The second Grade Four beast that had initially attacked with two Grade Five soon got draw to Damien’s magic essence.
Kreeeeei!!
It screeched as it launched itself at him, drawn to Damien’s unique yet rich magic essence as it wanted to devour him whole.
It wanted all of his essence like so crazed addict.
Fenrir was there to stop it though.
Roaaaaar!!
The wolf’s fierce roar made the bones of everyone around rattle as it mad its move as well.
Chomp!
Fenrir’s mouth pressed down on the beast, forcing a painted screech out of the beast’s mouth.
The beast thrashed, its jagged claws scraping stone as Fenrir held it pinned. Damien’s blade glowed faintly with essence, ready for the final strike. One more swing and this monster would be finished.
That was when the air shifted.
Shadows darted from the edge of the tunnels, landing with unnerving precision around the battlefield. Not beasts—humans.
Half a dozen of them, clad in black masks and fitted armor that glead faintly with corrupted essence. Their movents were sharp, coordinated, nothing like the ragged chaos of demons.
Damien’s eyes narrowed. The masks... the sa as in my vision.
Ssssssshh~
One of the figures raised a curved blade etched with red lines, its edge hissing faintly as demonic energy leaked from it.
Another leveled a crossbow glowing with darkened runes. These weren’t scavengers or desperate cultists. These were operatives—trained, ard, and here with intent.
"They’re not here for us," Damien said quietly. He shifted his stance, blade still slick with beast blood. "I think they’re here to simply buy ti for sothing more."
The first strike ca fast. A masked warrior lunged, blade arcing for Damien’s throat.
Clang!
Steel rang as Damien deflected it with ease as though he’d seen the move before it happened, sliding his weapon free and countering with a slash that forced the fighter back.
The masked man’s footwork was tight, controlled—no wasted movents, no hesitation.
Arielle’s voice cut through the chaos as her hands lit with sigils. "Damien! Their essence—it’s... it’s different! Refined—like they’re weaving demonic essence into their attacks!"
Her spell ignited, hurling a wave of searing fla that washed across two of the intruders.
They twisted unnaturally, the corruption in their veins allowing them to withstand more than normal humans should.
"Arghhh!!" One dropped, charred and screaming in agony while the other pushed through the flas, blade swinging madly until Apnoch’s sword cleaved it down.
"They fight too clean for cultists!" Apnoch roared, parrying a spear thrust that shimred with corrupt energy. His counter was vicious, a shield bash that shattered bone, followed by a downward stroke that ended the fight. "These are soldiers."
Damien’s lips curved in the faintest of smiles as he weaved through two more attackers. Their strikes ca fast, blades shrieking with tainted resonance.
He shifted aside, testing their rhythm, and noted the discipline in every movent. Yes... drilled. Not random. Trained like a unit.
Fenrir snarled, lunging toward the archer. The wolf’s icy fangs closed around the man before he could loose another shot, tearing him apart in a spray of blood and cloth.
That wasn’t the end though. It took less than ten seconds for Fenrir to completely devour the man’s remnants which would serve as fuel for its growth.
Another tried to flank Damien, only to be caught by Arielle’s spiraling vortex of wind.
Bang!
He was hurled against a wall with enough force to leave most of his bones in pieces.
For all their skill, the masked fighters were outmatched. Damien’s blade pierced through one’s chest with rciless precision. Apnoch ran another through. Arielle unleashed another flurry of spells that burned two more into silence.
But not all of them fell. Two darted back toward the tunnels, moving with uncanny speed. Damien started after them, but the ground shook violently beneath his feet.
The tunnels groaned, walls collapsing in on themselves as if triggered deliberately. Stone fell, dust plud into the air, and within monts the escape routes had caved partially restricting him from following up. The fleeing operatives vanished into the rubble, evidence buried alongside them.
Apnoch cursed, striking the ground with his blade in frustration. "Damn it! They destroyed everything—no tracks, no proof, nothing left!"
Damien sheathed his sword slowly, gaze lingering on the clouded tunnels. He was calm outwardly, though his thoughts churned.
Not just beasts. Not just experints. They’ve planted people here. Soldiers. Operatives who know how to fight and cover their tracks.
He exhaled, wiping stray blood from the edge of his blade. Fenrir gave a low growl before dissolving back into essence as he unsummoned the beast, the air around them finally quiet.
"This wasn’t just a breach," Damien said, voice even but edged with certainty. He glanced at Arielle, then Apnoch, letting the weight of his words settle. "It was a warning. Whoever’s behind this... they wanted us to know they’re already inside and if we’re not careful, they’ll do this again. And again. Until we learn to anticipate and fight back."
The survivors of Apnoch’s squad exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier confidence shaken. If enemies could tunnel beneath Delwig and place trained operatives right in their streets, what else could they do?
Apnoch finally straightened, jaw tight. "Then we’ll report it exactly as such." He looked at Damien, the respect in his eyes deeper than before. "Whatever this is, you saw it clearer than any of us. General Ivaan needs to hear your words."
Damien gave a short nod. Arielle wiped soot from her cheek, her eyes still tracing the collapsed tunnels with worry.
Together, the battered squad ford ranks once more, their boots crunching over bloodied cobblestones as they began the march back to the heart of the city.
The streets were quieter now—civilians huddled indoors, soldiers patrolling nervously. But the tension was heavy, every shadow carrying the weight of what they had just witnessed.
Above all, no one was killed but a few sustained injuries although none was death threatening.
Delwig had survived the night. But the war beneath its surface had only just revealed itself.
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