Sil stepped forward, her voice unwavering. “You all go. I will hold them here.”
“No way are we leaving you, Grandma Sil!” Gloria shouts, defiance in her every word.
“Who said she’s alone?” Warzheil’s thunderous voice cut through the chaos as he arrived, his twin hammers crackling with lightning. “Go! The ship will soon be ready!”
“Where the hell is Ronin? He should’ve come back by now,” Gloria demands, her worry clear.
“He’s dealing with the second army of undead,” Sheru says, his voice conflicted. “He told us he’d follow, but he seems to have stayed behind on purpose. Slowing them down for us.”
Warzheil shook his head. “No matter. We’ll hold them back.”
“Are you done talking?” Sythe’s sinister voice rang out as he stepped forward, dark magic swirling around him. “I’ve been ordered by Supreme Kaal to take your heads. At least put up a decent fight.”
His dark magic spread across the battlefield, raising the undead from their graves. The sight was ghastly as broken bodies twitched, animated by malevolent forces.
Warzheil didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, summoning a massive cloud that churned with thunder. Lightning rained down, vaporizing waves of undead in an instant.
“Not on my watch, old smith!” Sythe snarls, charging at Warzheil. Sil intercepted him, roots surging up from the ground to ensnare the foe. But Sythe’s dark magic withered the roots, forcing Sil to launch spiked roots from a nearby pillar. Sythe countered, freezing her in place, his manipulation of her shadow binding her.
Warzheil hurled one of his hammers at Sythe, catching him off-guard. Sythe crashed into a wall, but rose from the rubble, his magic still holding the others in place.
Sil collapsed from exhaustion, and Warzheil rushed to her side, helping her up.
“You still care about me, don’t you, despite all my stubbornness?” Sil teases weakly.
Warzheil’s voice softened. “Well, you are my wife.”
“What?! You and Oldzheil are married? How come I never noticed that?” Gloria’s shock was evident.
“Fool, didn’t I tell you to go?” Sil snaps, the effort of standing wearing her down further.
“Only I can use divine magic to counter dark magic,” Gloria says firmly, stepping forward.
Sythe’s mocking laughter echoed through the air as he emerged from the rubble, his aura darker and more menacing. “Ah, no wonder they call you the Thundersmith. That stung more than I expected.”
He cast his dark magic again, freezing everyone except Gloria, who stood firm against his spell.
“Do not interfere, girl,” Sythe sneers, eyes glinting with malice. “You’ll be my reward once I’ve dealt with the others.”
A horde of undead closed in on Gloria, but Sythe’s attention shifted when he noticed Sheru combining high-level magic. Using the essence of earth and lightning from Warzheil’s storm, Sheru forged obsidian shards—an impressive feat that Sythe deemed a threat. He threw a teleportation orb at Sheru’s feet, which shattered on impact. Sheru disappeared in a flash, transported to an unfamiliar forest.
Sheru’s magic dissipated as its energy destabilized. “That orb was meant for my escape, but I’ll make do. I’m close to my goal.”
Sythe advanced on Sil with a cruel grin, but just as he struck, a massive bolt of lightning crashed near him, forcing him back. Warzheil stood tall, fury blazing in his eyes.
“You… stay… away from my wife!” Warzheil roars, his hammer raised high.
“You stay away from my wife!” Warzheil roars, hammer raised high.
With a mighty heave, he hurled his hammer toward Sythe, the weapon crackling with lightning. The air hummed with power as the storm gathered in the weapon’s head, threatening to tear through everything in its path.
Sythe snarled, his dark magic flaring as he stepped forward, his shadowy tendrils reaching out. He raised his hands and, to everyone’s shock, caught the hammer mid-air. The lightning surged through his body, a violent torrent of energy, but Sythe stood unfazed, his grin widening.
“You think your puny lightning will stop me?” he sneers, enduring the full brunt of the hammer’s charge, his dark magic absorbing the energy.
The moment the lightning began to fade, Sythe twisted the hammer in his hands, his black aura enveloping it, and hurled it back toward Warzheil with terrifying speed.
Warzheil barely managed to react in time, the corrupted hammer grazing his shoulder and sending a pulse of dark magic that sent him stumbling back, weakened and bound by the malevolent force. Sythe grinned, savoring the moment.
Time seems to slow as Sil intervenes, summoning roots to hold the pillar and shielding Warzheil with her body. Spikes impale her as she struggles to keep the pillar upright.
“Noooooo!” Gloria’s scream pierces the air as she desperately tries to reach Sil and Warzheil.
Sil coughs up blood but smiles weakly. “I’m glad I made it in time.”
“Oh no, no, no, you’re bleeding, love!” Warzheil’s voice trembles.
“Of course I would, old geezer,” Sil quips, her strength fading.
Suddenly, golden light envelops Gloria, her veins glowing with divine energy. Lightning spears rain down from the heavens, clearing the undead and pushing Sythe back.
“Oldzheil, take her to the ship! She needs urgent medical attention. I will deal with Sythe,” Gloria commands, her voice filled with divine authority.
