Ever since Ezra and Tanya entered the crypt, a pair of ghastly green eyes had been observing their every move in silence. The Banshee knew her home had been invaded by outsiders, but she could not get close to them because of the sacred medallion hanging from Tanya’s neck.Ishani’s holy relic was the only thing that kept the wailing woman at bay, but Tanya knew a slight lapse in focus could spell disaster. Thus, even as Ezra prepared to enter the burial chamber, she continued chanting protective incantations to ward off evil spirits.“This is it then. Are you ready?” Ezra asked, turning to Tanya.“I can hear the Dread Wolves howling inside. And there is a good chance we might run into another Direlock as well. I need to prepare,” Tanya replied and then started drawing a runic circle in the air to cast her most powerful psychic protection spell.***Outside the town of Silver Springs, the dark fog had swallowed the grassy plains and it continued drifting toward the walls of the town.Co
The fearless Dread Wolf Warriors rushed at Ezra with their claws drawn and fangs bared. But before they could get within striking range, Ezra tossed his elemental grenade in their direction.As the glass sphere shattered, it sprayed the advancing Dread Wolves with icy cold water. However, this minor annoyance did nothing to impede their charge. Two of the youngest Dread Wolf warriors lunged at Ezra, but he was quick to leap back and dodge their claws as they ripped through the air. He followed it by swapping his ammunition and firing two Bone Slugs, which punched through their chests, knocking them down.“This is only the beginning,” Ezra whispered as he conjured another elemental grenade. This one had a sparkling blue core surrounded by foggy black clouds.Ferocious howls echoed inside the burial chamber as the rest of the Dread Wolves let their primal instincts take over. Dropping to the ground, they sprinted on all fours and jumped at Ezra.“Get the hell back!” Ezra shouted, tossin
Tanya was just checking the second coffin on her side when she heard Ezra’s suppressed groan. As she turned around, her face turned pale and her eyes widened in horror.Ezra’s lean figure was shrouded by a gray mist and a tarry black pool had formed under his feet, swallowing his shadow within its abyssal maw.“Lord Ezra!” She rushed to Ezra’s side to assist him, but Ezra put his hand out to stop her.“Don’t come near me!” he cried out. “I…have been cursed. It’s dangerous to get close.”As Ezra slowly turned around Tanya saw that his face was covered in open sores and there were blisters all over his neck.“How did this happen? What did you touch?” Tanya asked, her voice shaky and feeble.“I just lifted the lid off this coffin and looked inside,” Ezra replied, straining his throat. “I am sorry. I should have been more careful.”Tanya pointed her open right palm at Ezra and whispered, “Goddess, grant me your sight and allow me to see what ails your child. Selesa Alor Vamor.”A golden c
Inside the Crypt of Reilor, Ezra was opening the coffins in a hurry, trying to find the one that contained the mortal remains of the founding father of Silver Springs. After opening twenty-three coffins, Ezra finally chanced upon the coffin where Josiah Reeves had been laid to rest. But as he tried to touch his corpse to search for the map, his fingers were burned by an invisible flame, and he groaned in pain.“Damn it! I am sick of these traps and tricks.”Tanya hurried to his side and asked what was wrong.Ezra pointed at the coffin. “That’s the one belonging to Josiah Reeves. His initials are etched on the suit they buried him in.”Tanya quickly turned toward the coffin and looked inside. One look at the crumbling corpse was enough for her to confirm it was indeed the founding father. It was the same embalmed body she had seen in her vision.“Finally, we found him!” she exclaimed, gawking at the founder’s corpse. “But there is a problem. It burned my fingers when I tried touching
The Elite Guards were worried about Count Gressil’s safety and volunteered to accompany him outside. But Count Gressil was not ready to hear it.“You two need to stay here and protect the civilians. The town guards are trying their best to fight back, but they do not have the combat experience that you possess. You are my chosen knights, so I entrust the safety of this town to you,” he replied.“The Elder Lich is a dangerous being, Your Excellency. Going out there without any backup is dangerous. You should at least let one of us tag along,” the younger of the two Elite Guards protested. Even though he knew the risks involved, he was willing to follow the Count straight into the jaws of death.Count Gressil smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “I may look old, but I assure you the years have not caught up with me yet. There is still a lot of fight left in me. You do not need to worry about me, just protect this town. That is my final order.”“I can send one of my mechanical sentries
The temperature inside the burial chamber dropped several degrees, and the glowing orbs revolving near the ceiling turned dull and lifeless.Ezra felt a chill run down his spine and creep into his bones as he looked at the ghastly figure in front of him.She had the face of a young woman, but her skin was as pale as death. Her ashen locks cascaded along her shoulders and rolled down her back in wavy curls. She was clothed in tattered white rags, and her naked feet floated above the ground, casting an eerie gray shadow under her.Ghastly green eyes stared at Ezra as he trembled in fear. The Banshee’s parched lips curved into a horrific grin as a baleful madness flashed on her face. She had the look of a bereaved widow who had lost everything she held dear.“I…am not scared of you. Leave this crypt…before I decide to kill you,” Ezra uttered his empty threat with all the conviction he could muster.But the wailing woman remained unmoved. Her weightless form drifted toward Ezra, and she su
Count Gressil’s stallion speared through the fog, piercing the enemy’s frontlines like a bolt of black lightning. The ghouls tried to pounce on the horse, but Count Gressil pushed them away with a fiery magic burst that burned them to ash.“You cannot hide from me anymore. I will find you,” Count Gressil muttered as he leaned forward and kicked the horse with his spurs. The stallion snorted and picked up speed, knocking away the Skeletal Warriors in its path and trampling over their bony bodies.While Count Gressil penetrated deeper into the enemy’s ranks, the mechanical sentries kept the undead cavalry distracted. The Headless Cavaliers were fast enough to get close to the sentries and deliver a few sharp blows to their legs, but they too were eventually cut down by their bladed arms.The three sentries marching across the battlefield fought off thirty Cavaliers at once, their bladed arms slicing through their plate armor and chopping down the horses with swift strikes. However, the
Tanya was in two minds about keeping Ezra’s request, but seeing as it was equally dangerous to leave him all alone inside the burial chamber, she decided to take him to the Chamber of Spirits.The white stone door guarding the Chamber of Spirits slid down automatically as Tanya approached it. Inside the ovaloid room were statues of different pagan deities, and in the middle of the chamber there was a cup-like depression containing sparkling blue water.This chamber was used for rites and rituals, and sometimes the relatives of the deceased meditated here to commune with the departed souls. However, a lot had changed since the undead infestation.As soon as Tanya set foot inside the chamber, she felt a shiver run along her spine, and the hair on her skin stood up. The energy in this place wasn’t pure, and it did not take too long for her to realize this place was tainted with a malicious presence.The Banshee was lurking nearby, and even though Tanya could not see her, she could feel he