Chapter 11: Shadows of the Venetian Night

As La Sensa was in full bloom, the mysterious couple watched it all from afar, unseen by the others. They were like shadows, moving among the assembled, closely following every movement. They gazed at the ceremony enthralled as it began to fill the space with magic and unusual charm. St. Mark's Square came alive in a unique way. The canals were surrounded by lanterns that cast golden reflections on the water. Boats decorated with colorful flowers and lanterns traversed them, creating a magical route, while people sang songs and enjoyed the one-of-a-kind spectacle.

Alex noticed that their observers were getting closer and closer to them. They were clearly experts at moving around unnoticed, well ensconced in the crowd, paying attention only when they wanted to. La Sensa continued at its best. The sounds of music filled the air, and people, including him and his friends, contemplatively followed the amazing spectacle. Taking a closer look at some of the lanterns, Alessandra realized that the decorations referred to ancient symbols associated with magic. At the same time, the couple was getting closer and closer to them. They did so in a determined and efficient manner, operating perfectly in this thicket of people, having their target at gunpoint.

Brother Elias decided to explore the area and join the others.

- They are keeping an eye on us. I heard their conversation, they are planning to intensify their activities. We must act carefully," he warned, looking at them with seriousness.

Once the couple was so close that their presence could be sensed, they began to wonder what they were planning. The man's gaze seemed to be deeply focused on Alex, which caused a discreet feeling of unease. Without taking their eyes off the strangers, they decided to carefully retreat, turning into the narrow streets. The atmosphere grew thicker and thicker. At one point they stopped at a small bridge, surrounded by a mystical glow when Elias said calmly.

- I don't know if you know, but this place has a powerful significance in the history of Venice. It was here that those who sought to understand hidden truths often met.

Before they had time to think about what he had just said, they noticed that the strangers had disappeared. There was no more trace of the man and woman, but they felt that their presence still surrounded them. By an almost unanimous decision, they decided to look for them. So they followed, passing stone bridges and historic squares. Venice at night was different than during the day - mysterious, full of history, but also dark. Somewhere among the narrow streets, the truth hidden from the world was waiting for them. They reached a hidden gate, decorated with ancient runes and symbols of the old city. This must have been the place they were looking for. They felt they were on the right track. Elias drew their attention to a mystical inscription on a stone slab. It was old Latin, and the translation read:

"In the moment of silence, when the stars go out, the truth will stand before you. Overcome your own fear, and the door to legacy will open."

They crossed the gate then walked past the canals, where the fog hovering over the water made the surrounding buildings seem to levitate. They felt someone watching them again. A foreign, disturbing gaze penetrating their hearts. A throbbing shudder of danger pierced their skin, nevertheless they decided to go on. They reached the bridge , and the atmosphere became increasingly tense. The locals considered it cursed, and when they stepped onto it, they noticed strangers watching them from hiding. It was the same couple whose faces were hidden by the shadows. A woman with cold eyes and a man with expressive features. Their gazes had something impure about them, something that made the hair on their skin stand up with anxiety. It seemed that the strangers knew more than they were revealing about each other. As they looked at the pair, the pair suddenly disappeared in a flash. They sped up trying to catch up with them.

Suddenly a violent wind surged, as if nature itself opposed this pursuit. The rumble of thunder muffled their thoughts. Suddenly, a powerful bolt of lightning fell from the open sky, tearing space apart. This was no ordinary thunderstorm - it was the manifestation of something much more terrifying. Before they had time to react, the bridge, began to wobble and collapse. They tried to keep their balance, and Elias shouted something in ancient speech, trying to stop the oncoming fury. But it wasn't enough. The lights went out abruptly, and the city, as if moved, began to bow to the ground. This was the moment when Venice lost its patience. Having been hiding a secret for centuries, it erupted in a furious explosion. They were now trapped in chaos. The gale around them was gaining strength, flashes of lightning illuminated the eerie landscape. A violent earthquake was tearing Venice apart, and the canals seemed to boil like a volcanic abyss. They were losing their balance, grappling with a power they could not understand.

