Chapter 21: Battling Against The Wights Again
Unlike the previous night where they had been caught unaware and dragged into despair, the group stood prepared now.
The fear that once strangled their hearts had not disappeared completely.
No!
It had simply changed shape. It had hardened into caution, resolve and into the sharp instinct to survive.
The teleportation platform stood beneath the dark sky like an ancient altar abandoned by forgotten gods.
Crimson mist curled around the weathered runes carved into its stone while the twisted forest surrounding it whispered endlessly with dreadful life.
And from within that darkness... The Wights came.
Dozens of them crawled between trees with jerking limbs and twisted bodies. Their eyeless faces reflected the Lantern light eerily while clicking sounds filled the forest like bones snapping beneath rotten flesh.
Yet this time, the eight exiles did not retreat.
At the rear, Valmyr wore a broad grin as he stared toward the approaching horde.
The failed Vanguard looked less like a human and more like a beast ready to unleash slaughter.
His large frame towered over most of the others while his Great Shield rested heavily upon one arm.
"Finally," He muttered excitedly; eyes already blazing with fighting Intent.
Beside him stood Veyrath clutching his massive Cauldron like a lifeline.
The failed Alchemist looked nervous despite his earlier bravado. The glowing runes upon the bronze Soul Essence flickered faintly with Aether while roots occasionally slithered beneath the ground near his feet.
Though his Cauldron was not meant for battle, the thing looked heavy enough to crush bones into paste.
"You better don’t die and leave me alone with these things," Veyrath muttered toward Valmyr.
The failed Vanguard barked out a laugh and said. "If I die, you die immediately after me."
Veyrath’s eyes widened in horror. Clearly Valmyr said that statement as a joke buy the failed Alchemist took it seriously.
"That isn’t comforting!"
To their right side stood Vaelorin.
Small embers drifted around the failed Pyromancer like angry spirits. Flames hissed softly from his crimson Staff as though eager to be unleashed upon flesh and bone alike.
His frail appearance hid the dangerous heat radiating from him...
Next to him stood Caelestra.
Silver Coins floated around her body gracefully, orbiting her like stars around a moon.
In one hand, she held the ornate Treasure Chest while her sharp eyes remained fixed on the creatures emerging from the dark.
Even amidst the horror of the forest, there was still a certain elegance in her posture which told stories of her privileged upbringing...
To the left side stood Aureleah.
Darkness curled around her Cloak continuously, swallowing even the Lantern light touching it. She looked like a phantom stitched together by shadows and death itself.
One of her Daggers gleamed silver beneath the crimson sky while the other remained black as an abyss.
Her silver eyes glinted coldly as she watched the Wights silently. Like preys already marked for death.
Beside her stood Kaeloris.
Though the failed Gnost still looked nervous, his hands remained upon the Lantern. Golden light spread outward from it, pushing back the oppressive darkness surrounding them.
Without him, they would already be blind within the mist.
The Lantern illuminated the grotesque forms moving between the trees, exposing every twisted limbs and crawling horror...
And finally, at the very front stood Regaleon. The Forgotten Knight himself.
His rusted Armour gleamed beneath the Lantern light, crimson veins pulsing faintly across its battered surface like serpents writhing beneath metal skin.
In his hand rested the silver Halberd. It was cold, sharp, and hungry. The crimson glow crawling upon its blade made it resemble a predator thirsting after blood.
Standing there beneath the darkness, Regaleon looked both heroic and terrifying. Like a knight forged by war and buried beneath ruin.
By his side stood Sylveris.
The youngest amongst them held tightly unto his arms while staring curiously at the approaching Wights.
Yesterday, terror had dominated her face. But tonight, there was only unease. Not fear!
Because somehow, she believed that they would survive. Perhaps it is because Regaleon stood next to her... Or because all of them now stood together as a team...
The group had their backs turned against one another as they positioned themselves around the four corners of the platform.
This would enable them to fight the Wights from all sides while ensuring no blind spots that could be taken advantage of...
When the first Wight shrieked, Regaleon raised his Halberd and ordered. "Prepare for battle!"
And then... The creatures charged.
The first Wight burst from the darkness with a horrifying shriek, limbs bending unnaturally as it lunged toward the platform...
Regaleon moved instantly. He took a step forward and swept his Halberd through the air in a silver arc.
SHING!
The creature wasn’t given the time to scream before it’s body split apart and dissolved into black smoke instantly.
Simultaneously, a faint red wisp drifted from the creature and vanished into Regaleon’s Soul Essences.
But that was not the end. It was merely a prelude to the slaughter about to unfold...
The remaining wights shrieked furiously... And then, the forest erupted.
They came all at once; crawling, leaping, and sprinting between trees with monstrous speed.
Regaleon raised his Halberd toward the incoming horde.
"Make sure not to kill them all," He ordered sharply. "Remember the plan! And maintain positions!"
