Shadowed

{3RD POV}

Stepping back, Nephis slashed at the throat of one of the stalkers. Violet ichor burst forth, and Nephis ducked away to avoid being sprayed by the blood.

In a graceful series of moves, Nephis stabbed the abomination's head. Another approached from behind, and with a quick motion, she pulled her sword free and turned in a wide arc, slicing the abomination in two.

Looking around her surroundings, Nephis saw that the other abominations were sprawled across the floor. Most of the cohort was still catching their breath, while only Nephis and the original cohort were already preparing for the adversaries on the other side of the ice wall.

The sound of heavy impacts against the wall made Nephis grow more alert, though her face remained calm and composed.

After a tense few seconds, she remembered something. Stabbing her longsword into the ground, she retrieved a small note stored in her arm bracers.

Unfolding it, she read the short but cryptic message: Play along, don't interfere, wait for him to make the first move, and leave the rest to me.

Tilting her head to the side, Nephis pondered the note's implications. It was clearly written by Pleiades, given the crude and simplistic handwriting.

She had seen his writing a few times, especially when he helped with mapping the Forgotten Shore back in the Dark City. Though she had never seen Sunny's writing, she could only suspect Pleiades was the author of the note.

'Playing along' was likely tied to whoever was meant to make the first move, but 'not interfering' felt contradictory.

How exactly was she supposed to play along and not interfere at the same time?

And who was going to make the first move? Was it one of the new recruits? Kai? Or even Caster?

Her musings were interrupted by the sound of shattering ice from the other side of the wall. It was the fourth time she'd heard it, meaning four fewer walls now separated the cohort from the abominations on the other side of the walls.

Folding the note, she tucked it back into her bracer and approached Effie and Cassie. The huntress had a few scratches on her lower body, while only a thin line of blood marred her face.

Effie looked up at Nephis and attempted a hearty smile, though it wavered. Adjusting her grip on her spear, she spoke, her voice carrying a faint edge of exhaustion.

"So, what's the plan, princess? Because if those abominations keep coming, we're going to need more than walls and luck."

Nephis glanced at Cassie, who was sitting cross-legged nearby, her golden hair slightly askew. Nephis's gaze softened for a moment before hardening again.

"We hold," Nephis said firmly, her voice sharp and commanding, in stark contrast to Effie's fatigued tone. "Until they break through completely. Then, we strike."

Effie raised an eyebrow, tapping her spear against the cavern floor. "Not exactly the most elaborate plan. You think they'll just stumble into our blades?"

"They won't stumble," Nephis replied, her icy tone unwavering. "But they'll come—fast and in numbers. That's where we make the difference. No one fights alone. Pair up, watch each other's backs."

Effie sighed, clearly unimpressed with the simplicity of the strategy but too tired to argue. "Fine. But if I get drenched in blood again, I will ask for actual payment."

Nephis ignored the quip, turning her attention to the others. Caster paced near the remains of the stalkers' mutilated bodies, his graceful jian gleaming even in the cavern's dim light. Kai leaned tierdly against a rock, his beautiful green eyes scanning every corner.

Meanwhile, Regis stood in front of the ice dome, waiting for Pleiades to arrive.

The sound of another shattering ice wall echoed, snapping everyone to attention. The abominations were close now, their grotesque forms visible through the fractured layers of ice that still separated them from the cohort.

Their snarls and hisses grew louder, reverberating ominously.

With her full attention on the wall, Nephis and the others failed to notice Liarus suddenly stop mid-step. His veteran gaze turned blank, and his sword-hand quivered as his knees buckled. Before he could fall, his eyes lost all color, only to return moments later, now cold and calculating.

A chilling smile spread across his face as he began walking toward Nephis, muttering under his breath.

"1… 3… 5… 7… 11…"

Nephis only sensed his presence when it was already too late. Liarus raised his sword and carved a deep line across her armor, cutting from her collarbone to her abdomen. She barely managed to twist away, preventing a more grievous injury.

Nephis stumbled forward, her silver eyes wide with shock as pain flared from the wound.

Instinctively, she twisted to face the threat, her longsword snapping up to parry the next blow.

