Chapter 6: Shadowfall Rising
Dawn's first rays roused Seraphina from prophetic dreams. She donned gleaming mail as horns sounded the alarm. Shadowfall's forces approached.
Outside towering gates, Radiance's armies stood poised, awaiting her before Leonidas on a hill. Behold our champion! With her sacred gift from the Creator and our valor behind it, no one can stand against us in the Almighty's name! The king roared.
Cheers shook the land as Seraphina raised her shining blade. For Etherea and El Shaddai! Her comrades echoed the cry, drowning out terror's whispers. Dark clouds roiled in the distance as the ground shuddered—Malachi's monstrous horde emerged.
At Seraphina's order, the host surged forth as one golden wave crashed against the dark tide. Her comrades fought valiantly. Valiant cleaved through foes with splendorous skill; Grace shot arrows of light with her bow, protecting allies; Solomon guided troops with tactical brilliance.
Yet the chaos of combat threatened to overwhelm their coordinated lines. Seraphina hacked through assailants, rallying troops with righteous fury, fueling each blow. A monstrous warg-beast lunged, slavering jaws agape—her sword flashed, banishing it in a blaze of light.
Another turned its baleful glare upon fleeing citizens; she intercepted its charge, parrying with precision honed through trials. Light flared from her blade into its warped form, dispelling terror in its eyes as it collapsed.
Her comrades fought with renewed vigor, witnessing light's purity triumph over shadow. Yet more horrors emerged: serpentine drakes spitting flames and putrid demonic imps that should not have stirred. Doubt assailed amid the din, yet she held fast.
A vast shadow arose amid the chaos. Malachi strode forth upon midnight armor, grinning sinisterly. Face me, false champion! Let us see which holds sway—your God or my Master's true power over this realm!
Seraphina flung herself at his challenge, blows charged by righteous certainty. Their blades clashed in a dance where any misstep meant doom, yet her skill prevailed through nights spent honing it. Light flared, banishing Malachi from howling into the mists of retreat.
Her comrades prevailed through her example, turning the tide against the dark forces. Yet losses had been grievous that day, and Seraphina knew—this victory had been but the opening stroke in the battles to come against the looming shadow war. Only by maintaining virtue's flame could they withstand whatever challenges arose from the darkness.