The border valley lay under a tense silence, broken only by the crackle of burned wood and the murmurs of survivors. The village, hundreds of kilometers from the Duchy, looked like an abandoned board where every piece was about to fall.
Lusian rode at the front atop Thunder. At his side, Umber sniffed the mist drifting between the ruins. The escort of five hundred Duchy soldiers had deployed according to Sofía's strategy: defensive lines, semicircle patrols, and rapid-response groups ready for any emergency. Albert, the head of Lusian's escort, enforced discipline with an unyielding eye. Adela remained to one side, her tiger alert to any suspicious movement.
Emily walked beside Lusian. She did not leave his side for even a moment. Her gaze followed him constantly, and her hand rested on the hilt of her sword, ready to intervene.
Alejandro and Leonardo watched from the rear, their eyes filled with hatred and distrust. Every movement Lusian made irritated them. If they could, they would have eliminated him right there. But they were forced to restrain themselves. Kara remained silent, analyzing every shadow and every possible battle scenario.
"Night is coming," Emily whispered, noticing how the sun slipped behind the mountains. "The pack won't attack until darkness falls completely."
Lusian nodded, his fingers tightening around the shaft of his spear.
"Do not underestimate these beasts," he said in a low voice. "They are intelligent predators. They're circling the village, waiting for a moment of carelessness."
The Duchy soldiers reinforced barricades, placed sentries, and prepared firing lines. Each group had precise instructions, and every decision was overseen by Lusian and Emily.
Alejandro and Leonardo watched from afar, their gazes sharp as blades.
"If he dies," Alejandro muttered quietly, venom in his voice, "at least it will be because of something he caused himself."
"That would be convenient," Leonardo replied without looking up. "But not as convenient as him surviving… so he can face the political punishment afterward."
Both of them stared at the young duke with a hatred they made no effort to hide.
Kara, a few meters away, murmured:
"Like dogs waiting for another dog to fall so they can attack… pathetic."
The first sounds came from the forest.
Broken branches. Crushed bones. Heavy breathing.
Albert gave the signal.
"Formation! Protect the civilians! The pack is surrounding the perimeter."
Enormous beasts with dark gray fur and yellow eyes moved between the trees. Their bodies were elongated, their jaws far too large, their claws capable of tearing through flesh and metal alike.
High-level predators.Patient.Silent.Waiting for full night.
Emily frowned.
"They won't attack yet. They're waiting until the darkness falls completely."
Lusian lowered his gaze to his hands, where inner shadows were already beginning to stir like ink in water.
"Emily…" he said quietly, "stay ready, but don't use wide-area light spells. Don't illuminate the perimeter too much. Just watch me."
Emily nodded, confused but obedient.
"What… what are you going to do?"
Lusian didn't answer. His eyes fixed on the tree line surrounding the village.
The sky darkened.The light of day faded.Shadow grew around him as if calling his name.
"When night falls," he finally whispered, barely audible, "I'll go out. That's all… trust me."
Emily frowned, not fully understanding, but feeling a chill run down her spine.
The creatures in the forest seemed to move with growing impatience, as if they sensed that something was coming.
"What… what is it?" she asked softly.
Lusian did not respond.
He simply breathed deeply, and the darkness embraced him.
The world grew a little quieter.
A little more dangerous.
In the forest, Lusian fixed his gaze on one of the creatures. He did not consciously calculate the mana; his body had already learned the rhythm. The flow, the cost, the trajectory… it all happened in a single breath.
He raised his hand.
Three spears of darkness emerged from the void.
Not one more.Not one less.
The monster fell before it even realized it had been hunted.