Chapter 94: Escalation

Chapter 94: Escalation

Silvia's POV

The city had never been this quiet before. Not even after Titan's forces had fallen. The weight of what they had seen, of the enemy they now faced, settled over the people like a suffocating fog.

Silvia stood atop the highest wall, gazing at the ruins beyond. The darkened landscape no longer felt distant. It felt like a wound, festering on the edge of their world, waiting to consume them.

Dragon joined her, his golden eyes scanning the land with the same wariness. "They let us go. That bothers me."

She nodded. "Me too. It means they weren't fighting at full strength."

"Or they didn't see us as worth the effort," he muttered, flexing his claws. "Which is worse."

Tarren approached, her face grim. "The people are scared. And rightfully so. Our warriors are strong, but those things... they're something else entirely. We need a new plan."

Silvia exhaled. "We don't have the luxury of time. If they're preparing for something bigger, we need to move first."

Garrik stomped toward them, his usual gruffness edged with something more serious. "Then let's stop talking and act. We need alliances, reinforcements. We can't win this fight alone."

Silvia turned back to the horizon. "Then we ride at dawn."

Seeking Allies

The next morning, Silvia and a select few warriors, including Dragon, Tarren, and Garrik, left the city. Their destination: The Skyreach Citadel, a fortress rumored to hold the strongest mages still standing in the new world. If anyone could help turn the tide, it was them.

The journey was long, the road winding through the shattered remnants of what had once been vast kingdoms. They passed abandoned towns, overgrown farmlands, and the skeletons of battles long since forgotten. The war between humans and monsters had left scars not just on the people, but on the land itself.

At night, they camped under the stars, though rest was fleeting. Dragon took the first watch, his senses sharper than any of theirs. Silvia sat beside him, warming her hands by the fire.

"You know this won't be easy," he murmured, keeping his eyes on the darkness beyond.

She smirked. "Nothing ever is."

He turned to her, studying her face in the firelight. "You're handling all of this too well."

"You think so?" she scoffed. "Because it feels like everything is slipping through my fingers."

Dragon hesitated, then reached out, his fingers brushing over hers. "You're not alone in this, Silvia."

She swallowed, staring at their hands. Then, softly, she squeezed his fingers back. "I know."

The warmth between them was fleeting, interrupted by the howling wind that carried the unmistakable scent of something unnatural.

Tarren sat up instantly, her bow in hand. "Something's coming."

Silvia stood, hand on her sword. "How many?"

Dragon sniffed the air, his expression darkening. "Too many."

The Attack

The creatures came under the cover of darkness, moving through the trees like wraiths. Their hollow eyes gleamed in the moonlight, their elongated limbs shifting unnaturally.

The first lunged at Silvia, but she was ready. Her blade ignited in flames as she swung, severing the creature in half. But as soon as it fell, another took its place.

Dragon roared, shifting mid-leap and slamming into two at once. Tarren's arrows flew like streaks of silver light, piercing the creatures' cores. Garrik swung his axe, tearing through their ranks with sheer force.

"They're tracking us now!" Tarren yelled over the chaos.

Silvia gritted her teeth, dodging a clawed swipe. "Then we kill them before they report back!"

The battle was fierce, the creatures more aggressive than before. But this time, Silvia and her team were ready. They fought not with panic, but with purpose. Fire and steel clashed against the dark, and one by one, the creatures fell.

Then, just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. The last creature let out a shrill cry before crumbling into dust.

Silvia caught her breath, wiping sweat from her brow. "They weren't here to kill us. They were testing us. Again."

Dragon shifted back into his human form, his gaze hard. "Then we need to move. Fast. Before more come."

Tarren kicked one of the smoldering corpses. "They're not going to stop, are they?"

Silvia looked up at the stars, knowing the answer.

"No."

She turned to Garrik. "We need to pick up our pace. If the Skyreach Citadel has the magic we need, we can't afford to delay."

Garrik nodded. "Then we travel through the night. We're too exposed here."

They pressed forward, the horses galloping through darkened hills, their hooves pounding against cracked stone. Silvia's mind whirled. The creatures' attack confirmed one thing—they knew she was coming. But were they trying to stop her, or lead her somewhere worse?

Hours later, they reached a narrow valley with towering cliffs on either side. The passage was tight, the air too still.

Dragon narrowed his eyes. "This feels like a trap."

Silvia dismounted. "We don't have another route. We go through, but carefully."

They moved slowly, every sound amplified by the stone walls around them. Then, a voice whispered through the air, cold and familiar.

You are persistent. But you cannot stop what has already begun.

Silvia froze. The same voice from the battlefield.

The shadows shifted ahead, and a figure emerged from the darkness. The same tall, humanoid creature from before. Its hollow eyes gleamed, its long fingers curling like claws.

Come forward, Queen of Fire. Let us end this game.

Dragon growled, stepping in front of her, but Silvia placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.

"I don't think this is just a fight," she murmured. "This is something more."

The figure smiled—an unnatural, eerie grin. Your fate has already been decided.

Silvia clenched her fists, fire crackling at her fingertips. "Then let's see who decides it."

The war had escalated. And this was only the beginning.