Chapter 23

[-1 year and 9 months later-]

The city of Gnossia basked in the warmth of a lively afternoon. The streets were bustling, filled with the chatter of merchants promoting their latest goods, children running in excitement, and the distant hum of the city's magic-powered skyrails weaving through the towering buildings. Bright banners swayed gently in the breeze, while floating lanterns illuminated the streets despite the daylight.

For nearly two years, peace had reigned, the people carrying on with their daily lives without a single thought of disaster.

Inside a well-furnished home, Vespera and Caelum, sat across from Nerath's parents, deep in conversation. The room was cluttered with schematics and half-finished blueprints, remnants of a long brainstorming session about new magical gadgets that could enhance the city's defense.

Caelum leaned forward, tapping a metallic device resting on the table. "If we improve the city's early warning system, we can react instantly in case of an emergency. Right now, we rely too much on manual reports"

Nerath's father, arms crossed, examined the device closely. "That only solves half the problem. What we really need is a faster deployment force. If an attack happens suddenly, how do we ensure immediate response?"

Vespera, who had been casually listening with a knowing smile, finally spoke. "Simple. We don't wait for the enemy to attack. We detect them before they even arrive"

As they discussed, the city outside continued its usual harmony. The people of Gnossia carried no worries, no fears- completely unaware that, in mere moments, their world would shatter apart.

Then it happened....

A loud, unnatural crack split through the air, like glass shattering but infinitely deeper. Above the market district, a fracture in reality itself had opened. The air twisted violently, distorting like a warped reflection in a broken mirror. At first, the citizens below only stared in confusion and unease.

Then, from the rift, the monsters came...!

Dark, twisted beings spilled into the city like a tidal wave of nightmares. Screeching Phantoms with flickering, hollow forms glided through the sky, their shrill wails sending people into a panic. Crawling Aberrations with too many limbs and eyes that blinked sideways swarmed the streets, their elongated fingers clutching at anything they could reach. Among them, Crimson Devourers, monstrous, armored beasts with serrated jaws, crushed buildings beneath their massive weight as they rampaged forward.

.

.

.

Panic spread instantly. The once-lively market erupted into screams and chaos as people ran, shoving past one another in desperate attempts to flee. The Magic Patrol Force rushed in, their trained mages casting defensive barriers while others engaged in direct combat. Fire magic exploded through the air, wind currents howled, and protective wards flickered into place.

But it was too sudden, too overwhelming. A Phantom's scream reduced a patrol mage into a crumbling husk. A Devourer tore through an entire shop, sending debris flying as a woman barely managed to shield her child. The sheer carnage spread rapidly through the city, and despite the patrol force's best efforts, they were losing ground.

Inside the Magic Intellectual Department, alarms blared as frantic operators were flooded with distress calls. Screens flickered, showing live footage of the carnage unfolding.

"Emergency response teams, report immediately!" someone shouted.

"We're receiving over a hundred distress calls per second!" another shouted, struggling to keep up.

"There are too many! We need backup!"

Gnossia, a city that had thrived in peace, was crumbling before their eyes.

Then, a powerful gust of wind roared through the battlefield.

Caelum and Vespera had arrived... With them came Nerath's parents...Tho they were too late, the city had been half destroyed..., all four immediately launching into action. Caelum vanished in a blur of motion, his wind magic carving through phantoms like a blade of pure force. He moved faster than the eye could follow, his sword slashing through enemies with precise, deadly efficiency.

Vespera was an unstoppable force of darkness, weaving through enemies as her shadow magic sliced through the aberrations, leaving trails of black mist where creatures once stood. She fought with an eerie elegance, her movements precise and fluid, never wasting a single motion.

Nerath's father, wielding lightning-infused gauntlets, struck a Devourer with enough force to send it crashing through two buildings. His wife, a specialist in barrier magic, reinforced the patrol force, creating impenetrable shields that deflected incoming attacks.

For a moment, it seemed like the tides were turning in their favor.

Then, another rift appeared.

The air itself shuddered as a massive, towering figure emerged. It was different from the others- not a mindless beast, but something far worse.

It stood nearly twice the height of a man, its body wrapped in dark, shifting tendrils. Its elongated arms dripped with black ooze, and a cracked, horned mask concealed its face. Unlike the lesser creatures, it spoke.

"The Alteraith… Where is it..." it murmured, its voice like a deep, resonating tremor that sent chills through the battlefield. "Where is the sacrifice for the King?"

All at once, the other monsters froze, as if awaiting its command. The battlefield fell into a dreadful silence.

Caelum tightened his grip on his sword. "Who… or what are you?"

The monster's glowing, soulless eyes locked onto him.

"We are the Seekers. And we have come for what is ours."

Then it moved...

In the blink of an eye, it lunged forward, its clawed arm aiming straight for Caelum's heart.

Before it could land the attack, Vespera intercepted.

A shockwave erupted as the two clashed, the sheer impact sending debris flying in all directions. Vespera moved like living shadow, striking with deadly precision, her magic seeping into the creature's form with each hit. But no matter how many times she struck, the wounds vanished instantly.

The Seeker laughed, "You are strong," it mused, its voice dripping with amusement. "But strength is meaningless before the will of the King...!!!"

Before she could react, a tendril shot forward, piercing straight through Vespera's side.

She coughed, staggering back, but instead of retreating, she grabbed the tendril and pulled the creature toward her, slamming a powerful burst of dark magic into its chest. The impact sent it skidding backward, yet it remained unscathed.

The Seeker tilted its head. "Persistent," it mused. "But futile!"

Then, in an instant, it was behind her.

SQUELCH...!!

A sickening sound echoed through the battlefield.

Caelum's breath caught in his throat.

The Harbinger's clawed hand was buried deep in Vespera's chest.

A thin gasp left her lips as she looked down, her own blood dripping onto the ground.

"You fought well," the Harbinger said. "But the King must have his sacrifice"

Then, with a cruel, effortless motion, it ripped its arm back.

Vespera's body crumpled to the ground.

"...Laz...iel..."

For the first time in his life, Caelum felt true horror.

Then, he screamed, "VESPERA...!!!!"

Gnossia's battlefield descended into madness once more.

.

.

.

_To Be Continued_