Descend!

[Shadow Blade]!

A sword of pitch black energy materialized in Gwen's hands and blocked the undead knight's vicious swing. She could feel the magical power coursing through her, multiplying her strength. 

She easily shoved both blades up and swiftly beheaded the knight. His body crumbled to ash in an instant. 

The hallmark of the Ashen Curse. Gwen was not sure how she knew, but she was certain this was blood magic of the Ashen Prince. 

Still holding the [Shadow Blade], Gwen ran toward Kai's crumpled figure on the ground. He was breathing, but his body was limp. 

He would likely be unconscious for some time. 

As Gwen felt for Kai's heartbeat, the hairs on her neck suddenly raised. Someone was watching them. 

She spun to face the hole created by the knight to find another undead knight silhouetted by a spreading flame. It held Master Kuo's lifeless body. 

Shit! Another one! 

Suddenly, a flow of red mist rushed from the knight into Master Kuo's body. When it was over, Kuo's legs reached down and stood him up. 

His eyes were filled with blood. 

Two undead… I can't let them reach Kai.

The knight took a shortbow from his back and nocked an arrow from the quiver at his waist as the undead Kuo advanced. 

One at range and one up close. You can do this! Be smart!

Gwen broke into a sprint toward Kuo. She bent and picked up a dagger from the crumpled pile of armor left by the first knight. 

A second weapon could only help.

An arrow whistled past Gwen as she barely ducked beneath it. She saw the knight nock another just before she reached the undead Kuo. 

Kuo planted a foot and spun, sending a kick hurtling toward Gwen. Gwen slid underneath it at full speed, cutting off Kuo's planted foot at the ankle with the dagger at the same time.

She reached up and used Kuo's falling momentum to pull down his body in front of her just in time to block an arrow with his chest.

After shoving off Kuo's hobbled body, Gwen rushed at the knight with incredible speed. 

Before he could even drop his shortbow and unsheathe his sword, his head had been removed from his body.

Gwen picked up the bow from the ash pile and strapped the knight's quiver and shortbow to her back. All of their items were of martial quality.

[Knight's Dagger]

[Officer's Shortbow]

As Gwen walked back to Kai she casually flicked her [Shadow Blade] and ended the crawling undead Kuo's misery. The blade of dark energy then dissipated into the air.

Aside from being knocked out, Kai was in surprisingly good shape. A cursory examination didn't reveal any broken bones or breathing issues. 

The fire raging through the monastery behind them roared as a structure collapsed from within, sending heat and sparks high into the night air. 

Gwen gingerly picked up Kai and left the courtyard, heading toward the front gate.

Tonight would be a massacre. Even Master Kuo could not handle a knight in single combat, and the Flock had not yet been replaced. 

Hot tears flowed down Gwen's cheeks as she heard faint screams echo from the burning compound.

This place that had taken in a lost girl with nothing was being razed before her eyes, and she was powerless to stop it.

Just as Gwen reached the threshold of the front courtyard, a peculiar sight stopped her in her tracks. A knight in brilliant white armor stood at ease in the center of the courtyard, surrounded by undead knights. He seemed to be directing them to different areas of the monastery.

Gwen recognized the armor as that of the Emperor's personal guard. She was no longer surprised by the strange things she recognized from her life before the monastery.

Why is a member of the Imperial Guard at Cloud Level Monastery? And commanding a regiment of the undead?

While the Imperial Guard was gesturing, he happened to glance at the entryway that Gwen was standing in.

Immediately upon seeing his face, Gwen felt the characters of his name sear into her mind like a hot brand on her skin. 

'ISSHIN'

A prodigy of swordsmanship, Isshin became the youngest captain of the Imperial Guard in its 400 year history. However, he was brutal in his methods, and after slaying six other men during a festival bout, as well as the two Imperial Guard subordinates sent to arrest him, Isshin was exiled from Easlan, where unknown to most, he became a general for the Ashen Prince.

These memories came flooding back to Gwen in a torrent. 

Why do I know so much about this monster?

"Gwen, you live?" he called out.

Gwen shivered with fear before turning and sprinting away. There was only one other way off the mountain.

Kai was a heavy burden on her speed, but she eventually made it to the overlook.

"Wait! Gwen!" the knight called from behind. "Why do you flee from me?"

It was a long fall from the overlook, and at this time of night there was nothing to be seen below besides black emptiness. But Master Kuo's appearance had already solidified her choice. She and Kai would not be slaves to the Ashen Prince!

Gwen took a deep breath before sprinting off the overlook and plunging into the abyss.