“No, I—” Warzheil stammers.
“I won’t repeat myself. GO! I can’t maintain control for too long.” Gloria’s tone brooks no argument.
“No need,” Sil interjects weakly. “It’s futile. The dark magic and malice have already entered my body. I cannot be healed. I tried.”
Warzheil’s grip tightens on Sil, his eyes filled with anguish. “No… there must be a way.”
Gloria steps forward, her divine light intensifying. “If there’s no cure, then I’ll make sure her sacrifice isn’t in vain.” She turns her blazing eyes toward Sythe. “Your time is up, monster.”
“You are all thornes in the Lich’s path, you all need to perish, I will make sure you do.”
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXBRtfq6G6
Meanwhile in the plains:
Ronin is sprinting across the wide plains with occasional patches of trees that he jumps over in single bounds.
“Your current mass is approximately 1,200 kilograms, yet you’re moving with astonishing grace,” Behemoth’s voice marvels as it processed the data. “Your speed has reached 190 kilometers per hour, and your vertical leaps measure an extraordinary 50 meters. Horizontal bounds exceed 100 meters. This level of efficiency and power is truly remarkable.”
Ronin landed from a leap, the impact shaking the ground beneath him but barely slowing his pace. “That’s enough commentary,” he grunts, focusing on the distant village.
“Forgive my awe, but your tissue density rivals that of lead while maintaining a compact form. It’s as if your body was designed for this environment,” Behemoth continues, unbothered by Ronin’s annoyance. “Your ability to sustain such speeds without compromising stability is beyond any known parameters.”
“Noted,” Ronin muttered. His gaze remained locked on the horizon, where smoke from the village rose faintly against the sky.
“Do try not to overexert yourself,” Behemoth adds, a hint of dry humor in its tone. “It would be inconvenient if you collapsed before reaching your destination.”
Ronin smirked faintly. “I’m not planning to die today,” he replies, his steps thundering across the plains.
“I’m coming, Gloria,” he vowed, his voice resolute.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpbGJX9C7y
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcP6CtlLyZ
As Ronin thundered across the plains, the wind roaring in his ears, the voice of Behemoth crackled through his earpiece, unbothered by the speed of his movements.
“Ronin, according to my calculations, you have covered 150 kilometers of the 521 kilometers to your destination. The data confirms your trajectory is perfectly aligned with the coordinates. You’re moving faster than anticipated, but at this rate, I recommend maintaining your pace, as the journey will require sustained energy.”
Ronin’s breath came in steady, controlled bursts as his feet pounded the earth beneath him. He had already crossed a significant stretch, and the horizon ahead still felt impossibly distant. Despite the gnawing fatigue creeping into his limbs, he pushed onward, his mind singularly focused on Gloria.
“150 out of 521, huh?” Ronin grunts. “Not bad. But it’s just a number. I’ll get there when I get there.”
Behemoth processed the remark, its voice taking on a slightly different tone as if it were trying to gauge Ronin’s mindset. “Indeed, but the numbers matter for more than just motivation. You’re operating at optimal efficiency, but even you can only push your body so far before overexertion becomes a risk. It’s fascinating how your muscle fibers retain their strength despite the immense stress you’re placing on them. Most beings would experience complete collapse by now.”
Ronin didn’t respond immediately, his focus solely on the vast expanse ahead of him. The terrain had become more uneven, with sporadic trees and rocks dotting the path. He jumped effortlessly over each obstacle, his body moving as though it were made to soar.
“You’ve mentioned this before, Behemoth. Can you stop analyzing me for a second?” Ronin’s voice was sharp, tinged with frustration.
Behemoth, seemingly unfazed by the irritation, adjusted its tone. “Of course, Ronin. I merely wish to point out that your physical capabilities exceed anything previously recorded. Your tissue density and bone structure are optimized for performance in environments like this. But I do have a question regarding your left eye.”
Ronin’s pace faltered for a moment. His left eye—his enigmatic eye. He’d long since accepted its presence and the strange, unbidden sensations it provided. There were moments when it allowed him to perceive far more than the physical world, hinting at something far beyond his understanding.
“What about it?” he asks, his voice guarded, wary of Behemoth’s probing.
“It’s… remarkable,” Behemoth says after a pause. “Not only does it function as a visual organ, but it appears to be an integral part of your neural network. Your left eye continues to yield unusual readings. It appears to provide more than standard optical input. From my analysis, you should be perceiving something beyond the visible spectrum.”
Ronin kept his pace steady, his gaze fixed ahead. “Yeah,” he mutters. “I see things. Energies—patterns I can’t normally perceive with my right eye. It’s… hard to explain.”
“Noted,” Behemoth replies. “Such capabilities may explain your efficiency in adapting to this environment and maintaining consistent output despite prolonged exertion.”
Ronin leapt over a stretch of uneven terrain, the rocky ground trembling slightly under his weight. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the rising smoke from the distant village.