While the city was drowning in chaos, the steam disappeared. What remained were the remnants of a mystical and deformed city, whose architecture now looked like it was from another, dark reality. Fleeing the fury of the quake, they traversed cracked alleys and rain-soaked squares. Where before there had been plenty of people, now there was emptiness and chaos. They felt they had been swept along by spirals of incredible events, the source of which seemed beyond their comprehension. Struggling with the elements and the disappearing city, they still believed they had to get to the bottom of these mysteries. They wanted to unravel the dark secrets of Venice and understand what connected them to this beautiful yet terrifying place.

Suddenly, the rumble of horse hooves and a shout came from the distance. It was the sound of armed men coming toward them. Could it be that this was another act of this unpredictable theatrical play of which they were participants? They felt they were standing on the edge of the abyss, and this unexpected intervention could prove to be the key to this mystery. They were willing to take the risk, but did the risk even have any limits in this unpredictable game? Would they manage to uncover what was so meticulously hidden in Venice's history before they were swallowed up by the chaos that had engulfed this magical city? These questions kept their minds muddling with emotion. The lights of the torches were reflected in the misty eyes of the knights who stopped in front of them. They looked like veterans, in their gazes vibrated with determination and experience that flowed from years of fighting.

- Who are you that you violate the sanctity of this land infidels! - shouted the armed man, apparently the commander, holding his hand on his sword.

However, before anyone had time to respond, a particularly intense flash of lightning engulfed the sky. The raging storm heralded something disturbing, something far greater than the restless aura of Venice. It was a signal, as it were, that the real clash was now beginning.

- We must act," Alex thought aloud, noticing in this lightning something more than a meteorological phenomenon.

The knight gave the command, forming a defensive ring around the group. Their presence was disconcerting, but left them no choice. In this surprising and dynamic situation, everyone had to make an immediate decision. Elias shouted something in an ancient language, recognizing the message in the lightning. It seemed that the symbolism was understood only by a few initiates. Fire blazed in Alessandra's eyes, and Luca looked at them with a determination worthy of a warrior. They were on the verge of something great and unknown, but also inevitable. There was no turning back.

The armed men looked like demons of the past, emerging from the mists of history. They wore heavy gold helmets decorated with ornaments reminiscent of the intricate canal structures of Venice. Their armor was as if stamped from bone, silvered and dipped in green rust, giving them a corroded appearance. The commander, tall and emaciated, had a look as if he had transcended human nature with it, and his face was decorated with bloody weed. He had a long, gray beard braided into a braid that dangled like a hanging man's crown. His robe, though once ruby red, was now tattered and stained, betraying a former beauty that had fallen into the darkness of history. Beside him stood a giant, broad in the shoulders, like an armed colossus. He had a face disfigured with scars and bandaged with a metal mask, making him appear to be one of the cruel demons from hell. He held a shield adorned with the symbol of a golden lion fighting a snake, showing the eternal struggle between good and evil. The others were similar to their comrades - terrifying, almost unearthly in their appearance. Each of them carried a sword, whose blades shone with an unearthly radiance, like lightning penetrating the darkness. Some of them had intriguing symbols and runes engraved on their helmets, the meaning of which could only be known to them.

They felt the weight of history fall on their shoulders. It was a confrontation with something past, but at the same time very present and real, making a person's soul twitch in the face of unfathomable darkness. The commander raised his hand, in which he held a sword with a strangely complicated handle. A glow emerged from behind the clouds, illuminating the entire scene.

- I swear by the ancient gods and the primordial powers of this island that we are here to do our duty. Divine punishment will reach you at our hands! - he uttered words that shook the air.

