Chapter 20: The Battle for Thalgris
Chapter 20: The Battle for Thalgris
The Hunters emerged from the shadows, their forms cloaked in glowing energy. Each step they took sent tremors through the chamber, their presence a suffocating weight. Kaylen clenched his fists, the Ember Core blazing in his hand. The fragment's power coursed through him, hot and volatile, but he couldn't let it consume him. Not now.
"There are three of them," Solas said, their relics flaring to life. "This won't be like before."
Eryn smirked, their blade gleaming in the faint light. "Good. I was getting bored."
Kaylen swallowed hard, his heart pounding. The Hunters stood in a loose formation, their glowing weapons humming with deadly precision. The leader stepped forward, their voice cold and metallic.
"You've meddled long enough," the Hunter said, their glowing spear leveling at Kaylen. "Surrender the Core, and we might let you live."
Kaylen tightened his grip on the Core, its energy flaring brighter. "Not a chance."
The Hunter tilted their head slightly, as if amused. "Then you've chosen death."
---
The chamber erupted into chaos. The first Hunter lunged at Solas, their twin blades slicing through the air in a blur of light. Solas dodged smoothly, their relics forming a barrier that absorbed the brunt of the attack. Eryn intercepted the second Hunter, their blade flashing as they deflected a strike from a glowing axe.
Kaylen found himself face-to-face with the leader. The Hunter's spear crackled with energy as they charged, their movements impossibly fast. Kaylen barely had time to react, summoning a shield of flame to block the strike. The impact sent him stumbling back, the Core's energy surging in response.
"Stay calm," Solas shouted, their voice cutting through the noise. "Control the Core!"
Kaylen gritted his teeth, the heat of the Core spreading through his chest. He focused, summoning a burst of fire that forced the Hunter to retreat. The fragment's power pulsed within the Core, its energy wild and untamed. Kaylen could feel it pushing against him, demanding to be unleashed.
The Hunter recovered quickly, their spear spinning in a deadly arc. Kaylen dodged, the tip grazing his side and sending a jolt of pain through his body. He retaliated with a stream of fire, but the Hunter deflected it effortlessly, their spear glowing brighter.
"You're strong," the Hunter said, their voice almost admiring. "But you're untrained. The Core will destroy you before you can master it."
Kaylen ignored them, summoning another burst of fire. This time, he shaped the flames into a whip, lashing out with precision. The Hunter dodged, but the fire caught the edge of their cloak, forcing them to retreat again.
---
Meanwhile, Eryn was locked in a brutal duel with the second Hunter. Their opponent's axe crashed against their blade, each strike sending sparks flying. Eryn grinned through gritted teeth, their movements sharp and calculated.
"Is that all you've got?" they taunted, sidestepping another swing.
The Hunter snarled, their axe glowing as they brought it down in a powerful arc. Eryn dodged at the last moment, countering with a slash that left a glowing gash across the Hunter's armor.
"Nice," Eryn muttered. "But not good enough."
---
Solas held their ground against the first Hunter, their relics flaring with energy. The Hunter's twin blades struck repeatedly, each attack faster than the last. Solas deflected the strikes with practiced ease, their focus unwavering.
"You're predictable," Solas said, their voice calm. "And slow."
The Hunter growled, lunging forward with both blades. Solas sidestepped, their relics releasing a pulse of energy that sent the Hunter staggering back.
"Amateurs," Solas muttered, their gaze shifting toward Kaylen. "He needs help."
---
Kaylen's battle with the leader reached a fever pitch. The Hunter's spear moved like a blur, each strike testing his defenses. The Core's energy surged, its power demanding release. Kaylen gritted his teeth, focusing on controlling the flames rather than letting them control him.
"You can't win," the Hunter said, their voice cold. "The Core is too much for you."
Kaylen glared at them, the flames in his hands blazing brighter. "Maybe. But I'm not giving up."
With a shout, he unleashed a torrent of fire, the flames twisting and surging toward the Hunter. They raised their spear to block, but the sheer force of the attack pushed them back, their armor glowing red-hot.
Kaylen didn't stop. He focused the Core's energy, shaping the flames into a massive arc that crashed down on the Hunter. The fragment's power pulsed through him, the heat searing his skin, but he held on.
The Hunter staggered, their spear falling to the ground. Kaylen took a shaky step forward, the Core's glow blinding in the dim chamber.
"You should've stayed away," Kaylen said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion in his limbs.
The Hunter looked up, their helmet cracked, revealing a glimpse of their face. Their expression was a mixture of pain and… respect? They chuckled faintly, shaking their head.
"You're stronger than I thought," they said. "But this isn't over."
Before Kaylen could react, the Hunter activated a device on their wrist, disappearing in a flash of light. The other two Hunters followed suit, their forms dissolving into the shadows.
---
The chamber fell silent, the echoes of the battle fading. Kaylen collapsed to one knee, his breath ragged. The Core in his hand pulsed faintly, its energy finally settling.
Eryn approached, their blade still drawn. "You okay?"
Kaylen nodded, though his body felt like it was on fire. "I think so."
Solas knelt beside him, their gaze sharp. "You controlled it. The fragment didn't overwhelm you."
"Barely," Kaylen muttered, his voice hoarse. "But they'll be back."
Eryn sheathed their blade, a faint smirk on their lips. "Let them. Next time, we'll be ready."
Kaylen looked at the Core, its glow steady but ominous. The fragment's power had amplified it, but the cost of using it was higher than ever. He didn't know how much longer he could hold on, but he knew one thing:
The fight wasn't over. And neither was his journey.