Chapter 11: Clash with the Commander

The Horde Commander charged across the bridge, each of its footsteps shaking the crumbling stone. Its jagged armor glinted faintly in the eerie glow of the abyss, and the massive blade it carried crackled with red energy, leaving scorch marks as it scraped the ground.

"Uh, anyone else feel wildly underprepared?" Ethan asked, gripping his metal pipe. "No? Just me?"

"Stop talking and spread out!" Karis barked, already moving to the left. "This thing's swings will hit all of us if we're bunched together."

Lucas planted his shield in front of him, his face pale but determined. "I'll draw its attention! You two find an opening!"

"Find an opening?" Ethan repeated, dodging as a chunk of stone fell off the side of the bridge. "It's wearing armor, carrying a sword the size of a car, and looks like it eats nails for breakfast! You're telling me there's an opening?"

"Figure it out!" Karis snapped, already circling the Commander like a predator stalking its prey.

The Commander swung its blade in a wide arc, aiming for Lucas. He raised his shield just in time, the impact sending him skidding backward with a grunt. Sparks flew, and the bridge groaned under the strain.

"Okay!" Lucas shouted. "This thing hits harder than I thought!"

"Good observation," Ethan muttered, stepping forward. The Commander's attention shifted to him, its burning eyes locking onto him with a chilling intensity. "Oh, great. Why me?"

It swung the blade down in a crushing overhead strike. Ethan activated Shadowstep, phasing through the attack and reappearing behind the Commander. "You missed!" he taunted, swinging his pipe at the back of its knee. The pipe connected with a clang but barely dented the armor.

The Commander didn't flinch. Instead, it spun with terrifying speed, its massive blade slicing through the air toward Ethan's chest. He dove to the side, the edge of the blade missing him by inches.

"Yeah, that's fair," Ethan said, scrambling to his feet. "What's next? Laser eyes?"

"Stop running your mouth and focus!" Karis shouted, darting in from the side. She drove her knife into a gap in the Commander's armor, twisting it before jumping back. The Commander roared, swiping at her with its free hand, but she was already out of reach.

"Armor's got weak points," Karis said, her voice cold and sharp. "Joints, neck, back. Aim for them."

"Right," Ethan said, tightening his grip on the pipe. "Joints, neck, back. Got it. Easy."

The Commander roared again, turning its attention back to Lucas. It charged, swinging its blade in a wide arc. Lucas raised his shield, bracing himself, but the impact sent him stumbling back again. His boots scraped against the edge of the bridge, a shower of pebbles tumbling into the abyss.

"Lucas!" Ethan shouted, darting toward him. He swung his pipe at the Commander's legs, aiming for another weak point, but the creature kicked him away with a force that sent him sprawling.

"Thanks for the help!" Lucas called, scrambling to regain his footing.

"Anytime," Ethan groaned, clutching his ribs.

Karis darted in again, slashing at the back of the Commander's knee. This time, her blade found its mark, slicing through a tendon-like structure. The Commander stumbled, its massive frame dropping slightly as it roared in pain.

"Now!" Karis shouted. "Hit it while it's down!"

Ethan gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet. His ribs ached, and his hands were slick with sweat, but he wasn't about to let Karis do all the work. He activated Ravager's Pounce, leaping forward with explosive force. The world seemed to slow as he arced through the air, bringing his pipe down on the Commander's exposed neck.

The impact landed with a sickening crunch, and the Commander staggered, dropping its massive blade. Lucas didn't miss the opportunity—he charged forward, slamming his shield into the creature's chest with a roar.

The Commander toppled, its massive frame hitting the bridge with a thunderous crash. Black smoke billowed from its body as it dissolved, the glowing red energy in its armor fading away.

---

Objective Complete: Defeat the Horde Commander.

XP Gained: 1,000.

New Level Achieved: Level 6.

Rewards Unlocked:

Strength +2

Skill Unlocked: Commander's Resilience (Passive): Take reduced damage from large enemies.

---

Ethan staggered back, panting. His entire body felt like it had been put through a meat grinder, but a grin spread across his face as he read the notification. "Commander's Resilience, huh? I think I earned that one."

"Don't pat yourself on the back yet," Karis said, wiping blood from her knife. She gestured toward the fortress ahead. "We're not done."

The massive double doors of the fortress creaked open, revealing a long, shadowy hallway lined with glowing blue runes. The air that poured out was cold, carrying the faint scent of decay.

"Oh, good," Ethan said, stepping forward reluctantly. "Because the bridge full of monsters and the guy with the murder sword weren't enough."

Lucas leaned on his shield, catching his breath. "What's the next objective?"

"Retrieve the Relic," Karis said, her eyes narrowing as she stared into the darkness. "Whatever it is, it's in there."

Ethan tightened his grip on the pipe, his knuckles white. "And let me guess—there's going to be something horrible guarding it?"

"Count on it," Karis said, smirking. "Let's move."

As they stepped into the fortress, the doors groaned shut behind them, sealing them in. The runes along the walls flickered, casting eerie shadows across the floor.

Ethan sighed. "Yep. Definitely something horrible in here."