Chapter 52: The Veil Commander (Part 2)

The silence that followed the commander's defeat was short-lived. The ground beneath them trembled again, this time with a deeper, more ominous resonance. The air grew heavier, the stench of decay intensifying as if the very earth was rotting beneath their feet. The pool of filth left by the commander's dissolution began to bubble and churn, a sickening sound that set their teeth on edge.

Aurelia pushed herself to her feet, her blade trembling in her hand. "Oh, come on. What now?"

Kael's silver eyes narrowed as he stared at the bubbling filth. "It's not over. The Morbithar… they're not done with us yet."

Selene's breath hitched, her emerald eyes widening in horror. "The commander was just a vessel. A conduit for their power. They're still here. They're… waking up."

The ground split open, tendrils of black ooze erupting from the fissures. The filth writhed and twisted, forming grotesque shapes that seemed to mock the natural order of life. The Morbithar's presence was overwhelming, a suffocating force that made it hard to think, hard to breathe.

Aurelia's grip on her blade tightened, her knuckles white. "Okay, I take it back. The commander was a walk in the park compared to this."

Kael stepped forward, his powers flaring as he prepared for the next wave. "We need to hold them off. If they break free, it's over."

Selene nodded, though her hands trembled as she summoned what little strength she had left. Her plants emerged from the cracked earth, their vines glowing faintly as they lashed out at the tendrils of filth. But the corruption was too strong, and the plants withered almost instantly.

Aurelia darted forward, her blade flashing as she cut through the tendrils. But for every one she destroyed, two more took its place. "This isn't working! We need a new plan!"

Kael's mind raced, his silver eyes scanning the battlefield. "The artifact shard… it weakened the commander. If we can find more pieces, we might be able to use them against the Morbithar."

"And where exactly are we supposed to find more pieces?" Aurelia snapped, dodging a tendril that lashed out at her.

"The commander's remains," Kael said, his voice urgent. "There has to be something left. Something we can use."

Aurelia cursed under her breath but didn't argue. She darted toward the pool of filth, her blade slicing through the tendrils that tried to block her path. The stench was unbearable, the filth clinging to her boots and burning her skin. But she pressed on, her eyes scanning the bubbling ooze for any sign of the artifact.

Kael and Selene fought beside her, their powers flaring as they held off the Morbithar's tendrils. The battle was relentless, the filth surging forward with a mindless, unyielding fury. But the group refused to back down, their movements fueled by desperation and sheer willpower.

Finally, Aurelia spotted it—a faint glow amidst the filth. She plunged her hand into the ooze, ignoring the burning pain as she grabbed the shard. "Got it!"

Kael's eyes narrowed as he saw the shard in her hand. "Throw it to me!"

Aurelia didn't hesitate. She hurled the shard at Kael, who caught it mid-air. His powers flared as he channeled the shard's energy, the light crackling around him like a storm.

"Selene, now!" Kael shouted.

Selene nodded, her hands glowing as she summoned the last of her strength. The earth beneath the Morbithar's tendrils began to shift, the ground cracking as her plants emerged once more. This time, the vines were stronger, their glow brighter as they lashed out at the filth.

Kael hurled the shard into the heart of the Morbithar's corruption, the energy exploding in a blinding burst of light. The filth writhed and screamed, the tendrils dissolving as the shard's energy spread through them.

The battlefield fell silent once more, the only sound the faint crackle of the shard's energy as it dissipated. The group stood amidst the ruins, their bodies battered and broken, but alive.

Aurelia sank to her knees, her blade slipping from her grasp. "Well," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, "that was fun."

Kael didn't respond, his silver eyes fixed on the horizon. The battle was over, but the war was far from won. And as the group stood amidst the ruins, they couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead.

The Veil's commander was gone, but the Morbithar still loomed, their filth a constant threat. And as the group prepared for the final battle, they knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning.