chapter 21

Chapter 21

Sky's military camp was still wrapped in the darkness of the early morning when the scouts' horn rang. The night mist clung to the wooden tents and ramparts, creating a gloomy atmosphere. The torches along the palisades projected a flickering glow onto the faces of the soldiers who were about to leave.

Elion stood by the stables, silently watching the Knights of Sky prepare. Veyla was by his side, wearing black leather armor reinforced with enchanted steel plates. His short sword was tied to his hip, and his black hair was tied into a tight braid.

"The scouts spotted the entrance to the crypt," said Veyla, adjusting the straps of her armor.

"Signs of activity?"

"Some recent marks... but nothing conclusive."

Elion nodded. He himself wore light plate armor, forged from the mithril extracted in the mountains of Sky. His black cape, embroidered with silver thread, floated gently under the morning breeze. He put a hand on the guard of his long sword.

Eridan Volgras approached, accompanied by six knights in dark armor. His face was impassive, but the tension in his jaw betrayed his state of mind.

"We are ready," he said, stopping at Elion.

"Then we leave," said Elion.

They left the camp in tight formation, riding through the wet hills and shady valleys. The morning sun barely pierced the cloud cover, giving the landscape a cold, metallic hue. The horses' hooves slammed against the clay, breaking the oppressive silence of the march.

Elion rode at the top of the group, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Veyla followed him closely, her gaze roaming the surrounding woods with constant vigilance.

"Do you feel that?" she asked in a low voice.

Elion closed his eyes briefly, opening his senses to the energy of the Ki that pervaded the air. A subtle, almost imperceptible pressure floated in the atmosphere - a dark, corrupted essence.

"Yes," he whispered. "Demonic magic is near."

After several hours of riding, they reached the entrance of the crypt. A wide opening in the rock stretched out in front of them, framed by two ruined statues of ancient warriors. The stone was blackened by time and covered with symbols erased by the centuries. A dark mist was escaping from the entrance, pulsing slowly like a heartbeat.

"Charming," whispered Veyla.

Eridan put his foot down, drawing his sword from his scabbard. A black blade, criss-crossed with scarlet runes, lit up dimly in the dark.

"We're coming in," he said.

Elion got off a horse, putting a hand on the pommel of his sword.

- "Standard training. Veyla, with me. You guys, cover our backs."

They entered the crypt in silence. The air was heavy and moist, loaded with a smell of rot. The stone walls were covered with ancient engravings depicting battles between humans and monstrous creatures.

Veyla passed a hand over one of the engravings.

"Demons," she said. "These are representations of the War of Blood."

Eridan glanced at the mural.

The War of Blood ended more than a thousand years ago. The demons were sealed in the far reaches of the continent."

"Then why do we feel their presence here?" asked Elion.

A dull rumble echoed through the crypt. The magic torches along the walls shook, their flickering light reflected on the wet stone walls.

"Get ready," Elion ordered.

A shadow materialized at the back of the corridor, followed by a sound of claws scraping the stone. A massive creature slowly emerged from the darkness. His body was covered with black scales, and his blood red eyes shone in the dark.

"Rank 3," whispered Veyla, drawing her sword.

"It's impossible," grumbled Eridan. "A creature of this rank should not be so close to the borders."

The creature uttered a guttural cry before rushing towards them.

Elion drew his sword with a fluid movement. The blade lit up with silvery light as he channeled his Ki through the metal.

"Defensive formation!" he shouted.

Eridan and his knights placed themselves in line, forming a wall of shields. Veyla stood next to Elion, her gaze fixed on the creature hurtling straight at them.

"Now!"

Elion projected himself forward, his Ki exploding around him in the form of a wave of silver energy. He hit the creature hard, sending a shock wave through the crypt.

The creature roared back, black blood oozing from the open wound on its side. Veyla rushed in turn, slipping under the creature to cut off a leg.

"Gnnh...!"

The creature reared up, whipping the air from its tail. Eridan charged his black blade, shining with a reddish glow. He planted his sword in the creature's abdomen, forcing it to fold.

"Stand back!" cried Elion.

He raised his sword above his head, concentrating his Ki in the blade. A bright light lit up the crypt as he shot down his gun. A sharp wave of pure energy unfolded, splitting the creature from head to toe.

A silence set in when the monster collapsed in a deaf crash. The black blood evaporated into a dark mist.

Elion knelt down, short of breath. Veyla approached him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes..." He stood up, his eyes shining with a cold glow.

Eridan approached slowly, wiping the black blood from his blade.

"Impressive," he said. "But he was just a scout."

Elion frowned.

- " Which means... "

"That something much worse awaits us in the depths," concluded Eridan.

Elion took custody of his sword.

"Then we go all the way. If the demons are really back... we need to understand how and why."

Eridan smiled slightly.

"All right. We'll keep going."

Elion took a deep breath and sat down.

- "Fight training. We're moving forward."

They sank deeper into the crypt, the moving shadows following their silent steps. The darkness was total, but Elion felt the presence lurking in the depths - an ancient force, awakened after centuries of silence.

And this time, he was going to face it head-on.