CHAPTERFIVE:FLAMES OF THE CRIMSON ORDER
642 Words
Fire consumed the edges of the forest.
Smoke curled into the night sky while hunters surrounded the wolves from every direction. Their silver weapons glowed beneath the blood moon, reflecting death across the trees.
Aria’s heartbeat pounded violently.
Commander Lucien stepped forward through the flames, his golden armor shining like molten steel. Behind him stood dozens of Crimson Order soldiers holding silver chains and enchanted crossbows.
They had come prepared for war.
Kael immediately moved in front of Aria protectively.
“You should leave now, Lucien,” he growled. “Before your hunters become wolf food.”
Lucien’s expression remained cold.
“You still defend her?” he asked. “Even after learning what she truly is?”
Kael’s claws extended slowly.
“She is under my protection.”
The commander laughed darkly.
“The Blessed Luna destroyed kingdoms before. History will not repeat itself.”
Darius suddenly stepped beside Aria.
The hunters instantly became nervous.
Fear spread through their ranks at the sight of the Dark Alpha.
Lucien narrowed his eyes. “So the monster finally crawls out of hiding.”
Darius smiled faintly.
“And the Order still hides behind lies.”
The tension in the forest became unbearable.
Aria could feel power building all around her.
Hatred.
Fear.
Violence.
It was like the moon itself sensed the coming battle.
Lucien raised his glowing blade toward Aria.
“Bring me the girl.”
No one moved.
Then—
An arrow shot through the air.
Kael caught it inches from Aria’s face.
Battle erupted instantly.
The wolves lunged forward with savage growls while hunters released silver arrows into the darkness. Explosions of fire burst between the trees as screams echoed across the forest.
Aria stumbled backward in panic.
Everything happened too fast.
A hunter rushed toward her with silver chains.
Before he could touch her, Darius appeared beside him like a shadow.
His crimson eyes flashed.
Within seconds, the hunter was thrown violently across the battlefield.
Darius turned toward Aria.
“Stay behind me.”
But Aria’s attention shifted suddenly.
A young wolf had fallen nearby.
Silver arrows pierced his chest while hunters closed around him mercilessly.
Without thinking, Aria ran forward.
“Aria!” Kael shouted.
The hunters turned toward her immediately.
One raised his silver blade—
But before he struck, Aria’s mark began glowing brighter than ever before.
The moon above exploded with silver light.
A massive wave of energy burst from her body.
The entire battlefield froze.
Hunters were thrown backward.
Flames vanished instantly.
Even the wolves stopped moving.
Then something impossible happened.
Silver flowers began blooming across the burned ground.
Life spread wherever her power touched.
The injured wolf beside her slowly opened his eyes as his wounds healed completely.
Everyone stared in shock.
Aria looked at her trembling hands.
“I healed him…”
Darius watched carefully.
“The Luna’s true power,” he whispered.
But Lucien’s face darkened with fear.
“She’s awakening faster than expected.”
Aria suddenly heard whispers again inside her mind.
Ancient voices.
Hundreds of them.
*The throne awaits.*
Pain struck her head violently.
Visions flashed before her eyes—
A silver kingdom beneath the moon.
Wolves kneeling before her.
A crown covered in moonstones.
And beside the throne—
A shadow covered in blood.
Aria gasped sharply as the vision disappeared.
Then the ground beneath the forest began shaking.
Everyone froze.
A deep roar echoed from beneath the mountains.
Not human.
Not wolf.
Something far older.
Darius’ expression turned deadly serious.
“He’s coming.”
Kael looked toward the trembling mountains.
“The prison is breaking.”
Lucien stepped backward nervously for the first time.
“No…” he whispered.
Suddenly—
The mountain in the distance exploded.
Darkness burst into the sky like living smoke.
And from within it, two giant crimson eyes opened beneath the blood moon.
- Writer
