The Herald’s Wrath

The city of Eldrath trembled as Malakar raised his hand. The sky darkened, and the shadowborn surged forward, pouring into the streets like a flood of living nightmares. Their eyes burned with violet fire, their twisted forms shifting and pulsing as if barely contained by reality itself.

Kaelen barely had time to react before the first creature lunged. He sidestepped, driving his sword through its chest, but unlike the shadowborn of before, this one did not simply vanish into mist. It screeched in pain, but dark tendrils wrapped around the blade, resisting its destruction.

Lyria moved beside him, her daggers flashing. "They're stronger!"

Kaelen ripped his sword free and decapitated the creature in one swift motion. This time, it collapsed, dissolving into smoldering black ash. He exhaled. "Then we fight smarter."

From the ruined gate, Malakar watched, unmoving. His presence alone was suffocating, an overwhelming force pressing down on the battlefield.

Kaelen met his gaze. "If you want a war, you'll have to go through me."

Malakar's head tilted slightly, as if amused. "Oh, I intend to."

With a flick of his wrist, the shadows beneath him surged upward, forming a massive, monstrous figure—a hulking beast of darkness and rage, its body bristling with jagged bones and glowing runes.

Lyria cursed. "That's new."

The beast roared, and the very ground cracked beneath its weight. Without hesitation, it charged.

Kaelen barely had time to brace before the creature struck, its massive claw sending him hurtling into a nearby wall. Pain exploded through his ribs, but he forced himself to roll to his feet. He couldn't afford to stay down.

Lyria darted between the creature's legs, slashing at its tendons. Black ichor spilled onto the cobblestone, but the monster barely reacted. With terrifying speed, it swung its tail, catching her mid-leap and sending her crashing into the rubble.

Kaelen gritted his teeth. No more hesitation.

He charged, dodging another swipe, and leapt onto the creature's back. With all his strength, he drove his blade into the glowing runes along its spine. The beast shrieked, its body convulsing as the magic within it unraveled.

Malakar narrowed his eyes. "Clever."

The beast staggered, then collapsed in a heap of shadow and bone. Kaelen landed beside Lyria, breathing heavily. "You still with me?"

She groaned, pushing herself up. "Barely."

Malakar's expression remained unreadable. Then, slowly, he stepped forward. "Impressive." He lifted his hand. The shadows around him stirred, shifting like a living storm. "But this is merely the beginning."

The darkness behind him thickened, twisting into something even worse than the shadowborn—something ancient, something wrong.

Kaelen swallowed hard. This was no longer just a battle for Eldrath.

This was a battle for the world.