Bloodhound, with his feral grin, scoffed at Velrian's magical defenses. "Magic tricks won't work against me," he hissed, his voice dripping with menace.In a sudden, vicious strike, Bloodhound swung his crimson blade at the ethereal sword and shield conjured by Velrian. The sword and shield shattered into a burst of glowing specks of light, leaving Velrian stunned by the sheer power of the attack.Bloodhound wasted no time. With a burst of unnatural speed, he closed the gap between himself and the bewildered mage. His blood sword was raised high, poised to cut through Velrian's head in a single, deadly stroke.In a desperate bid to defend himself, Velrian cast another spell, summoning a powerful protective barrier. The barrier shimmered with an ethereal light, forming a semi-transparent, dome-like shield around him. It was a potent defense, radiant and formidable.Bloodhound, undeterred and exuding malevolence, growled with mockery at the shimmering barrier. "Is this all you've got?"
Atheria surveyed the gruesome aftermath of their battle, a shiver coursing down her spine. The once elegant room was now a chaotic mess. Broken furniture lay strewn about like the shattered remnants of some macabre celebration. Blood splatters painted the walls and floor in grotesque patterns, and the air was heavy with the metallic scent of death."This room must be soundproofed," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Otherwise, we would've been swarmed by the guards by now."Bloodhound, still wiping the last traces of the creature's blood from his mouth, grinned wickedly. "It would have been a grand feast, my dear Atheria, if they had come."Atheria's eyes narrowed as she scolded him, her anger palpable. "You and your bloodlust. It's disturbing, you know that?"Bloodhound chuckled darkly, his amusement unfazed by her scolding. "You might be the only one who dares to yell at me and live to tell the tale."Rolling her eyes, Atheria refocused on the dire situation. "We need
The eerie laughter still echoed through the hall, setting Atheria's nerves on edge. She couldn't pinpoint the source of the chilling voice. As she strained her senses to the fullest, she suddenly noticed a dark, flickering shape running like a shadow on the wall. Panic seized her as she realized that whatever this presence was, it wasn't human.Bloodhound, on the other hand, reacted quite differently. He seemed exhilarated by the hunt, his eyes glinting with predatory excitement. His lips curled into a sinister grin as he taunted the unseen intruder."Why don't you show yourself?" Bloodhound's voice dripped with menace. "I'd rather not waste time hunting you down. If you step into the light, I promise to make your death quick and relatively painless. Relatively."Bloodhound's voice oozed with menace, his lips curling into a sinister grin. "If you don't, I'll tear into your flesh, drink your blood, and stomp you into a paste when I find you."Atheria, standing beside him, rolled her ey
Atheria's gaze swept over the gruesome aftermath of the battle, and she couldn't help but shudder at the carnage that surrounded them. Limbs lay strewn across the floor, and the stench of blood hung heavily in the air.As she scanned the broken room, her eyes landed on a dark, thick book nestled in a shadowy corner. Its pages seemed to almost pulse with an eerie energy, and it emitted a faint, otherworldly hum."What's this?" Atheria muttered to herself, her curiosity piqued. She cautiously approached the mysterious tome, her fingers brushing lightly against its leather-bound cover. The moment her hand made contact with the book, a tingling sensation coursed through her, and her heart quickened.Bloodhound, still panting from the intense battle, turned his attention toward her. "What have you found?"She picked up the book, holding it gingerly as if it might bite. "This... this seems important," she replied, her voice tinged with both fascination and trepidation. The book was ancient,
Xander and Atheria rode for several hours, their horses carrying them swiftly through the night. As they approached the outskirts of Diamond City, the moonlight revealed the glistening walls that surrounded the city.Atheria looked at the city wall, her voice filled with a mix of hope and trepidation. "Hopefully, this all ends soon."Deep within Xander, Bloodhound growled ominously. "I have a feeling things are just about to heat up," he muttered, his voice a sinister undertone to their journey.As Xander and Atheria rode closer to the city, the landscape transformed. They soon found themselves on a tranquil path leading to the city gates. The moonlight filtered through the leaves of a massive banyan tree, casting intricate patterns on the ground beneath. The air was filled with the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant sounds of the city.Atheria's keen eyes spotted a figure sitting beneath the banyan tree, and she leaned toward Xander, asking, "Is that Jackson?"Xander squinted
As the sinister effects of the tainted wine continued to course through their bodies, Xander and Atheria found themselves collapsing to the ground, coughing up blood and gasping for breath. Each agonizing cough felt like a hammer blow to their chests.The Duke stood over them, a twisted smile on his face. "Take solace in knowing that in death, you can be free," he mused, his voice dripping with malevolence.Xander, his voice strained and weak, managed to cough out, "You're making a mistake."The Duke merely chuckled, a chilling sound that echoed through the night air. "I don't make mistakes, my dear boy. And I know exactly what you are – a dark mage."Jackson, his loyalty firmly with the Duke, chimed in, "Even if we were to let you go, the Mage Guild would hunt you down like a dog. This is a more respectful end."Xander, his vision blurred and his body wracked with pain, managed to turn his head slightly. He saw Atheria sprawled on the ground, her eyes locked onto his. Despite the tor
The early morning sun cast a warm golden glow over the quaint fishing village as Thomas and James arrived, their burden still unconscious on their shoulders.Villagers bustled about their daily routines, setting up their fishing gear and preparing for a day at sea. But their activities came to an abrupt halt as they caught sight of the two fishermen, Thomas and James, carrying the mysterious young man.Gasps of astonishment and murmurs of concern rippled through the crowd. Women paused in their tasks, clutching baskets of fresh fish, while children's eyes widened with curiosity."Who is he? What happened?" The questions echoed through the small coastal settlement as they hurried towards the scene.Thomas, looking worried but resolute, set his gaze upon James. "Go fetch the village elder, James. And let them know we've got an injured man here," he instructed in a hushed tone.James nodded and darted off towards the elder's modest dwelling at the center of the village.The villagers for
Despite witnessing the miraculous sight of the wound on the young man's face closing up, Village Elder Carlson remained resolute in his determination to help the stranger. He diligently treated the unconscious man with various herbs, his experienced hands working with care.A bulky, tall man with a long beard entered the tent, catching the elder's attention. "Elder Carlson," the man greeted with a furrowed brow, appearing surprised to find the stranger inside the tent."So, this is the stranger washed upon our shores," the man inquired as he moved closer to the unconscious figure.However, upon closer inspection of the armor, the man's surprise deepened. "Wow, his armor. It's made of shadow steel, a rare metal," he exclaimed as he bent down to examine the intricacies of the armor closely."Devlan, can you remove the armor without hurting him? I don't see a way to take it off," the village elder inquired."Good thing you called me. Judging by the design, this armor is worn piece by pie