It was a declaration of deeds to come. A sudden earthquake shook the city. Alex and his companions lost their balance on the wobbly ground beneath them, and the echo of the quake faded into the immensity of the mystical city. It was nature's reaction to the budding conflict. Lightning streaked the sky and illuminated this almost unreal spectacle, casting shadows on the statues, which seemed to come alive in the glare of the flashes. In the distance, in the gloom, they saw what appeared to be the sinister smile of ancient legends. This was not a place or time for people with frail hearts.

The commander looked at the searchers, who were surprised by the phenomenon, then gave short, snarky orders. The knights began to form a defense around them. Alessandra, though seized with inexplicable terror, seemed ready. Her eyes glowed with challenge, as if she knew she had become part of something bigger than she could have imagined. The armed men began to prepare for the clash.

Somewhere in the distance shrill screams rang out, and the wind carrying the scent of the gloom-soaked canals of Venice ruffled their hair. This was not a dream but a nightmare unbridled and unpredictable. They began to push forward, attacking without mercy. The next moment was like jumping off a bridge into a dark abyss. The deafening sound of blood drops, the shrill screams, the furious roar of the warriors - all had their place in this hell on earth. Alex knew full well that the future was as uncertain as the fog in the old stories. With every sword cut he brought out, he lost a piece of his humanity. The body was a tool, insensitive to mercy, dominated by brutality. He felt his hand tremble as his blade cut through skin, muscle, tendons. Blood splashed, like fireworks going off. It had something unreal, but at the same time terrifying. The reality of the situation hit him with the force of a hammer.

Alessandra fought like a lioness. Her movements were sure, precise, and her eyes blazed with anger. Nevertheless, she was also covered in scars, and the wounds permeated her body, and her skin was discolored by foreign blood. In this dark dance of death, she saw only a goal. A goal that would allow her to survive and at the same time free herself from the clutches of madness.

Luca attacked, but you could see anxiety in his eyes as if pride and fear were fighting a painful battle within him. He was like a boy who was forced to play a game he didn't understand. His movements were impossible to put together into a complete picture. He resisted, but also felt helpless, because how to fight something that seems out of this world? And then came the moment when the faces of the warriors, along with the crystals of their eyes, were obscured by terror. Hostility faded into the background, leaving room for terror. They saw what they saw.

They entered the house of ghouls, overturned tables, vapors of poisons floating in the air, and with that gaze that knew no mercy, they fell into the abyss. What was happening then went beyond the limits of a dark dream. It was like a penetrating, dangerous painting - hell on earth. The paintings drew the inner demons of each of them. Alex whipped around instinctively the serpentine fist that every now and then flowed out of the mist, striking, crippling. Venice's fury from now on had flesh, skin and claws, and wanted to rip out their souls at all costs.

Alessandra was like a stunning avalanche that tore down everything in its path. It was a fight for survival, and at the same time for something more. She was like a beast at the mercy of impulses that seemed to come from the abyss. Her wounds and cuts did not stop her, they only made her even stronger. It was a fight for the soul of the city, a fight for the soul of herself.

Luca, with his passion and love for history, was now in the heat of battle. Desperation was painted in his eyes. He knew he couldn't fail, but he also didn't know if he could handle what was to come. He was a wounded warrior who was still defending his kingdom, though it was becoming more and more desolate. After a moment that lasted like an eternity, something changed. It was like a breath of cool wind after a violent storm. The stream of warriors dried up, and the rainbow flames of battle died down in the distance. But it was not the end. It was a moment of holding their breath in what they felt was the breath before the storm. They had no time for reverie. They knew that any moment of inattention could have been the last. They had to act quickly before the horror returned. Before they tore the abyss apart again and let the demons out. They had to get to where this mystery of Venice had been lingering for centuries. In their lives, they wouldn't have expected the past to come to life and the battle for it to be so brutal. They had crossed the gate of hell and could not go back.

They have been on unfamiliar ground more than once. Dark, dangerous but not like this. Now they could only move forward with the belief that they would discover the truth that could open the door to secrets, to a history that no one knew. Warriors died but this land awaited them with greater challenges. They were the chosen ones. Now they were to face what was on the other side. This path was like an intricate mosaic in St. Mark's Cathedral. No one knew what else it hid inside but it was known that it was something big, something that was going to open the door to another reality. It was the beginning of the end. And they were part of the story.

