7. Clash

The army of 100 soldiers from the higher world marched deeper into the forest, their swords and shields at the ready. They had been warned about the ferocious beasts that roamed the forest, but they were not prepared for the sheer scale of the creatures they encountered. Giant spiders, massive bears, and even a dragon or two fell before their blades, but the soldiers pressed on, undaunted.

Meanwhile, the Lich Xandros was having a merry time with his trusted companion, Steve the skeleton. They were lounging in their cave, surrounded by the trappings of dark magic and the treasures of the dead. Xandros was sipping a cup of blood-red wine, while Steve was busy polishing his bony fingers with a dirty rag.

But their revelry was short-lived, as Xandros suddenly sensed a disturbance in the air. He frowned, his eyes narrowing as he concentrated on the sensation. "Steve, it seems we have some unwanted visitors," he said, his voice dripping with annoyance.

Steve looked up, his skull creaking with a lazy stretch. "Oh, bother," he said. "Can't they see we're trying to relax here?"

Xandros snorted, his bony chest heaving with laughter. "I'll send a few of my minions to take care of them," he said, snapping his fingers.

A dozen undead minions, a mix of skeletons, ghouls, and zombies, shambled out of the cave, their eyes glowing with an unnatural hunger. But to Xandros's surprise, they did not return. Instead, the sound of clashing steel and the screams of the undead echoed through the forest, growing fainter with each passing moment.

Xandros's face darkened, his eyes blazing with anger. "It seems we have a problem, Steve," he said, his voice low and menacing.

Steve nodded, his skull bobbing up and down. "Yes, my lord. It seems those visitors are not as easy to dispatch as we thought."

Xandros snarled, his bony fingers drumming against the armrest of his throne. "I'll send twice the number of minions, and we'll see how they fare," he said, his eyes glinting with malevolence.

But the result was the same. The undead minions were cut down, their bodies strewn across the forest floor like so many broken toys. Xandros's face turned red with rage, his eyes bulging with fury.

"Enough!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the cave. "I'll go myself, and I'll show them the true meaning of power!"

With a wave of his hand, Xandros summoned his entire army of undead minions, a staggering 10,000 strong. The cave was filled with the sound of shuffling feet, the rustling of tattered clothes, and the stench of rotting flesh.

As Xandros led his army out of the cave, he failed to notice a small, furry creature scurrying into the shadows. Eryndor, the little mouse, had stumbled upon the cave, and his eyes had grown wide with wonder at the treasures that lay within.

The cave was filled with magic equipment, shelves upon shelves of glowing crystals, and chests overflowing with gold coins. Eryndor's eyes turned into gold coins, his mouth watering at the sight of the treasure trove. He slurped, his tongue licking his lips, as he gazed upon the riches that lay before him.

But Eryndor was unaware of the battle that was raging outside. The 100 soldiers from the higher world were clashing with Xandros's army of undead minions, their swords and shields ringing out as they fought for their lives.

The higher world soldiers were strong, each one capable of taking down 10 of the undead minions with ease. But there were 10,000 minions, and the soldiers were beginning to tire. They were surrounded, their backs to the trees as they fought to hold off the horde.

Commander Grimbold, the leader of the soldiers, shouted orders as he fought, his sword slicing through the minions with deadly precision. "Hold the line! We can't let them break through!"

But despite their bravery, the soldiers were slowly being pushed back. The minions were too numerous, too relentless, and the soldiers were beginning to fall.

As the battle raged on, Eryndor remained blissfully unaware, his eyes fixed on the treasure that lay before him. He was too busy drooling over the gold coins to notice the sound of clashing steel, the scent of blood and sweat, and the cries of the dying.

But as the fight wore on, the sounds of battle grew louder, the vibrations of the clashing steel shaking the very foundations of the cave. Eryndor's eyes flickered, his ears perking up as he sensed that something was amiss.

And then, he heard it.. but he was so immersed in the treasure, his mind consumed by the endless possibilities it presented, that he threw his safety out the window, abandoning all caution and prudence.