The figure at the edge of the burning village stood motionless, cloaked in the swirling smoke and ash. Skellith, the one who had cast his dark shadow over Frostveil and many other lands, was a figure of terror, his presence a symbol of the destruction and despair he brought with him. His robes fluttered eerily in the wind, as if they were alive, their darkness consuming the light around him.
Nikos's heart raced as he took a step forward, his hand still gripping the hilt of his blade. He could feel the weight of the air shift, the very land around them seeming to pulse with an unnatural energy. It was as if the very atmosphere was aware of Skellith's power.
"Stay close," Zara hissed, her voice barely a whisper. "We can't afford to be noticed."
Nikos nodded, his breath coming out in cold clouds as he moved closer to the shadows of the village, his feet barely making a sound against the frost-covered ground. Ali trotted beside him, his usual bravado replaced with a rare seriousness. Even the mischievous creature knew that they were about to face something far worse than any battle they'd encountered before.
The wind howled around them, carrying with it the scent of burning wood and the distant sounds of chaos. But Skellith remained silent, as if he were waiting for something. Perhaps he knew they were here. Perhaps he wanted them to come to him. It was hard to tell with a mind as twisted and calculating as his.
Zara's eyes flickered toward Nikos, her gaze hardening. "Nikos, when we move, we move fast. No hesitation. Skellith's generals could be close by. If they get word of us, they'll turn this village into a battlefield in seconds."
Nikos tightened his grip on the sword, its weight comforting in his hand. He had faced many foes, but Skellith—this dark force of nature—was different. Skellith had power beyond anything he could comprehend. But Nikos had something more, something Skellith didn't anticipate: the drive to protect, the will to survive, and the bonds that tied him to his comrades.
Ali's tail flicked, and he sniffed the air. "I'm not fond of this place. But I don't back down from a fight."
Zara motioned for them to stay low as she darted from shadow to shadow, her figure blending with the surroundings. The flickering light from the distant flames cast long shadows across the snow, but it didn't seem to bother her. She had been trained for moments like this, where stealth was just as important as strength.
They made their way slowly, cautiously, toward the heart of the village, moving between burned buildings and broken streets. The path was littered with remnants of the past—cracked stones, charred wood, and broken memories of a place that had once been full of life. Now, only destruction and desolation remained.
As they neared the center of the village, the sound of footsteps broke through the eerie silence. Not the hurried, disorganized steps of refugees or panicked villagers—but something calculated, something deliberate.
Skellith's forces were close.
Nikos's heart pounded louder, the weight of their mission pressing against him. He could feel the power of the enemy in the air, like an oppressive fog hanging over the village. It was suffocating. But he wasn't about to turn back now.
"We're almost there," Zara murmured, barely audible. "We need to get to the inner stronghold, where Skellith's presence is strongest. If we can disrupt his connection to this land, it might weaken his forces."
Ali's ears perked up. "Disrupt his connection? You mean like... destroy the source of all this misery?"
Zara nodded. "Exactly. It's risky. Skellith has bound his magic to the land, twisting the very soil beneath our feet. If we break his bond, it might give the villagers a fighting chance."
Nikos's gaze hardened. "Then we'll do it."
They were close now, near the village square where the central stronghold had once stood—now reduced to a heap of burning rubble. Skellith's dark aura radiated from the ruins, a dense, almost tangible force that seemed to warp the very light around it.
Then, from the smoke, a voice echoed out, cold and commanding, "You think you can stop me? You think you have the power to challenge me?"
It was Skellith's voice, unmistakable and dripping with disdain.
Nikos froze, his sword ready, but he didn't move. Zara, too, paused, her eyes narrowing. Ali's tail stilled, and he crouched low, watching the shadows intently.
From the smoke, the figure of Skellith finally emerged. He was taller than Nikos had expected, his features hidden beneath a cloak of swirling black mist. His face was obscured by a dark mask, his eyes glowing a sickly yellow. The air around him seemed to shimmer with dark energy, and the ground beneath his feet cracked and writhed.
"Zara," Skellith spoke again, his tone mocking. "So you return, like a lost lamb to the slaughter. How quaint."
Zara clenched her fists, her gaze unwavering. "This ends tonight, Skellith."
A laugh—low and cruel—escaped from the masked figure. "You think you can defeat me? You are nothing compared to the power I command. Your resistance is futile. You, the Aetherborn, are only a fleeting memory."
Nikos stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light. "You underestimate us," he said, his voice steady despite the rising tension in the air. "We fight for more than just this village. We fight for the future."
Skellith tilted his head, as if considering Nikos's words. Then his yellow eyes flashed with amusement. "Very well, then. Come at me. Let's see if you can prove your worth."
Without warning, Skellith raised his hand, and the ground beneath them trembled. Dark energy surged from the earth, spiraling toward the three of them with terrifying speed. The force of it was like a hammer strike, and it sent a shockwave of raw power through the air.
Nikos reacted instantly, raising his sword to deflect the oncoming energy. The blade of Aetherlight shimmered, the power of his bloodline enhancing its edge. He felt a pulse of energy coursing through his body—he wasn't just a warrior; he was a force of nature.
Zara darted to the side, her movements fluid and precise, while Ali yelped in surprise, dodging the blast with surprising agility for his size. The impact of the energy left a crater in the ground, sending plumes of snow and smoke into the air.
Skellith laughed again, a sound that echoed in the freezing wind. "Impressive. But not enough."
Nikos tightened his grip on his sword. "We'll see about that."