“You’ve cleared 150 kilometers out of the 521,” Behemoth continues in its precise tone. “At your current speed, you will arrive at your destination in approximately 22 hours. I will continue to monitor your vitals and provide real-time pathing data. Please notify me if modifications are required.”
Ronin didn’t respond immediately, allowing silence to stretch between them. He maintained his focus on the darkening horizon.
“Ronin,” Behemoth’s voice came again after a brief pause, softer yet still mechanical. “This unit’s analysis indicates that you are capable of completing the journey within the projected timeframe. However, for optimal performance, refrain from overexertion.”
A faint smirk touched Ronin’s lips. “Relax. I’m not planning on dying today.” He pressed on, muscles surging as he powered across the plains.
As the miles melted away beneath his relentless pace, the sky above darkened, with thunderous clouds.
Meanwhile in village:
Sythe rushes at Gloria with his sword, gloria takes the attack head on, glimmers of divine clashing fragments of wicked. It sends a wave strong enough to area around, knocking undeads and soilders down.
“Everyone the undeads are in position” Kade shouts at the soilders fighting from above a house’s roof top “quickly get away.” Kade shoots 4 arrows up in air and gets away.
The arrows go high in the sky and then start to fall, the three arrows multiply into a barrage of arrows and soon almost hundred arrows fall on the undeads, the undeads fall as some arrows penetrate their skulls but some who have armour and some with luck survive.
“No matter what You try your loss is imminent!” Sythe says to gloria with a sadistic smile as he pushes her away “Have you not noticed why your friends are having a rather pleasant time here dealing with my undeads?”
Gloria is confused for a second and looks around and it dawns on her, the number of undeads have decrease drastically, eeringly so. She shots her head to look at Kade and instead notices Clouds near coast getting denser and lighting falling in that area.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DkYRRmdpK
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJLljeCgSG
“Kade! The undeads! They are going for the Ship!” she shouts14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUewg6983H
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifD7U7KgEM
Kade understands the magnitude of the threat and shouts back “B-But I can’t just leave you here.”
Suddenly she notices her vision to left darkening and realises that Sythe has attacked her and barely blocks his massive attack with now an injured right hand.
“*Tch*, can’t you let you Traenicon help me? Just go save our people if not.” Gloria shouts annoyed.
“Are you suggesting I sacrifice my Traenicon?” he replies but a long silence hangs in the air without reply as gloria turns her attention to the fight.
Kade turns to run with an annoyed expression. “Come on soilders, we have to get to the shore quickly!” his command fills the soldiers with and urgent energy quickening their movement.
“Turns out they have a Traenicon, that’s not in our spy’s reports. Must be a bluff, no one can simply tame a Traenicon, but I might have to summon my own if it comes down to it.” Sythe thinks, the cogs of his brain turning devising plans.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXCY8KrxEv
“Now you are alone girl, soon you will be my undead queen.” Sythe says with a Smug bow.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyOuaihZz6
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJkXhCV6Qm
“Disgusting!” Gloria leaps and swings down with all her strength on Sythe who also blocks the attack and slides her sword down catching her off guard and bursts a bomb of dark energy at on side of her stomach which sends her flying into the walls of a house, demolishing the house.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltevtb03ci
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK0Dast0KY
Gloria gasps for air amidst coughs of blood, Her head spinning.
“Am…I going to..Die?” gloria thinks
As the world darkens in her sight, she gets a glimps of a Crimson red ‘T’ symbol flash for fraction of second and she feels a surge of power within her, she feels a burden lifting from her just a bit, her wounds heal.
As Sythe strides towards gloria he witnesses the change in her energy and upon noticing her healing, he rushes at her. But Gloria stands up with her face looking at floor, she wipes her bloody mouth and looks at Sythe who is rushing at her, time seems slow to her as her blood rushes with the energy rush, She opens he mouth facing Sythe and suddenly a small orb of fire forms at her mouth, her eyes radiating red colour and hairs glow up as if manifestation of the sun, Sythe realises that he is in a world of trouble but before he can change his direction even in the slightes, a huge fire shots out of Gloria’s mouth, vaporising the mask covering her face and anything in its way. Nothing is left the way.
Gloria falls on her knees as she starts gasping for bursts of air as if trying to calm the burn in her chest, her eyes and hairs return to normal crimson red colour without glow.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5mFkegm6E
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3x6WvP53g
She tries to stand up the best she can “Finally, I finally did it.” but hearing a cracking sound that doesn’t belong to her bones, she is horrified as a dark figure appears with a grin.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBWSlSvePa
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFecOgvGXGw
The figure starts to clap “Bravo, praise worthy, had that attack hit a hero who can face a demon lord at 3rd stage, they would have been burnt out of existence. And on top of that You are an absolute beauty.”
Gloria runs to him and tries to hit him but her power leaves her limp and exhausted beyond what she have experienced.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlcXMXQwV1
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3EmTvRYY1
“H-how?” Gloria asks with all the strength in her lungs before coughing out some smoke.
