Chapter 23

"Elizabeth exuded an unnerving confidence in her spell's effectiveness," Alfred replied, his voice tinged with unsettling anticipation. "By trapping the goblin king in a timeless void, we can unleash utter devastation upon it. We shall employ every ounce of our formidable skills, leaving no trace of him or his vile tendrils behind."

The rest of them nodded in agreement, their eyes in awe. They had all heard the chilling tales of Elizabeth Ashcroft's formidable skills, her spells whispered as the most potent in all Acrania. There was no doubt that her incantations held the power to strike fear into the hearts of even the most formidable opponents and after all, from their encounter with the goblin king, his magic defenses did not seem to be high.

With bated breath, General Lance continued, his voice laced with a mix of anticipation and caution. "Very well, we shall employ the two spells provided. Alfred, given your unparalleled prowess, you shall wield the arcane might of the space-time spell, unraveling the fabric of reality itself. And Edward, you shall grip tightly onto the devastating force of the earthquake spell, invoking the very wrath of the earth."

"Aella," General Lance's voice reverberated through the tent, his voice fills with urgency and tension. The gravity of her mission hung heavy in the air as if each word carried a burden too immense to bear. "Your mission is more than critical—it is the linchpin upon which our very survival hinges. You must navigate towards Zeeke when the battle starts. You will need to distract him for he is a predator, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike when we are most vulnerable."

"Once you find Zeeke," the General continued, "you must separate him from his wretched horde, use all you have to lure him away from his warriors and shamans."

Aella's heart pounded in her chest, she knew the stakes were high in this round, the risks greater than ever before. "Once Zeeke is isolated," General Lance's voice lowered to a barely audible whisper, his words dripping with the promise of impending doom, "Eadgar, Edward, and Galahad will seize the moment. They will encircle the goblin army, trapping them in a death grip of desperation. And then, with a power unmatched, they will unleash the earthquake spell—a cataclysmic force that will shatter their ranks, reducing their defenses to rubble."

"And finally," the General's voice grew somber, resonating with an eerie determination, "Alfred, you and I will hunt down that goblin king Zarku, the puppet master behind this malevolent scheme. Together, we will confront him in a battle where victory is the only option. We must unleash a storm of fury and unleash a torrent of vengeance upon his wretched soul."

"Any questions from anyone?" General Lance scrutinized his men, his steely gaze demanding unwavering obedience. The tension in the air was thick as silence gripped the room. A bead of sweat trickled down Galahad's forehead as he mustered the courage to speak. "What about Harold, will he be leading an attack as well?" His voice quivered with anticipation, his eyes darting between his comrades, hoping for a reassuring answer.

"No, my dear Galahad, Harold has a different mission. I've entrusted him with a dangerous task—a quest to unveil the demonic presence lurking in the shadows. We have not yet seen the real monster in this war, and I have a very bad feeling, something seems off." Galahad look at General Lance, not sure what to say. This is a rare moment as the general is a man full of confidence, and for him to send Harold on a separate mission at this time shows there are still many unknowns.

"If there are no further inquiries, gather your men swiftly and prepare for the imminent march at the break of dawn. This time, we shall seize the advantage and unleash a relentless assault. Remain vigilant for my signal," General Lance commanded, with determination. With a chilling stare, he dismissed his knights, releasing them into the ominous night to ready themselves for the impending onslaught.

As the moon cast its pale light upon the battlefield, darkness shrouded their intentions. Whispers of unease echoed through the ranks, for they knew this would be no ordinary battle. The weight of impending battle hung heavy in the air, each man acutely aware of the perilous task that lay before them.

In the dimness, the soldiers prepared their weapons, their hands trembling with a mixture of fear and anticipation. Shadows danced ominously, their flickering movements mirroring the restless unease that permeated the camp. The silence was broken only by the distant howling of the wind, a haunting melody that seemed to foretell the horrors yet to come.

General Lance stood at the forefront in his golden armor, a figure bathed in sinister resolve. His eyes gleamed with a cold, calculated determination, his mind weaving intricate strategies that would plunge their enemies into an abyss of terror. The weight of responsibility pressed upon him, knowing that victory would come at a high price, paid in the blood of his loyal warriors.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the darkened horizon, casting an eerie crimson glow over the desolate landscape, the soldiers stood in rigid formation, their hearts pounding in syncopated anticipation. The weight of the impending battle hung heavy in the air, saturating the atmosphere with a tangible sense of foreboding. Each breath was a fleeting whisper, betraying the soldiers' readiness to charge into the unknown.

