Southern Gíria — Forest, Night
The arrow struck the tree with a sharp whistle, still quivering with heat. Sasha stepped closer, eyes narrowing—and then she saw it.
A battalion of dark elves was advancing through the forest, silent as ghosts, their flaming arrows raised, ready to ignite everything in their path.
Alex appeared behind her, panting.
— What is it?
— We need to go. Now. — Sasha's voice was sharp, urgent.
She grabbed his arm and pulled him with her. They ran to the camp. The rest of the group still slept, unaware of the hell approaching.
Sasha kicked Aaron's leg.
— Hey, old man! Get up!
Aaron grumbled, stretching.
— What is it? Shouldn't you be sleeping right now instead of waking me?
— As much as it pains me to say... you were right. They're here. The dark elves.
Aaron bolted upright.
— Damn it. How many?
— A hundred and fifty. Maybe more.
Alex was already waking the others. Amelia sat up, dazed.
— What's going on?
Aaron didn't waste time.
— We have to leave. Now.
Peter rubbed his eyes.
— At this hour? Go where?
A whistle cut the air. Flaming arrows slammed into the side of the camp. Another swarm followed right behind.
Aaron raised his hands and conjured a magical barrier. Energy crackled around them, shielding them for a few precious seconds.
— Run! — Belguiner shouted.
And they ran.
The forest exploded in screams and hooves. Creatures like black-hooved horses with glowing red eyes charged, mounted by shadowy elven riders.
Two broke off from the rest.
— Keep moving! — Aaron shouted to the group.
He stood his ground between the riders and his people. The creatures shrieked. The elves drew their swords, ready to behead him.
Aaron pressed his hands together and whispered in an ancient tongue. A shockwave exploded outward. The two enemies were flung against a tree and dropped like dolls.
He staggered, breathless, leaning against a trunk. A third elf appeared behind him, bow drawn.
Thwip!
Sasha's arrow pierced the elf's neck clean through.
— Thanks — Aaron gasped.
— Don't thank me. Just doing my job.
— Duck—! — he started to warn her, but Sasha had already seen it.
A spear flew toward her. She ducked, and the tip sliced through a strand of her hair. With a snarl, she loosed another arrow—straight into the elf's eye. It went out the other side.
The chaos was building.
An arrow flew toward Alex. Peter spun his sword mid-air—clang!—cutting it in half.
Another elf charged on horseback. Sasha fired two quick shots. The beast collapsed dead, but the elf rose, sword drawn.
He lunged at Peter. Peter dodged, but the elf kicked him to the ground. The blade came down.
Clang!
Belguiner blocked it with his sword. He shoved the elf back and slashed. The elf dodged and countered. Belguiner stepped back, spun, and slashed the elf's arm. The weapon dropped.
Without hesitation, Belguiner stabbed his sword into the elf's gut, pulled a dagger, and slashed the throat. The enemy staggered.
Belguiner ended it with a clean decapitation. The head rolled. Blood sprayed.
Aaron shouted:
— They won't stop! There's too many! Keep going! Now!
Belguiner hesitated.
— What about you?
— I'm right behind you.
— Don't be late, old man.
They moved on. Aaron turned to Sasha and Alex.
— You two. Stay. I need your help.
Alex clenched his jaw.
— What exactly are you planning?
— To buy time.
Sasha folded her arms.
— And how are you going to do that?
The ground trembled. More elves. More creatures. A dark wave closing in.
Aaron answered:
— Like this.
He raised his arms. Magic flared around him like liquid fire. He shouted, releasing it all. A massive barrier rose, sealing off the enemy.
Aaron dropped to his knees. Pale. Shaking.
— Carry me. I... can't move.
— Pathetic — Sasha muttered.
— The barrier won't last more than twenty minutes. Go.
They lifted him by the shoulders and moved on.
---
Cut to... Northern Gíria — Forest, Night
Everything was quiet. Too quiet.
Lion and Max walked silently. Max suddenly stopped, grabbing his head. His eyes turned pitch-black.
Lion looked over his shoulder.
— Why'd you stop? Taking a break?
Max didn't respond. His voice came guttural, haunted.
— Karips... dominate... purify... exorcise... I want Karips... she's mine...
Lion approached cautiously.
— Man, you've got to stop this.
— Purify. Exterminate. Karips... impurity... unworthy races...
Max clutched his head. Lion reached for him—
Then collapsed.
His eyes glowed white. And in the next instant, he was no longer there.
---
Inside Lion's Mind
Memories of a life he'd never lived. A sacrifice. Hearts left behind.
Then, whiteness. Calm. Vast.
A figure began to take form—enormous, scaled. A dragon. Or something older.
The voice boomed like thunder:
— You've finally arrived, Lion.
— Who are you? How do you know my name?
— I am you. I've always been with you. Since the day you were born.
— That doesn't make sense!
— It will. Soon. You shouldn't be asking who I am... but who you are.
And I tell you now, Lion: you are a dragon.
— This is madness... you're saying I...
— Will awaken. Completely. Lion will vanish. Only the dragon will remain.
— No... this can't be...
— You must stop Guenorl.
— Who?
— The reborn. The end and the beginning. Creator of Karips. A shadow that seeks to remake the world in perfection. He wants to forge a second Karips.
If he succeeds, the world you know... will end.
Lion trembled.
— And... where is he?
There was no answer.
---
Outside Lion's Mind
Max stood trembling, eyes still black, repeating over and over:
— Purify. Exterminate. The unworthy. Karips is mine...
Lion lay unconscious, trapped inside himself.
---
Cut to... Northeastern Malonia — Night
A battalion of dark elves on monstrous mounts advanced, led by Nelan. Ahead of them stood a lone figure: Kareos.
One elf, not recognizing him, fired an arrow. Kareos didn't move. The arrow stopped inches from his eye, caught in his fingers.
With a flick, he threw it back—into the elf's neck.
The elf's brother dropped to his knees, aiming his bow.
— Stop! — Nelan ordered.
The elf obeyed. Nelan dismounted, sword drawn, walking toward Kareos.
— So... you're done running?
Kareos smiled. His eyes were black. His soul... absent.
— I've been waiting for you — he said.
— Take me home.
---
To be continued...