Alex breathed hard and looked at Alessandra. Their eyes were full of strenuous determination, ready for the next stage of this dark odyssey

- Alessandra, Luca, brother Elias...We must move forward, no matter what lies ahead," he said firmly, although inwardly he felt a shudder of uncertainty.

Alessandra clenched her fists and reciprocated the look.

- We have our task. This is the city and our history. We fight until the end.

Luca reached out a hand and placed it on Alex's shoulder.

- Well, lead the way brother.

They moved forward into the darkness that permeated their hearts. They didn't know what the future would bring but they knew they had to move on. To discover the truth, to save themselves, they had to overcome their own fears. And they would do it together, because what awaited them was stronger than anything they could have imagined. The last cries of the warriors could only be heard in their hearts. They knew that despite the difficulties, their fate rested in their hands. There was no turning back. Now they had to confront what was hidden from their world.

The moment had come when they were about to reach the source where truth and lies intertwined in a tangle of unimaginable spells. They had to be careful, because they could still feel the gaze that followed them hidden in the shadows. Deep inside, they knew that they had crossed into a land full of danger. In the search for answers, one had to be ready for anything.

- Something is wrong here," whispered Alex as they approached the old ruins.

The rusted bars and the sound of falling water added to the dark atmosphere of this abandoned place. There was a musty smell and something else that was hard to identify. Then unexpectedly, a steel-armored knight emerged from around the corner, holding a sword in his hand.

- Die infidels!!! - he shouted, lashing out at them with ferocious determination.

Once again the bloody struggle for survival began, where they faced an enemy they could not quite understand. Alessandra fought with fierceness, and her movements were precise and passionate. One could recognize a rhythm in her every punch and dodge that was reminiscent of old masquerade dances. Some unintelligible, hissing symbols came to her ears, adding spice to this bloody battle.

- These are some kind of infernal incantations! - shouted Luca, trying to explain the non-obvious sounds of the words that took place at this godforsaken place.

- We have no way out! We have to break the damn thing! - shouted Alex, feeling the force of the unknown magic surround them with a thicker and thicker circle. During the fight, another knight emerged from between the rubble. It was a man with a dark face, shrouded in armor surrounding him like flames.

- You came here for death! - he threw, launching another attack.

They intertwined in battle, as if they were engaged in an uninterrupted dance of death. Sparks blazed, and smoke rose around them, adding an epic touch to the whole thing. A rage that Alex hadn't felt in years filled him. He took control of his actions. There was no more room for mercy. The knight opposite him had no idea who he was up against. With a sweeping blow, he chopped off his arm, and screams of pain filled the deserted ruins. It was a horrible sight, but Alex had no time to dwell on the image. Suddenly, from behind the crumbled walls, another emerged. He had a bloody face and a contorted expression.

- You will pay for this unfaithful dog! - he hollered, hitting Alex in the face with the handle of his sword.

Alessandra fought on fiercely, throwing herself at another knight. Her fists rained down like hammers, crushing bones and muscles. She could feel the adrenaline pulsing, giving her strength. There was something wild in her, something that was just waiting to be released.

- Die rusty tin men! - roared Luca, staggering to his feet, but still ready to fight.

The fight was brutal and blood poured in streams, bones broke and bodies fell to the ground. It was a battle to the death from which there was no escape. Soon after, after a fierce and bloody battle, the last knight fell to the ground. Exhausted, covered in blood and scars, they knew this was not the end. They had to find answers. They breathed deeply, gathering their remaining strength, then moved further into the ruins toward something that would change their lives. The shattered walls of the ruin opened a terrifying tunnel before them. Darkness engulfed them, and the only light was the faint reflections of the moon coming through gaps in the vaulted ceiling. The corridor full of hidden dangers seemed to have no end. From behind the nooks and crannies, a whisper came to them. They stopped and listened in silence. They clearly heard some sounds, as if footsteps, but saw no one. Lost in the darkness, they felt like prey to a hunting predator.

