The Dark Warlock's Game

Chapter 30: The Road to Haven

Vardy stood at the edge of the forest, his dark cloak billowing against the chilly wind. Haven City loomed far beyond the horizon, a promise of answers and a crucible for vengeance. His undead companions, silent, hulking figures of former Essentrias, stood behind him, their glowing eyes piercing the darkness.

“It’s time,” he muttered, clutching the Staff of Stilling Pollen in one hand. The artifact pulsed faintly, whispering unintelligible words in his mind, like a promise and a threat intertwined.

Tracy, walking a few paces behind, tightened her grip on her makeshift spear. She glanced at Vardy but said nothing. The tension between them hadn’t faded since they left White Oak, but there was no time to address it now. Not with the road ahead so perilous.

“Let’s move before the wind picks up,” Vardy said, his voice sharp.

Ferah, ever vigilant, adjusted her armor and stepped to his side. “The forest is unusually quiet,” she said, her crimson eyes scanning the shadowed trees. “Too quiet. Something is out there.”

Luthor chuckled nervously, adjusting the straps of his pack. “Great. As if our trip isn’t already a vacation in paradise.”

The group pressed on, navigating the winding path through dense thickets and uneven ground. The air grew colder as they moved deeper into the forest, the trees twisting unnaturally, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers.

---

A few miles away, in the safety of a run-down cottage on the outskirts of Haven, an old woman sat by a flickering hearth, her gnarled hands clutching a worn tarot deck. The room smelled of herbs and charred wood, the remnants of a failed spell lingering in the air.

“You’ve gone too far this time,” a man said, leaning against the doorway. His face was pale, eyes sunken, and his voice carried an edge of anger.

The woman ignored him, flipping over a card. The Tower. She hissed under her breath.

“Do you know what you’ve summoned?” the man continued, stepping closer. “That ripple… it wasn’t subtle.”

She looked up at him, her cloudy eyes narrowing. “The world is shifting, Isaac. I merely seek to understand.”

Isaac snorted. “Understanding won’t save you when it comes knocking on your door.”

As if on cue, a low growl echoed outside the cottage. Both turned toward the sound, the tension palpable. The woman grabbed her staff, her movements slow but deliberate.

“It’s already here,” she whispered.

---

Back in the forest, Vardy halted abruptly, raising a hand. The others froze, their eyes darting around.

“Something’s coming,” Vardy said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The ground trembled slightly, a faint vibration that grew stronger with each passing second. Then, from the shadows, a massive Vagrant emerged—a twisted amalgamation of fur, claws, and rotting flesh. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto the group, and it let out a deafening roar.

“Positions!” Vardy barked, stepping forward.

The beast charged, its claws ripping through the earth. Vardy raised his staff, chanting under his breath. A burst of icy energy shot forward, striking the creature’s legs and slowing its advance.

“Tracy, flank it!” he ordered.

Tracy hesitated for only a moment before darting to the side, her spear aimed at the creature’s exposed flank. She thrust forward, the tip piercing its flesh. The beast howled in pain, swiping at her, but she ducked just in time.

Ferah leapt into action, her great sword glowing with dark energy. She swung with precision, her blade slicing through the Vagrant’s thick hide. Luthor, staying at a safer distance, hurled rocks and debris to distract the creature, his face pale with fear but determined.

Vardy’s undead minions joined the fray, their movements jerky but effective. They clawed and bit at the beast, overwhelming it with sheer numbers.

But the Vagrant was no ordinary foe. With a violent shake, it sent the undead flying, their bodies crashing into trees. It turned its attention to Vardy, charging with terrifying speed.

Vardy raised his staff again, summoning a barrier of dark energy. The creature slammed into it, the force sending shockwaves through the ground. Vardy gritted his teeth, his mana depleting rapidly.

“Finish it!” he shouted.

Ferah roared, her blade plunging into the beast’s neck. Tracy followed up with a precise strike to its heart. The Vagrant let out a final, guttural growl before collapsing in a heap.

The group stood in silence, catching their breath.

“That… was a big one,” Luthor said, his voice trembling.

Vardy ignored him, stepping forward to inspect the corpse. He placed a hand on the creature, muttering an incantation. Slowly, the beast’s body began to twitch, dark energy seeping into its form. Moments later, it stood again, its glowing eyes now a dull green.