“How? How did I survive that attack? Oh I certainly did not, my spare body died in that attack, but this is my real form, a Ghast, I am made of pure maiasma. Lord Black gave me this special body, I can freely control any dead around me now, I can even take control over his undeads but he would simply erase me. Now soon you will be mine, but before that lets get another body, shall we.”
Undead’s rise up, cut up limbs float and merge into one, forming a giant humanoid form made of undead mass, towering at a height of 3 meters, no clothings, raw flesh with black eyes full of maiasma.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl89pxFDeOc
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKw6p9xpTpd
Seeing this Gloria tries to use her fire breath again but her limiter stops her which causes excruciating pain.
“Its futile, everything is futile.” Sythe says as he grabs his Bone-demon sword from the place his spare body was vaporised, the sword grows to suit his hand size. He starts to walk towards Gloria again.
Gloria slumps her shoulders and head going in sadness but she keeps hearing this strange sound in the air, almost sounding like a whistle, then it gets a little louder and even Sythe hears it and turns his head towards the source of sound.
“What’s that sound?” He Questions himself
But all he can see is a trail of dust and a crater in the not so far ground, his eyes naturally drifts in the air but by the time his eyes finds Ronin, he see this Human like being spin in the air 3 times in strange form before launching a silver line out his hand, by the time Sythe realises, the spear has left a big hole in his left side, revealing the sheer muscle inside. Green goo drips out of him, but with an unfazed reaction, he readies his sword.
“Fool, that’s why spears are useless, now die under my Sword!” Sythe says with a neutral expression raising his sword.
But to his surprise, the spear reappears in Ronin’s hand as if it never left it.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6Ys1XNZc5
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF9f7h465J
“Illusion Magic? Impossible, Illusion can’t do physical damage to this extent!” he thinks checking the place where the spear struck him before.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJ3tpNRVCY
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfypvocJ8OT
As Sythe swung his sword down, Ronin uses his expert senses to use the down momentum of the sword to transfer the opposite torque to himself using his spear and with precise calculation he slices Sythe’s head off. And lands on ground using rolls before finally standing up and still slides away for some distance, as he turns back he sees the giant undead body has run towards him even though its head on ground.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Hb9WTPBJ6
Although a bit surprised, he dodges the undead’s attack and rushes to stab the head.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAKnD75WyL
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWhOLduvSy
Sythe notices the Ramoon blade on the spear and hears the lich’s voice
“Sythe, do not attack with your body or magic, he is the one who defeated Our King. Magic or maiasma won’t work on him. Hurl a rock niddles at him at him while he thinks he can end you by destroying the head.”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgiKp98dEC
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5hiB7Idds
Sythe doesn’t lose the chance and uses all his magic to dig out a huge ball and turns it into niddles of numerous sizes.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjp7rPT05HJ
Gloria sees all this but cannot say anything even though desperate, all she is capable of right now is to watch with a face flooded by tears.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Nw466oMCv
Ronin stabs the head and looks black to see the needles ready to be launched, instinct kicks in and he spins the spear stopping some needles but this time one struck his head.
“No! Ronin!” Gloria says with hoarse voice.
Ronin’s head yanks back but he rotates it to look at the undead, ronin winces as he takes out the needles one by one. Sythe is Horrified as ronin picks up the skull and in just a few seconds there is only dry skin and flesh left of zombie’s skull,its skull is gone. Ronin recovers completely and now pissed as his muscles bulge under his tight suit.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEBKwdByRU
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0b7qKMq39L
“Sythe, leave, leave immediately, don’t let him get close to you!” The lich’s voice speaks to Sythe.
But in a second ronin is within range of Sythe, but fortunately he manages to get out of the undead body, the body drops like a soul-less vessel, Sythe tries to fly away into air.
“This Enmity! I will remember you Human!” he shouts with his ghastly voice but Ronin has no plans to let him go, his muscles bulge as his suit tears into pieces as he throws his Ramoon Spear piercing through Sythe, erasing him before returning to Ronin’s hand.
“So, the symbol also negates the energies like I do.” Ronin says inspecting his Symbol on the spear.
Gloria tries to walk but has no strength. Ronin notices her and runs to her to support her.
“H-How?” She asks,
“Don’t talk, You look miserable.” He says
“No wonder you had no wife on Earth.” Gloria says
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy6jmlYxsN
They walk toward the shore and there he sees Warzheil and others and the Alpha Greizer and Traenicon helping load up the ship. Some people packing luggage and setting on the ship while Warzheil and others mourning Sil whose body seem lifeless. Warzheil looks a little younger.
“I……Should have returned as soon as possible.” Ronin says with a bitter expression.
Kade rushes at him to punch Ronin but ronin dodges And lets go of gloria who manages to stand but holds the place where Sythe hit her.
“You will hurt yourself. Kade.”
“Its all because of you, why did you come to our village? All you brought is misfortune! And now our lady Sil is lying there, she is angry with us, she wont speak to us!” Kade says tears pouring from his eyes onto his manly face.
“I……” Ronin is at a loss of words.
Suddenly Warzheil who was sitting near Sil with a dead expression and hand on head looked up in shock as if realising something.
