"Okay, we'll split into two teams," Aron announced, his voice echoing through the canyon. "My team will go in directly. Archers and spellcasters, you'll form the high ground unit. The rest, you're with me."
Seventeen members separated from the main group. Elsa and Eri were among them.
"Guess I'll see you after we kill that thing," Eri said with a grin, shooting a glance at Erik before heading off. Elsa nodded quietly and followed her.
"Loki!" Aron called again.
The sorcerer stepped forward and closed his eyes. A moment later, with a rush of mana, a massive dragon-like spirit materialized—glowing eyes, translucent scales.
"A spirit summon... and strong enough to carry twenty people."
Erik watched with narrowed eyes.
"Loki is stronger than I thought."
The high ground team mounted the dragon. In seconds, the spirit soared over the canyon ridge.
"You'll follow us from above," Aron instructed. "Only engage if I give the order. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!" came the reply.
Once they disappeared from sight, Aron turned back to his team.
"Alright! Let's go get that son of a bitch!"
He led the charge into the canyon. Erik followed behind him, sword sheathed but ready. The air grew heavier with every step.
Small rocks tumbled from above, only fueling the tension.
"Aron, do you feel that?" Erik asked, scanning the cliffs.
"No," Aron said curtly.
"Wait! What's that?" one of the soldiers shouted from the middle of the group.
Everyone looked up—but saw nothing.
"What did you see?" Erik asked.
"I don't know... a human head or something?" the soldier replied uncertainly. He looked again. "Maybe I'm just seeing things. Let's move on."
"Don't scare us like that, man!" another soldier snapped.
"Sorry, sorry," the first laughed nervously.
Erik kept his eyes on the cliffs. Nothing.
"Let's keep moving," Aron ordered.
They advanced slowly. Erik eventually raised a hand and pointed ahead.
"It's just up there," he said.
The team approached the intersection where four canyon paths met.
"I don't see anything," Aron said, scanning the area.
"It's there," Erik insisted. "I can feel the mana marble."
But there was no sign of the Karken.
Erik moved forward. A strange shape caught his eye—black and fleshy. As he got closer, he realized what it was: a piece of the Karken's flesh. And embedded in it—his mana marble.
"Aron!" Erik turned sharply. "Something's wrong!"
At that moment, Loki's spirit—resting on Aron's shoulder—spoke in a shaken voice.
"Run!"
DOOM!
Something massive landed behind them, sending a shockwave through the ground. Dust exploded into the air. Through the haze, Erik saw four glowing crimson eyes.
It was the Karken.
Twice the size it was before.
It roared and swung. Five soldiers went flying into the canyon walls like ragdolls.
For a moment, everyone froze.
"White Calvary!" Aron shouted. "No backing down now! The reason we came here is right in front of us—attack!"
He charged. The others followed.
Old man Val turned to Erik. "What do we do?!"
"Find a way to climb up and check on Elsa and Eri," Erik said, unsheathing his sword. "I'll deal with things here."
Val nodded and ran toward the wall, climbing as fast as he could.
Erik turned back to the Karken. Aron's forces were holding it at bay, but they weren't doing real damage.
It's time.
He prepared for Core Activation—but Val suddenly shouted.
"No, Erik—wait!"
Erik looked up.
There, standing at the edge of the canyon wall, was something... humanoid.
Black skin. Same texture as a Karken. Not fully formed, but close.
Another one.
It leapt down toward Val. The old man met it with a crushing hammer strike, sending the creature flying.
More followed—clawing their way through cracks in the canyon walls.
Dozens of them.
Erik's eyes widened.
"Val, just get to Elsa and Eri!" he shouted.
Val didn't hesitate. He resumed climbing.
"Aron!" Erik called out—but Aron was too locked in combat.
Erik sprinted toward the Karken, the black creatures chasing him.
Good.
He leapt, reinforcing his hand with mana. He slammed his fist into the Karken's skull, knocking it to the ground.
Gasps rose all around.
"Aron!" Erik shouted. "Change of plans! You and I take the Karken—everyone else deals with those things!"
Aron turned. His eyes went wide as he saw the swarm of humanoid Karkens pouring into the canyon.
For a second, he froze.
Then the main Karken roared again.
The swarm charged.
Aron shouted, "You heard him! Take down the small ones!"
The White Calvary shifted their attention. They charged into the small karkens.
Erik and Aron stood before the Karken, shoulder to shoulder.
"What are those things?" Aron muttered. "What happened to the team on the ridge? Is Elsa and Eri—?"
"Focus!" Erik snapped, eyes still on the beast.
A brief silence passed between them, and then—
"Just like old times?" Aron asked.
"Just like old times," Erik answered.
The Karken charged.
So did they.