2025-02-01 03:48:26Kael stood in a dimly lit chamber beneath Haven, addressing a group of Altanas.
Their weapons were pointed and sharp.
“Dean wants the Dud dead,” Kael said, her voice cold and commanding. “We find him, corner him, and take him out. No mistakes.”
The Altanas nodded silently, their loyalty unwavering.
Kael smirked. “Let’s show him what happens when you cross Dean.”
—
As night fell over Haven, Vardy stood at the entrance of the cave, his gaze fixed on the distant city. The spectral wolf sat beside him.
“Dean won’t stop until we’re all dead,” Ferah said, joining him.
“Then we don’t give him the chance,” Vardy replied.
In the shadows behind them, Tracy and Selene exchanged a glance.
“This is only going to get worse,” Tracy said quietly.
Selene nodded. “And if we’re not careful, we’ll lose him before the fight even begins.”
“The Altanas are coming, we should get ready for them..” Vardy said and sprang to his feet, moving away.
—-
Marcus approached Dean, his expression grim.
“The Altanas are moving,” Marcus said. “But there’s something else you should know.”
Dean raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“The people are talking,” Marcus continued. “Harker’s death is giving them hope. They think the Dud might actually stand a chance.”
Dean’s expression darkened. “Then we crush that hope. Burn the slums if you have to. Make them remember who’s in charge.”
Marcus hesitated. “That might only make things worse.”
“Do it,” Dean snapped.
—
“They're by the hill,” Ferah announced.
Vardy nodded without uttering a word, holding his staff, he motioned towards the door as though peeping.
“Are you ready?” Selene asked, motioning towards him.
Vardy swallowed hard, his eyes a bit teary, “I am.”
The first clash between the Altanas and Vardy’s forces came just before dawn.
The battle was brutal, the sound of steel on bone echoing.
Vardy stood at the center of the chaos, his staff glowing with dark energy as he commanded his undead army.
The spectral wolf fought beside him in its glowing form.
Ferah and Tracy fought fiercely. Selene darted through the shadows, her daggers finding their marks.
Despite their strength, the Altanas were relentless, their coordination and skill were unmatched.
“This isn’t working,” Ferah shouted over the noise.
“We hold the line,” Vardy replied, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Kael watched the battle from a distance, a faint smirk on her lips.
“Let’s see how long you last, Dud,” she murmured, her arms folded.
Soon, Ferah and Tracy joined Vardy, their backs to each other, “Vardy.. the undead army…” Ferah said, panting.
“Step back,” Vardy commanded, setting his spear aside as Tracy and Ferah stepped back.
Vardy's eyes turned green, light coming out within him.
The Altanas stopped in their steps on seeing the light, their leader holding up his hand, “hold..”
He stood trying to figure out the light and smoke coming from Vardy.
All of a sudden, the ground started cracking.
The undead army arose with their swords pointed, charging at the Altanas.
“Retreat! Retreat!” Their leader shouted, turning back on his heels, the others following suit.
“What's going on?” Kael asked, staring down at the commotion.
She was confused, “who dares form an alley with the Dud?” She thought, but didn't stand watching as the army kept advancing.
They fled.
“Vardy! We've won!” Tracy screamed.
“Not yet, they'll still come again but for the now, we have.” Vardy muttered, motioning towards the cave, his staff in hand and the wolf by his side.
***
NEXT DAY***
Vardy paced restlessly in the cave, motioning towards the mouth of the cave.
“Where are you going?” Ferah’s voice asked, her arms crossed tightly as she stepped in front of Vardy.
He paused, his staff glowing faintly in the shadows. The spectral wolf at his side growled softly.
“What’s your next move?” Tracy asked, her spear resting against her shoulder. Her eyes were sharp, searching Vardy’s face for any hint of his plan.
“Simon,” Vardy said simply.
The room fell silent. Ferah’s mouth opened slightly, her expression shifting from confusion to shock.
“Simon Wells?” she asked, her tone sharp.
“Dean’s enforcer,” Tracy added, her voice edged with disbelief. “You’re serious.”
“Yes,” Vardy replied firmly.
“That’s suicide,” Ferah snapped. “Simon’s not just another one of Dean’s goons. He’s... he’s Simon. The man’s a monster.”
“That’s exactly why he needs to fall,” Vardy said, stepping past her. “Without him, Dean’s grip on Haven weakens.”
“And what happens to you?” Ferah demanded, moving to block his path again.
“I’m not coming back in pieces, if that’s what you’re asking,” Vardy said, his voice colder now.
Selene leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her smirk faint. “Bold move, going after Simon. You sure you can handle him?”
“I’ll handle him,” Vardy said without hesitation.
Vardy moved swiftly, his cloak billowing behind him. The spectral wolf padded silently at his side.
Ahead, the faint glow of a lantern marked Simon Wells’ location.