“R-ronin, Ronin Lad! How did you get here so fast? Your greizer is here. Don’t tell me you were watching us from far? Or…. Don’t tell me, is the undead army on its way here?” he rises up and rushes to ronin, now seeming like an average dwarf due to ronin’s increase in height.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZkq09EIeB
Warzheil realises the change in Ronin’s height and build and shock crawls on his face. “By the Father of creation, you… destroyed the army didn’t you?”
Everyone listening gasp in shock has Ronin rolls his shoulder.
“Everyone! I tried my best to rush here in the best speed I could manage on foot, but…. ” Ronin turns to gloria
“There are things that a mortal body cannot do, atleast I can’t…. not right now. Sorry Gloria.” Ronin says, his hands joining into a Namaste but Warzheil stops him from doing that.
“You saved us all Ronin. We should be thanking you if anything. Sil wanted me to decide the next head of the village. I deem you worthy of leading us, amoung us all, you are the one who knows best about survival.” Warzheil says placing his hammer on his left side where his globian heart is.
Ronin nods, as he hears approval of most people, Kade steps forward and hits him in his arm.
“I am sorry for lashing out on you, it was because of my indecisiveness that we lost so many people and Sil, she used her last bit of lifeforce to turn Oldzheil’s body back into how he was 100 year old.” Kade says
They cremate Sil and pours her ashes into kobe river, the drop into the river is high but a big slope leads into the currents of the river.
“There are places in the river where the current of the river is somewhat manageable to sail ship. Lets go, Ronin push the ship into the river once everyone is ready.” Warzheil says as they get on the ship.
On Warzheil’s signal, ronin pushes the ship into the river and once it is in the river he jumps on it, the ships rotary mechanism starts which runs on the power of the Traenicon who is rotating the mechanism.
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5uAmWuL8L
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjz9wGydQF8
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AnF8ZaiJ1
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoW8DVZjYmi
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2TJrX5ghy
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltu2IZBSWx
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qAaAbV2AF
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMz1DriOpt
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekRytrLguM
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhjPWVl2hy
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOUafw81Lw
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBtIVUIQjD
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvvzHS8maM
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3Tw3Vcx0L
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JYDZXanGX
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWsiHq2TBp
Chapter 13: Unexpected-1
Sil stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched her staff. “You all need to leave. I’ll handle them here.”
“No way!” Gloria shouts, her voice shaking with frustration. “We’re not leaving you behind, Grandma Sil!”
“She’s not alone,” Warzheil’s voice rumbled as he marched into view. His twin hammers sparked with lightning as he surveyed the battlefield. “Get moving. The ship is almost ready, and someone needs to make sure those villagers are safe.”
“Where is Ronin?” Gloria demands, her worry growing by the second. “He should’ve been back by now.”
Sheru hesitated, his gaze flickering between the approaching undead and Gloria. “He’s holding off the second army,” he says grimly. “He stayed behind… on purpose. I think he’s buying us time.”
Warzheil growled in frustration but didn’t falter. “Doesn’t matter. We’ll take care of this.”
Before anyone could respond, a chilling laugh echoed through the battlefield. Sythe stepped forward, his black armor gleaming under the dull light. Shadows writhed around him, a tangible malice radiating from his very presence.
“You’re all so eager to fight,” Sythe sneers, his voice dripping with mockery. “Supreme Kaal wants your heads, and I intend to deliver them. Try not to disappoint me.”
With a wave of his hand, Sythe unleashed a torrent of dark magic that surged across the battlefield. The ground trembled as the dead clawed their way out of the earth, their broken bodies animated by his will. The air grew thick with the stench of decay and the grotesque sounds of twisting limbs.
“Not on my watch,” Warzheil mutters, stepping forward. He slammed one hammer into the ground, summoning a storm cloud that churned with thunder. Bolts of lightning rained down in rapid succession, obliterating dozens of undead in an instant. The air crackled with energy as the storm intensified.
Sythe smirked and darted toward Warzheil with inhuman speed, his sword raised high. Before he could strike, roots erupted from the ground, wrapping around his legs and halting his advance. Sil stood firm, her eyes glowing with determination as she manipulated the earth to keep Sythe restrained.
“You think that’ll stop me?” Sythe snarls. He extended his hand, and his shadow magic spread across the roots, rotting them to dust. Sil staggered but didn’t give up, launching spiked roots from a nearby pillar. The sharp tendrils shot toward Sythe, forcing him to leap back.
Warzheil seized the opportunity and hurled one of his hammers with all his strength. The weapon crackled with raw energy as it hurtled toward Sythe, striking him square in the chest and sending him crashing into a wall. The impact left a crater, dust and rubble falling around his crumpled form.
Sythe rose from the rubble, his dark aura surging. He grinned, brushing off the attack as if it were nothing. “Not bad, old man. But you’ll need more than that to take me down.”
Sil collapsed from exhaustion, and Warzheil rushed to her side, helping her stand. “You always push yourself too far,” he mutters, his voice softer than usual.
