The only thing that could cause this kind of decay was a devil's relic, one that was never meant to see the light of day.
Malum stared across the shimmering, fading wall at Haven Lake. On the other side, the once-beautiful flowers were withering, and the corruption had already begun to spread deep into the forest.
"Magic is dying," Malum said quietly.
He pushed himself to his feet.
FWOOSH!
An arrow slammed into the ground beside him. Flames erupted instantly, burning the grass into black ash. Shocked, Malum stared at the blazing arrow.
He lifted his head.
Eight masked men in black attire now surrounded him and his men, each holding a catapult-like bow armed with burning arrows.
"Who are you!!!" Malum roared, his deep voice echoing.
One of the masked men fired before anyone could react.
The arrow struck a guard beside Malum
WHOOMPH!
Flames engulfed the man instantly, his screams echoing until his body was consumed entirely, leaving nothing but drifting ashes.
Malum's eyes widened.
"Heavenly fire…" he muttered.
How did they get hold of that?
The guards recognized it too. They drew their swords, entering battle stance, but they never got the chance to attack. A volley of blazing arrows cut them down instantly, turning each of them into ash mid-step.
Malum reached behind him and drew his sword. Its polished blade gleamed, the word INFERNOX engraved along its side.
So they're trying to use heavenly fire to kill me, Malum thought, smirking.
He lunged forward.
Arrows fired, he deflected each one with smooth, effortless movements. In a single swipe, he sliced the first man's head clean off.
He turned sharply toward the remaining attackers. His eyes glowed red. The arrows in their hands, along with their catapults, crumbled into dust.
The masked men froze, finally realizing they had underestimated the devil's own son.
Malum gave them no chance to recover.
In a heartbeat, he drove his sword through another man's heart. Two others charged him with their fists raised, but their heads toppled in unison as Malum's blade sliced clean through their necks. Dark blood spattered across Malum's face.
He dropped his sword, raising both hands.
Three of the men were yanked into the air, screaming and trembling in terror.
CRACK.
Their bones snapped, arms, legs, and necks breaking all at once, before their bodies crashed to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Malum exhaled slowly, aura burning around him. He turned his head just in time to see the last man trying to slip away.
Malum smirked.
INFERNOX rose from the ground on its own.
With a sharp thiwp, the floating blade shot forward, stabbing clean through the man's back. He collapsed to his knees and died instantly.
"Fools," Malum hissed.
Footsteps sounded behind him.
Before he could turn, someone slammed into him hard, shoving him aside
An arrow sliced past, cutting through his arm.
Both he and the unknown person hit the ground with a heavy thud.