Shadow Corps Unleashed

Judge, battered and bloodied, leaned heavily against a crumbling wall. His chain hung limply in his hand, its once-brilliant flames now extinguished. Every fiber of his being screamed in exhaustion, but the sight of the Shadow Corps arriving brought him a rare sense of relief. Unlike him, these soldiers were forged for battles like this—trained to eliminate high-risk targets with precision and efficiency.

The Shadow Corps was Brotherhood's ultimate weapon. Each unit typically consisted of twelve operatives, though only six were present now. Their leader, Vorenus, commanded the second unit, but these soldiers belonged to the third. Even half a squad was enough to tip the scales against enemies that no ordinary forces could handle.

Haizen and Talon arrived moments later, their eyes wide with shock at the devastation surrounding the mansion. Broken walls exposed the dense forest beyond, while the inside was a shattered maze of debris and scorch marks from the ongoing battle. Haizen immediately sprinted toward Judge, with Talon close behind.

"Judge!" Haizen called, crouching beside the injured man. Talon stood behind, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, ready to defend.

Judge, barely able to stay upright, rasped, "The recruit... he's possessed by a demon."

One of the Shadow Corps soldiers, standing nearby, spoke in a calm yet commanding tone. "What is the identity of the demon?"

Judge coughed, wincing as pain lanced through his side. "I suspect it's from the Kingdom Wars—a remnant of that era. Dark magic fuels him. He uses bodies as hosts, and the entire Revona noble family... and countless civilians... they were all his victims."

The soldier nodded. "Understood." Turning to the others, he issued orders. "Soldiers, eliminate the demon. Capture if possible. Kill if necessary."

The five operatives moved as one, their twin daggers gleaming as they shot forward like shadows given life. Their movements were unnaturally fast, each step calculated and precise. The leader stayed back, standing guard over Judge and observing the fight with cold, analytical eyes.

Zorrak, now fully in control of Orion's body, greeted the attack with an amused smirk. "More insects? Fine, let's play."

The first soldier reached him in an instant, striking with both blades aimed for his throat and chest. Zorrak deflected the attack with his glowing hands, the collision erupting into a burst of energy that sent dust and debris flying. He parried the second soldier's strike, but a third soldier caught his arm mid-motion, locking it in place. A fourth soldier, chanting a spell, unleashed a burst of light that struck Zorrak square in the chest, forcing him back.

For a moment, Zorrak faltered, his dark energy disrupted. But his smile never wavered. "You're persistent. I'll give you that." With a growl, he raised his hand. "Veil of the Void!"

A suffocating darkness erupted from Zorrak, enveloping the entire mansion. Chains of shadow materialized, lashing out in every direction. The soldiers, caught off guard, found themselves bound by the chains, their movements restricted.

Haizen and Talon, still near Judge, struggled as the chains reached for them as well. Talon swung his sword in a desperate attempt to cut them down, while Haizen used his teleportation ability to evade the attacks. Despite their efforts, the chains grew more aggressive, wrapping around their limbs. Just as they were about to succumb, the remaining Shadow Corps soldier stepped forward.

With a single, decisive gesture, he unleashed a wave of fire magic that incinerated the approaching chains. "Focus on staying alive," he ordered. "We'll handle this."

The four captured soldiers, their bodies entangled in the chains, began chanting in unison. Their voices blended into a haunting melody, and their eyes began to glow a vivid blue, piercing through their masks. The chains binding them disintegrated, and the soldiers moved as one, their synchronization flawless. They charged Zorrak, attacking with a combination of magic and blade strikes that forced him onto the defensive.

Zorrak, now pressed on all sides, grimaced as he tried to maintain the Veil of the Void. But the soldiers' relentless assault pushed him to his limits. One soldier teleported behind him, delivering a searing fire spell that disrupted the veil. Another lunged forward, his daggers glowing with arcane energy, slicing through Zorrak's defenses.

Haizen and Talon watched in awe, unable to comprehend the level of coordination and skill the Shadow Corps displayed. Haizen's hands twitched, itching to join the fight, but he knew he would only be a liability. "They're like machines," he muttered, his voice filled with equal parts admiration and frustration.

Talon nodded. "More than that. They're like a single entity."

Zorrak, realizing he was outmatched in the confines of the mansion, unleashed a massive burst of dark energy that forced the soldiers back. Seizing the opportunity, he leapt through a broken wall and into the forest beyond.

"Pursue," the leader of the Shadow Corps commanded.

The five soldiers moved without hesitation, their forms disappearing into the shadows of the forest as they gave chase. Zorrak, now visibly struggling, muttered to himself. "These creatures... they're wearing me down. I need to find a way to regain my power."

But he wasn't alone. The Shadow Corps followed relentlessly, their movements swift and silent. Each attack was a coordinated effort, designed to exploit every weakness Zorrak displayed. Some soldiers took hits intentionally, creating openings for their comrades to strike. One operative, mastering the art of stealth and teleportation, appeared directly in Zorrak's path, slashing at him before vanishing again.

Zorrak gritted his teeth, anger and desperation mounting. "Damn you humans," he growled. Despite his immense power, the teamwork and discipline of the Shadow Corps left him no room to breathe. Every move he made was countered, every attack met with a precise and deadly response.

Back in the ruins of the mansion, Judge collapsed to one knee, his body trembling from exertion. Haizen and Talon helped him to his feet, their expressions filled with worry.

"Will they win?" Haizen asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Judge, staring into the forest where the battle raged on, replied, "If anyone can, it's them. But even they might not be enough."