“And you’re always quick to act without thinking,” Sil replies weakly, leaning on him. “But I’ll admit, I’m glad you’re here.”
Gloria, wide-eyed, stared at them. “Wait… are you two—married? How did I not know this?”
Sil snaps, “Not the time, Gloria! Get out of here!”
“I’m not leaving,” Gloria says firmly, stepping forward. “Only I can use divine magic to counter his dark magic.”
Sythe’s laughter echoed again as he emerged from the rubble, his aura darker and more menacing than before. “Ah, so you think divine magic will save you? How quaint. Once I’m done with you, little girl, you’ll make a fine addition to my collection.”
He raised his hands, casting a powerful spell. Shadows coalesced around him, freezing everyone except Gloria in place. The undead surged forward, swarming toward her like a tide of malice.
Gloria stood her ground, her veins glowing with divine energy. With a cry of defiance, she unleashed a wave of light that radiated outward, pushing the undead back. The light clashed with Sythe’s shadows, creating a blinding explosion that sent shockwaves through the battlefield.
Sythe shielded his eyes, snarling in frustration. “You’ve got spirit, girl. I’ll enjoy breaking you.”
Meanwhile, Sheru was using a mix of earth and lightning magic to create obsidian shards. The shards floated around him, charged with energy from Warzheil’s storm. Sythe noticed the display and scowled. “You’re a problem,” he mutters before throwing a teleportation orb at Sheru’s feet. The orb shattered, and Sheru vanished in a flash, his magic dissipating.
“That orb was for me,” Sythe grumbled. “But I’ll deal with him later.”
Sythe turned back to Sil and Warzheil, his dark magic swirling around him like a storm. “Now, where were we?”
Warzheil stepped forward, his hammer crackling with energy. “You’re not touching her,” he growls.
He hurled the hammer again, the weapon streaking toward Sythe like a comet. Sythe caught it mid-air, his black aura absorbing the lightning. With a twisted grin, he hurled the corrupted hammer back at Warzheil, the impact knocking the dwarf off his feet.
“Old fool,” Sythe sneers. He advanced toward Sil, his sword glowing with dark energy.
Before he could strike, a massive bolt of lightning struck near him, forcing him back. Gloria stepped forward, her divine aura blazing like the sun. She raised her sword high, golden light erupting from her blade as she prepared to face Sythe.
“You’re done, Sythe,” she says, her voice steady despite the odds. “This ends now.”
Meanwhile in the plains...
Ronin sprinted across the uneven terrain, his body a blur of motion. Each leap carried him over patches of trees, his powerful strides shaking the ground beneath him.
“Your speed has reached 190 kilometers per hour,” Behemoth’s voice marvels. “Your vertical leaps measure an extraordinary 50 meters, and your horizontal bounds exceed 100 meters. Remarkable.”
“Enough commentary,” Ronin grunts, his focus locked on the distant village. Smoke rose faintly on the horizon, spurring him onward.
“Forgive my awe,” Behemoth continues, unbothered by Ronin’s irritation. “Your efficiency and power are beyond any known parameters. Truly fascinating.”
Ronin smirked faintly. “Save the analysis. I’m not planning on dying today.”
With a burst of speed, he closed the distance, the village coming into view.
Meanwhile in Village:
Sythe sneered as Gloria’s divine light illuminated the battlefield, forcing his undead army to retreat momentarily. His grin widened as he noticed her labored breathing and trembling stance. “Impressive display, girl. But you’re out of your depth. Divine magic or not, you’ll fall like the rest.”
Gloria tightened her grip on her sword, ignoring the pain radiating through her injured arm. “You talk too much,” she says, her voice steady despite the exhaustion.
Sythe raised his hand, summoning another wave of undead. The twisted creatures surged toward Gloria with inhuman speed, their decayed forms glinting in the divine glow. Gloria gritted her teeth, her veins glowing as she drew upon her remaining strength. With a defiant cry, she unleashed a sweeping arc of light that cleaved through the horde, scattering the undead like ash in the wind.
Kade, from his vantage point atop a nearby rooftop, shouts down to the soldiers, “The undead are in position! Get moving to the shore! Quickly, before they regroup!” He loosed four arrows into the sky, their paths arcing high before splitting into dozens of shimmering projectiles. The arrows rained down on the undead, striking with deadly precision. Many fell, but a few, shielded by armor or sheer luck, pressed on.
Sythe chuckled darkly. “Do you really think you’re winning?” he asks, his voice dripping with mockery. “Have you noticed why your friends are still fighting? Why they’re not overwhelmed?”
Gloria’s eyes darted around the battlefield, her breath hitching as she realized the undead numbers were thinning unnaturally fast. She turned toward the shore, where dense clouds swirled, illuminated by flashes of lightning.
“Kade!” she shouts, her voice hoarse. “They’re targeting the ship! The undead are moving to the coast!”
Kade’s face hardened as he glanced toward the shore. “But I can’t just leave you here!” he yells back.
