Galen stood beside Ethan, his sword raised, the dark blood of their enemies still dripping from its blade. The mercenary's eyes darted between Ethan and the advancing creatures, his jaw clenched in frustration."I hope you've got more tricks up your sleeve," Galen muttered, readying himself for the next onslaught.Ethan gripped his sword tighter, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. They were both exhausted. The odds were against them, but he couldn't let fear take root."We can't fight all of them," Ethan said, his voice strained. "We need to retreat, regroup, and figure out how to get ahead of this thing."Galen gave a bitter laugh, sidestepping as a creature lunged at him, his sword flashing in the dim light. "Retreat? You mean run for our lives.""Call it what you want," Ethan replied, slicing through a snarling beast that came too close. "But if we stay here, we're dead."The creatures were closing in faster now, their twisted forms moving with a hunger that made Ethan's skin crawl.
The world seemed to collapse into chaos the moment the creatures charged. Ethan barely had time to react. The ground quaked beneath his feet as more of the twisted monsters clawed their way to the surface. They were smaller than the ones they had fought earlier, but there were more of them—dozens, maybe hundreds—and their numbers seemed endless.Galen was already in motion, his sword gleaming as it carved a deadly arc through the first wave of creatures. His movements were fluid and precise, like a seasoned warrior who had seen his share of nightmares. But even Galen couldn't cut them down fast enough."Focus, Ethan!" Galen's voice cut through the chaos, snapping Ethan from his trance. "We need to keep moving!"Ethan forced himself to act, pulling his sword free once more. His arm ached from the earlier skirmish, the bite wound still fresh, but there was no time to worry about pain.One of them lunged at him, its claws aimed at his throat. Ethan ducked, swinging his sword upward in a
The echo of the tree's deathly screech still sounded through the surroundings. The air felt different now—less oppressive, but not by much. Ethan crouched by the remains of the twisted tree, studying the charred roots curling inwards like the clawed hands of a dying monster.He winced as he reached into his pack for a pair of gloves. His forearm throbbed where the creature had bitten him, but he couldn't afford to stop now. They had come this far, and he needed more than guesses if there was any hope of truly understanding the Blight—of defeating it for good.As his fingers brushed the tattered remnants of the tree, a cold shiver ran up his spine. Even in death, the thing exuded a dark energy. Ethan pulled a small vial from his belt, scooping up a sample of the blackened bark. It crumbled quickly under his touch, releasing a faint, sulfuric odor."This is definitely unnatural. Even for this world," Ethan muttered under his breath, scanning the area. "There's something more here."Gale
Ethan barely had time to process the change in the air before the first creature came charging at them from the shadows of a tree. It moved so fast it was a blur, a mass of twisted limbs and pulsing flesh. The smell hit him first—a pungent stench of rot and decay, like something that had been left to fester far too long. The creature let out a wet, gurgling screech as it lunged for Galen, its claws swiping at the older man with terrifying speed.Galen reacted in a flash, his sword already drawn. Steel met flesh with a sickening thud as he sidestepped the creature's attack and brought his blade down, cleaving through one of its gangly arms. The beast didn't slow. It twisted in mid-air, its remaining limb extending unnaturally to grab Galen's arm. Ethan watched, horrified, as the thing's flesh seemed to pulse and stretch like putty, trying to envelop Galen's wrist.But Galen was ready. With a swift, brutal motion, he sliced again, severing the mutated limb entirely. The creature howled,
After a busy few days in Nexus and grueling training sessions with Galen, Ethan stood at the city's edge, staring into the vast horizon where the Blight awaited. His body ached from Galen's relentless combat drills, but the real exhaustion settled in his mind. He'd done everything he could to prepare, both physically and mentally. Still, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the decayed land beyond, he couldn't help but wonder if it was enough.Nexus bustled behind him, ignorant of the encroaching danger. The city's citizens went about their lives, unaware of the dark, festering wound spreading not far from their doorstep. Ethan took in a deep breath, letting the cold, crisp air fill his lungs. It was almost peaceful here, but the tranquillity did little to settle his nerves.He adjusted the straps of his backpack, mentally ticking off the list of things he'd prepared for this expedition. His trips into the Otherworld Free Market had been productive, though cos
Ethan stood in the dimly lit Nexus, the evening sun casting long shadows on the shop's stone walls. His mind buzzed with a hundred thoughts, each one tangled in a web of alliances, enemies, and opportunities. He felt like he was juggling too many flaming swords at once, and one misstep would set his entire world ablaze.The King was dying. The royal court was a viper's nest, poised for a deadly game of succession. Princess Elara was scrambling for control, the Baron was plotting revenge, and the Blight festered like an open wound in the world."Reputation," he muttered again, the word haunting him like a whispered curse. Nexus had potential, but potential wasn't enough. He needed to carve his place into the city's bones before someone else carved him out of it. And that meant making a bold move.The door to Nexus swung open, and Xi stepped in, her presence as unsettling as ever. Her sharp, calculating gaze scanned the room before locking onto Ethan."You've been brooding," Xi said, he
The early morning light filtered through the windows of Nexus, casting long shadows across the shop floor. Ethan sat at his desk, running his fingers through his hair, mentally preparing for the day ahead. The weight of the previous day's revelations hung over him like a dark cloud. The palace, a battleground for succession; the illness of the King; Princess Elara's desperate need for protection, and Marcus Ainsworth's looming vendetta—it was all spiraling towards a confrontation he knew he couldn't avoid.Ethan drummed his fingers on the desk, deep in thought. The game he was playing was dangerous, with each move carrying unpredictable consequences. But if he wanted Nexus to thrive—and more importantly, if he wanted to survive—he needed to be proactive, not reactive.His eyes flicked to a map of the city pinned to the wall beside him. "Reputation," he muttered, recalling his final thought the night before. Nexus might have been gaining notoriety, but it wasn't enough. He needed leve
Ethan stood behind the counter of Nexus, his thoughts still lingering on the events of the morning. The encounter with Marcus Ainsworth had been unsettling. Still, the knight's intervention and connection to Princess Elara offered new opportunities. However, these opportunities could, in time, become as dangerous as they were potentially lucrative.Still, there was much he needed to do to stay ahead. And so, he found himself lost in thought until a voice snapped him back to reality."Boss?"Selene's voice was soft, but there was a note of urgency in it. She had a talent for moving quietly, and Ethan hadn't noticed her approach."Selene," Ethan acknowledged, nodding at his half-elven spymaster. "I need you to gather some information. Discreetly."Her eyes gleamed with curiosity. "What am I looking for?""I have a suspicion there's unrest in the palace. Something to do with the royal family. I need details. Who's involved, and what they're aft
Ethan leaned against Nexus's counter, absentmindedly polishing the glass case that held the silver earrings with the pale blue gems. Business had been steady that morning, with customers trickling in and out, browsing the growing selection of items on display. The shop had become a quiet hub of curiosity, drawing in adventurers, merchants, and those who sought something different.As he polished the glass, the door creaked open, and a burly figure stepped inside. Ethan looked up, noticing the man's armor beneath his cloak. The stranger had a muscular build, a square jaw, and an aura of quiet authority that set him apart from the usual customers. His eyes scanned the shop with the calm precision of someone trained to assess danger.Ethan straightened up, nodding in greeting. "Welcome to Nexus. Is there anything I can help you with today?"The man approached the counter, his gaze falling on the earrings. "These caught my eye," he said, his voice deep and measured. "Tell me about them."