Chapter 126: Into Enemy Territory
777 Words
The gates of the Lycan capital slowly opened with a deep grinding sound.
Cold night air rushed through the entrance, carrying with it the scent of distant storms and something darker—blood magic.
Torches burned along the walls as the Elite Squad gathered outside the massive gates.
The crimson moon hung high above the kingdom, casting an eerie red glow across the land.
Aria stood at the front of the group, her silver cloak moving gently in the wind. The power of the Moon stirred quietly inside her, reacting to the unnatural energy spreading across the sky.
Behind her, Kael mounted his black war horse.
Roran adjusted the straps of his armor while checking the edge of his sword.
Darius, meanwhile, looked far less confident.
He stared at the dark wilderness ahead and swallowed nervously.
“Just to confirm,” he said slowly, “we are riding directly toward the largest army of monsters currently alive?”
Lyra smirked.
“Correct.”
Darius sighed.
“I had a feeling.”
Garrick stepped forward, his heavy armor clanking with every step.
“The eastern plains are dangerous even without the Blood Army,” he said in his deep voice.
“Once we cross the Blackwood Forest, we will officially be in enemy territory.”
Thorne stood silently near the shadows of the gate, his long spear resting against his shoulder.
His sharp eyes scanned the darkness beyond the walls.
“We should move,” he said quietly.
“The longer we wait, the stronger the ritual becomes.”
King Alaric appeared at the top of the stone stairs overlooking the gate.
The warriors immediately turned toward him.
“This mission will decide the fate of our kingdom,” the king said.
His golden eyes moved from Kael to Aria.
“You carry the hopes of the Lycans with you.”
Kael bowed his head respectfully.
“We will not fail.”
Aria looked up toward the crimson moon one last time before mounting her horse.
The moment had come.
The squad rode forward together, leaving the safety of the capital behind.
The massive gates slowly closed behind them.
Their journey toward the Blood Army had begun.
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The land beyond the capital quickly became wild and silent.
Tall trees surrounded the narrow forest path as the group entered the Blackwood Forest.
The branches above twisted together so tightly that even the moonlight struggled to pass through.
The forest was known for its dangerous creatures and strange legends.
But tonight, something felt even more wrong.
Lyra rode ahead of the group, scouting the path.
She moved like a shadow through the trees.
After several minutes, she returned quickly.
“There are tracks,” she reported.
Roran frowned.
“Blood Army scouts?”
Lyra nodded.
“Several groups passed through here recently.”
Garrick tightened his grip on his sword.
“Then they know this forest too.”
Aria closed her eyes briefly.
The deeper they traveled into the forest, the stronger the dark energy became.
It was like a storm building somewhere far ahead.
Kael noticed her expression.
“You can feel the ritual again.”
“Yes,” Aria replied quietly.
“It’s growing stronger every hour.”
Darius glanced nervously into the trees.
“I’m starting to feel it too, and I don’t even have magic.”
Suddenly—
Thorne raised his hand.
The group instantly stopped.
Silence filled the forest.
Then a faint sound echoed between the trees.
Crunch.
A branch snapping.
Someone—or something—was moving nearby.
Kael slowly drew his sword.
“Show yourself,” he called into the darkness.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then several glowing red eyes appeared between the trees.
One after another.
More shadows stepped forward.
Blood warriors.
At least twenty of them.
Their dark armor reflected the red moonlight as they surrounded the path.
Darius groaned quietly.
“Why does this always happen to us?”
The leader of the Blood warriors stepped forward.
A cruel smile spread across his scarred face.
“Well, well,” he said.
“Looks like we found the Moon Queen.”
Aria’s silver eyes glowed softly.
Kael moved slightly in front of her.
The Elite Squad prepared their weapons.
Lyra drew her twin daggers.
Garrick lifted his massive blade.
Thorne lowered his spear.
Roran cracked his knuckles with a grin.
The Blood warriors raised their weapons.
The forest suddenly filled with tension.
Kael’s voice was calm but deadly.
“If you want to reach her…”
His sword gleamed under the crimson moon.
“…you’ll have to go through us.”
The first battle of the mission had begun.
- Writer