- It's them again... - whispered Elias with horror in his voice, realizing that they were not alone in this underground land.

Alex drew his sword. In his hands he held it confidently being ready to continue the fight. Alessandra drew her dagger, and Luca grabbed the handle of the cleaver he had taken from the last knight. They were ready for any danger when unexpectedly the corridor began to tremble. Stones fell on them after which a wave of frantic noise shook them. It seemed that the entire structure could collapse at any moment. For a moment, they had the impression that underneath them they could hear the last breaths of the place. They heard whispers again. Someone or something was still nearby. They cautiously began to walk forward. Suddenly, staggering and emitting a shrill hiss, the enemy appeared, revealing its present form. This was the threat that had pursued them from the very beginning.

- You will not escape," he growled, "Your fate is already numbered," he rushed in unleashed, followed by his companions.

Alex felt adrenaline mix with the desire for murder, propelling him to the next precise movements. He had his weapon in his hand, which had become an extension of his arm. He felt every impact of the knight's shield, whose blows had a dark force to them. His opponent drew his sword, and leaden breath gushed from beneath his helmet. He felt as if time had slowed down, and every movement had its own unearthly force. His gaze focused on his opponent's sword, avoiding the deadly blows, yet the blade hooked his shoulder wounding it deeply. The pain was electrifying, felt all the way to his fingertips. For a moment, he felt as if the whole world shrank into pain. But he had no time for weakness. He instinctively deflected the blow, striking his opponent in the armor. The lead helmet shook but the knight endured. Then a sharp pain pierced his leg - he was hit with a kick. The fall was brutal. He hit the ground feeling the bones crunch. Nevertheless, he had to get up, he could not afford a moment of weakness. Adrenaline and rage fueled him to fight.

Luca and Alessandra also fought a fierce battle. Thrashing through the air with cleavers, breaking bones and dagger blows - it was a symphony of chaos. Blood splashed on the walls, and the sounds of battle rolled through the dark tunnels. The knight attacked again brandishing blows with increasing ferocity. Alex felt pain in every muscle, yet his blade cut through the air, showing perfect precision and determination.

- Die you son of a bitch!!! - he threw, concentrating his last strength in a final blow.

The knight's helmet detached from his neck, and his body fell to the ground with a deafening bang. After a moment of silence, in which only the heavy breathing of the wounded warriors could be heard, it occurred to them that they had survived. But the wounds did not allow them to forget the nightmare of this battle. It was a dark dance between life and death, and each of them knew that this battle was only a prelude to greater sacrifices. The knights were defeated. Alex felt the adrenaline rush subsiding, replaced by exhaustion. His arm was bleeding, and his leg was mercilessly battered. All he could think about was a moment of rest, but there was no time for that.

Luca approached him, with the mad flame of battle still smoldering in his eyes.

- Alex Kurwa. I don't believe it. You chopped his fucking head off. But it's probably...not over yet," he said firmly.

Alessandra, though visibly tired nodded.

Meanwhile, the mysterious couple who had been watching their every move up to that point stopped in a shady corner near St. Mark's Cathedral. The man and woman were talking in whispers, their words full of impatience and eagerness. The woman with sharp facial features was clearly confident. She spoke in a strange language with broken Latin in the background.

- It's time to speed up with the plan. They have come too far. We must act quickly before they discover the whole truth.

The man, whose expectation was painted on his face, replied with a hint of cold determination in the same language.

- We will prepare a larger armed host. When they face a real threat, they will have no choice. Our plan must succeed.

