Chapter 9: Shadows Over Tingen
The aftermath of the obelisk's destruction left the clearing scarred, trees splintered, and the ground pockmarked with craters. Smoke and residual dark energy swirled in the air, clinging to every soldier like a suffocating fog. Aric stood at the edge, surveying the scene. He could feel the lingering presence of the obelisk's consciousness, fragmented yet still probing the forest, seeking a way to reform.
Kael limped slightly, brushing debris from his armor. "That thing was stronger than any minion I've faced," he muttered. His axe, once gleaming, now bore the scratches and dark residue of the battle.
Lysandra knelt beside a wounded soldier, murmuring incantations to stabilize injuries and dispel lingering dark energies. Sparks of light danced over open cuts, knitting flesh and easing pain. "We've survived, but the magic residue is unstable. If we linger too long, it could tear the forest apart."
Aric nodded. "We can't stay. The obelisk's power may have fractured, but its influence lingers. We need intelligence—what we destroyed, what remains." He scanned the horizon, where faint, twisted silhouettes moved among the trees. Shadows lingered unnaturally, recoiling from the fragments of shattered magic yet forming new, smaller tendrils of corruption.
From the ranks, Sergeant Malric spoke, voice grim. "Sir, reports indicate movement to the north. Scouting units spotted robed figures gathering around a secondary structure. If the obelisk is part of a larger network, we may be dealing with multiple nodes."
Aric's jaw tightened. "Then we move before they can regroup. Prepare the legion. Lysandra, keep the wards active. We can't risk another ambush like this."
The soldiers murmured, preparing weapons and aligning shields. The forest was dense, and visibility limited by smoke and twilight shadows, but the legion moved with precision, knowing their survival depended on unity. Aric led, sword ready, scanning for any unnatural movement. Every rustle, every shift in the wind could be a trap.
Kael whispered beside him, voice low but tense. "If these are more obelisks, we need a plan beyond brute force. Another frontal assault could cost us the legion."
Aric's mind raced. "We'll combine our attacks: strike the wards first, then disrupt the structures simultaneously. Lysandra, can you manage multiple wards while we split forces?"
"I can try," she said, her voice tight. "It'll drain me, but it can be done."
The path north twisted through ancient ruins, remnants of a civilization long forgotten. Statues, half-collapsed columns, and shattered walls dotted the landscape, some covered in moss, others etched with arcane symbols. The air hummed with latent energy, the forest seemingly aware of their intrusion.
Suddenly, a shadow darted across the path, moving faster than any soldier could react. Aric spun, slashing through the air, and the figure dissipated into black mist before his blade could connect. Lysandra's eyes widened. "They're testing us…probing for weaknesses."
From the ruins, multiple figures emerged, cloaked and silent, their forms shifting in the dim light. Soldiers braced, forming a defensive perimeter. Bolts of shadow energy shot from hidden points, forcing the legion to duck and counter with coordinated spells and steel.
Aric struck forward, leading the charge through the mist. Every swing of his sword burned the shadows, forcing them back, but more emerged, seemingly endless. Kael's axe cut arcs of light through the darkness, and Lysandra chanted rapidly, countering multiple magical assaults at once.
Amid the chaos, Aric noticed a larger shadow, more solid, moving independently of the others. Its eyes glowed crimson, and a whisper seemed to echo in his mind: "You cannot stop what is inevitable…"
Aric's grip tightened on his sword. "Legion, focus! Protect Lysandra! Strike together!"
The soldiers advanced, synchronizing their attacks with precision learned from countless battles. The shadows surged, then faltered as Aric drove forward, cutting through the main figure. It let out a shriek, fragmenting into smaller, volatile shards that scattered in all directions.
Lysandra's wards pulsed, neutralizing lingering energies, and the forest seemed to exhale. The legion regrouped, weary but intact. Aric surveyed the area. "This is just the beginning. They're organized, and whatever force commands them is powerful. But we've proven we can face them."
Kael wiped dark residue from his face, grinning despite exhaustion. "Powerful, yes. But not unbeatable."
Aric's eyes hardened. "We'll find their source, and when we do, the legion will rise stronger than ever."