“Tch!” Gloria cursed as Sythe lunged at her, his massive blade swinging in a wide arc. She barely raised her sword in time to block, the impact jarring her injured arm. Pain shot through her body as she staggered back.
“Don’t let your feelings cloud your judgment!” she snaps. “Save the villagers. If you can’t protect them, what’s the point of any of this?”
Kade hesitated, then nodded, frustration etched across his face. “Soldiers, to the shore! Move!” His command rang out, and the troops redoubled their efforts, rushing toward the ships.
Sythe’s grin widened as he watched Kade retreat. “Now it’s just you and me, girl. Once I’m done with you, I’ll make you my queen in undeath.”
“Disgusting!” Gloria spat, charging at him with all her might. Her sword clashed against his, sparks flying as their weapons locked. Sythe’s strength forced her back, but she twisted her blade free and launched a counterattack, her strikes fueled by desperation.
Sythe parried each blow with ease, his mocking laughter grating on her nerves. With a sudden feint, he slid his blade down hers and unleashed a burst of dark energy at point-blank range. The blast struck her side, sending her crashing through the wall of a nearby house.
Gloria coughed up blood as she struggled to breathe. Her vision blurred, and her thoughts grew hazy. “Is this… how it ends?” she wondered, her strength fading.
Then, out of nowhere, a crimson-red symbol flashed in her mind—a sharp, angular ‘T.’ Warmth flooded through her veins, her wounds knitting together as a surge of energy reignited her resolve. She staggered to her feet, wiping the blood from her mouth. Her eyes glowed red, and her hair shimmered with an otherworldly light.
Sythe froze mid-step, his grin faltering as he felt the shift in her energy. “What… what is this?” he murmurs.
Time seemed to slow as Gloria raised her head, her gaze locking onto Sythe. A small orb of fire formed at her lips, growing brighter and hotter with each passing second. Sythe’s eyes widened as he realized the danger too late. The orb erupted into a massive stream of fire, engulfing everything in its path.
The inferno roared, vaporizing the undead in an instant. Sythe’s armor glowed red-hot before melting away, his body reduced to ash. The flames tore through the battlefield, leaving a scorched wasteland in their wake.
When the fire finally subsided, Gloria collapsed to her knees, gasping for air. Her hair and eyes dimmed, returning to their usual crimson hue. “I… I did it,” she whispers, her voice trembling with exhaustion.
A loud crack echoed through the air, and Gloria’s brief triumph turned sour as Sythe’s voice slithered through the smoke. “Impressive... but futile.”
Her breathing was ragged as she struggled to remain upright, gripping her sword for support. From the thick haze, Sythe emerged—his form no longer human. His flesh had dissolved, replaced by a swirling mass of black miasma. Hollow, glowing eyes stared at her from the void of his skeletal face, and his distorted voice carried a sinister edge.
“This is my true form,” Sythe rasped, spreading his arms as if to present himself. “A ghast, made of pure malice. Your pathetic flames may have destroyed my puppet, but I am eternal. And now…” He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering to a venomous whisper. “I’ll make you mine.”
Gloria steadied herself, her sword trembling in her hand as her injuries slowed her movements. “You’re disgusting,” she spits, her voice weak but defiant.
“Disgusting?” Sythe chuckles darkly, his miasma swirling ominously around him. “Funny you’d say that. But…” He paused, his hollow gaze trailing over her face, now fully exposed after her attack had vaporized her mask. “I must admit, you’re an absolute beauty. It’s almost a shame I’ll have to corrupt you.”
Gloria’s stomach churned at his words, but before she could retort, Sythe raised his hand, and the battlefield around them began to stir.
With a sickening squelch, scattered limbs, torsos, and broken bones rose into the air, drawn by an invisible force. The pieces melded together, twisting and writhing into a grotesque humanoid figure over three meters tall. Its raw flesh glistened with decay, and its black eyes, glowing with miasma, locked onto Gloria.
“This body…” Sythe says, his voice now emanating from the monstrous figure. “A gift from my lord. Each limb, each piece of flesh imbued with malice. Let’s see your holy fire stop this.”
The giant undead took a lumbering step forward, the ground shaking under its weight. Gloria instinctively tried to summon her fire breath again, desperation surging through her, but the limiter on her powers activated. A searing pain shot through her wrist, forcing her to her knees as she clutched her stomach, gasping for air.
Sythe laughed, his voice echoing from the towering abomination. “What’s the matter, little saint? Has your god abandoned you already? Look around. You’re all alone. You have no hope.”
Gloria gritted her teeth, glaring at him even as her body trembled with exhaustion. “You… won’t win,” she hisses, though her voice faltered under the weight of her injuries.
Sythe sneered. “Oh, but I already have.” He raised the giant’s arm, its massive clawed hand poised to crush her.
As the shadow of the hand descended over Gloria, a piercing whistling sound suddenly cut through the battlefield. The noise grew louder, more intense, as if something massive was hurtling toward them.
Sythe hesitated, his monstrous eyes narrowing. “What is that?” he mutters, glancing around for the source of the sound.
