Surrounded by the Wraith Legion
“Is Master alright...?”
Eily muttered without thinking. Her fingertips trembled slightly. She tried to hide her worry, but her expression betrayed her anxiety no matter what.
Meanwhile, the group pressed forward cautiously through the tense silence. With two key members missing, their movements were more careful and alert than ever. Every step seemed to echo loudly as it scraped against the floor, playing tricks on their ears.
“We have to hope so. But if it's Arnold... he'll definitely be fine.”
Eily murmured softly, as if reaffirming the words to herself. Her red eyes wavered. Just as unease began to creep in, a firm voice cut it off.
“Don't doubt it.”
It was Elisha. She spoke with unwavering conviction, her tone resolute. Her gaze sliced through the anxious atmosphere like a blade, steady and unyielding.
Melina sighed and shook her head.
“Honestly, I'm more worried about Senior Lucy.”
The words came out casually, but a subtle emotion laced them. She kept her tone light on purpose, with an odd undercurrent of confidence. It stemmed from her absolute trust in Arnold.
“By the way, hasn't it been too quiet for a while now?”
Varis, leading the way, suddenly halted and spoke in a low voice. All eyes snapped to him. His brows furrowed faintly, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.
“Isn't it good if no enemies show up?”
Melina shrugged with a light tone. But Varis's expression hardened further, his fingers gripping his sword hilt tightly.
“That's exactly why it feels off.”
His eyes swept the area rapidly. An eerie stillness hung in the air, as if even the wind had stopped. It felt like everything here was holding its breath. The drips of water they'd heard passing through had vanished too.
“Like the calm before the storm...”
Varis muttered lowly, drawing his sword. At that moment—
Ting.
A strange metallic clash echoed from somewhere. It was just a faint sound, but it sharpened the air with tension. The group instantly went on alert. In the chilling silence that prickled their skin, Varis gripped his sword even tighter.
And that ominous premonition proved right.
“Greeek... gree...”
Something emerged from the darkness. A figure clad in half-rusted armor, its body bound in iron chains that constricted it like a form of self-punishment. Flickers of blue wraithfire burned through the gaps.
“A wraith legion soldier...!”
Elisha cried out in surprise. Shock and a sense of crisis etched her face.
“You know what it is?”
Melina asked quickly, and Elisha nodded grimly.
“I've read about it in books... They act alone, but each one has considerable power.”
Varis sighed lowly at her words, clutching his sword.
“On the flip side, take it down and we're good.”
The group's eyes sharpened with resolve, their faces filled not with fear, but battle intent.
“Then let's end it quick.”
“We need to get back to Master.”
Eily declared firmly, glaring at the wraith legion soldier as if to pierce it through. Her sword was already in hand.
But then—
Thud. Thud.
Heavy clanking armor echoed from afar. It wasn't a single step. It was the overwhelming vibration of a massive legion marching in unison. The ground trembled, accompanied by the eerie jangle of metal plates colliding.
“Wait!”
Varis shouted in alarm. His gaze fixed on the darkness ahead. Blurry shapes were slowly revealing themselves.
“There's more behind it!”
As his words ended, a massive shadow loomed.
“What?”
Elisha looked incredulous, doubting her ears.
“Greeek...”
“Greeeek...”
“Gree... gree...”
Strange metallic friction sounds echoed from the shadows. And then, the legion soldiers appeared.
“Greeek...”
“Greeeek...”
“Gree... gree...”
Through the dim mist, countless legion soldiers emerged in dark blue glows. One, two... No, counting was pointless. From the endless darkness, dozens—no, hundreds—marched in formation. Their rusted armor and binding chains looked like the yoke of death. Blue wraithfire flickered through their helmet slits, burning with mindless predatory hunger.
“This is... a legion.”
Varis muttered through a stiffened face. He clearly hadn't anticipated this scale.
“Elisha... didn't you say they act alone?”
Varis asked, half-accusing, while staring ahead. But Elisha's face had paled at the unexpected situation.
“I-I don't know!”
Her eyes widened, lips trembling.
“It's different from the books...! They definitely said they operate solo!”
But whether the info was wrong or right didn't matter now. What counted was the reality before them: hundreds of wraith soldiers staring them down like predators eyeing prey.
“...Tch!”
In that instant, Melina nocked an arrow. To gauge their strength, she loosed a mana-infused shot like lightning.
Shwwk—!
The arrow, brimming with intense mana, pierced a wraith soldier's armor dead center.
“Greeek!”
The soldier jerked back momentarily. But only for a second. It quickly regained its stance as if nothing happened.
“What? It didn't even flinch?!”
Melina cried out in shock. Despite the powerful mana strike, it had merely shuddered—no real damage.
“Looks like each one's seriously strong...”
Varis's face grew grave. Not just numbers, but each with this level of combat power was beyond expectations.
A chill ran through them. Something felt... off.
“This feels ominous...”
Elisha whispered.
“Fall back for now!!!”
Varis's shout cut across the field. They whirled to retreat immediately.
But if their ordeal ended so easily, it would be too anticlimactic.
“Everyone... legion soldiers on the other side too!”
Eily's sharp voice rang out urgently. They spun around reflexively—and froze.
“Greeek...”
“Greeeek...”
Blue flames flickered like candles in the dark, revealing more. Not just opposite, but on all sides—endless wraiths closing in. Countless rusted armors and lifeless swords advanced step by step, like cold death tightening its grip.
“This is... surrounded on all sides?”
Elisha gritted her teeth, clenching her fists white-knuckled. But her eyes burned with sharper resolve.
“Looks like we'll need more than resolve.”
Eily scanned coldly too. This wasn't mere hardship. Annihilation loomed.
Was this all coincidence? Every direction in sight brimmed with wraiths, not scattered but forming a perfect encirclement—like a meticulously planned trap.
“Something's wrong... too deliberate.”
Varis muttered lowly. His sword trembled faintly—not from nerves. Instinct told him this was no random threat, but part of some grand scheme.
“Feels like someone's behind this.”
As the words fell, a ripple stirred somewhere. Not wind—but presence.
“Guess we have no choice.”
Melina gripped her bow again, murmuring. Her blue eyes gleamed sharply.
No escape now. The wraiths' grotesque groans swelled, filling the air.
Fight was inevitable. And this battle was anything but ordinary.
“Stay sharp, everyone... We might actually die here.”
Varis's voice sank, like a warrior steeling for the final stand.
This was no accident. The stage was set perfectly.
But who led them here—and why—remained unknown.