, not showing any excessive expression, but his sharp eyes reflected the anxiety he felt.
"How is the situation in the Northern District?" he asked, his voice low but full of emphasis.
"Zombies are starting to appear from behind the fog, and the fog itself is getting wider," the old man replied seriously. "The situation is getting worse."
Zefen clenched his fists tightly, his face frowning.
"How long will it take for the fog to spread to the other districts?" he asked, trying to gauge the time limit they had.
The old man was silent for a moment, staring at the dark sky above them, as if trying to sense the changes in the hidden flow of magic.
After seconds that felt like hours, he finally spoke, voice deep and calculating.
"If the mages weren't involved in the obstruction, this fog could cover the entire Western and Eastern Districts, as well as half of the Central District in less than 40 minutes," he said, touching the tip of his wand, "However, with the wind magic we're using to obstruct it, we can probably extend the time to about 50 minutes."
Their time was running out, and Zefen could feel it.
In an hour and a half, the entire city could be plunged into darkness caused by the fog. There was no room for doubt.
"At this time, we have not found the exact cause," the old man continued with a regretful face. "But based on our analysis, there is likely a black magic formation hidden somewhere in the North District."
Zefen stared at the old man, his eyes burning with determination. "How long will it take to launch the annihilation formation?" he asked, his voice now sharper.
The old man seemed to think for a moment, then replied calmly. "With the number of mages present, the extermination formation can be set up in 15 minutes."
Zefen didn't say anything, but his determined eyes gave away that he had made his decision.
In a matter of seconds, he instructed, "Immediately send the signal for formation, we will launch the annihilation magic in 15 minutes."
The old man raised his wand high. A blinding light exploded in the sky, releasing a red star-shaped flare, a signal that sent a message to the wizards.
Instantly, the entire North District was enveloped in a thunderous wave of magical energy. The mages who were ready, released their powers together, creating a giant magical formation that hung in the sky.
Zefen stared at the formation blankly, but in his heart, a small wave of worry began to creep up.
Even though this decision is the best one to protect the city, he cannot ignore the much greater threat that may be hidden behind the fog.
The old man calmed the atmosphere by speaking again, "The formation has been completed. Now we only need to wait 20 minutes to launch the magic."
Zefen nodded, though his mind was still clouded with unspoken worries. "Thank you for your hard work. You may return now," he said, his voice calmer but still full of authority.
The old man bowed his head in respect, and turned to leave. However, before he could actually leave, Zefen called out to him once more.
"Oh, that's right," Zefen said, trying to remember something he had missed. "By the way, what's your name?"
The old man paused, bowed his head for a moment, then answered in a deep, proud voice. "Fin Rouberi, royal wizard."
From the old man's mouth came a name that was a mystery.
A man whose name was written on a burning leaf carried by Retter.
Who knows what will actually happen in the city of Divrik now, maybe only God knows.
***