They were approaching the exit of the corridor. Darkness was descending over Venice. The mysteries that lingered here were more terrifying than anyone could imagine. On this dark night, in which the sky was torn by lightning and the earth trembled like a ragged string, the intrepid quartet left the corridor. Their movements were clumsily covered by the canvas of the storm. Alex, wounded and tired, had his arm bound with a bandage made from some of Alessandra's clothing. She, on the other hand, though injured, walked with regal grace, though her dress was now only a picture of despair.

Brother Elias looked at them with a shadow of concern in his eyes. He was a man whose strength lay in his faith. But he too was beginning to doubt and see that their fate was intertwined with something far more powerful than mere human existence. Venice in their eyes now appeared as a place in chaos and destruction. The rain descending from the sky was like the tears of the earth itself, more than just a whimsical aura. It was a force that tainted this beautiful city, turning it into an arena of unknown drama.

- We must go on without regard for the enemy. It's already gone too far to retreat," Alex said, but the sound of his words was lost in the roar of the storm.

He knew they had to act quickly and, above all, with their heads. They could not be mere pawns in this game whose rules no one understood. Brother Elias approached them, feeling not only the pain of his comrades, but also something more. It was the anxiety that was being born in his heart. He had witnessed many events, but this something was unfamiliar to him, it had a darkness and unpredictability about it.

- Time flows like a river," pronounced Brother Elias, and his voice sounded like an echo of ancient manuscripts, "And we are in a boat, floating towards the unknown. We must face the danger before it faces us like a dam.

Still walking through the twilight, they had the impression that the world around them was taking on a life of its own. Each step into the unknown brought up new visions, as if the city had something to say to them in a vague whisper, difficult to understand. They saw something that caught their attention. Together they stopped, looking in amazement. Before them appeared some kind of archaic monument, a pillar decorated with incomprehensible symbols and ancient runes. It was so old that it looked as if it had been a part of the city since time immemorial, since forgotten times.

- What is this place? - Alex asked, not expecting an answer.

Brother Elias, however, tilted his head, as if listening to the whisper of old.

- This place stores history," he pronounced after a moment, "History that is not measured in years, but in seals of time.

Alessandra moved closer, studying the ancient symbols that seemed to have begun to speak to her soul by weaving themselves into her like roots into the ground.

- It's like... as if this city was once a vigilant guardian of secrets," Alessandra whispered, though she knew the words might sound crazy.

- Yes, the keeper of secrets and the key to forgotten stories," Brother Elias added, "Some stories must remain hidden so that we can keep our minds healthy.

Luca, still gazing at the ancient symbols, could not take his eyes off the place. This place exuded an aura of mystery and danger, as well as an irresistible magnetism. It was a moment that could change everything.

- We should still come back here," he pronounced with inner conviction, "This seal of history probably has something more to say.

That's what they did. They left the place knowing that it was only a temporary break in their journey. Venice lived a life of its own, as if it were made of magical tales, and they entered its pages that had hitherto remained hidden. There was no turning back. Not for them. The atmosphere became increasingly saturated with anxiety. The storm was growing, still taking on passionate grimaces of discord with nature itself. The city, though always bustling with life, now seemed to pulsate with something more. Something elusive was peeking out from behind the curtain of reality.

- This is the second time. The second time that I feel that this city is alive," Alex broke the silence, trying to express what he felt, "There is something indecipherable about it that wants to show us something.

- Maybe he wants us to discover the secrets he has been hiding for a long time? - wondered Alessandra.

Luca mused, gazing up at the twilight sky. There was something in his eyes as if from the distant past, the look of a man who comes face to face with an enigma.

- We need to understand and unravel the history that lies within this city before we become one ourselves.

Soon they found themselves back in the thicket of streets. The storm had unleashed its full force, tearing up the treetops and toppling small stalls. But they were not alone now. Amid the narrow streets. they spotted figures. They had no faces, only blurred shadows emanating a strange glow. They made no sound, yet their presence pierced like a scream.

- What the hell is that? - whispered Alex, feeling a shudder of uncertainty in his heart.

- They are the phantoms of this city. Spirits of Venice," replied Brother Elias, who also sensed their presence.