Effie and the others froze in disbelief as the unexpected attack registered.

"Liarus, what the hell are you doing?!" Effie shouted, anger and confusion in her voice.

But Liarus was no longer recognizable. His once-human demeanor was gone, replaced by cold, mechanical precision. He tilted his head slightly, a mocking smile on his face.

"Just perfect!" he yelled almost cheerfully. "It's time to fulfill our mission, guys. They're weaker now."

He turned to the recruits and pointed his blade at Nephis. "We can finally carry out Lord Gunlaug's orders."

The recruits froze, their faces a mix of shock and confusion. But two among them—Tialis and Caster—remained unsettlingly calm, their expressions unreadable even in the mounting chaos.

Nephis's mind raced as blood seeped from her wound, the pain gnawing at her resolve but failing to diminish her focus. Betrayal was a knife she had grown too familiar with, yet Liarus's boldness was almost unbelievable.

"Liarus," she said, her voice cold and sharp, "what do you think you're doing? Betraying us here, of all places? You won't make it out alive."

He sneered, his condescension dripping from every word. "Still so confident, little princess? You've no idea what you're up against. Submit now, and perhaps we'll make it painless for you and your little followers."

Effie's grip on her spear tightened, fury blazing in her eyes. "You've lost your damned mind, Liarus! Lord Gunlaug's orders? We're not even in his territory anymore!"

Liarus ignored her, his smile widening as he gestured for the recruits to form up around him. To Nephis's dismay, all of them moved to his side without hesitation, forming a loose circle around him. Only Caster hesitated, stepping back toward Nephis, Effie, Cassie, and Kai.

Nephis's gaze flicked to him, a silent question in her silver eyes. Caster met her look with a calm nod, his posture unwavering despite the growing tension.

Liarus's voice rang out, cutting through the tense silence. "This is your last chance to surrender, Neph… I mean Nephis. You're outnumbered."

Nephis's lips curled into a humorless smile, her stance shifting as she readied her longsword. Flames flickered to life around her, dancing along the edges of her armor, casting her in an ethereal glow.

"Outnumbered," she said, her tone cool and commanding, "but not outmatched."

Effie snorted, stepping forward with her spear at the ready. "You think we're scared of a bunch of half-trained recruits and one lunatic? Dream on."

Regis Quickly made his way towards the outnumbered cohort while growling, "Damn him for keeping me in the dark." He muttered under his breath.

Then for a fleeting moment, Nephis saw a shadow glide across the floor, it looked towards her… and gave a simple thumbs up.

Feeling a little annoyed, Nephis sighed and looked toward the dome of ice where Pleiades had gone to fight against the tyrant. Just as the recruits took a step forward, a small imperfection appeared in the interior of the dome.

A faint crack echoed through the cavern. Nephis watched as fractures began to spread across the dome's surface.

A second later, the entire structure shattered. As ice shards exploded outward, she caught sight of Regis moving toward the recruits.

Caught off guard by the noise, all but one of them instinctively turned to look. Regis seized the moment, lunging forward. Nephis would have done the same… but

Chunks of ice flew into the air, crashing against the cavern walls and floor. One particularly large boulder hurtled straight toward the shadow wolf. Regis tried to stop, but it was too late—he stumbled forward, right into its path.

"MOTHER—"

Before the curse could fully leave his mouth, the boulder smashed into him with a force that made the ground tremble.

The recruits stared in stunned silence. Liarus had his mouth open in disbelief, his exaggerated evil smirk faltering into something far less composed.

Nephis turned her gaze to the shattered dome and deadpanned. There, standing atop a massive ice spike, was Sunny—or at least his body. What had likely been a confident grin was now replaced by a slack-jawed expression.

He said something, but from this distance, Nephis could barely make it out.

"Uhhh… Sorry?"

A deep crack split across the boulder that had crushed Regis. An instant later, it exploded into countless smaller fragments, scattering across the cavern.

Regis' mane flared with fury, and a low snarl escaped his throat. Then, with a mad grin, he spoke in a condescending tone.

"Mhmmm. Harder ~ YOU FUCKASS."