The sun had long set, casting shadows that swallowed the land whole. The Wild Cards were making their way through a vast, abandoned industrial district. Concrete skeletons of old buildings loomed around them like silent giants. A chill breeze swept through the crumbling streets, but the group barely took notice. They were too focused on the urgency of their escape.
Jude led the way, keeping his senses sharp. Behind him, Elara, Kazimir, and Zephyr moved in sync, knowing they had to keep their distance from the Fatebound Order. The air felt wrong, heavy and charged with an ominous energy.
"Too quiet," Kazimir muttered, his eyes darting to every corner. "Something's not right."
"We need to keep moving," Jude said, his grip tightening around his sword. "We can't stay here."
But as the words left his mouth, the ground beneath them trembled. At first, it was subtle, a slight vibration underfoot. But then, it intensified.
"Not good," Elara murmured. "They're getting closer."
Just as she spoke, the ground cracked open before them, and out of the fissures, Fatebound knights emerged like a tidal wave. They were relentless—surrounding the group with speed that only came from years of training. There was no escape this time.
Kazimir's face went from playful to serious in an instant. His usual smirk was gone, replaced by the cold focus of someone who had seen too many battles. He glanced at the others. "We're not getting out of here without a fight."
"You're right," Jude said, his hand already reaching for his blade. "We make a stand."
But before any of them could react, Kieran stepped forward from the shadows, his eyes gleaming with the cold precision of someone who had been waiting for this moment. The Fatebound knights fell back slightly, forming a circle around the Wild Cards, but Kieran remained at the center, his expression unreadable.
"You've been running long enough," Kieran said, his voice low and steady, the words almost like a warning. "But now... there's no place to hide."
Kazimir's eyes narrowed, his posture tense. "I knew you'd show up sooner or later, Executionist. Thought you'd be a little more creative with your approach."
Kieran gave a faint smirk, his gaze never leaving Kazimir. "I don't need to be creative. I just need to do my job."
Jude stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw. "So, this is it then? You're finally going to finish what you started?"
Kieran didn't answer immediately. Instead, he raised his hand, and the Fatebound knights moved into attack formation.
"You won't have a choice in the matter," Kieran said, voice hardening. "It's time for you to face the consequences."
Without further warning, Kieran snapped his fingers, and the knights surged forward in a synchronized attack, their weapons gleaming in the moonlight.
Air was thick with tension, the ground cracked and scarred by the relentless clashes between the Fatebound knights and the Wild Cards.
Kazimir's cards sliced through the air, tearing through the Fatebound knights' armor with precision. Jude's sword flashed in a whirlwind of movement, striking down one opponent after another.
Energy flared around Elara, preparing to unleash her 2 daggers, while Zephyr manipulated the wind, creating powerful gusts to destabilize their enemies.
But despite their combined efforts, the Fatebound knights kept coming, a wall of steel and discipline pressing forward.
"These guys just don't quit!" Jude growled, parrying a blow from one of the knights before slashing at another.
Kazimir, focusing on his card manipulation, gritted his teeth. "They won't stop until we're dead. Keep pushing, I'll cover you!"
The Fatebound knights advanced in a coordinated formation, their precision making it difficult for the Wild Cards to gain any ground. Kieran watched from the back, observing the battle unfold with cold detachment. His eyes never left Kazimir, a smirk playing on his lips as he assessed the situation.
"This will end soon enough," Kieran muttered to himself, then raised his hand. "Prepare the next phase."
Without warning, the ground trembled again, a deep rumble echoing through the city. It wasn't just the clash of combat—it was something else. Something darker.
The Fatebound knights faltered for a moment, their movements slowing as they exchanged confused glances. Jude, Kazimir, Elara, and Zephyr sensed it too—something was coming.
"Kieran," Kazimir called out, his voice sharp. "What is this?"
Kieran's eyes glinted with something colder than before, and he stepped forward, lifting his arm high. "You've been playing a dangerous game, Kazimir. But the Fatebound Order's true weapon is now ready."
In a flash, the ground cracked open beneath their feet, and a figure rose from the depths of the earth. A woman, her hair long and dark, her eyes glowing with an eerie, unnatural light. She was dressed in dark, flowing armor that seemed to absorb the light around her, making her presence feel like a void.
Kazimir's eyes narrowed. "What the hell is that?"
"This," Kieran said, voice cold and triumphant, "is the result of our work. The Evil Card—her name is Nyx."
As he spoke, the woman, Nyx, lifted her hands, and the very air around her warped. A crackling energy surged, and with a single motion, she vanished. In an instant, the entire battlefield changed.
The Wild Cards felt themselves jerked from the battlefield, as if gravity itself had given way.
In an instant, they were no longer in the open, surrounded by the Fatebound knights.
They found themselves inside a vast, cold building—an eerie, towering structure that felt like it had no end.
The walls were made of dark stone, and the floors were cold and unwelcoming. Shadows danced unnaturally across the place.
Jude staggered to his feet, confusion spreading across his face. "What just—?"
Kazimir's eyes were sharp. "They've done it. They've brought out the Evil Card."
Jude glanced at him, his confusion replaced by realization. "Evil Card?"
Kazimir nodded, his stance deadly serious now. "A twisted version of a Wild Card. Someone created by the Fatebound Order, born with the sole purpose of destruction. Not a breaker of fate, but a manipulator of it. A being of chaos."
Kieran's voice cut through the air like a blade. "You're trapped now. You can't fight what you can't find."
The Evil Card raised a hand, her teleportation abilities swirling, and without a word, she disappeared, only to reappear on the opposite side of the vast building. The sound of a door slamming echoed through the empty halls.
Kazimir didn't flinch. "We need to regroup. Stay sharp."
Meanwhile, the others scrambled to find their bearings in this new environment.
But inside the vast building, something far darker was brewing.
Kazimir and Jude exchanged glances with Kieran. There was no time to waste. The Fatebound Order had just escalated everything.
The clock was ticking. And Kieran was already closing in.