The sun rose from the east, casting pale golden light on the rocky, root-woven path. The three continued their trek under a heavy sky, the wind carrying faint scents of old smoke – remnants of battles long passed.
Sir Cedric kept a careful watch on both sides of the trail. "We're approaching the edge of Ash Hill. Look closely—the soil is turning gray."
Karl bent down, picking up a handful. It was brittle, crumbling into his palm like dry ash. He frowned. "This isn't normal earth."
Molvar stepped back, sticking out his tongue. "Yeah, I'm starting to hate this place."
"You never liked anywhere that didn't serve ale," Karl replied dryly.
Sir Cedric suddenly halted and raised a hand for silence. Ahead, a clearing revealed blackened, leafless trees surrounding a vast area where the ground had turned pale and scorched. Deep, three-toed tracks lined the surface—symmetrical and unnatural.
"They're tracks," Cedric whispered, eyes narrowing.
"Demon kind?" Karl asked.
"Could be. Or worse—Gate Beasts. They roam the outskirts, hunting intruders."
Molvar shuddered. "So… we're the intruders?"
Karl glanced at him. "No. We're the ones who will end this."
Sir Cedric nodded. "We'll find a high point nearby, make camp, and observe. No mistakes. Not here."
They chose a small hill nestled behind scorched tree trunks for their camp. Sir Cedric planted a wooden stake etched with protective runes in the center and spread a special kind of ash in a wide circle. "This should keep us hidden from creatures sensitive to living energy."
Molvar sat down, biting into a dry biscuit, and smirked. "Great. My dinner is guarded by dust. Very reassuring."
Karl sat beside him, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. In the distance, faint blue glows flickered like whispers from another world. "Have you seen Ash Hill at night before, Sir Cedric?"
The knight nodded, his tone heavy. "Once. And I still remember it in my nightmares."
The wind picked up, rustling the skeletal remains of trees. There was something in the air—silent, but far from peaceful. Karl tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword, the hairs on his neck rising. Something was watching them.
"Get some sleep," Cedric said, rising. "I'll take the first watch."
Karl had just dozed off when a faint scraping sound woke him—a soft, persistent noise, like claws dragging across dry soil. He shot up at once. Sir Cedric was already on his feet, hand on his sword.
"Wake up. Something's coming," Cedric said sharply, nudging Molvar awake. The old knight's eyes scanned the darkness with veteran precision.
From within the woods, dozens of glowing red eyes emerged—smoldering like coals. The same beasts from last night—but this time, they weren't alone. An entire pack slithered forward, low to the ground, their limbs stretched unnaturally, steam rising from cracked, molten hides.
"They… called for reinforcements?" Molvar muttered, clutching his wand.
"Looks like it," Karl replied coolly. "Protect the ash circle."
But one of the beasts had already stomped through the protective ring—breaking it—and in that instant, the entire horde lunged forward.
Karl swung his heavy sword, sending the first monster crashing into a tree in a puff of ash. Molvar shrieked a spell, releasing a blinding flash of flame that caused some of them to recoil. Still, the numbers were overwhelming.
"Close ranks! Back to back!" Cedric barked.
The three of them formed a tight triangle. Karl manipulated gravity to pin down the nearest beasts, Cedric's sword moved like a silver blur, and Molvar ignited a ring of fire around them.
Yet the beasts kept coming—as if Ash Hill itself had decided to test their resolve.
"They're pushing east!" Karl shouted, feeling the gravitational pull shift unnaturally. A hulking beast—twice the size of the others—burst through the treeline, its horns like jagged ash blades. It lunged at Molvar.
"WATCH OUT!" Cedric intercepted, sword slashing in a clean arc. Steel met burning hide with a burst of sparks. The creature howled and retreated, only for four others to rush forward in its place.
Karl didn't hesitate. He stomped the ground, releasing a surge of gravity that slowed the charging beasts into a crawl—then spun his sword and struck them down, one after another.
From the left, another leapt, but Molvar had just finished his incantation. A red fireball exploded mid-air, incinerating the creature and scorching nearby branches.
"They're relentless!" Molvar panted, sweat glistening on his brow.
"So are we," Cedric growled, armor dented, blood trickling from his shoulder.
Then came the roar—a deeper, thunderous one.
The leader.
It stood nearly three meters tall, its cracked skin glowing like lava under ash, eyes burning like twin embers. It advanced with steady steps, the earth trembling faintly beneath its feet.
Karl clenched his jaw. "We end it now—then get out!"
All three charged.
The alpha let out one final, thunderous roar. Ash spiraled around it like a storm.
Molvar, with the voice of a true knight, bellowed, "Now! Push it toward Karl!" His silver rune-etched blade shimmered as he charged. He struck with a mighty overhead slash—imbued with the force of a Deathbound Knight.
Steel clashed with volcanic hide. The beast staggered—but did not fall.
Karl launched into the air, reversing gravity in an instant. He became a falling star, crashing down with his blade aimed straight at the creature's neck.
A sickening crunch—and then silence.
The beast collapsed, ash drifting down like snow upon its hulking corpse.
Sir Cedric stepped forward, placed a hand over his chest, and bowed—an old Solmere knight's rite honoring a vanquished foe.
"We're clear," he murmured. "But we need to move. There could be more coming."
Molvar nodded, blood-streaked and grinning. "By the gods... this may be the worst trip I've ever taken—yet I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Karl gave a faint smile.
They retreated into the trees, finding a crevice in the rocks to camp for the rest of the night.