Then his voice thundered across the clearing. "ATTACK!"
Like a beast unleashed from chains, Valmyr was the first to charge as every other thoughts flew away from his mind. Even Regaleon’s instructions to maintain positions...
The ground trembled beneath his heavy steps as he rushed forward with his Shield raised high.
A Wight lunged at him, claws outstretched as it seek to tear the failed Vanguard apart.
BANG!
The creature smashed against the Great Shield and crumbled instantly like rotten meat hitting stone.
Without slowing down, Valmyr swung his Broadsword sideways in a deafening arc...
CRACK!
The massive blade tore through two Wights simultaneously, shattering bones and flesh apart.
"Hahaha!" He roared wildly, eyes blazing with fighting Intent. "Come on then!"
The Wights obliged. A creature leapt unto his back but before it could bite down, Valmyr slammed himself backward into a tree.
BOOOOM!
The impact crushed the Wight between bark and back with a wet crunch. Then, he began dominating the Wights with brute strength...
Nearby, Vaelorin raised his staff and channeled Fiery Aether into it.
Flames erupted instantly; not in streams or sparks... But in a wave.
Fire surged across the forest floor like a burning tide, swallowing several charging Wights whole.
WHOOOSH!
The creatures shrieked horribly as flames devoured their pale flesh, turning them into black smoke...
Vaelorin exhaled shakily. Unlike yesterday, he no longer struggled to control his Aether as flames now answered to him naturally. Like loyal soldiers.
Suddenly a Wight burst through the fire unharmed enough to attack.
Before Vaelorin could react...
CLANG!
A silver Coin smashed into the creature’s skull with terrifying force.
The Wight flew sideways into a tree, toppling it after impact...
Vaelorin turned towards Caelestra who flicked her fingers calmly.
Several more Coins shot through the air like bullets, piercing through the limbs and throat of the disorientated Wight effortlessly, turning it into black smoke.
Then she turned toward Vaelorin.
"You owe me for saving you," She said smugly.
Vaelorin scoffed loudly. "I would’ve handled it."
"Sure you would have."
Meanwhile, the failed Alchemist was not having it easy.
Valmyr, who was supposed to be his partner in this battle, had long since charged into the horde, leaving Veyrath to his own devices.
Veyrath screamed as a Wight lunged toward him. "GET AWAY FROM ME!"
BANG!
He swung his Cauldron desperately.
The massive object smashed directly into the creature’s head, flattening it instantly.
The Wight collapsed twitching; then it dissolved into black smoke.
Veyrath blinked, then stared at his Cauldron. The thing ahd barely talked the Wights yesterday but now, it directly crushed a Wight to death.
"...I actually did that?" He stared in disbelief.
But his daze didn’t last long as another Wight charged him immediately.
"WHY ARE THERE SO MANY OF YOU?!"
He shouted, smashing his Cauldron again wildly, once more turning the creature’s head into pulp.
Though he was cowardly, it turns out he was surprisingly effective at smashing the Wights when he was desperate...
Kaeloris stood close behind him while keeping his Lantern raised high.
With him here, no Wights had a a chance of launching a sneak attack from the shadows as the golden glow spread further across the battlefield, exposing hidden movement.
"The left side!" He shouted suddenly.
Aureleah heard him and vanished instantly.
One moment she stood beside him; the next... She melted into darkness itself.
A Wight creeping through the shadows suddenly froze. Then, it’s head slid slowly off its neck before disappearing into black smoke.
Another creature shrieked before collapsing in pieces and dissipated...
Shadows twisted unnaturally across the battlefield and everywhere darkness moved... Death followed.
The Wights could not even see her nor touch her. They could only wait helplessly for death to claim them...
At the front, Regaleon fought like a machine forged solely for battle.
Every swing of his Halberd was precise, efficient and deadly. There was no wasted movements nor hesitation as he carved through the horde.
Suddenly, a Wight lunged low toward Sylveris, who stood next to him.
But Regaleon stepped forward instantly.
CRACK!
His armoured knee slammed into the creature’s skull before his Halberd pierced downward through it’s chest.
Another attached from behind but as if he had eyes behind him, Regaleon spun sharply.
SHING!
Silver flashed... And the Wight split apart before dissolving.
Three more rushed him simultaneously.
Regaleon planted his foot firmly and swept the Halberd in a wide arc. There was a spray of blood and the sound of dying shrieks.
Eventually, the creatures dissipated into smoke...
Yet they kept on coming. And as more of them came, more continued to collapse around him endlessly...
And as they collapsed, his Soul Essences kept on feeding from the red wisp that left their bodies after death.
Beside him, Sylveris remained close as instructed. Though frightened from the battle around her, the younger girl no longer panicked when the creatures approached.
Because every time danger seem near... Regaleon was nearer.
