The wind tore past them as their footsteps pounded against the stone road.
Kira ran at full speed, his breathe uneven and alongside running with him was a beautiful girl name as Riya who was calm even though she was running. Her breathe was normal which tells her stamina and her eyes were observing through the surroundings.
The conditions in the town were not worse as royal guards have blocked the path of the beasts coming from the Eldoria forest, but the main tension was that monster whom they called~
Beast of corruption, Kira thought.
What is that monster? Is it some kind of another top tier and powerful beast which can rival or could defeat Arc. A strongest man he ever saw, Kira thought.
His mind was overwhelmed with millions of questions, but all the answer lies in the man running at front of him. He was not very far away, just few steps. So, he decides to ask him.
"Stok—!" he called out between breaths, his voice strained. "What is the Beast of Corruption?!"
Stok didn't slow down. His face was grim; eyes fixed ahead at the distant gates of Rigour Town.
"It's called Mordrath," he said, his voice low but steady. "One of the Nine mythical beasts... created by witch called as lady in betrayal during the Inner War."
Kira eyes widened as he thought about it.
A serpent or to be specific a snake who was as big as anaconda from amazon forest or even bigger, is one of the nine mythical beasts created by the witches, but how?
A doubt inside him which should be erased by the confirmation from Stok increased more and more.
Stok noticed it with his side eye.
"Don't think about it now. I will tell you everything once this is over.", Stok said indicating the battle which was coming for them.
"Yay", Kira said giving him a smile but still confuse.
Ahead, the massive gates of Rigour loomed closer, chaos already visible—guards shouting, people scrambling, smoke rising faintly beyond the walls.
Stok said something to himself grinning his teeth.
"Motherfucker beast! how he is still alive... I thought he died during the rampage of Draconia in the capital.", Stok said in a low voice with more serious and angry expression on his face.
"Even if it fake as Draves said... I will tear him into pieces this time. I will take my revenge for my grandmother."
The expression which was Stok giving was pretty noticeable for Kira but he decide to ignore it.
"This time I will kill him Arc... commander.", He said in low voice.
For a moment, only the sound of running feet filled the air.
Riya was also running with them and listening to their talks.
"So, as master said~ The beast who is standing should be fake.", She said.
Kira glanced towards her and spoke "Yeah"
By now, they had reached the inner streets near the gate. The ground trembled faintly beneath their feet.
Kira spotted a familiar figure ahead.
"Draves!"
Without waiting, Kira and Riya veered toward him.
Draves stood tall amidst the chaos, issuing orders to scattered guards, his presence alone holding the line together.
"Kira. Riya." His sharp eyes flicked toward them. "Don't come any further."
"But—" Kira began.
"Stand by on the walls," Draves interrupted firmly. "Observe. Do not engage."
There was no room for argument in his tone.
Kira gritted his teeth… but nodded.
"…Got it."
He and Riya turned, sprinting toward the stone stairways that spiraled up the watchtowers.
Their footsteps echoed as they climbed, higher and higher, until the battlefield began to reveal itself beyond the walls—
—and there, leaning against the stone railing, was a familiar figure.
"Elvin?!"
Elvin turned, surprised. "Oh... You two came."
Before they could speak further—
BOOM.
A thunderous crash shook the entire wall.
It was the voice which echoed through the surrounding for few seconds."
"What happened", Kira eyes glared towards the gate from the top of the walls and the scene which he saw made him stun like a stone glaring at a nature.
------------------
Few minutes before~
At the gate below—
Draves and Lisa stood side by side as they arrived at the frontline.
Rows of royal guards formed a desperate barricade, shields raised, weapons trembling.
Beyond the gates, shadows moved—many shadows.
Eren and Oryn stood nearby, locked in tense discussion.
"There are many", Eren said sharply.
"There eyes are glowing...", Oryn said unsheathing his sword and taking his stance for the incoming battle.
"Yeah...", Lisa glanced at them but
before any other words they should spoke~
A deafening roar erupted from the other side.
Not just one voice.
A chorus of monstrous hunger.
The gates began to crack.
Wood splintered. Iron bent.
"Hold the line!" a guard shouted.
For a brief, fragile second—
Silence.
Then—
CRASH!!!
The gates exploded inward.
And the beasts poured into Rigour Town.