The tunnel echoed with footsteps. The stone beneath their feet trembled as Imperial soldiers poured out of the darkness—first a few scouts, then entire ranks of infantry. Spears glinted in the dim light of torches, shields bearing black crests rushed forward. Behind them, like dark shadows, six mages raised their staffs, on which runic symbols pulsed.
Kael stood firm, though sweat poured down his forehead. He still had a bandaged wound from the previous fight, but his hand tightened on the hilt of his sword.
Next to him, Noah stretched his lips into a crooked smile. Flames danced between his fingers.
— Well, I guess... it's time to make some noise," he muttered and threw a fireball at the front ranks.
The explosion tore through the tunnel. Two soldiers in heavy armor fell, while the rest raised their shields. The mages responded instantly — beams of ice and blades of wind cut through the air. Kael jumped to the side, his sword glowing blue.
The battle had truly begun.
The soldiers charged in tight formation, their spears aimed at Kael. He parried the first blows, his blade clanging against steel. He twisted his wrist, severing the tip of one of the spears and countering with a kick. One fell, then another, but the third struck him in the arm — blood spurted, and Kael hissed.
Noah didn't let him fall. His hands exploded with flame, creating a wall of fire. Several soldiers jumped back, others burned alive, screaming as their armor turned into red—hot traps.
The mages, however, were not idle. The runes on their staffs ignited. One of them thrust the end of his staff into the ground, creating a spell circle. Spikes of rock shot out of the tunnel, piercing Noah's fire.
— Fuck! Noah jumped aside, but a shard cut his side.
Blood flowed, but the smile did not disappear. — Okay, now I'm pissed.
He thrust his hands forward, and a fiery stream burst forth from them, breaking through the formation and striking the mages. Two flew backward, their heads hitting the stone walls. Another, however, raised a barrier and stopped the attack.
Kael found himself once again in the midst of chaos. He parried blow after blow, his sword blade trembling, his arms aching. He was fast, but the numbers were against him. Ten to one, heavily armed men pressed in from both sides.
— Noah! — he barked. — Give me some support before they stab me!
— I'm on it, Prince! — Noah roared and spread his arms. Flames burst from his entire body, and the air suddenly became heavy and stifling. Even the stone seemed to crack from the heat.
In the distance, down the corridor, came the metallic sounds of battle. The echo of swords, the boom of explosions. Valdor stopped on the stairs, his eyes narrowing. Arwen raised her head, her ears twitching.
— Do you hear that? — she whispered.
Mayuri raised her hand. The shadows around her danced restlessly.
— Kael and Noah... — she whispered. — They're fighting. And against an entire army.
Valdor moved forward without a word. Their footsteps echoed as they ran into the tunnel. The air was thick with smoke and blood. And then the sight met their eyes: Kael, surrounded by soldiers, fighting with his last ounce of strength, and Noah, breathing fire, but already wounded.
— Damn it... — Arwen growled and changed form. Her body lengthened, her claws flashed, and her wolf eyes lit up. She jumped on the first soldier, tearing his throat apart.
Valdor drew his sword. The aura of dragon blood awoke within him. Fire blazed on his skin. He leaped into the formation of heavily armed soldiers, and each of his cuts was like an explosion. The armor shattered under the force of his blows.
Mayuri raised her hands and the shadows around her spread like ink. They surrounded the team, creating a protective sphere. The mages' projectiles struck it, splattering in the darkness.
Noah looked from the side and burst out laughing.
— Finally! I was afraid you'd miss the party!
Valdor growled, cutting off the head of another soldier.
— Focus on fighting, not talking!
One hundred soldiers. Ten heavily armed. Six mages.
The bastion had become an arena of real war.
The soldiers charged in waves. The first ranks fell, replaced by the next. The heavily armed soldiers raised their shields, forming a wall, and aimed their spears at the team. The mages struck with lightning, froze the ground, and threw runic missiles.
Valdor pushed forward like a force of nature. His sword burned, and a dragon's roar burst from his throat. Each blow threw his opponents back several meters. But there were too many of them. A blade cut his arm, and his armor caught fire from a spell.
He gritted his teeth. — You won't stop me.
Arwen fought like a shadow. Her movements were fluid, almost inhuman. She jumped between the soldiers, each of her claws leaving a trail of blood behind. But at one point, a spear pierced her side. She howled, but instead of falling, she bit her attacker's throat, tearing him to pieces.
Kael fought alongside Noah. His sword glistened, deflecting spells, and each cut was precise. But he was already staggering. He had too many wounds. Noah covered him with fire, creating barriers, exploding entire groups of enemies.
— Kael! — he shouted, pushing back a wave of enemies. — Just a little longer, hold on!
— I always... hold on. — Kael growled, plunging his sword into his opponent's chest.
Mayuri stood in the center. Her hands trembled, the shadows around her rippled. A whisper still echoed in her head: *"Daughter of the night... come back to us..."*
But now she looked at Valdor, at Arwen, at Noah and Kael. And she rejected the voice.
— Never again.
The soldiers charged in waves. The first ranks fell, replaced by the next. The heavily armed soldiers raised their shields, forming a wall, and aimed their spears at the team. The mages struck with lightning, froze the ground, and threw runic missiles.
Dark blades sprouted from its shadow, piercing the ranks of soldiers. A scream tore through the tunnel as they fell to the ground, pierced by the shadow.
The Empire's mages gathered together, forming a circle. The runes pulsed. The ground began to shake, and a ball of pure energy gathered above their heads.
— Tear them apart! — roared the commander.
Valdor saw this and moved forward, but the heavily armed soldiers blocked his path. Their shields were joined together, impenetrable. Their spears struck simultaneously, hitting him in the chest. He staggered. Blood poured from his mouth.
But then Noah screamed, and his fire exploded, incinerating the entire wall of shields.
— Make way! — he roared.
Valdor raised his sword with both hands. Dragon runes flared on his skin. With one powerful blow, he cut through the air. A wave of fire and dragon energy struck the mages. The rune circle shattered, and the energy sphere exploded, killing three of them instantly.
The remaining three fell, bleeding, no longer able to fight.
The rest of the soldiers retreated in panic. A few tried to escape, but Arwen and Kael caught up with them, ending the battle.
Silence filled the tunnel. Only the crackling of Noah's fire and the breathing of the team could be heard.
The bodies of the soldiers lay in piles, blood flowing down the stones.
Valdor leaned on his sword, breathing heavily. The fire slowly died out.
Arwen knelt, clutching her side, her hands red with blood.
Kael fell to his knees, barely conscious.
Noah sat on a pile of rubble, wiping blood from his mouth. — Heh... I guess we won.
Mayuri knelt, her hands trembling. She looked at Valdor. — This isn't the end, is it?
Valdor raised his head. His eyes burned, but his voice was calm. — No. This is just the beginning.
The team gathered, bandaging their wounds as best they could. Their footsteps carried them toward the exit. The bastion was getting brighter, as if it wanted to let them out.
When they emerged onto the surface, they were greeted by the wind and the moonlight. Mountains stretched out around them, and far away, on the horizon, they could see the lights of the Empire's city.
Valdor looked in that direction.
— That's where we're going. To the heart of the Empire. To the Kingdom of Dragons.
Arwen clenched her teeth but nodded.
Mayuri looked away, but her shadow trembled less than before.
Kael leaned on Noah's shoulder. Noah snorted. — Hey, we're alive. That's already a success.
They set off together, slowly, toward the valley, leaving behind the Bastion covered in blood and ash.