The war drums that echoed from the far horizon were not thunder nor the heartbeat of the earth they were the march of men the sound of boots upon cracked stone the rattle of steel and chains the rise of voices hardened not by faith but by greed and fear
Koda and his companions walked the valley their steps cautious the sky above bleeding faint light through the widening rift each breath heavy with the sense that something watched them that their path was no longer hidden Ryn kept his fists clenched though the scars of his power still burned across his arms Lyra's shadows curled and uncurled restless at her side Aria walked behind them her robes torn faint blood upon her hands from healing the wounded man she had left alive in the ruins yet her eyes sharp steady refusing to falter
It was Aria who spoke first her voice soft yet heavy
Aria : They are coming men not Abyssborn they move as a unit twenty maybe more I can hear the weight of their march
Ryn spat into the dust grinning despite his exhaustion
Ryn : Hunters then fools who think chains and steel can bind what even shadows and stars cannot
Lyra's voice cut sharp colder than the wind
Lyra : Do not underestimate them the Guild has hunted Nexus bearers before they are relentless and their greed is deeper than the Abyssborn hunger
Koda felt the mark upon his chest burn faintly his hand tightening around the hilt of the fractured star blade he turned his gaze to the horizon where the sound grew louder closer
Koda : Then we stand together we do not run
They reached the crest of a ridge and below them the hunters appeared twenty armored figures moving in formation cloaks blackened with the sigil of the Guild their weapons gleaming with strange light chains glowing with runes that pulsed faintly each one designed not to slay but to bind in their midst a captain rode upon a beast of iron hooves his armor dented scarred yet polished with pride his voice roared across the valley
Captain : Koda bearer of the Nexus you are commanded by the Guild to surrender yourself in the name of order your power is not yours it belongs to the world
Ryn laughed loud harsh fists clenching until the air around him shook
Ryn : Order he says what he means is gold what he means is crowns
Lyra's shadows surged around her her voice cutting like a blade
Lyra : If you belong to the Guild you will leave this place now or vanish with it
The captain raised his hand and the chains of his men rattled with one motion the hunters moved forward their weapons glowing their voices chanting the runes upon the chains pulsing brighter
Koda felt the Nexus burn hotter in his chest the blade of stars igniting in his grip his breath sharp
Koda : Then we endure
The battle erupted the hunters surged up the ridge chains lashing spears striking their runes burning against the earth Koda swung the blade arcs of fractured light carving through weapons turning steel to dust Lyra's shadows wrapped around foes pulling them into the ground spears of darkness piercing their armor Ryn roared his strength multiplying with each strike bones cracking blood spilling but his fists tearing through shields and men alike
Aria stood at the heart of the chaos her hands glowing her voice calm even as the storm raged every time Ryn faltered she touched him pulling his body back from collapse every time Koda's chest seared she steadied his breath every time Lyra's shadows strained she renewed their strength with light
The hunters fought fiercely their chains striking against Koda's blade sparks scattering like stars one lashed around his arm burning against his flesh the rune searing him with fire Koda gritted his teeth and swung the blade downward shattering the chain into dust but the pain burned deeper than the wound the Nexus itself recoiling against the binding
Captain : You cannot resist boy the Nexus is not yours you are a vessel nothing more
Koda's eyes burned the fire in his chest flaring brighter his voice cutting across the chaos
Koda : Then I will be a vessel of my own will not yours
With a cry he swung the blade arcs of starlight tearing through the ridge the hunters staggered scattered as the earth split beneath them Lyra's shadows swallowed their ranks Ryn tore chains apart with bleeding hands and Aria's light surged brighter than ever holding them all together
The captain roared spurring his beast forward his spear crashing against Koda's blade the impact thundered sparks scattering like galaxies the two locked eyes the weight of his fury pressing against Koda like a mountain
Captain : You are a danger to all you cannot be allowed to walk free
Koda pushed back his voice sharp unyielding
Koda : Then try and bind me
The clash erupted again until at last the blade of fractured stars burned brighter than before shattering the captain's spear in half the man fell from his beast his armor cracked his chains broken his men retreating in panic Lyra's shadows hunted them to the edge of the valley but Koda raised his hand stopping her his voice heavy
Koda : Enough let them carry the truth back to their masters let them know I will not bow
The silence that followed was heavy the battlefield littered with broken chains shattered steel and the blood of the fallen Ryn collapsed to his knees laughing weakly despite the crimson soaking his arms Aria knelt beside him her hands glowing her voice calm as she mended what she could Lyra stood beside Koda her eyes sharp though faintly softened as she watched him
Lyra : You showed them more mercy than I would have
Koda stared at the horizon the rift above pulsing wider darker the fire in his chest steady his voice low
Koda : Mercy is not weakness if I become like them then the Nexus chose wrong
Far away across lands scarred by war word of the battle spread reaching the ears of rulers kings and warlords and deeper still into the throne of shattered crowns the Crownless King smiled the hunger in his eyes burning brighter
Crownless King : Good let him grow let him shine brighter the stronger he becomes the more I will devour
The game had begun in earnest and the world itself trembled as destiny moved its pieces across the board