Gloria, too weak to move, tilted her head slightly, her blurred vision catching sight of a dust trail rapidly approaching. The whistling crescendoed, followed by an earth-shaking impact as a crater exploded nearby.
A figure emerged from the cloud of dust—a man, spinning mid-air three times with calculated precision. In his final rotation, the figure launched a spear with explosive force, the weapon streaking toward Sythe like a bolt of silver lightning.
The spear struck true, tearing through the left side of Sythe’s monstrous body and leaving a gaping hole that revealed the grotesque musculature beneath. Green ichor oozed from the wound, sizzling as it hit the ground.
Sythe reeled in shock, his massive frame staggering backward. “What… what was that?!” His voice was tinged with both pain and confusion.
The spear returned to the figure’s hand, reappearing as though it had never left. Ronin landed with a controlled roll, the impact of his arrival cracking the earth beneath him. He straightened, his cold eyes locking onto Sythe.
Sythe’s monstrous form loomed over him, but there was no recognition in his gaze. “Who are you?!” he bellows, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
Before Ronin could respond, a deep, resonating voice filled the air—a voice Sythe recognized all too well.
“Sythe!” the lich’s voice boomed in warning. “Retreat! That man… he is the one who destroyed the King! Magic and miasma will not work on him! Use the environment—hurl rock needles at him!”
Sythe’s hollow gaze shifted back to Ronin, his expression darkening as realization dawned. “You… you’re the one…”
Sythe glared at Ronin, his monstrous, miasma-filled form trembling with rage. The gaping wound in his side continued to ooze green ichor, but his expression was one of defiance rather than fear.
“This changes nothing!” Sythe bellows, his hollow voice echoing across the battlefield. “You think your little tricks will save you? I am beyond pain, beyond death itself!”
Ronin didn’t respond. He took a measured step forward, his spear glinting in the faint light as his muscles tensed, ready for the next strike.
Sythe sneered, his glowing eyes narrowing. “You’re fast. I’ll give you that. But let’s see how you handle overwhelming power.”
He raised his massive arm, flexing the miasma-infused muscles that held the towering undead body together. With a guttural roar, he slammed his hand into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The earth groaned and cracked, jagged fissures splitting the ground as boulders were wrenched free and drawn toward him.
Gloria, still struggling to breathe as she leaned against the rubble, watched in horror as the massive stones began to hover around Sythe. The air grew heavier, charged with the dark energy that radiated from him.
Sythe turned his gaze toward Ronin, his voice dripping with malice. “You move like the wind, but even the wind can’t outrun a storm.” He clenched his massive hands, and the boulders hovering in the air began to splinter. Cracks spider-webbed across their surfaces, the jagged edges sharpening with each passing second.
Chunks of rock broke off, twisting unnaturally under the force of Sythe’s magic. What had been massive stones were now dozens—no, hundreds—of razor-sharp needles, each one gleaming with a faint black aura.
Gloria’s heart sank as the realization dawned. “Ronin… be careful…” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the hum of dark energy.
Sythe raised both arms, his grotesque grin widening. “Let’s see if your body can withstand this!” he roars. With a flick of his clawed hands, the swarm of rock needles shot forward, screaming through the air like a thousand arrows loosed in unison.
The needles tore through the battlefield with terrifying speed, each one aimed to maim and kill. The air whistled with their velocity, the black aura trailing behind them like smoke.
Ronin’s stance shifted. He planted his feet firmly, his spear spinning in his hands like a whirlwind. The first needle struck, but it ricocheted off his spear with a metallic clang. Then another. And another. The sound of stone meeting steel filled the air as Ronin deflected the onslaught with precision and grace.
Sythe’s glowing eyes narrowed as he watched, disbelief flickering across his monstrous face. Ronin’s movements were a blur, his spear spinning faster than the eye could follow. Needles shattered against his weapon, their fragments scattering harmlessly to the ground.
But the storm was relentless. More needles closed in, and despite his incredible speed, one slipped through his defense.
The sharp, jagged shard struck Ronin’s temple with a sickening thud, its momentum snapping his head back. For a moment, Gloria froze, her breath catching in her throat.
“Ronin!” she cries, her hoarse voice echoing across the battlefield.
Ronin staggered, his spear halting its motion. Blood trickled down his temple, a crimson line marring his otherwise stoic expression. Sythe’s grin returned, cruel and triumphant.
“Hah! Even you can’t stand against this!” Sythe taunted. “You’ll fall like the rest—”
But his words faltered as Ronin reached up, gripping the needle embedded in his skull. With a grimace, he yanked it free, the bloodied shard glinting in his hand before he tossed it aside.
Ronin turned his gaze toward Sythe, his piercing eyes devoid of fear or hesitation. He rolled his neck, the motion casual, as though shaking off the inconvenience.
Sythe took an involuntary step back. “What… what are you?”
Ronin’s grip on his spear tightened, his voice cold and resolute. “The one who ends you.”
ns 15.158.61.20da2
