Not the peaceful silence of nature.
The terrifying silence that came before bloodshed.
More than fifty warriors emerged from the darkness, their black armor swallowing the moonlight. Crimson runes glowed across their breastplates like veins of living fire, while long black cloaks trailed behind them.
Their faces were hidden behind iron masks shaped like snarling wolves.
Only their glowing red eyes were visible.
Aria's breath caught in her throat.
She had never seen soldiers like them.
They didn't carry the scent of ordinary werewolves.
There was something...
Wrong.
Something unnatural.
The leader planted his black spear into the ground.
A wave of crimson energy spread across the clearing, causing the wounded Shadow Guardians to growl in pain.
"So..." the masked leader said, hi
