Chapter Six: Dawn of War
That night as Nathan rode, speed and shadow became his allies. Through haunted woods and sleeping villages he fled, possessed by urgency and visions of the profane rituals glimpsed in that unholy bower.
As the castle towers emerged silhouetted against predawn skies, he spurred his foam-flecked mount ever faster. Barely pausing to dismount, he bounded up stone steps three at a time, bellowing for the guard.
"Summon the King at once! Darkness comes!"
Soon the great hall echoed with his dire news. Percival's face hardened to stone. "Then it has begun. Sound the alarms - to arms, to arms! The Golden Kingdom's fate is sealed this day!"
As Eldoria plunged into fevered preparations, Alaric met Nathan. "You have done well. Now rest - for on the morrow, a battle unlike any other begins. Our victory or ruin will be decided upon crimson fields."
Come dawn, faithful souls took up steel beneath banners snapping in the wind. Across misty plains, an unholy host emerged, flagrant evils incarnate intent on desecration. As armies converged with thunderous roars, the Final War for Eldoria had begun...
What epic clashes and fearful sorceries would determine the realm's destiny? All rested on the valor of knight and squire, Wizard and liege, as darkness descended on that fateful field...
As the sun rose over the mist-shrouded fields, two vast hosts came into grim conflict. From atop the battlements, King Percival surveyed the scene with a heavy heart.
"Gods protect my people this day," he murmured. Beside him, Alaric clutched an ornate staff, readying fell magicks in defense of home and hearth. Below, knights formed shieldwalls as squires borne banners fluttering far behind.
A sound swelled across the plains, a churning roar to curdle the blood. The Nameless Lord's horde emerged through clinging mists - not mortal soldiers these, but daemons in twisted armor brandishing obsidian blades. Behind loomed their Obsidian Idol, chanting some eldritch dirge.
A horn cry split the dawn, and with thunderous shouts Eldoria's knights charged to engage the enemy. Steel rang as valor met evil in savage clashes along the line. But where was Gavin? Nathan craned for a glimpse, heart in his throat.
Suddenly an inhuman roar shook the earth. From the woods a monstrosity erupted - a towering behemoth of muscle and chitin, scythe-like talons tearing bloody furrows. "A spawn of the Nameless!" cried Alaric in horror.
As the beast charged toward civilians, Nathan knew he must act. Grabbing a fallen spear, he sprinted to intercept with a cry ofchallenge. Steel met carapace with a crack - would one boy's bravery turn the tide, or seal his doom?
With a roar, the chitinous monstrosity rounded on Nathan, drool pooling in its fanged maw. He stood his ground, spear leveled before him though his limbs quaked with terror.
All fell silent as the two combatants faced off, the clamor of battle fading behind them. With pounding hearts, Gavin and Alaric watched from afar, willing the boy to survive.
The beast lunged with blistering speed, talons gleaming. Nathan spun aside, jabbing with the spear. It scraped bone - then he was rolling away from snapping jaws as the creature raged.
Their deadly dance continued across the field, thrilling onlookers with its epic scale. Though exhaustion took its toll, Nathan fought with cunning learned from his mentor. A well-aimed thrust pierced an armored flank. The monster howled, recoiling.
Seizing his chance, Nathan buried the spear through an exposed throat patch. Black blood sprayed as the creature toppled with an earthshaking crash. Deafening cheers resounded as soldiers saw their savior emerge unscathed.
From the battlements, King Percival raised his sword. "For Eldoria!" Fresh courage seized the army at the boy's heroic feat. As one, they surged against the Nameless Lord's forces with newfound ferocity. Had Nathan shed first blood to turn the tide of war? Only time would tell...
As Nathan wiped sweat from his brow, the tide of battle appeared to be turning. Eldoria's troops fought with renewed valor inspired by his example.
Yet at the center of the horde, the Nameless Lord's champions had engaged the king's own knights. Among them, Gavin dueled three daemonists at once, holding the line against their unholy sorcery.
Nathan grabbed a fallen shield and raced to aid his mentor. Sliding into position, he deflected a blast of violet flames. "Well met, lad!" cried Gavin through the din.
Fighting back to back, they held the enemy at bay through the gore-slick morn. But the daemonists' wicked staves belched fresh horrors - from a realm beyond came winged abominations to darken the skies.
As talons rained and horrors assailed, even stout hearts began to falter. Across the field, Alaric summoned last reserves of power to challenge the dark idol's fell magics. His staff flared—
And with a thunderous crack, the skies parted. Through a rent in the heavens strode a shining giant clad in armor like the sun, sword ablaze with glory. "For the Golden Kingdom!" its voice boomed.
Reinvigorated, Eldoria charged with resounding cries. As Gavin and Nathan laid about them, all seemed set for a hard-fought victory. But dark players moved unseen, and the Nameless Lord was not so easily vanquished...
The tide of battle turned fully as the shining giant waded into the fray. Where it strode, darkness fled before the wrath and radiance of its coming. Yet even as Eldoria's forces surged forth once more, a dark shadow descended over the field.
From the heart of the enemy host strode a towering horror, armor writhing with soul-snuffing energies. Two pinpoints of baleful light burned where a face might be, regarding the forces of light with deathless malice.
"The Nameless Lord," spoke Alaric grimly, thunder cracking around his staff. "This day, his power is made manifest to challenge us."
With an abyssal howl, the dark titan met the shining giant's charge. Their cataclysmic duel shook the earth, lightning arcing where blazing sword struck armor black as the pit. Yet for all its fury, the giant's blows seemed barely to damage the Nameless Lord.
As the horrors battled, Gavin and Nathan fought on, strengthed by glimpses of the shining champion's indomitable will. But even their valor began to wane under the assault of an ever-strengthening foe.
"We must aid the giant directly!" cried Alaric. With a gesture, he blasted a path through the demons. "To me, champions of Eldoria! One final effort may turn the tide!"
Steeling themselves for a supreme test, knight and squire raced after the wizard into the Nameless Lord's midst. What fateful strokes would decide the Golden Kingdom's destiny this day?
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