Chirp, chirp.
The birds welcomed the morning sun, their songs harmonizing with the clinking of dishes inside Caleb's wooden house. Luna sat at the dining table with Caleb, Mera, Cassarian, Lia, and young Calisto, enjoying a warm breakfast. Laughter echoed in the small dining room as Calisto told Luna about how he wanted to become a knight someday.
As Luna sipped her tea, her thoughts wandered back to the night before—the village-wide vote had taken over two hours. Despite initial hesitation and fear, the villagers unanimously agreed to relocate into the Twilight Territory. Since they couldn't decide on which of the three proposed locations to move to, they chose to seek Grand Duke Vermillion's advice. For the first time in many years, a sense of hope had begun to stir among them.
Then the sound came.
Clank. Clank. Clank.
The peaceful morning shattered as the rhythmic sound of armored boots echoed across the village. Caleb rose abruptly, his heart sinking as he walked to the window.
"What is this?" he muttered.
A line of knights in silver armor adorned with golden lion emblems marched into the village. At their front was a man with a proud, arrogant stride.
"I want to speak to the head of this village!" the knight shouted.
Caleb stepped out. "I am the head. What brings the Sunlight Empire here?"
"By the Emperor's decree, this village is to be burned to the ground!" the knight declared.
Gasps erupted. Caleb's face paled.
"What?! This can't be..."
"You were warned. But worry not," the knight said smugly. "We'll give you time to grab your things and run."
Villagers began shouting in protest.
"We've been self-reliant for over ten years!" "What gives the Emperor the right to do this?!"
The knight sneered. "You peasants dare defy the Emperor? Disobedience is treason. Resistance will be punished with death."
He raised his sword, and the other knights followed suit.
Cassarian stepped forward.
"Father!" he called, gripping his sword tightly.
CLANK!
Cassarian blocked a sudden slash from the knight leader.
"You dare strike a knight of the Leo Corps?! I, William Stride, leader of Squad Eight, will put you down!"
Their swords clashed again. Each of William's swings carried weight, cracking the ground with each impact.
"You're not bad... for a mongrel," William grinned. "Most would be dead by now."
Cassarian's eyes glinted with gold. "Is this really all you've got?"
SCREEEECH.
Their swords screeched violently as Cassarian pushed closer. "Has Leonard gone soft, or are you just weak?"
"YOU DARE SPEAK HIS NAME?!"
Cassarian kicked William with tremendous force, sending him flying into a group of knights.
He stepped forward, planted his sword in the ground, and with a golden shimmer, it transformed into a brilliant blade with a crystal lion at its guard.
"I am Cassarian Liona, once Ligonier, Leader of Squad One of the Leo Corps. Show some respect."
Silence.
Even William's smugness faltered. "That position… it's been abandoned for years..."
Cassarian ignored him.
"NOW!" William roared, and the knights charged.
Cassarian lifted his golden sword high. A radiant light swirled around him, his eyes glowing like twin suns.
BOOOOOM!
A massive shockwave burst from Cassarian's sword, launching the knights into the air. Only William remained barely standing, bracing himself with his sword.
Cassarian pointed his blade. "Are you finished?"
William yelled, "FOR THE EMPIRE!"
Cassarian looked up and spotted mages on griffins above.
"Fire!" William commanded.
Fireballs rained down.
Cassarian tried to raise a barrier, but William slashed at him again.
"Out of my way!" Cassarian shouted.
"Then kill me!"
Cassarian did just that. In one swift motion, William's right arm and leg were severed.
Ignoring his screams, Cassarian raced for his family. Rage surged through him. He stopped holding back. His strikes became ruthless and precise.
He saw a fireball racing toward Lia and Calisto.
"LIA!" he roared.
Pushing beyond exhaustion, he embraced them both, shielding them with his body.
"CASSARIAN!" Caleb shouted as he restrained Mera.
CRACKLE…
Just before the fireball struck— a figure appeared.
Everything froze.
Fireballs stopped midair. Flames halted.
Grand Duke Vermillion stood tall.
"Let's see..."
CLICK.
With a snap of his fingers, the fireballs reversed direction, blasting into the mages. Griffins and riders fell from the sky.
Caleb stared, stunned. "Your Grace, how..."
"Luna summoned me. Vlad will arrive soon," Aiden replied.
The knights could feel it—a crushing pressure. Even injured, William looked up in terror.
"Who are you?!" one knight dared to ask.
Aiden glared, his eyes burning with silent rage.
"Did I permit you to speak?"
The knight tried to speak again.
SLASH.
His arm flew off. Screams echoed.
A black-and-blue aura enveloped Aiden.
Then came the sound of thousands of bats.
Ashiq appeared.
"What a pathetic sight. You attack children?"
One knight charged. Ashiq grabbed him midair by the throat.
"You're not very smart. I'm a starving vampire."
Shadows engulfed them both.
The knight screamed in darkness, saw fangs...
And was no more.
Ashiq reappeared, licking his lips. He tossed out the lifeless body from a pocket dimension.
"Ashley!!" William cried.
Aiden raised a hand. Shadows erupted, swallowing the remaining knights.
"If I wished, you'd all be corpses."
Illusions of bloodied bodies surrounded them.
"LEAVE NOW!" he roared.
"We surrender! Spare us!" knights screamed.
"I want to hear it from your leader."
William spat blood. "We die for the Emperor!"
Aiden's eyes narrowed. "Then die."
Massive jaws of shadow descended—
But stopped.
Only one head rolled: William's.
The remaining knights screamed and fled.
Ashiq laughed. "Didn't expect you to copy me."
"Clean up. You're scaring the villagers."
After healing wounds and collecting belongings, the villagers gathered.
"Since no decision was made," Aiden said, "His Majesty allows you to reside in his castle for two weeks. You'll visit all three human-friendly regions, then decide."
Luna and several spirits guided them to a massive teleportation circle.
Moments later, they appeared in a grand throne room.
Byron, the Demon King, sat on his throne. Aiden and Ashiq stood beside him.
Caleb stepped forward. "We thank you for your protection, Your Majesty."
Two more figures stepped forward.
"I, Duke Maximilian Klementine, thank you for honoring the dark elves." "I, Duke Reages Flare, thank you for your kindness to the spirits."
The villagers, once fearful, bowed deeply.
Aisha appeared. "Please follow us."
Caleb, his family, and the villagers followed her out.
"Let's drink!" Lerenso cheered.
"You go ahead," Aiden and Ashiq declined.
"Boring," Lerenso muttered.
Aiden's POV
Back in his room, Aiden collapsed he's bed.
"Why... so tired..."
He drifted into a deep sleep he's Elven figure lying gracefully as he's silver hair shimmered under the moonlight.
Synchronization: 14%
In a distant forest, two elven children slept beside a giant black bear. Their silver hair sparkled under the moon.
Ashiq's POV
"What's happening to me?" Ashiq stumbled to his coffin. Synchronization: 10%
He collapsed inside.
In a shadowy corner of the mansion, a woman rose from her coffin, her red eyes glowing.
Sunlight Empire
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" the Emperor roared.
"A powerful vampire and a half-elf destroyed us..."
The Emperor stabbed the knight.
"I have no need for cowards."
He flipped a table, catching sight of a book showing nine powerful figures.
"It can't be..." he whispered. Crimson eyes glinted beneath golden hair.
"Perhaps it's time I visit her."
In a remote tower, a woman with flowing black hair stood in moonlight. Her hair turned silver, and a tear escaped her eye as she smiled softly.