Chapter 28
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The winds howled across the desolate plains outside the citadel, carrying the faint scent of smoke and ash. Within the stone walls, tension hung in the air like a storm ready to break. Elysia paced the length of the war room, her mind racing through the countless contingencies they had prepared. The trap had been set, but no one had taken the bait yet. Every minute that passed felt like a nail being driven into the heart of their defenses.
Gabriel entered quietly, his expression unreadable. He closed the door behind him and approached her with measured steps. "No movement yet," he said, his voice low. "Whoever is working with the Black Harbinger, they're either cautious or more embedded in our ranks than we thought."
Elysia stopped pacing and looked at him, her frustration barely contained. "We don't have time for them to hesitate. If we don't catch them soon, the Harbinger will make his move. I can feel it."
Gabriel nodded, his brow furrowed. "I know. But we can't act rashly. If we confront the wrong people without proof, we'll tear this place apart ourselves."
Elysia crossed her arms, staring at the map of the citadel spread across the table. "We need something to push them. Something to make them act."
Gabriel glanced at her, then back at the map. "Maybe we could leak more information. Something that forces their hand."
Before Elysia could respond, the door to the war room creaked open. Marcus, one of their most trusted commanders, stepped inside, his face pale and drawn. "We have a problem," he said, his voice tight with urgency.
Elysia and Gabriel exchanged a glance before turning to Marcus. "What is it?" Elysia asked.
Marcus took a deep breath, steadying himself. "There's been a breach. Our scouts report that a small force has managed to sneak past our outer defenses. They're inside the citadel."
Elysia's heart skipped a beat. "How? How did they get through?"
"We don't know," Marcus replied. "But they're moving quickly. We believe they're heading for the inner chambers—likely to sabotage our defenses or cause chaos."
Gabriel cursed under his breath. "It's the traitor. They've opened the gates for the Black Harbinger's agents."
Elysia's mind raced. This was it—the moment they had been dreading. The Harbinger's forces had infiltrated the citadel, and their time was running out.
"We can't let them reach the inner chambers," Elysia said, her voice steady despite the panic rising within her. "Marcus, gather the guards. We need to lock down the citadel and cut off their access."
Marcus nodded and quickly left the room, already barking orders to the soldiers stationed outside.
Elysia turned to Gabriel, her eyes sharp. "We'll need to divide our forces. You and I will hunt down the intruders while Marcus secures the citadel. If we can take them out quickly, we might be able to prevent the Harbinger from gaining a foothold inside."
Gabriel nodded. "We'll need to be careful. If we're dealing with the Harbinger's agents, they'll have access to dark magic. We can't underestimate them."
Elysia grabbed her sword from where it leaned against the wall and strapped it to her side. "We don't have a choice. If we don't stop them now, everything we've fought for will be lost."
Together, they left the war room, their footsteps echoing through the empty halls of the citadel. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the distant shouts of soldiers preparing for the coming battle. As they moved deeper into the citadel, the air grew colder, a palpable sense of dread settling over them.
"We need to be quick," Gabriel muttered, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "If they reach the central chamber, they could disable our wards. The citadel's defenses would fall in minutes."
Elysia nodded, her senses on high alert. She could feel the dark energy in the air—an oppressive force that pressed down on her with every step. It was the same feeling she had experienced in the Harbinger's presence—a suffocating darkness that threatened to consume everything in its path.
They moved swiftly through the corridors, their eyes scanning every shadow for signs of movement. Suddenly, a flicker of motion caught Elysia's eye. She spun around, her sword raised, but there was nothing there.
"Did you see that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Gabriel nodded, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkness. "They're here. Stay sharp."
As they continued down the hall, the temperature dropped even further, and the shadows seemed to deepen. The oppressive atmosphere grew heavier with each passing moment, making it difficult to breathe.
Suddenly, a figure darted out from the shadows, moving with unnatural speed. Elysia barely had time to react before the figure was upon her, its blade slashing toward her throat. She parried the strike just in time, the clash of steel ringing out through the hall.
Gabriel drew his sword and moved to flank the attacker, but before he could strike, another figure emerged from the darkness, blocking his path. The two intruders were cloaked in dark robes, their faces obscured by hoods, but Elysia could feel the malevolent energy radiating from them.
These were no ordinary soldiers—they were agents of the Black Harbinger, wielders of dark magic and assassins trained to kill without hesitation.
Elysia and Gabriel fought side by side, their movements fluid and precise. But the agents were fast, their attacks unpredictable and deadly. For every strike Elysia landed, the intruders countered with equal force, their blades infused with dark energy.
Elysia gritted her teeth, her muscles straining as she deflected another blow. She could feel the weight of the dark magic pressing against her, sapping her strength with every second that passed.
"We need to end this quickly," Gabriel called out, his voice strained as he fended off his opponent. "They're trying to wear us down!"
Elysia nodded, her mind racing as she searched for an opening. The agents were skilled, but they were relying too heavily on their dark magic. If she could disrupt their focus, she might be able to gain the upper hand.
Summoning every ounce of her strength, Elysia shifted her stance, feinting a retreat. The agent in front of her lunged forward, falling for the bait. In a blur of motion, Elysia sidestepped the attack and drove her sword deep into the intruder's side. The agent let out a choked gasp, his body convulsing as the dark energy dissipated around him.
Gabriel followed her lead, using the opening to deliver a final, decisive blow to his opponent. The second agent crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Breathing heavily, Elysia wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced around the hall. The threat had been neutralized, but the danger was far from over.
"That's two down," Gabriel muttered, sheathing his sword. "But we don't know how many more there are."
Elysia nodded, her mind already racing ahead. "We need to regroup with Marcus. If there are more agents inside the citadel, we need to root them out before they can do any more damage."
As they hurried back through the citadel, the oppressive atmosphere began to lift, but the sense of urgency remained. They couldn't afford to let their guard down—not until every last one of the Black Harbinger's agents had been dealt with.
When they reached the central chamber, Marcus was waiting for them, flanked by a group of soldiers. "Did you get them?" he asked, his expression tense.
Elysia nodded. "Two of them. But there could be more."
Marcus's jaw tightened. "We'll sweep the citadel. If there are any others, we'll find them."
As Marcus turned to give orders to his men, Elysia felt a familiar chill run down her spine. She glanced at Gabriel, who met her gaze with the same unease.
The Black Harbinger's reach was growing. And if they didn't act soon, his darkness would consume them all.
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This Chapter was sponsered by the Dragon King Card holder in patreon i want to give hime a huge thanks :
SweetPickle
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