LOST in TWILIGHTS
The Crimson Tide**
The Blighted surged forward, a relentless tide of corrupted flesh and twisted limbs. Their guttural roars filled the clearing, a symphony of malice that sent a shiver down Elara's spine. Liam, a whirlwind of steel, met the first wave head-on, his sword a silver blur as he cleaved through the attackers. Each swing was a testament to his skill, a dance of death that kept the encroaching darkness at bay, but their numbers were overwhelming.
Elara, nimble and quick, focused on the periphery, weaving through the chaos. Her rapier, a slender blade of honed steel, found its mark with deadly precision, piercing the weak points in their corrupted forms. But for every foe she felled, two more seemed to rise from the shadows, drawn to the pulsating darkness emanating from the monstrous tree.
The air filled with the metallic tang of blood, the sickening crunch of bone, and the guttural snarls of the Blighted. The clearing, once a place of relative serenity, was now a brutal battleground, a desperate struggle against the encroaching tide. The monstrous tree stood at the center, its crimson leaves rustling like the whispers of the damned, as if feeding on the violence, growing stronger with each fallen foe.
"They're endless!" Liam roared, his voice strained with exertion. Sweat streamed down his face, and his breath came in ragged gasps. He was tiring, and the Blighted, sensing his weakening, pressed their attack with renewed ferocity. One of the larger, more grotesque creatures lunged at him, its claws extended, aiming for a killing blow.
Elara, seeing the danger, darted forward, intercepting the attack. Her rapier met the creature's claws, the impact sending a jolt of pain through her arm. She stumbled, momentarily off balance. The Blighted creature, its eyes burning with a malevolent red light, took advantage of the opening, its putrid breath washing over her as it prepared to strike.
Suddenly, a blinding flash of light erupted from the edge of the clearing. A figure, cloaked and hooded, materialized amidst the chaos. They raised a hand, and a wave of pure, cleansing energy washed over the clearing, pushing back the Blighted and momentarily stunning them. The air shimmered with residual energy, a testament to the power that had just been unleashed.
"We need to move!" the figure's voice echoed, though their face remained obscured by the deep shadows of the hood. "The tree... it's drawing them in. We must find a way to weaken it."
Liam, taking advantage of the momentary reprieve, shouted, "Who are you? And how can we trust you?"
The hooded figure didn't answer, instead gesturing towards a hidden path leading into the deeper, more corrupted parts of the forest. "There is no time for questions. Follow me, if you wish to survive!"
Elara, despite her exhaustion and the lingering pain in her arm, knew they had little choice. The Blighted, though momentarily stunned, would soon recover. She glanced at Liam, who nodded grimly in agreement. Together, they followed the mysterious figure, leaving the embattled clearing behind, and venturing into the heart of the encroaching darkness, hoping for a way to end the crimson tide.