Emberfall Chronicles

CLANG!

Black Knight's blade met Dark Blue 67's dagger once more. Sparks scattered into the night sky as the two warriors moved faster than the eye could follow. Their duel wasn't just about skill—it was about dominance.

The air between them cracked with each blow, their weapons clashing like thunder.

Dark Blue 67 dodged a vertical slash, flipping backward onto a broken pillar. He smirked, resting his dagger on his shoulder.

"Tch. You're really persistent, aren't you?"

The Black Knight didn't reply.

Instead, he lunged forward.

His dark sword carved through the air, splitting the stone pillar in half as Dark Blue 67 barely evaded. The rogue assassin twisted mid-air, flipping over the Black Knight and landing behind him.

But the Black Knight didn't turn.

"Hmph." Dark Blue 67 dusted off his coat. "Fine. You want answers, don't you?"

The Black Knight slowly turned his head.

Dark Blue 67 grinned. "You're too late."

---

The Truth About the Strays

A heavy silence filled the air.

Then, Dark Blue 67 lifted a hand.

In an instant—

Hundreds of glowing symbols floated into the sky, forming an intricate map of A1 City and beyond.

The Black Knight's grip on his sword tightened.

"Strays," Dark Blue 67 said, "are not random monsters. They were created. Bred for war, designed for suffering."

The Black Knight remained still.

"By who?" he finally spoke.

Dark Blue 67's smirk widened. "You already know the answer."

The symbols above them shifted, forming a coat of arms—the crest of the Noble Family.

The Black Knight's eyes burned.

"Impossible."

"Oh, it's very possible." Dark Blue 67 chuckled, snapping his fingers. The map disappeared.

"The nobles have been experimenting for decades—turning humans into those monsters. Failed experiments? Strays. Successful ones? Well... let's just say you haven't met them yet."

The Black Knight took a step forward, his voice colder than ice.

"Why would you help them?"

Dark Blue 67 tilted his head. Then, for the first time, his smirk faded.

"Because it was never my choice."

The Black Knight narrowed his eyes.

"My master," Dark Blue 67 continued, his voice quieter, "ordered me to ensure this all happened. He told me the Strays were necessary. That this city… no, this world… needed them."

The Black Knight's heart pounded.

"Who is your master?"

Dark Blue 67 just smiled again.

"That… is the real mystery, isn't it?"

---

The Arrival of the White Army

Before the Black Knight could press further—

The sky above them darkened.

A heavy pressure filled the air, so strong that even Dark Blue 67 stopped smiling.

"Tch. So… they're finally here."

The Black Knight looked up.

Figures appeared in the distance.

An entire army was marching toward them—clad in pure white armor, their faces hidden beneath white masks.

Each soldier held a white sheathed katana, their movements eerily synchronized.

"Who are they?" the Black Knight demanded.

Dark Blue 67 exhaled.

"The real enemy."

The White Army marched closer, their footsteps echoing across the ruins of A1 City.

Then, at the very front—

A single figure stood.

His entire body radiated pure, golden-white energy—blinding, unnatural. His face was hidden, but his presence was overwhelming.

And then—

He spoke.

"Let the purification begin."