Chapter 20

Lennix fought the urge to gag, his supernatural senses overwhelmed by the foul stench that hung heavily in the air. "Do we really have to go through a swamp?" he exclaimed, glancing over at the black knight. They were all trudging through a vast, murky wetland, the dark water almost knee-deep for their shadow horses, which moved with an unnatural grace through the thick muck.

The black knight turned his head slightly, his expression hidden behind the dark visor of his helm, but his irritation was palpable. "Do you want this journey to last a month or a week?" he replied sharply. Even he, encased in his heavy armor, seemed uncomfortable. The stifling humidity seeped through the gaps in his plate, and the damp heat clung to his skin, making the journey even more miserable. 

All around them, the swamp stretched out in a seemingly endless expanse of tangled trees and dense, fetid water. The towering cypress trees loomed overhead, their gnarled roots twisting out of the muck like skeletal fingers grasping for the sky. Thick vines hung from the branches, draping the area in a tangled green web. The air was thick with moisture, and every breath felt like inhaling warm soup. The occasional splash of a shadow horse's hoof into the muddy water sent ripples across the surface, disturbing the insects that buzzed incessantly around them. The ground beneath the water was treacherous, a mix of slippery rocks and hidden roots that threatened to trip even the sure-footed shadow horses.

Mari shifted uncomfortably in her saddle. "Aunt Clarissa! My clothes are getting sticky!" she complained, her face scrunched up in discomfort. Clarissa gently patted her head. "Don't worry, Mari," she said in her calm, emotionless tone. "That's normal for the environment we're in. The humidity causes your clothes to stick to your skin, but you'll get used to it." Her voice was steady, a contrast to the oppressive atmosphere surrounding them.

The swamp was alive with the sounds of nature: the croak of frogs, the distant cry of unseen birds, and the constant buzz of insects. The water was dark and still in most places, with patches of algae floating on the surface. Occasionally, a snake would slither across their path or disappear into the dense foliage that lined the narrow route they were following. The smell of rot and decay was pervasive, making it hard to breathe without feeling nauseous.

"Can't you let me out of my restraints while we're going through this place?" Karin called out desperately from her own shadow horse, her hands bound in front of her. She looked nervously at the water, which was almost level with her stirrups. "If I fall, I might drown in this filth!"

Lennix wanted to snap back with a sarcastic, *Nobody cares if you drown!* but he knew that wasn't true—especially with Mari here. Instead, he forced a smile and said, "Don't worry, you won't drown. The shadow horse will save you, and besides, aren't you used to being dirty from working in the sewers?"

Karin clicked her tongue in annoyance, her face twisting into a scowl. She didn't bother responding, focusing instead on maintaining her balance atop the shadow horse, her gaze flicking nervously to the murky water.

"Uncle Lennix, aren't you being a bit too mean to Mommy?" Mari called out, her big eyes wide with innocence and concern. The look pierced Lennix's undead heart, stirring a pang of guilt despite himself. "I know she's being controlled, but still..." Mari continued, her voice soft and pleading.

Lennix let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "You're right, Mari. Sorry. The environment's just getting to me, you know?" He gave her a sheepish smile, trying to soften his earlier harshness. 

Mari beamed, her expression brightening as she nodded. "Apology accepted! But you should say sorry to Mommy, not me," she insisted, her innocent wisdom striking a chord in him. 

With great effort, Lennix turned to Karin and forced out, "Sorry." The word tasted bitter, and it took everything he had to utter it. 

Karin, savoring the rare moment of feeling superior, smirked triumphantly. "Apology accepted," she replied with a hint of smugness. Lennix clenched his fists, his undead muscles tensing with frustration, but he kept his composure, maintaining a strained smile for Mari's sake.

Just as Lennix was beginning to relax, his smile faded abruptly. He halted his shadow horse so suddenly that it reared back, causing a ripple of tension to spread through the group. 

"Why did you stop?" the black knight asked, pulling his own shadow horse to a halt and turning to face Lennix. The others followed suit, their mounts shifting uneasily in the thick muck.

"Stay quiet for a second," Lennix said, raising a hand for silence. He strained his supernatural senses, his expression tightening in concentration. "Do you hear that?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

The others exchanged confused glances. "I hear nothing, Master Lennix," Clarissa replied calmly, her sharp eyes scanning the swamp around them.

The black knight's eyes narrowed behind his visor. "What does it sound like?" he asked, his tone serious.

Lennix closed his eyes, straining to catch whatever faint sound had caught his attention. His heightened senses scanned the swamp, filtering through the droning insects and rustling leaves. Suddenly, his eyes flew open, and he turned sharply to the black knight. "Look out!" he shouted, urgency thick in his voice.

Before anyone could process his warning, a powerful force crashed into the black knight, sending him flying off his shadow horse. The impact was so sudden and fierce that the black knight was yanked out of sight, barreling through the thick underbrush. Trees splintered and cracked as his body smashed through them, and in a matter of seconds, he was gone, swallowed by the swamp, leaving only a distant splash as he was slammed down into knee-high swamp water, well out of everyone's view.

"Ugh," the black knight grunted as he landed in the murky swamp water, his body leaving a deep indentation in the sludge beneath. Dropping the shadow armor he'd conjured around himself just in time, he winced slightly but pushed himself up to his knees, muddy water dripping from his gauntlets. Before he could fully regain his footing, a voice echoed above him, dripping with venom and amplified by some kind of mechanical distortion.

"You managed to react to that. Impressive," the voice taunted.

The black knight looked up, his eyes locking onto an armored figure floating just above the swamp's surface. The figure was clad in an elaborate suit of armor—its surface a dazzling array of intricate engravings that shimmered with an otherworldly glow, reminiscent of glowing circuitry running through metal. Every part of the armor, from the shoulder plates to the greaves, was adorned with delicate filigree, giving it a regal, yet menacing appearance. The figure's helmet was smooth and featureless except for two glowing yellow orbs where the eyes would be, casting a harsh light that seemed to pierce through the gloom of the swamp.

The black knight rose to his feet, conjuring his greatsword from the shadows, the blade materializing in his hand like a wisp of smoke solidifying into steel. His eyes remained fixed on the floating figure as he took a defensive stance, the shadowy aura around him simmering with readiness. *That armor... it has to be G.E.A.R. So he's from Veridiania,* he thought, steeling himself for the battle he knew was imminent.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice steady but edged with caution.

The armored figure slowly descended, its boots touching down on the swamp's surface with a light splash. The glowing yellow orbs of its helmet bore into the black knight with an intensity that could almost be felt. The figure's voice was cold and unwavering as it introduced itself.

"I am your executioner. I am the one who will rid this world of your cursed shadow magic," it declared, each word tinged with a chilling certainty. "I am Zac Van Hush, of House Hush, and meeting me marks your death."