Chapter 20: Seraphim Of The Eclipse

Nyxara forced herself to calm down. Panic would accomplish nothing.

​Her Lord was somewhere beyond the swirling dust. Whether he was injured or not, she didn’t know. What she did know was that these monstrosities stood between her and him.

​Therefore... they had to die. All of them.

​Nyxara slowly spun her scythe as the shadows beneath her feet churned violently. Unlike before, they didn’t form independent tendrils. Instead, they climbed her body, wrapping around her back in dense, compressed layers before abruptly unfolding into two enormous wings of pure darkness.

​The remaining shadows flowed along her weapon, extending its blade into a massive crescent of eclipse energy.

​Living darkness: Seraphim of The Eclipse.

​This was a technique that relied entirely upon shaping her own physical shadow. Because she wasn’t creating independent constructs, the mana consumption was far lower.

​However, the difficulty was several times greater. As an embodiment of shadow, molding one’s own form required absolute focus, something nearly impossible to maintain indefinitely in combat.

​None of that mattered. Not today. Not when it was for her Lord.

​Nyxara lowered herself into a low stance as the first Treant reached for her.

​Then... she vanished.

​SHHHHK!

​The giant creature froze, as a dark seam appeared across its wooden trunk before its massive body was split cleanly in half.

​[+240 Experience]

[+500 Lord Coins]

​Nyxara was already gone, soaring high above the remaining seven Treants. Her shadow wings beat once, transforming her into a black streak in the night sky.

​The Treants roared, swinging their massive arms toward her, but she weaved between them effortlessly. One strike missed, another shattered an ancient tree, and a third struck only empty air.

​Nyxara moved through the battlefield like a fallen angel descended from the heavens. Every movement had purpose; every strike sought a vital core.

​Her scythe flashed in the moonlight. Heads fell. Limbs separated. Trunks split apart.

​One Treant attempted to grab her, but she folded her wings and dove beneath the blow before ascending straight through its torso. Another tried to crush her between its hands, but she accelerated forward, carving through its neck before the palms collided.

​The battlefield became a dance, a ruthless, one-sided execution.

​Soon, only a single Treant remained. It swung both arms wildly in a desperate attempt to swat her away, but Nyxara twisted through the attack. Her wings flared, her scythe descended, and the monster collapsed.

​Nyxara landed, immediately turning to scan the area for Cassian.

​Then her eyes widened.

​More figures emerged from the dust cloud, one, five, ten, twenty... More than twenty Shadow Treants slowly stepped forward into the clearing.

​A brief look of dismay flickered across her face before being replaced by iron determination. Tightening her grip around her shaft, she charged.

​If she couldn’t reach her Lord, she would carve a path through their corpses.

​Nyxara threw herself into the horde. Her movements became increasingly ruthless, efficient, and merciless as she flew with the precision of a bullet locked onto its target. Every dive claimed another Treant; every swing destroyed another enemy.

​Yet no matter how many fell, more kept coming.

​Her mana dwindled. Her movements slowed. Her breathing grew heavy. Still, she fought. Still, she advanced.

​Then... her wings flickered.

​It was only for a fraction of a second, but a second was all the horde needed, as a Treant’s massive wooden fist connected.

​BOOOOM!

​Nyxara was launched across the battlefield, crashing through several trees before slamming violently into the ground.

​As an undead, blood didn’t spill from her wounds. Instead, damaged sections of flesh peeled away to reveal pale white muscle, and cracks spread across her violet armor as her body screamed in protest.

​The Treants swarmed her instantly. One raised a massive root-foot to crush her, but Nyxara reacted on pure instinct, erecting a shadow barrier around her broken frame.

​BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

​The Treants attacked relentlessly, each strike shaking the barrier and draining what little strength she had left.

​She still hadn’t found her Lord and ​the realization hurt more than the physical wounds. Once more, she had failed to protect someone entrusted to her care.

​Memories resurfaced in a bitter wave: the noble family, the burning estate, the invading orcs, the bodies, the helpless screams.

​Then, the attacks stopped.

​Nyxara blinked through her hazy vision, but before she could process the pause—

​CRAAAASH!

​A colossal blow shattered the barrier completely, hurling Nyxara backward into the trunk of a dead tree. Her scythe nearly slipped from her numb fingers.

​The Treants advanced step by heavy step. Nyxara tried to stand, but her legs buckled. Her mana was completely exhausted.

​Yet she forced herself upright anyway, raising her weapon and pointing its edge toward the approaching wall of monsters.

She had no mana left to use her authority, yet she stood her ground in the face of the horde.

"I gave you an order, but you chose to ignore it."

​Suddenly, a figure stepped through the dust, placing himself squarely between her and the advancing horde.

​Nyxara froze. "My Lord..."

​Cassian stood there, covered in dust from head to toe. The earlier impact had thrown him far from the initial battle site, but the moment he regained his footing, he had sprinted back, only to find his Champion standing at death’s door.

​To say he was angry would have been a profound understatement. He was furious.

​Mana surged violently from his body as the Refined ★★★ Bone Blade ignited with brilliant, searing energy.

​Aura Blade.

​Cassian stepped forward, forming an unyielding shield between Nyxara and the swarm. The Treants roared, but he didn’t even grant them his gaze.

​Instead, he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes locking onto hers.

​"Nyxara."

​The Champion lowered her head in shame. "My Lord... I—"

​"Listen carefully," Cassian cut her off, his voice calm, steady, and utterly unshakable. "You don’t need to carry everything alone."

​Nyxara’s violet eyes widened.

​"You don’t need to stand in front of every danger," he continued. "You don’t need to fight until there’s nothing left of you."

​Cassian turned fully toward the Treants, his aura exploding outward in a wave of raw power.

​"Because that’s what I’m here for."

​He raised the Bone Blade, its edge humming with condensed mana.

​"Put your faith in me. Trust me. As your Lord, your victories are mine, and your burdens are mine to bear."

​His grip tightened, and a cold, dangerous smile touched his lips.

​"So next time... instead of preparing to die, believe in the one standing before you."