Suddenly the phantoms began to approach, and the sky was further illuminated by flashes of lightning. It was like a scenario straight out of a cheap horror movie.

- Let's stick together! - shouted Luca, grabbing Alessandra's hand - This place has as many secrets as there are stars in the sky and you don't know what the hell is going to happen again.

Venice seemed to be immersed in a surreal dance between the world of the living and the dead. The rain rhythmically pounded the cobblestone streets like war drums mixing with the wind and creating a symphony of wild sounds. Ghosts pale and hazy with blurred silhouettes tried to emerge from the fog, but they didn't quite make it. They had no clear outlines, but emanated a terrible glow that sharpened the edges of their unreal shapes, and their eyes were most frightening in this view. They looked like abandoned marionettes, moving chaotically, as if their movements were not fully controlled.

They began to move, hovering in the air. Alex, Alessandra and Luca stood shoulder to shoulder, ready to clash. Brother Elias, though slightly older and clearly less physically fit, stood beside them with a certain calmness, as if this was not the first time he had fought the spirits.

- They can't hurt us physically. It's just a delusion," Brother Elias allayed their fears about injury.

They used their skills to ward off these sinister fashions. Alex brandished his sword, creating flashes of glare on the wet streets. Brother Elias recited ancient spells capable of keeping the spirits away. Alessandra and Luca, agile and quick, dodged the blows, trying to focus on defense. Suddenly, one of the ghosts, extremely aggressive, headed straight for Alessandra.

- Alessandra, watch out! - shouted Alex moving to her aid.

He managed to stop the ghost, but now he was in danger himself. The phantom headed toward him, surrounding him with a glow. Alex swung his sword, but it flew through the ghost as if it were a mist. This was a battle that was not about a clash of steel blade and flesh, but a clash of will and magic.

- We need to focus on a common goal! - cried Brother Elias, giving instructions - Concentrate your thoughts on what unites you!

With his guidance, they began to focus their minds, seeking strength in what had brought them here. Venice was their guide in this struggle. It was not just a place - it was already a part of themselves.

- Together, as one! - Alessandra called out, and their forces united in one impeachment.

Mary began to give way.

- It's working! - exclaimed Luca - We must work in harmony with this cursed city!

The fight continued at its best, but the friends felt they were regaining the upper hand. The phantoms were losing power, and they were gaining confidence. It was an attempt to connect with the history of this city to overcome the sinister force that was trying to stop them.

- Together! - shouted Alex, and their energy, which Elias brought out with his spells, united in a powerful pulse that cast away the vapor.

The fight continued, and now they felt they were part of something bigger. They felt that Venice was fighting along with them. Lightning continued to rip up the sky, illuminating the dark streets. The phantoms, although they were losing strength, were not about to give up.

- We must endure! - shouted Alex, feeling pain in every muscle.

Brother Elias continued to recite spells, trying to control the stream of energy that flowed between him and the spirits. His hands trembled with effort.

- We can't give up! - he called out, and a powerful wave of energy surged from his hand, forcing the phantoms to retreat.

The blood from their wounds, along with the rain, mixed in the streets, creating a blood trail. As they fought the phantoms of this city, they felt that they were fighting the very essence of darkness. It was a battle for their souls. As the energy of the mar began to wane a sound came from the distance. It was no longer the noise of the storm, but shouts and roars.

- They are coming! - shouted Alex, lifting his sword high.

It wasn't over yet. Now they had to face another challenge. What came frightened them even more than the phantoms. In the distance appeared knights armed to the teeth in heavy armor with symbols of crosses on their chests.

- These are the fucking Templars! - shouted Luca, recognizing the enemies.

These were mortal enemies who viewed magic and mystery as heresy.

- Tie up the formation! - cried Alex, preparing for another fight.

He knew it would be even harder this time. It wasn't phantoms or cherubic armed men they recognized. These were flesh-and-blood crusaders with iron large double-edged swords in their hands.

The battle has taken a new turn.