Shadrex left, picking up his sword and rushing out of the house. The door shut behind him as he braced himself and called out for Ray. He climbed onto his horse and galloped down the town towards the barrier.
Erdrain spotted a dark grey creature. So brutal, it forced itself through the barrier. A big-shouldered beast stood on four powerful limbs, its face lined with six unblinking eyes three on each side—scanning everything with predatory precision. Its skin was rough and ridged like cracked stone, pulsing faintly with dark veins. Several long, whip-like tails coiled behind it, each ending in a hardened spine used for striking with brutal speed. Every movement was tense and coiled with violence, as if it were always seconds away from attacking. Its mere presence felt like a heavy, merciless threat. As it scanned around, Erdrain threw his spear at it. The spear landed precisely, but it wouldn't go down easily; its healing factor was something Erdrain had never seen before. He continued fighting restlessly, raising his hand to cause the spear to levitate back to his palm. The rising sun made the heat more intense as sweat dripped from Erdrain's face while the fight continued.
Shadrex arrived just in time, jumping from his horse and charging forward with fierce determination as he drew his sword. The raid struck without warning—dozens of creatures swarmed over the outer fields, leaping onto rooftops with bone-snapping force. Tiles shattered under their weight as they bounded from house to house, claws ripping into wood and walls collapsing in bursts of dust. Their six eyes burned with killing intent as they hurled themselves into the streets, tearing down fleeing villagers with terrifying speed and precision.
Shadrex stormed into the chaos, sword drawn, meeting the first monster as it lunged from a rooftop. Their clash sent a shower of sparks into the air—then Shadrex twisted, blocking a downward slash with such force that the ground beneath him cracked. He swung back with a brutal arc, his blade humming as a compressed shockwave blasted outward, ripping through the creature's chest and hurling two others off a nearby wall.
Another beast dropped behind him and bit his shoulder. He pivoted instantly, catching its tail mid-swing. Their strengths collided, Shadrex's boots digging trenches into the dirt before he shoved it back and brought his sword down in a clean, decisive cut. A third creature pounced from the ground; he met it mid-air, cleaving through its charge and sending a shockwave rippling through the street, flipping carts and knocking debris aside.
Even as the monsters kept coming—leaping from collapsed roofs and smashing through broken doors—Shadrex's stance never faltered. Each swing of his blade carved open the battlefield, each block shook the raiders to their core. The town was in ruins, but he fought like a wall of steel stopping a storm, one strike at a time. A nearby boy was spotted hiding behind a horse carriage with a soft growl as one monster approached, sniffing the air and coming closer. It climbed on top of the carriage, saliva drooling down onto the boy's shoulder. He could barely hold back his scream as the creature lunged at him with gnawing teeth.
Shadrex heard the screams just in time. He slid the tip of his blade along a stagnant water log, causing the water to vanish as it compressed at the blade's tip. He aimed at the monster's head, sending the compressed wave to slice its neck clean off. The fight continued; one after another, more monsters came into the town as Erdrain and Shadrex struggled to fend them off. Deep in the mountains, a deadly, slimy creature crossed in and jumped at Thorn, its sharp teeth breaking his neck as it chewed on his head, blood spewing as another creature burst out from the barrier while the others struggled with their body parts. Erdrain couldn't use his full counter assault; if he did, there would be no town left to save, so he relied more on defense.
Suddenly, a loud clanging and falling sounds came from the town. Shadrex called for Ray as he approached, climbing onto her back as they rode back.
The first crack split through the wall like a deep force, and then the structure gave way all at once. Bricks tumbled in heavy bursts, smashing against each other as they fell, sending sharp echoes through the air. Dust exploded upward in thick grey clouds, turning the collapse into a choking storm. Larger chunks broke loose from the top, thundering down and shattering on the ground with dull, crushing impacts. The wooden beams beneath them snapped like dry bones, and the entire side of the house sank inward, dragging more bricks down. In moments, what had been a solid wall became a mound of rubble, still settling and crumbling in small trickles as the dust slowly drifted away. Kendrick, in pain, called for Gladys as he held a brick off her while she lost consciousness. Kendrick didn't care anymore as he awaited his end.
Shadrex galloped with Ray, getting closer to the sight of crumbling dust in the distance. Urging Ray to go faster, he closed the distance and spotted a six-eyed creature with multiple tails. Grinding his teeth in boiling rage, he saw the monster lunge at Kendrick, who was holding Gladys. Shadrex drew his sword and yelled in pain. He clenched his sword as unimaginable energy surged from his body, turning it completely dark red and causing the sword to resemble burning sulphur. He trapped air at the edges of the sword, creating another layer of even more intense heat, and threw it with deadly intent, striking the creature mid-air and obliterating it completely. The shockwave sent it out of sight, vanishing in continuing motion with the sword.He jumped down from the bus horse as he approached Kendrick. He spoke to his father as he checked for injuries, breaking down completely at the sight of his mother not breathing. Kendrick spoke mournfully, saying, "You have to go; more will come." Shadrex interrupted, saying, "Father." Kendrick replied, "It is what she would have wanted; it is the wish of every father to see their loved ones." He placed the yin yang necklace in Shadrex's hands, pointing at Ray as he spoke softly, "She is yours."
Shadrex left reluctantly, riding Ray and taking a shorter path to Norshan's place. Upon arriving, he spotted Norshan and dismounted his horse. Immediately, Norshan spoke, urging Shadrex to take Kiran, saying, "He is getting too old, and I wouldn't want her to suffer." He was trusting in Shadrex's strength.
Kiran, a young woman in her early twenties, was a vision of rare, arresting beauty, the kind that lingered in memory long after a glance. Her face was softly oval, tapering gently to a delicate, rounded chin, with high cheekbones that elevated her features in effortless elegance. Her skin glowed with a natural warmth, porcelain-smooth yet alive with subtle, radiant highlights along her forehead, nose bridge, and cheeks.
Her eyes were her most mesmerizing feature—long and almond-shaped, their outer corners slanting slightly upward, giving her a unique look. Above them, softly arched brows mirrored the outward sweep of her eyes, expressive and perfectly balanced.
A small, refined nose with a rounded tip complemented the horizontal elegance of her gaze, while her lips, gently curved with a soft Cupid's bow, carried a natural rose tint that made her quiet expressions unforgettable. Her dark, silky hair fell past her shoulders, cascading down her back.
Her posture and presence were equally enchanting—slender yet strong, with a serene elegance in the way she moved. There was a subtle magnetism that drew attention without demanding it, making her beauty feel both ethereal and intimately real. Every detail—from the delicate curve of her jaw to the enigmatic gleam in her outward-slanting eyes—spoke of her rarity.