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The city of Vandros on the sprawling City Planet, Zenthoris, was under siege. The streets that once buzzed with life were now filled with chaos as the city’s top mages and heroes fought desperately to defend against an onslaught of demonic creatures—the Tenebrax Demons, the same dark creatures that had emerged in Elementis within the Land of Spade.
The Tenebrax Demons moved swiftly, their twisted forms blending into the shadows of the towering buildings, leaving only brief, terrifying glimpses of their grotesque shapes. These demons seemed to multiply with every strike, as their victims rose again, transformed into more Tenebrax.
A group of City Guardians held the line near the marketplace, their weapons flashing with light as they fought back the relentless tide of enemies. Sorin Fellstrike, a powerful mage known for his arcane prowess, barked orders to his team as they formed a defensive perimeter.
"Hold the line! Don’t let them get through!" Sorin shouted, summoning a massive Arcane Barrier that stretched across the street, halting the advance of the demons for a moment.
Another mage, Iris Gale, stood beside him, her hands glowing with energy. "Sorin, these things are multiplying faster than we can take them down!" she exclaimed, launching a barrage of Energy Bolts at a group of Tenebrax that emerged from the shadows.
A warrior, Galen Stormbreaker, swung his massive war hammer, smashing several demons into the ground with one powerful blow. "We just need to hold out a little longer!" he grunted. "Captain Elowen and Captain Doran are on their way!"
Sorin nodded but grimaced as more demons appeared, slipping through the cracks in their defense. "I hope they get here soon," he muttered.
Moments later, Captain Elowen Virellis and Captain Doran Kaelmir, alongside Doran’s personal assistant, Kiera Voss, arrived in the heart of Vandros. The city was a battlefield, its once-proud streets now littered with debris and the bodies of both fallen citizens and their demonic attackers.
Captain Doran glanced around, taking in the carnage. "Well, this looks like fun," he said dryly.
Kiera was more focused, her tablet in hand as she quickly relayed the latest updates from the city’s sensory HQ. "Captain, the demons seem to have the following abilities," she began, scrolling through the data. "First, Shadow Meld—they can blend into shadows, becoming nearly invisible. They use this to stalk their prey and strike from the darkness."
She continued. "Life Drain—they latch onto their victims with their claws and drain their energy. It weakens the target while strengthening them."
"Charming," Doran commented sarcastically.
"There's more," Kiera added. "Nightmare Inducer—they can enter the minds of their victims while they sleep, causing nightmares that drain their willpower. And finally, Dark Step—they can teleport short distances through shadows, making them hard to track."
Captain Elowen furrowed her brow. "This isn’t good. With all these abilities, they’re near impossible to predict."
Just then, one of the city’s main heroes, Rylas Ardent, a warrior renowned for his leadership and battle skills, landed in front of them, his armor battered but his resolve unshaken. "Captains!" he called out. "These demons are tricky, but we’ve figured something out—they’re replicating through the bodies of infected citizens. If we stop them from using the bodies to spread, we can get this situation under control."
Rylas continued, urgency in his voice. "The city’s greatest healers are working to cleanse the infected, but it’s not enough. We need more power. Captain Elowen, we could use your help."
Captain Elowen nodded without hesitation. "Take me to them. I’ll do what I can."
Rylas led Elowen through the battlefield as Captain Doran stayed behind with Kiera. As they walked, Doran noticed something unsettling. "Do you feel that?" he asked, glancing up at the towering buildings around them.
Kiera nodded, her expression serious. "Yeah. It’s a strong aura—coming from up there." She pointed to the top of a skyscraper, its shadowy silhouette looming over the city.
Doran sighed. "Great. Just what we needed."
He looked at Kiera, knowing she was better suited for stealth than he was. "Go check it out. You’re quieter than me."
Kiera smirked. "You got it." She activated Silent Step, her movements becoming fluid and silent as she glided across the ground, disappearing into the shadows as she made her way toward the top of the building.
Doran watched her go, shaking his head. "Why didn’t I just become a librarian on Philosara?" he muttered to himself, referring to the peaceful Philosophy Planet known for its quiet libraries and tranquil landscapes. "I could be sitting on an island right now, reading a good book…"
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, chilling presence behind him. The air grew heavy with darkness, and Doran felt the weight of something menacing.
Without turning around, Doran sighed. "Let me guess. You’re not here to offer me a vacation package."
There was no response, only the feeling of the presence getting closer. Doran chuckled to himself, running a hand through his hair. "Fine, fine. If you’re going to make this difficult—"
Before the figure could strike, Doran vanished, using his Gale Step. In an instant, he reappeared behind the figure, his movements too fast for the eye to follow. He delivered a swift, precise strike, sending the figure crashing into the ground. But something was wrong—the figure dissipated into shadow.
Doran’s instincts flared, and he immediately sensed the presence behind him once more. A deep voice rumbled from the shadows. "Impressive."
Turning slowly, Doran saw the figure emerge from the darkness, their face shrouded in shadow. The figure exuded power, their form imposing.
Doran raised an eyebrow. "Nice trick. So, what do I call you? Or do we skip the introductions and get to the part where I punch you in the face?"
The figure’s voice was cold, laced with dark amusement. "If I told you my name, you’d have to die."
Doran laughed, not the least bit concerned. "Oh, I’m not worried about that. Go ahead, I insist."
The figure stepped forward, the shadows peeling back to reveal his face. His eyes glowed with an eerie darkness as he spoke. "I am Neraxis, Lord of the Abyss. Eighth member of The Eclipse Sovereignty."
The chapter ended there, with the tension rising as Captain Doran came face to face with a powerful member of The Eclipse Sovereignty.
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