The Godless Abyss (2)

"Mom! Dad!" Elif screamed, tears streaming down her face as smoke curled around them.

Icariel stood quickly, eyes darting through the smoke. "They're okay," he said, pointing.

As the dust cleared, Aelar stood before Elena, his arm raised mid-air. A protective mana barrier shimmered faintly, having absorbed the blast. Neither of them had a scratch.

Elif sobbed in relief, clutching Icariel's sleeve. "What's happening, Teacher?"

Aelar's eyes were wide. "An invasion," he said grimly, watching the dark-cloaked figures descend from the sky.

At that moment, Princess Virethiel entered the balcony with Lonor and Eldrin beside her.

"What was that?" Virethiel demanded.

"They're here," Aelar said quickly. "We've been caught off guard. The plan is no longer viable."

He turned rapidly. "Eldrin, gather the royal guards. Lonor—stay by the Princess's side and protect her while engaging. I'll hold off those nearest until the soldiers respond—they should have heard that explosion."

Everyone nodded and moved, but Icariel stepped forward.

"Teacher—they're not just here. They're in the tribal village too."

"What?!" All heads turned to him in shock.

"I saw it. From the balcony. Flames. There's fighting there too."

Aelar's expression turned stone-cold. "I'll tell Tessara for it," he muttered before addressing them firmly.

"Icariel, Elena, Elif—come with me. I can't afford to fight with you around."

They rushed down the grand stairway, the hall echoing with urgency. Aelar stopped at a white stone wall. He pressed a specific small stone—and with a soft grind of stone, a hidden passage opened, revealing a stairway leading underground.

"Follow the stairs. At the bottom is a secured room with food, warmth, and clothes," Aelar instructed. "Stay there until it's safe. Icariel can detect if anyone approaches—trust his instincts."

He placed a hand on Icariel's shoulder. "And… thank you. For protecting Elif."

Icariel nodded firmly.

"Elif, go. Now!" he barked. "No time to argue!"

"But—Father—!"

"Hurry!"

Another explosion rocked the castle, making dust fall from the ceiling. They disappeared into the hidden stairwell as Aelar pulled the stone door shut behind them.

He exhaled, shoulders tense. "To think they'd strike today—while we were unprepared…" He clenched his fists. "And no signal from the portal… Damn it."

He sprinted outside—

And froze.

Three cloaked figures stood before the castle doors.

"Well, well, well… look who's first to greet us," one of them sneered, voice sharp with venom.

The first invader pulled down his hood.

A human—dark-haired, sharp-jawed, with emotionless, void-like brown eyes. His dark armor shimmered beneath his cloak, and on his chest was a horrifying emblem: a sword cleaving a head from its body.

"I'll take the well-known Warleader myself," he said to his companions.

They nodded silently.

"So I'm even more popular in the human world now?" Aelar said, drawing his sword as the metal along his armor shifted with a hum—forming a long blade with a brown, tree-like handle.

"His aura… it's monstrous,"Aelar thought, bracing himself. "That darkness isn't normal. He is strong."

"Oh, you have no idea," the invader replied with a cruel smile.

"Good thing I wore my armor today," Aelar said.

With a flash, the wrist of his armor shifted, transforming into a sleek, long sword with a handle carved like twisted tree bark.

"I'll make you regret stepping foot in our sacred forest."

The invader laughed. "Please. I can't wait."

He unsheathed his own blade—a long, jagged black sword with a blood-red crystal embedded in the hilt.

Aelar didn't hesitate.

He burst forward, moving at blinding speed.

CLASH! Swords met—sparks flying—each impact thunderous, their battle leaving the castle grounds entirely in seconds, their movements a blur of fury and skill.

One of them chuckled, voice dripping with venom. "We'll wait for an opening to kill him."

"I don't think so," growled a voice behind them.

BOOM.

The invader was flung forward by a powerful blow. As he landed, his cloak slipped off.

Standing where he'd been was Eldrin, fists clenched. "That's not a very honorable way to act."

The now-revealed enemy was a girl.

Her appearance was striking: red left eye, golden right eye. Her long yellow hair had streaks of deep crimson near the tips, and a faint burn scar marred her left cheek. Her features were plain, but her mismatched eyes and unsettling aura made her unforgettable.

"Oh, look," Eldrin smirked. "A little rainbow showed up to play."

Her expression twisted in irritation, and she snarled.

"Grinis," the final cloaked invader said—but before he could say more—

Shing.

A dagger flew from the shadows.

He barely dodged in time, the blade slicing through his cloak, revealing his face.

"Tch… I didn't even feel her presence until the very last moment—what the hell was that?!"

From behind him emerged Tessara, calm and precise, her face masked but her silver eyes like icy blades.

Now revealed, he shed his damaged cloak.

Eldrin's eyes widened.

"Oh, look what we have here…" he muttered. "This just got interesting."

