The caravan moved slowly through the forests of Eldarion.
Several hours had passed since they had left the last city.
The roads were still covered in snow, but the main routes had been cleared. The soldiers advanced in formation while the Empire's heroes watched over the various sections of the column.
Elizabeth rode at the front.
Lusian rode beside her.
Thunder followed a few meters behind them, alert to any movement.
Umber moved among the trees.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Until Lusian stopped.
His gaze turned toward the west.
"What's wrong?" Elizabeth asked.
Lusian did not answer immediately.
He had sensed something.
Dark mana.
It did not belong to any creature he had encountered during the expedition.
It was a presence he knew all too well.
His expression hardened.
"Vhar'zhul."
Elizabeth frowned.
"He's here?"
Lusian shook his head.
"No."
He looked toward the forest.
"He's far away."
Very far from the caravan.
That was precisely what concerned him.
Vhar'zhul had appeared several kilometers away.
If that demon advanced toward them, the battle would take place far too close to the soldiers.
And if he used his area attacks...
No.
He could not take the risk.
"What do we do?" Elizabeth asked.
Lusian looked at the heroes.
Then he turned his gaze toward the distant demon.
"It would be better if I go."
Elizabeth immediately stopped him.
"No, I won't let you go alone."
Lusian smiled at her and gently moved her hand aside.
Elizabeth immediately understood.
"Why do you never listen to me? I'm your... boss."
"If we fight near the caravan, there will be too many casualties."
Lusian mounted Thunder.
"I'll go ahead."
Elizabeth frowned.
"Lusian..."
"Thunder and Umber are coming with me."
The electric steed raised its head.
A current of electricity coursed through its body.
Umber emerged from between the trees and moved to his master's side.
"Keep the formation until I return."
Elizabeth nodded.
"Be careful."
Lusian looked at her for a moment.
"I'll be back soon."
Thunder shot forward.
Umber disappeared into the shadows and followed.
The distance between Lusian and the caravan quickly increased.
Deidara followed the path where Lusian had disappeared with her eyes.
Her smile did not change.
"How convenient."
Vhar'zhul waited among the ruins of an ancient fortress.
The demon slowly raised his head when Lusian appeared.
Dark mana condensed around his body and began distorting the air.
Lusian dismounted Thunder.
Umber emerged from the shadows and took his place at his side.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Lusian observed the demon.
The last time he had faced Vhar'zhul, that presence had been enough to bring him to the brink of death.
Now, it only made him tired.
"You again."
Vhar'zhul roared.
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
His body lunged forward.
Lusian barely had time to raise Dainslein.
The blow collided with the sword, and a wave of darkness swept through the ruins.
Lusian was knocked back several meters.
His boots carved two furrows through the snow.
Thunder immediately charged from the flank.
A bolt of lightning struck the demon's side.
Vhar'zhul staggered.
Umber seized the opportunity.
The wolf disappeared into the shadows.
The demon turned.
Too late.
Umber's fangs sank into his shoulder.
Vhar'zhul roared and unleashed a wave of dark mana.
Umber was sent flying.
Lusian appeared in front of him before he could recover.
Dainslein descended.
The demon raised an arm to block.
The impact cracked the dark armor covering his body.
A fissure appeared.
Vhar'zhul retreated.
Lusian did not pursue him.
He waited.
He knew that sequence.
The demon always did the same thing after taking damage.
First, he retreated.
Then, he concentrated his mana.
And finally...
The ring appeared.
A circular structure of darkness opened around Vhar'zhul's body.
Lusian smiled faintly.
"I know that trick already."
The ring began to spin.
Brutal pressure swept through the ruins.
Lusian felt the mana accumulating.
One more moment.
Two.
Now.
He moved in.
The attack exploded behind him.
The wave of darkness tore snow and stones from the ground, but Lusian was already inside the defensive range.
Dainslein struck the ring.
The sound was sharp and dry.
The first crack appeared.
Vhar'zhul reacted immediately.
Darkness concentrated around the point of impact, sealing the fracture.
Lusian changed the angle of his sword.
He did not press the attack.
He retreated just as a mass of energy tore through the place where he had been standing.
"You still do that."
Vhar'zhul roared again.
Thunder attacked.
The electric steed tore across the battlefield like a bolt of lightning, unleashing all its energy into the demon's side.
Vhar'zhul lost his balance.
Umber reappeared behind him.
His fangs sank into the demon's ethereal flesh once again.
The demon spun violently.
Umber disappeared before the blow could reach him.
Lusian was already there.
Dainslein pierced the fissure.
The blade drove deep.
The dark defense shattered.
Vhar'zhul released a roar that made the ruins tremble.
A blast struck Lusian head-on.
His body was sent flying.
He rolled across the snow and slammed into a collapsed wall.
For a moment, he did not move.
Then he placed one hand against the ground and stood.
His breathing was labored.
A line of blood ran down from his forehead.
Lusian wiped it away with the back of his hand.
He looked at Vhar'zhul.
The demon was still standing.
"You're still annoying."
Vhar'zhul gathered all the mana he had left.
Lusian immediately recognized the preparation.
It was the attack that had nearly killed him the first time.
Dark energy began to compress.
The air grew heavy.
Thunder prepared to charge.
Umber disappeared.
Lusian raised Dainslein.
He did not need to stop the attack.
He only needed to enter at the right moment.
He waited.
The pressure increased.
One second.
Half a second.
Now.
Lusian advanced.
The black explosion engulfed the ruins.
Thunder pierced the edge of the blast and tore open a breach.
Umber appeared inside it.
The wolf ripped into Vhar'zhul's arm.
The demon lost his balance.
And Lusian came through the center.
Dainslein pierced the core.
Vhar'zhul's entire body convulsed.
Dark energy began escaping through the cracks in his body.
The demon tried to retreat.
Lusian gave him no time.
He pulled his sword free.
Umber attacked his throat.
Thunder unleashed its electricity across the weakened body.
Vhar'zhul fell to his knees.
Lusian stood before him, breathing heavily.
The demon raised his head.
He seemed unable to comprehend it.
The last time, Lusian had nearly died.
Now he stood before an enemy who knew every one of his movements.
Vhar'zhul's body began to disintegrate.
Lusian lowered his sword.
He did not wait to see him disappear completely.
He turned toward Thunder.
"Let's go back."
Then he mounted.
Umber ran alongside them.
Lusian looked back toward the path he had taken.
Elizabeth was waiting.
And, for some reason, he felt a discomfort he could not explain.
Several kilometers away, the caravan continued moving.
Elizabeth remained at the front.
The soldiers maintained their formation.
And the imperial heroes remained nearby.
Deidara watched the forest in silence.
Eidran smiled.
Valkaria kept both hands on her spear.
Lethos did not say a word.
Nothing seemed out of place.
Elizabeth looked back.
For a moment, she searched for a familiar silhouette among the trees.
It was not there.
"He should have returned by now."
Deidara replied calmly.
"He shouldn't be much longer."
Elizabeth turned her gaze back toward the road.
She had no reason to worry.
The heroes remained at her side.
What could possibly go wrong?