Vardy’s pulse quickened as he approached, the whispers of the artifact growing louder in his mind, urging him forward.
“I’m close,” Vardy muttered, his grip tightening on his staff.
---
Simon Wells stood on the edge of the rooftop, his broad shoulders making him look like a statue.
“Keep the patrols tight,” Simon said, his voice sharp as he barked orders into a communication device. “The Dud’s getting cocky. I want his movements tracked. No more surprises.”
As he turned to pace, he froze.
Slowly, he reached for his blade.
“Vardy,” Simon said, his voice carrying over the rooftop. “I know you’re there.”
Vardy stepped out from the shadows, the spectral wolf at his side. “Simon.”
Simon smirked, his grip on his blade tightening. “Bold of you to show your face. You must have a death wish.”
“Maybe,” Vardy said. “But I’m not the one who should be worried.”
Simon’s smirk widened. “Is that so? Let’s see if your tricks are as good as your words.”
They started fighting.
“You’re faster than I expected,” Simon said, his smirk never fading. “But speed won’t save you.”
“Neither will arrogance,” Vardy shot back, dodging a sweeping strike and retaliating with a pulse of magic that cracked the tiles beneath Simon’s feet.
Simon stumbled but recovered quickly, his blade slicing through the air toward Vardy’s chest.
Vardy dodged quickly, regaining his balance.
Below the rooftops, Haven’s streets were alive with noise. People whispered of rebellion, of hope sparked by Harker’s death.
In a cramped tavern near the market, a group of rebels sat at a corner table.
“If Vardy takes out Simon, it’ll change everything,” one of them said, his voice low but filled with urgency.
“Dean will retaliate,” another replied, her hands trembling as she spoke.
“Let him,” the first man said. “It’s time someone stood up to him.”
On the rooftop, Vardy and Simon’s battle raged on. The spectral wolf darted around the edges of the fight, snapping at Simon whenever it saw an opening.
Simon kicked it aside with brutal force.
“You rely too much on your little pet,” Simon sneered.
“And you rely too much on your ego,” Vardy retorted, unleashing a surge of energy that knocked Simon off balance.
Simon growled, his smirk replaced by a snarl. He lunged forward.
Vardy blocked the strike with his staff, but the force of the impact sent him staggering back.
“You can’t win,” Simon said, his voice cold.
“Watch me,” Vardy replied, his tone icy.
Simon's sword moved like air, cutting through Vardy's arm.
Vardy’s breathing grew heavier. Blood dripped from the wound on his arm, staining his cloak. Simon showed no signs of slowing, his strikes as brutal and relentless as ever.
The whispers in Vardy’s mind reached its peak, urging him to let go, to embrace the artifact’s power fully.
“You’re faltering,” Simon said, his smirk returning. “Give up now, and I might make it quick.”
“Not a chance,” Vardy replied, his voice steady despite the pain.
He raised his staff, the artifact’s glow intensifying. With a roar, he unleashed a energy that sent Simon to the wall.
Simon groaned as he pulled himself to his feet, his blade still in hand. “You’ve got some fight in you,” he admitted. “But it’s not enough.”
He charged forward, his blade arcing toward Vardy.
Vardy stepped aside and with a swift move, he let his staff cut through Simon's chest.
He fell flat on the rooftop, Vardy standing over him.
Vardy staggered, his vision swimming. The pain from his wound was intense, the blood loss making his limbs feel heavy. The spectral wolf returned to his side.
“We need to move,” Ferah said, appearing on the rooftop, it was as though speaking to herself.
Ferah moved to support Vardy, her expression tense. “You’re hurt….”
“I’ll live,” Vardy said, though his voice was faint.
Suddenly, he fell as Ferah tried to hold him still.
---
Back at Dean’s Tunnel Marcus delivered the news.
“Simon is dead,” he said simply.
Dean slammed a fist into the wall, the force cracking the plaster.
“The Dud,” Dean growled.
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The cave was silent, the kind of silence that pressed against the ears and made every breath feel louder than it should. Vardy stood at the entrance, his staff glowing faintly.The artifact pulsed in his hand, the whispers louder now.“This is it,” Selene said from behind him, her voice low.“Your first Trial Quest. It’s not going to be easy.”Vardy glanced over his shoulder at her, his expression grim. “They never are.”Ferah stepped up beside him, her sword resting on her shoulder. “You sure about this? You don’t even know what’s waiting for you in there.”“I don’t have a choice,” Vardy said, his tone firm. He turned back to the cave, his grip tightening on his staff. “If I don’t do this, I won’t survive what’s coming.”“Then we’ll wait out here,” Tracy said, leaning against the cave wall. “Just don’t take too long.”“Be careful,” Luthor added. “These Trials aren’t just tests. They’re meant to break you.”Vardy didn’t respond.The air grew colder as Vardy went deeper into the cave.
