The darkness in the tunnel was thick as tar. Kael and Noah walked cautiously, their footsteps echoing hollowly off the stone walls. The air was heavy with the smell of dampness and old dust.
— I don't like this place. — Kael muttered, glancing at the flames dancing around Noah's hand.
— Me neither. And that's the worst part... — Noah replied, squinting his eyes. — Because I usually like dark places.
The footsteps stopped. A dead silence fell in the tunnel.
A metallic sound rang out in front — like a blade sliding across stone. Then a second, slow strike. Heavy, rhythmic footsteps.
A silhouette emerged from the darkness.
Armor black as night. A helmet without a visor, with red slits for eyes. On the chest — the sign of the Black Guard. In his hand — a sword so large that it looked as if it could cut through a stone pillar with a single swing.
— Target located. — the voice echoed, inhuman, as if steel itself were speaking.
Kael drew his sword. Noah raised his hands, and the fire burst higher.
— An elite warrior. — Kael whispered. — One of those can wipe out an entire company.
— Then we'll take him on together. — Noah smiled crookedly. — You cut, I burn.
The warrior moved first. Despite his heavy armor, he moved with a speed he shouldn't have had. The blade fell on Kael like lightning. He parried the blow, but the force of the impact threw him several meters back.
Noah struck his opponent's side with a wave of fire. The flames engulfed the armor... but it did not break. The rune on the breastplate glowed ominously, extinguishing the fire.
— An anti—magic shield. — Noah hissed. — Great, so you're left with steel.
Kael raised his sword with both hands and charged. The blade cut through the air, but the Warrior blocked it with a single movement. A spin—and a kick that sent Kael to his knees.
Noah gathered fire in his hands, this time thick as liquid metal. He threw it, aiming at the joints of the armor. The explosion flashed blindingly. The Warrior took a step back — for the first time.
— It works! — Noah shouted.
— Now it's my turn! — Kael jumped up, striking the same spot. The steel cracked, but only slightly.
The warrior roared and swung widely. The blade cut through the air so close to Kael's face that he felt a breeze. He regained his balance at the last moment.
— He's learning... — Noah muttered, stepping back. — He's analyzing our every move.
The warrior lunged forward. Noah jumped aside, creating a wall of fire in front of him that turned into a vortex. The heat was so intense that the stone walls began to crack. Kael fell into the vortex with him — the fire did not burn, but it shielded him from his opponent's gaze.
— On three! — Noah shouted.
— One! — Kael positioned himself for the blow.
— Two! — The fire thickened, forming a corridor.
— Three! — They both jumped out of the vortex at the same time — Kael from above, Noah from the side.
The strike was coordinated. Kael's blade hit the previously cut point on the armor, and Noah's fire burst into the gap. The internal mechanisms of the anti—magic shield exploded.
The warrior took two steps back, uttering a sound resembling pain for the first time.
— We've got him! — Kael lunged forward, but his opponent suddenly threw down his sword... and extended two curved blades from his forearms.
— Now the real fight begins. — he said in a steely voice.
The Warrior's movements became even faster. He attacked from both sides, forcing Kael to dodge constantly. Noah had to abandon the offensive to cover him. Waves of fire repelled the blows, but every inch of the tunnel turned into a battlefield.
At one point, the Warrior struck so hard that Kael's blade broke at the hilt. Kael landed on his back, unarmed.
Noah immediately jumped between them, drawing on all his reserves of power. Fire exploded in the shape of a dragon's mouth, which closed on the Warrior.
— Now, Kael! — he shouted.
Kael, instead of looking for a weapon, grabbed a piece of the broken sword, soaked it in Noah's fire, and stabbed it straight into the exposed joint under the helmet.
The red light in the Warrior's eyes went out. The body swayed... and collapsed onto the stone floor.
Silence. Both stood, breathing heavily.
— That was... — Noah began.
— Too close. — Kael finished, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Noah kicked the Warrior's dead body.
— One down. But if he was here alone... I think I know what that means.
From the darkness behind them came the sound of running. This time, it wasn't the metallic footsteps of a single warrior, but the patter of many feet, the clang of armor, the clatter of weapons.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
— The Empire's army.
Soldiers poured out of the tunnel—a dozen or so, maybe more. Armed with spears and swords, they were followed by mages with runic staffs.
Noah smiled crookedly, raising his hands, in which fire flared once more.
— Well, I guess it's time... to make some noise.
To be continued in the next chapter...