Chapter 14 - Ambush in the Wastes
The shadow-beasts moved with terrifying speed, swarming the camp from every direction. Unlike Seraphina’s mindless constructs, these creatures fought with cruel intelligence, aiming specifically for the knights' throat armor and mounting steeds.
Elara spun through the battlefield, her golden blade slicing through shadow-flesh like a burning razor. Beside her, the Sol-Phoenix swooped low, unleashing broad arcs of solar fire that incinerated whole clusters of beasts in seconds.
Lyra did not hide. She raised her small hands, channeling her Sun-Mark to project brilliant blinding flashes that paralyzed the charging monsters, allowing the solar knights to finish them off with ease.
"They are driving us toward the cliff edge!" the commander yelled, his shield covered in black venom.
Elara noticed the tactical trap immediately. The shadow-beasts were not trying to kill them outright; they were forcing the vanguard toward the edge of the Void Chasm—a massive, bottomless trench that split the continent in two.
From the depths of the chasm, a giant figure rose into the air, suspended by dark spectral wings.
The figure wore shattered golden armor that had been corrupted into obsidian. A dark helmet covered his face, but beneath the visor, two burning golden eyes flickered weakly through a sea of dark purple flame. In his right hand, he held the Lost Sun-Scepter—once the sacred symbol of Aurendor's kings, now dripping with void corruption.
Elara froze, her breath catching in her throat.
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"Aurelian..." she whispered.
The corrupted king raised the scepter toward the sky. "All light... must return to the dark," a hollow voice rasped from beneath his helmet.