The cloaked figure's form was now fully revealed—a humanoid monster, towering with grey skin, piercing blue eyes, and long, straight black hair. His body was heavily muscled, sculpted like stone, and strapped across his back was a massive black spear.

Eldrin's eyes narrowed.

"Well, well… they've got monsters on their side now? The Godless Abyss isn't sending just anyone…"

"Tchh," the grey creature growled. His deep, guttural voice was laced with hatred. "You'll pay for that," he snarled at Tessara.

But Tessara wasn't even looking at him anymore.

"Eldrin, handle them," she said calmly. "I've been ordered by Warleader to protect the village. I was hoping to land a deadly sneak attack, but… it failed. I need to move."

"You always leave me the hard work," Eldrin sighed, smirking despite the chaos.

"Just protect the civilians," she said, and vanished in a blur of silver.

"Look now," muttered Grinis, the woman with mismatched red and yellow eyes. "What will you do now, fool? You're outnumbered."

"Who's outnumbered?" Eldrin said coolly.

He raised his hand. "Royal Guards—assemble!"

Suddenly, fifteen elven warriors in golden armor emerged from the castle, forming a tight circle around Eldrin, Virethiel, and the invaders.

"Guess sending only three 'somewhat' powerful creatures to invade a Elven home wasn't the smartest plan," Eldrin said.

The grey monster laughed, low and guttural. "We will see about that…"

Then, without warning, he doubled over—retching violently.

"Is he vomiting?" Eldrin muttered.

The monster vomited a crystal orb, blue and pulsing with mana, then caught it in one hand and slammed it against the ground.

The orb shattered.

A crackling blue light surged up from the fragments, and in the next instant, a swirling portal opened—ripping the air like cloth.

"Let's see how you handle this, great elf tribe," the grey monster grinned.

Something stepped through.

A hand first—dark, clawed, too large for any normal creature. Then came the full body, walking low on all fours like a beast.

Its eyes gleamed yellow, its mouth full of sharp vampire-like teeth, its face an unnatural mix of frog and cat. Its limbs were thick, grotesquely muscled, its claws long enough to tear through stone.

"Disgusting…" Eldrin whispered. "What is that?"

"Our newest allies," said Grinis, grinning wide. "I present to you—the Crogs."

But she wasn't done. "And he's not the only one."

"One… two… ten… thirty… sixty…"

Her voice kept counting as dozens of Crogs began to spawn across the courtyard from the portal—ninety… one hundred.

They emerged like a swarm.

One young elf guard stumbled back, his spear trembling in his hands.

"Th-this… how could this happen so suddenly…" he whispered.

Another veteran guard grabbed his shoulder. "Stand firm. We fall, then the trible falls."

But the fear was spreading—fast.

"We're finished…" one muttered.

"Damn it…" Eldrin growled. "How do they have a portal artifact!?"

Then suddenly, Eldrin's armor glowed. The bracer on his wrist disassembled with a metallic hiss, reshaping into a majestic golden spear—its blade long and gleaming, its handle etched with leaf patterns like a sacred relic.

"Royal Guards! Protect the civilians. Defeat as many as you can. The Warleader's troops will arrive soon—hold the line!"

With a flash of power, Eldrin launched himself toward the grey monster.

The monster reached for his own weapon—a massive, dark spear with a red crystal embedded in its base. He caught Eldrin's strike mid-swing.

CLANG!

Their weapons collided, force exploding outward.

"Now we're talking," the monster growled. "You were cocky before."

"Shut up, beast," Eldrin spat, driving harder into the clash.

Just as Grinis tried to sneak behind Eldrin to strike—

BOOM!

A blur slammed into her, sending her flying into the side of an elven stone house, cracking the wall.

"Looks like you were having a hard time," said a calm voice.

Eldrin grinned. "Took you long enough, Lonor."

Lonor stood beside him now, tall and steady. Behind him was Princess Virethiel, wearing her sleek black combat suit—the one Icariel had seen her wear the first day he met her.

"Let's switch," Lonor said. "You take the girl. The Beast will deal with the monster."

"With pleasure," Eldrin replied, not even hesitating as he moved toward Grinis.

The grey monster turned to face Lonor fully. His spear lowered.

"It's an honor, Lonor the Beast," he said with a slow grin. "But… shouldn't you be guarding the princess? You've left her wide open."

Lonor didn't even blink. His green eyes burned with quiet intensity.

"Me? Worried about protecting the princess?"

Behind him, one of the Crogs leapt toward Virethiel from the shadows, claws raised.

SHUNK!

Without even looking, Virethiel turned, extended a hand, and pierced clean through the Crog's chest, killing it instantly.

She flicked her fingers. The body dropped.

"One down," the princess muttered, wiping her hand.

Lonor smiled. "You see… we have the only princess in all Iliriania who hungers for battle. And if you dare draw her attention…"

He pointed his finger at the grey monster.

"...you'll be the one who needs protection."