The General, his face etched with determination, raised his hand, a commanding signal that sliced through the stifling tension like a razor-sharp blade. As if on cue, Edward, Eadgar, Aella, and Galahad, formidable warriors, took resolute steps forward, leading their troops with unwavering resolve. The ground trembled beneath their feet, a prelude to the storm about to be unleashed.

And then, in a disorienting moment of chaos, the sky itself seemed to rupture. An ominous entity hurtled down from above, hurtling towards the heart of the army with the devastating velocity of a falling comet. A collective gasp of disbelief escaped the soldiers' lips, their eyes widening in terror as the impending disaster unfolded before them.

With a deafening impact, the force struck the earth, unleashing a cataclysmic explosion that tore through the ranks with merciless ferocity. The very fabric of existence seemed to splinter as the soldiers were enveloped in a maelstrom of carnage. Shattered remnants of human flesh, pulverized bones, fragments of shattered armor, and pulverized rocks were sent hurtling through the air, a grotesque dance of devastation.

Alfred, in a split second, summoned all his strength to raise his defense shield, narrowly averting the devastating blow that could have inflicted grave harm. Yet, his heart sank as he witnessed the annihilation of his elite troops, mercilessly wiped out before his very eyes. Galahad, who stood steadfast by his side, met a fate so gruesome that his head was violently torn apart. Aella and the twins, positioned farther from the epicenter of destruction, managed to escape the brunt of the impact.

Within the heart of the desolated zone, a sinister presence emerged—a menacing grey goblin the transformed goblin king Zarku. Its eerie gaze fixated upon the devastation it had unleashed upon the human army, relishing in the chaos it had wrought. At that moment, Alfred's veins coursed with a surge of adrenaline, and his senses heightened to a fever pitch. With a thunderous roar that resonated through the air, he leaped to his feet, his sword gleaming with righteous fury, poised to strike at the monstrous creature.

"Galahad, Nooo!" Aella's scream pierced the air as she rushed to Galahad's side. Her heart sank as she beheld the gruesome sight of his half-torn head, a wave of terror washing over her. Gritting her teeth, she unsheathed her massive sword, its gleaming blade reflecting her determination. With a surge of adrenaline, she charged into the fray, the taste of vengeance on her lips.

Edward, poised on the edge of battle, felt a sudden grip tighten around his arm, pulling him back. Eadgar's firm hold halted his every movement, there is urgency in his. "Wait, brother," Eadgar cautioned, his words dripping with unease. "Something is amiss. The General is gone."

They scanned their surroundings, their gazes darting through the chaos. But where was their revered leader? His resplendent golden armor, usually a beacon during strife, had vanished into the abyss of darkness, leaving no trace of its radiant glow. A haunting silence settled upon the battlefield, intensifying the uncertainty that hung in the air.

"Damn it, we have to split up," Edward exclaimed urgently, his voice laced with concern and determination. "You go and search for the general, brother. I'll rush to aid Alfred and Aella. The goblin king has become unnervingly powerful."

Edward's words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of impending danger. He understood the gravity of the situation, sensing that finding the missing general was crucial. But his instincts told him that Alfred and Aella were in dire straits, their desperate struggle against the monstrous goblin king yielding little respite.

As Edward ventured towards the chaotic battleground, his heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing the urgency of the moment. Shadows danced ominously around him, casting sinister shapes upon the blood-stained ground. The air crackled with an eerie silence, disrupted only by the sporadic clashes and guttural roars that emanated from the vicious confrontation ahead.

His footsteps quickened, propelling him towards the grim tableau unfolding before him. Alfred and Aella fought valiantly, their faces etched with pain and determination, as the goblin king's relentless onslaught pushed them to their limits. Each blow landed with bone-crushing force, threatening to shatter their defenses and extinguish their hope.

Edward's muscles tensed, adrenaline surging through his veins. He brandished his weapon, a gleaming blade that seemed to shimmer with otherworldly energy. With a primal roar, he charged into the fray, his eyes fixed on the figure of the goblin king