“Welcome to the Legion,” Vardy said coldly.

---

In Haven City, a man named Elias stood on a balcony overlooking the chaos below. Fires burned in the streets, and the sounds of fighting echoed in the distance. Dean’s forces were tightening their grip on the city, crushing any who opposed them.

Elias took a sip of his drink, his expression unreadable.

“You seem calm for someone watching their home burn,” a voice said behind him.

Elias turned to see a woman leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed. Her sharp features and piercing eyes marked her as someone not to be trifled with.

“Calm? No. Resigned, perhaps,” Elias replied.

The woman smirked. “And here I thought you’d finally grown a backbone.”

Elias set his glass down and stepped closer to her. “What do you want, Selene?”

Selene’s smirk faded. “There’s talk of a Dud with an undead army heading this way. Ring any bells?”

Elias raised an eyebrow. “A Dud? In Haven?”

“He’s not just any Dud,” Selene said. “He’s coming for Dean. And if the rumors are true, he’s already left a trail of destruction behind him.”

Elias looked out at the city again, his mind racing. “Then perhaps Haven’s chaos will work in his favor.”

“Or it’ll swallow him whole,” Selene countered.

---

As night fell, Vardy and his group set up camp near a river. The fire crackled softly, casting long shadows on their weary faces.

“Do you think Dean knows we’re coming?” Tracy asked, breaking the silence.

Vardy didn’t look at her, his focus on cleaning his staff. “If he doesn’t, he will soon enough.”

“Great,” Luthor said sarcastically. “Just what we need. More attention.”

Ferah, sharpening her blade, glanced at Vardy. “We’re walking into a lion’s den. Are you sure we’re ready?”

“We have to be,” Vardy said simply.

Tracy frowned. “You keep saying that, but—”

“Enough,” Vardy snapped, his tone harsher than intended. “We’ll be ready.”

The conversation died, the only sound the crackling fire and the distant call of nocturnal creatures.

Unbeknownst to them, a pair of glowing eyes watched from the darkness, its owner retreating silently into the trees.

---

Miles away, in a dimly lit room filled with maps and papers, Dean stood before a group of his most trusted lieutenants.

“This Dud… Vardy,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “He’s becoming a nuisance.”

A man with silver hair and a scar across his face stepped forward. “Shall we eliminate him, sir?”

Dean smirked. “Oh, we will. But not yet. Let him come closer. Let him think he has a chance.”

The room filled with murmurs of agreement, but one figure remained silent, their eyes fixed on the map.

“Do you doubt me, Selene?” Dean asked, his tone sharp.

Selene looked up, her expression neutral. “Doubt? No. But I think you’re underestimating him.”

Dean’s smirk faltered for a moment before returning. “Underestimating a Dud? Hardly.”

Selene said nothing, but her gaze lingered on the map, her mind already calculating her next move.

---

Vardy stood watch while the others rested, his eyes scanning the dark forest. The artifact pulsed faintly at his side, its whispers louder now.

“You crave power,” it said. “Embrace me fully, and I will give you the strength to crush all who oppose you.”

Vardy pressed forward, his boots crunching against the brittle undergrowth. Behind him, Ferah’s armor clinked softly with each step, and Tracy muttered under her breath, her fingers nervously tapping the shaft of her spear.

“This path looks the same as it did an hour ago,” Tracy complained, her voice low but sharp with irritation. “Are we even heading the right way?”

“We’re close,” Vardy replied curtly, his eyes scanning the surroundings with sharp precision. The Dark Warlock System had directed him here, the faint hum of its guidance pulling him forward like a compass.

Luthor trudged behind the group, visibly exhausted. “Close to what? A bigger monster waiting to chew us up? Because honestly, I’m not in the mood for another round of nearly dying.”

Ferah shot him a withering glance. “Enough whining. If Vardy says we’re close, then we’re close.”

Vardy wasn't concerned, his focus was what laid. ahead.

The thicket opened up, revealing the stone wall, just then a strong wide started blowing, “hold still..” Vardy commanded.

In a jiffy, the wind was out and the forest resumed its creepiness.