Plague Of Shadows

Annalise found herself trapped in a dream, yet it felt too real to be just that. It was as though she was both present and distant—watching the events unfold while being powerless to intervene. The world around her was steeped in darkness, the heavy scent of rain mingling with the acrid tang of gunpowder and blood. The storm raged without mercy over Vornhart Manor in the Draugenshire capital of Eldoria, but a far more terrifying tempest had descended inside the grand estate.

The knights of the Obsidian Vanguard were in chaos, their shouts filled with panic and urgency. Many lay dead across the marble floors, their weapons scattered beside their bodies. The survivors scrambled to protect Duke Ethan Vornhart and Duchess Annalise, firing aura guns at a monstrous entity that moved too fast to be seen clearly.

Through the deafening sound of gunfire and the clashing of steel, Ethan clutched Annalise's hand tightly, his grip firm and reassuring despite the dread that lingered in his gray eyes. In his other hand, he held his aura gun, barking out orders to his remaining knights as they moved swiftly toward the underground passage hidden beneath the manor.

Fleeing to the Underground Laboratory.

The entrance to the underground laboratory—a remnant of the previous Duke's dark experiments—was hidden beneath a grand bookcase in the library. Ethan pushed aside an aged tome, triggering the mechanism that revealed the passage. They hurried down the narrow staircase as the remaining knights followed, dragging a wounded comrade behind them.

The iron door was slammed shut just as the entity reached it, its claws screeching against the metal. For a moment, the knights breathed a sigh of relief, but none believed they were safe for long.

Among the knights, Aldric stood tall—his grizzled black hair and piercing golden eyes reflecting years of battle experience. Seraphine, a raven-haired woman with violet eyes, blended into the shadows, her aura allowing her to become nearly invisible in the dim light. Lucian, with his silver hair and storm-gray eyes, crackled with electric energy. Cedric, the strategist, unrolled the maps hastily. Garrick, a warrior with dark brown skin, a shaved head, and tribal tattoos, gripped his greatsword tightly.

Assessing the Situation: The Horror Unfolds.

Garrick broke the silence first. "What was that thing?" His voice was rough with exhaustion. "It's different from the rest… even our aura guns couldn't kill it."

A heavy silence settled over them. The implications were grim.

Seraphine stepped forward, grimacing. "My aura gun is destroyed. The mana crystal overheated from overuse. I only have my sword now, and my energy is running low. I won't be much help to you, your Grace."

Ethan shook his head. "You've done enough. We will cover for you."

He turned to Cedric, who laid out two maps—a blueprint of the Vornhart estate and a map of the Empire of Eldoria. Ethan's finger traced a path westward.

"We need to reach Leandria Fortress. It was built to withstand sieges, but it has long been abandoned. It's large enough to sustain us, and its walls are strong. The problem is getting there. We'll have to pass through noble territories and villages—areas that could already be overrun."

Aldric exhaled sharply. "And these things… they're evolving."

The Monster Breaks Through.

A loud, echoing bang. The iron door trembled violently.

Another slam. A metallic groan reverberated through the chamber.

Then, with a final, deafening explosion, the door was ripped off its hinges and sent flying into the lab, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.

The creature stepped in, its massive, distorted body moving with eerie grace. It had no eyes, yet it sniffed the air as if detecting their presence. Its legs were twisted, slanted unnaturally like a beast's, its limbs elongated, fingers sharpened into deadly blades. Its maw gaped wide, revealing jagged teeth dripping with blackened saliva.

Behind it, a horde of undead followed—knights who had once fought for the Vornhart name, and household staff who had once served within these walls.

The Battle Begins

Ethan's eyes flickered to his knights, a silent command passing between them. They had to take down the mutated undead first.

Seraphine melted into the darkness, while Lucian and Aldric rushed forward, weapons drawn. Lightning crackled as Lucian struck with electric-charged precision. Aldric, wielding water-infused strikes, countered the monster's attacks.

Seraphine reappeared behind the creature, striking with deadly accuracy before vanishing again, appearing at unpredictable angles.

Meanwhile, Garrick and the remaining knights fought off the undead horde, cutting down the creatures before they could reach Annalise.

Ethan and Cedric worked quickly, charging an aura bomb—their only chance at eliminating the beast.

The room was filled with battle cries, the clashing of weapons, and the guttural growls of the undead.

Then, chaos. One by one, the knights fell.

Aldric, Ethan's most trusted knight and father figure, let out a final cry as the creature impaled him.

Ethan's world went still. He cradled Aldric's lifeless body in his arms, a scream of rage and grief tearing through his throat. The bomb was ready, but there was no time.

He turned to Annalise, urgency in his voice. "Run."

Tears welled in her eyes. "Ethan, no—"

"RUN!"

The world shattered around her.