In his office, Williams sat, deep in thought. Winston was seated across from him, also lost in his thoughts, as if they had just witnessed a very strange phenomenon that demanded a moment of reflection.
— You, a runic expert who has helped so many awaken... you're telling me this is the first time you've seen such a phenomenon?
asked Williams.
— Yes. At the moment of his awakening, Sir Claus emitted something… very strange. Everything was off. That black mist covering his body… the time it took… And the strangest of all, were his eyes at the end,
Winston explained, looking worried.
— I think Sir Claus' awakening may not have been such a good idea. He gives off the same energy as what we fight against.
— I understand, dear Winston… It chilled my blood too. But we were the ones who put him on this path. So we must be the ones to guide him.
— What a mess, my friend...
Winston said with a laugh.
---
Dong... Dong... Dong...
The city clock rang out with all its might.
The stranger was there, standing before the church. He raised his hand, and the horde of darkness behind him charged the building, engulfing it.
Claus was still on the ground, writhing in pain, his hands pressed to his ears, his eyes shut. Blood trickled down his face. Elizabeth, her eyes glowing, her entire arm covered in runes, stood in front of him.
Suddenly, the air grew heavy. Claus' soul screamed that danger was near.
The shadows in the room began to shift… as if they were moving, stretching. And from them emerged shapes: twisted bodies with multiple faces, multiple arms, multiple legs. Darkness covered their flesh. Their teeth were razor-sharp.
— Tonight, I've come to reclaim what you stole… and I've brought the darkness with me. These are a swarm of the damned, from the Well of Souls, brought just for you. This time, I'll make sure you die…
the voice outside declared.
As the final word left his mouth, a monster hurled itself at Elizabeth and Claus.
Elizabeth stepped in front of Claus, her gaze locked on the damned.
— Come at me, vermin...
She inhaled. The runes on her arm glowed with electric blue light. She stepped forward and traced an arc in the air.
— Speed Seal!
Her body shot forward. In a flash, she crossed the hall and slammed her fist into the chest of the first damned. A runic circle burst on impact — the creature flew back and crashed into a pillar.
Another leaped behind her.
— Alert Rune — Counter!
Without turning, Elizabeth pivoted, arm extended. A spike of light shot from her palm, piercing the monster's throat.
Two more appeared, larger and more massive. One struck. She blocked, rolled to the floor, narrowly dodged, jumped off a wall, and launched herself toward the ceiling.
— Blade Rain!
A dozen luminous spikes formed around her, crashing down on the damned. They screamed, impaled. A bloody rain splattered the stones.
But one grabbed her ankle midair.
— Dissolution!
The rune on her leg flashed. The damned's flesh melted like metal. She fell, rolled, stood, spitting blood. Her shoulder bled. She staggered, but stayed standing.
The damned were closing in.
— Area Rune… Activation.
She struck the ground. A large runic circle carved itself into the stone.
— Final Burst — Fracture!
The floor exploded. Chains of light burst forth, crushing the damned in a chorus of guttural screams. When the light faded, only ashes remained.
— Bravo. You live up to your reputation as a witch. But you know better than anyone: all these runes you carved won't give you any advantage...
Elizabeth was breathless. Her limbs trembled. Her hair was turning white. Her vision blurred.
— Claus… I'm beginning to run out of strength… You have to snap out of it…
Claus, still on the ground, fought back. The screams in his head were endless. His soul wanted to escape…
Another horde appeared. This time, twice as large. Damned ones crawled across rooftops.
Elizabeth stood ready. One of the creatures shattered a window and leaped at them. Elizabeth raised her arm:
— Shockwave!
The beast was violently thrown back, but it rose again, howling.
More came. Misshapen. Fast. Ravenous.
— Runic Wall — Containment Barrier!
A translucent wall rose. Three damned ones crashed into it. The impact shook the ground.
But one slipped past.
Elizabeth turned — too late. It pounced. She raised her arm — it struck. They rolled. She activated a rune on contact: the creature's skull exploded.
She stood again, gasping. Two more rushed at her.
— I won't last…
— Disjunction Mark!
She struck the floor. An explosion. The damned were flung back, charred. The ceiling cracked.
Another rumble. Another wave.
One horror led them: massive chest, chains, a gaping hole in place of a face.
Elizabeth stepped back. Her breathing shallow.