Part 1
Sir Patrick Colem and a handful of soldiers who had survived the assault aimed their weapons at Satirus, who stood there, showing his macabre smile.
"Sir, what are we going to do?" one of the soldiers asked.
"I won't lie to you… I don't think we're getting out of this alive."
Through the fog, it could be seen how, little by little, a large number of skeleton soldiers were approaching the group.
The soldiers began to gather in a circle, covering their backs.
"But…" Colem murmured, driving his sword into the ground.
"I refuse to surrender!" he shouted with euphoria.
"Soldiers! It has been an honor to fight at your side!" raising his sword high.
The soldiers seemed to have renewed energy. Even facing certain death and no chance of escape, their sense of honor pushed them forward.
"We'll meet in Yoru's Hall as true heroes!"
One soldier gripped his shield tightly, while another seemed to pray.
Euphoric, the soldiers charged to fight the skeletons.
"I'll buy the first round…"
Two soldiers looked at each other while watching their leader charge toward the demon of deceit.
"Don't think this cancels our bet," one of the soldiers commented.
"Of course not, I'll pay you when we reach Yoru's Hall," the other replied, taking off his helmet and smiling.
The two charged shoulder to shoulder along with the rest of their comrades.
Sir Colem charged at Satirus.
"Lightning Thrust!"
Like an electric meteor, Colem ran at great speed, leaving an electric flash in his wake.
"Exquisite!" Satirus exclaimed when he saw him. "Come! Show me the power of a human general!"
"Ahhhhh!"
Colem's advance seemed to tear the very earth apart, breaking rocks with every step he took.
"Oversoul!"
"Impressive! Two techniques in a single attack! Wonderful!"
"Why isn't he moving?"
"Is the difference in power really that big?"
Colem's thoughts swirled in his mind, because his enemy was there, doing absolutely nothing, waiting for his charge.
"Die, you damned demon!"
The sword stabbed straight into Satirus's chest, and Colem was surprised.
"Why didn't he dodge it?"
With the sword buried in Satirus's chest, Colem twisted it with a single movement of his wrist, his face filled with contained hatred.
"Lightning… Explosion!"
Satirus's body received the massive explosion, raising a curtain of black smoke.
"Did I do it?"
At that moment, the skeleton soldiers crumbled in front of the few knights who remained.
Silence spread across the place and the mist faded for a moment.
"He did it!" a soldier shouted. "Sir Colem defeated the demon!"
The soldiers cheered, but he remained motionless, unable to believe what was happening.
The curtain of smoke began to disappear with the breeze of the wind.
There was no trace of the demon.
"Did he vanish like a dungeon monster?"
"Did he turn into ash?"
He turned to look at his soldiers. Some were celebrating, others were hugging, while others prayed for their fallen comrades.
A faint smile appeared on his face as he raised his sword high, and the soldiers followed him, lifting their weapons.
The sound of a gun's safety being clicked was heard at the level of his head.
At that moment, he felt a chill run down his spine.
"So, what exactly are you celebrating?"
That melodic voice… so cold, so calculating.
His eyes were still fixed on the soldiers, while he watched how, from behind, they were pierced by the swords of the skeletons, who were coming back to life once again.
Stabbed by betrayal, staining the ground crimson red.
"Why?" Colem murmured, falling to his knees.
Satirus, behind him, was still aiming at him with his sawed-off shotgun.
"I like seeing how humans lose all hope. It makes the act more memorable…"
"It's my… way of making 'art'."
Colem's face only showed resignation.
"You damned cynic…"
"Well, it's your fault for messing with our sanctuary."
Colem lifted his gaze to the sky one last time, trying to see beyond the blanket of mist.
"We should have listened to General Montero…"
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Somewhere else inside the dome, lost in the mist.
General Ulises Montero walked through the fog along with the three heroes of the kingdom, defeating goblins along the way.
"This place is infested with creatures…" he murmured. "Many of these monsters aren't even supposed to be here."
A goblin jumped from the top of a tree, but it was easily knocked down by Riku, the group's berserker.
"So far they don't seem very strong," Haruto commented.
"Don't let your guard down," Ulises replied. "Goblins in groups are a serious threat."
At that moment, the sound of some screams fading away was heard in the distance. And finally, the blast of a shotgun was the last thing they heard before silence took over the path again.
That shot froze the blood of all four of them.
Was it an ally? An enemy?
The lack of communication and information had them worried, with an intense fear of not knowing what was waiting for them… they had been walking for hours without knowing where they were.
Moving toward the direction of the shot… was it a good idea or a trap?
Even though Ulises had been in countless battles, this time he felt like he was drifting in the ocean.
At that moment, the fog began to form a path, slowly opening.
Ulises tightened the grip on his weapon when he heard footsteps, slow and elegant, not trying to hide in the slightest.
The young ones also went on alert when they saw the general's reaction.
From where the mist was clearing, a figure emerged.
A woman pale as snow, with long black hair, walked toward them in her maid outfit, elegantly.
"Stay in position, don't be fooled by her appearance."
That female figure was tall, intimidating, and had a gaze with no emotion at all.
"There's no need to be hostile… I didn't come to harm you," she said, adjusting her glasses.
"If you would be so kind as to follow me."
"My lord is waiting for you," she added with a bow.
Ulises stepped forward while sheathing his sword.
"And what will happen if we refuse? How do we know this isn't a trap?"
The maid simply looked at him and adjusted her glasses again.
"Well, I can't force you. My orders are simple, I only came to formally invite you."
Then her gaze turned toward some distant screams.
"You can come with me, or you can find your death sooner or later."
"You decide."
The young ones looked at each other, nervous. They didn't know if attacking the maid would be a good idea.
"Alright, we accept…" Ulises said. "Only if you promise not to harm these three young ones."
The maid looked them up and down.
"Of course. My orders are that you arrive safely to my lord."
Then she leaned down until she was face to face with Ulises.
"I promise you that no one, and nothing, will harm you while you are under my care. My lord's orders are absolute."
Kaede looked directly into her eyes.
"And who is this 'lord' you keep talking about?"
The maid adjusted her glasses again and began to walk away.
"You will know in due time."
Ulises and the heroes looked at each other for a moment.
"We'd better follow her and see how far the head of the snake goes…"
He paused, looking at them.
"And if something bad happens, remember what I told you…" Ulises added before following the maid.