Lord Leah had barely settled into her seat, brushing splinters off her cloak from the earlier skirmish, when a deafening screech pierced the air.
Around them, more trees uprooted themselves, their movements accompanied by the hideous sound of wood splintering.
Raaaaarrr!!
Phantom Apes descended in droves, their furious roars echoing across the forest as they leapt from branch to branch, their glowing red eyes fixated on the carriage.
Leah clicked her tongue in irritation, her muscles tensing as she prepared to step out again. “Are they going to keep coming? I’ll end this once and for all.”
But before she could rise, Lord Acheon held out a hand to stop her. “Sit down,” he said calmly, his voice steady but commanding. “It’s my turn.”
Leah raised an eyebrow, but his serious tone kept her in place. Acheon leaned toward the carriage window, pushing it open as the roars and screeches grew louder. He clasped his hands together briefly, murmuring a low chant under his breath.
While Acheon rarely needed chants to cast his spells, when greater precision and power were required, he relied on incantations. Chanting enhanced the spell’s effectiveness, allowing him to exert complete control over its execution.
“By the heart of the molten core,
Where earth’s blood burns forevermore,
I call the fury of rock and flame,
To heed my will and claim thy name.”
The temperature inside the carriage began to rise sharply, causing the others to glance at Acheon with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Outside, the air shimmered as the ground beneath their attackers began to glow faintly red.
“Erupting power, searing might,
Engulf this world in blazing light.”
Acheon’s voice rose steadily, his words rhythmic and deliberate, as the energy he summoned gathered into a massive formation beneath the Phantom Apes and tree demons.
“Infernal tides, rise, obey,
Unleash the lava, clear my way!”
Suddenly, with a sound like molten stone cracking, brilliant red circles of magic erupted beneath the creatures.
Booooom!!
In the blink of an eye, pillars of lava shot skyward, engulfing the attacking forces in a cascade of searing heat.
Kaaareeiiiii!!
Raaaaarrr!!
The screeches of the tree demons and the enraged roars of the Phantom Apes turned to cries of agony, echoing across the terrain as the fiery pillars consumed them.
The other three in the carriage watched in silence, the intense glow from the lava pillars reflecting off their faces. Lord Terrace finally spoke, his tone impressed. “You certainly don’t hold back.”
Acheon smirked but didn’t reply, focusing instead on maintaining the spell’s destructive precision. After a few moments, the lava pillars dissipated, their fiery glow fading into the night.
Where the attackers once stood, only charred remains and ash remained, the ground blackened and still radiating heat. A handful of essence cores glimmered among the ruins, their unique design enabling them to withstand the immense pressure of the attack.
Acheon exhaled heavily, withdrawing from the window with a triumphant grin. “That should keep them quiet for a while,” he said. Glancing at the essence cores left behind, he added, “Anyone interested in collecting those? They could be useful.”
Lord Leah shook her head, leaning back in her seat. “Not worth the effort.”
Lord Terrace shrugged. “Agreed. We’d lose more time than we’d gain.”
Great Elder White Fang, ever pragmatic, gave a curt command to the driver. “Keep moving. Let’s put this place behind us.”
The driver snapped the reins, and the Ghost Rides resumed their pace. Whether by luck or the lingering effect of Acheon’s overwhelming display of power, no more tree demons or Phantom Apes appeared to challenge them as they passed through the forest.
Any remaining threats seemed to retreat deeper into the shadows, unwilling to risk the same fate as their predecessors.
The rest of the journey through the night was smooth, the tension in the air dissipating as they left the danger zone behind. The group passed a few small towns along the way, their lights flickering like distant stars in the darkness.
By morning, the carriage rolled into a small city, its sprawling streets bustling with activity despite the early hour. The city, which stretched for several hundred miles, was vibrant and alive, its markets already thrumming with vendors and travelers.
The group decided to make a brief stop, taking an hour to stretch their legs, enjoy a meal, and replenish their supplies. They wandered the streets in pairs, taking in the sights and sounds of the lively city.
Lord Leah, in particular, seemed to enjoy the vibrant energy, her earlier irritation giving way to curiosity as she browsed the local wares.
Once they were ready, the group reboarded the carriage, eager to reach their ultimate destination. By late afternoon, they could see it in the distance—the towering walls of the Soulor Empire’s capital.
As they approached, the grandeur of the empire became more apparent. The entrance was guarded by an enormous metal gate, its intricate designs gleaming in the fading sunlight. The gate itself stood dozens of meters tall, flanked by equally imposing walls that stretched far in both directions.
The scene outside the gate was bustling, with multiple carriages and groups of travelers waiting to gain entry. Guards in polished armor moved among the crowd, their presence commanding respect and maintaining order.
As their carriage came to a halt near the gate, one of the guards approached, his expression stern. “Halt! State your names and purpose.”
Great Elder White Fang stretched his neck with a faint crack, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Time to play my part,” he murmured, rising from his seat.
Lord Terrace stood as well, following White Fang as he stepped out of the carriage. The elder adjusted his cloak as he strode toward the guard, exuding an air of authority that immediately drew attention.
The guard eyed him warily but said nothing, waiting for White Fang to speak.
“This should be interesting,” Lord Leah remarked from inside the carriage, leaning forward to watch the exchange.
Lord Acheon chuckled softly. “White Fang does enjoy making an impression.”
As the elder reached the guard, the other travelers and guards nearby turned to observe, sensing that whoever this man was, he commanded a presence unlike any they had seen before.
Lord Terrace followed closely, his own aura adding to the weight of their approach.