The air was thick with panic, a suffocating blanket of fear and desperation that clung to every breath.
The once peaceful tribe of Harheim, nestled in the shadow of towering mountains, was now under siege. Its sturdy walls, which had stood for generations as a symbol of safety and strength, were crumbling under the relentless assault of the Landsharks.
These monstrous machines, built specifically for this purpose, were unlike anything the tribe had ever faced. They moved with a terrifying precision, their metallic bodies gleaming in the dim light as they burrowed deep into the earth.
Their ability to hide their mana signatures made them nearly undetectable, allowing them to strike without warning. When they surfaced, they unleashed an endless army of demons, their grotesque forms spilling out like a plague.
The sky, once a clear expanse of blue, was now a chaotic swirl of smoke, fire, and the flapping wings of countless demons.
Their screeches filled the air, a cacophony of terror that drowned out the cries of the villagers.
The ground was no safer, as the demons swarmed through the streets, their black armor glinting menacingly in the firelight.
They moved with a savage hunger, cutting down anyone in their path. The people of Harheim fought bravely, their swords and spears flashing in the dim light, but the sheer number of demons was overwhelming.
The tribe, once a haven of peace, was now a battlefield, its streets littered with the fallen and its air thick with the stench of blood and smoke.
In the midst of this chaos, Keiran and Felicia stood surrounded. Felicia, a tall and imposing figure, gripped her great sword tightly, her knuckles white from the strain. Her armor, though battered, still gleamed with the pride of her tribe. Her eyes, sharp and determined, scanned the horde of demons that encircled them, searching for an opening.
Beside her, a group of children clung to her legs, their small faces pale with terror. Their tiny hands trembled as they held onto her, their wide eyes filled with tears. Felicia's heart ached for them, but she knew she had to stay strong. She was their protector, their last line of defense.
Keiran, on the other hand, stood calm and composed, his expression unreadable. He was a stark contrast to the chaos around him, his posture relaxed and his movements deliberate.
His dark cloak billowed slightly in the wind, the fabric catching the glow of the fires around them.
His eyes, cold and calculating, surveyed the battlefield with a detached curiosity. Despite the screams and the clash of steel, he seemed almost indifferent, as if the battle raging around him was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Keiran turned to Felicia, his voice steady and calm, cutting through the noise like a blade. "We don't have much time," he said. "I am a representative of the new nation of Casimiro. This tribe is not under our jurisdiction, and your ruler rejected our offer to help. As it stands, we can only watch."
Felicia looked at him, confusion etched across her face. Her brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of his words. "What are you talking about? Who are you?"
Keiran ignored her question and continued, his tone monotone but firm. "Your name is Felicia, correct?"
Felicia's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know that?"
Keiran didn't flinch. "You can condemn me for it later. What's important is that you answer my question. Are you an authority figure of the tribe of Harheim?"
Felicia hesitated, her mind racing. She didn't understand what Keiran was getting at, but the urgency in his voice compelled her to respond. "I... I am the first daughter and the second-born of the ruler of Harheim," she said finally. "But why does that matter now? We're under attack!"
Keiran's gaze remained steady, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her uneasy. "I want to ask your tribe once more to allow our nation to help you against the demon army. If you have the authority, I want to form a temporary alliance with your tribe. Can you represent Harheim in this matter?"
Felicia looked around at the destruction. The screams of her people, the clash of steel, and the roar of flames filled her ears.
She saw the despair in the eyes of the children clinging to her, the fear in the faces of her fellow warriors. The once vibrant marketplace was now a charred ruin, its stalls reduced to smoldering rubble.
The homes that had stood for generations were now crumbling under the weight of the demons' assault. She knew that without help, Harheim would fall. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture and looked directly into Keiran's emotionless eyes.
"I, Felicia, the first daughter and second-born of the ruler of Harheim, grant the representative of the new nation of Casimiro permission to help us against the demons," she declared, her voice firm and resolute. "A temporary alliance is formed."
Keiran nodded, his expression unchanging. "Very well."
Before he could say more, a group of demons in black armor lunged toward them, their swords raised high. Their eyes glowed with a malevolent light, and their twisted faces were contorted with rage.
Felicia shouted a warning, her voice sharp and urgent, but Keiran was already moving.
He raised his hand, and a surge of energy erupted from his body. The air around him shimmered, the very fabric of reality seeming to bend as he activated his Infernal Arcana. But this time, instead of directing the energy in a single direction, he released it in all directions.
A hellish fire erupted, engulfing the area around him. The flames were intense, a swirling vortex of heat and light that devoured everything in its path. The demons screamed as they were consumed, their bodies melting into nothingness.
The ground beneath them turned black, the concrete road cracking and crumbling under the heat. The air was filled with the acrid smell of burning flesh and the crackling of the flames.
Yet, despite the destructive power of the fire, not a single citizen of Harheim was harmed. The flames seemed to have a mind of their own, targeting only the demons and leaving the villagers untouched.
In an instant, the massive horde of demons that had surrounded them was reduced to ash. The area fell silent, save for the crackling of the flames and the distant sounds of battle.
Felicia stared in awe, her grip on her sword loosening slightly. She looked at Keiran, her eyes wide with disbelief. The sheer power he had displayed was beyond anything she had ever seen. It was as if he had commanded the very elements to do his bidding.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Before Keiran could respond, two figures approached. Greon and Agwil, Keiran's companions, arrived on the scene.
Both of them knelt before Keiran, their heads bowed in respect.
Keiran spoke with authority, his voice carrying over the noise of the battle. "We have received the approval to fight the demons. Nothing is stopping us now."
Greon stood, his expression serious. "Yes, my lord."
Felicia looked at the three of them, her confusion growing. "A lord?" she muttered under her breath.
Keiran turned to Agwil, his tone shifting slightly. "Agwil, I was planning to do this once we returned home, but it seems it can't wait any longer."
Agwil looked at Keiran, his eyes filled with questions. "What do you mean, my lord?"
Keiran's gaze was steady. "If you were given any skill, what would it be?"
Agwil blinked, taken aback by the question. He glanced at Greon, who gave him a reassuring nod.
After a moment of hesitation, Agwil answered without doubt. "I want the ability to transform into an unstoppable living armor."
Keiran nodded, a faint hint of approval in his eyes. "A great choice."