FIORA: DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN

VOL 2 - Chapter 18 - The Son of Darkness

In the bustling marketplace, alive with the sounds of commerce and chatter, Antrodos approached a merchant's stall, his keen eyes scanning the various items in search of the necessary supplies for his children. Offering a warm, yet determined smile, he greeted the merchant and began discussing the items he needed. Antrodos hoped to use his natural charisma to secure a favorable deal.

"Good day, kind sir," Antrodos said, his voice resonant and amiable. "My family is in need of provisions and materials, and I have a feeling your stall has just what we require. Might we negotiate a fair price for these goods?"

The merchant, a grizzled old man with a shrewd gaze, studied Antrodos carefully. He weighed the sincerity in the knight's eyes before nodding, offering a modest discount on the supplies. "Very well, I can see you're a man who knows what he wants and what it's worth. I'll offer you a reasonable price, but not a copper less," the merchant replied in his gravelly voice, his stance resolute.

As Antrodos wrapped up his business with the merchant, an unsettling feeling washed over him. The air around him seemed to pulse with a sinister energy, one he recognized all too well from his demonic heritage. Sensing that his children, Max and Agnes, were in grave danger, he knew he had to return home without delay.

With haste, he paid the merchant and hoisted the supplies onto his back. As he raced through the marketplace, the ominous presence weighed heavily on him, urging him to act. Fearing for the safety of his children, Antrodos made the decision to summon his Demonic Knight Armor: Crimson Berserker.

Whispering the ancient incantation, the blackest steel materialized around him, encasing his body in the imposing armor. The crimson accents throbbed with malevolent energy, a testament to the power now surging through him. The armor not only granted Antrodos unparalleled protection but also bolstered his strength and endurance, allowing him to traverse the distance to his home with remarkable speed.

His heart thundering in his chest, Antrodos burst through the doors of his cabin, prepared to confront whatever sinister force dared to threaten his family. The sight that greeted him was one of pandemonium and terror, the air thick with malevolence. In that moment, he knew he had arrived just in time to face the darkness encroaching upon his loved ones.

"Max, Agnes!" he called out, his voice booming and urgent. "I am here, and I will not allow any harm to befall you!"

As his words echoed through the cabin, the unseen force seemed to recoil, though its presence still lingered, malevolent and enigmatic. Antrodos steeled himself for the battle to come, vowing to protect his children at any cost.

The entity's malevolent screech resonated through the air, sending a powerful surge of dark energy hurtling toward Antrodos. He braced himself for the inevitable impact, his body tensing in anticipation. Despite the formidable force, Antrodos' steadfast resolve allowed him to maintain his footing, the sinister howl dissipating as he stood his ground.

Unsatisfied with Antrodos' resistance, the entity's voice began to weave an ominous incantation. The very air surrounding the cabin grew thick with a foreboding atmosphere, the earth trembling beneath their feet. As the final, guttural syllables tumbled from the entity's concealed maw, lightning tore through the sky, searing the ground with a thunderous explosion.

From the smoldering crater, an army of skeletal warriors and undead creatures clawed their way to the surface, their hollow eyes alight with unbridled fury. The horrifying sight would have sent any lesser man fleeing in terror, but Antrodos remained unwavering, ready to face the undead horde.

He pondered summoning his formidable demonic axe, but concluded that its sheer destructive power could risk the safety of his family and their home. Instead, he relied on the enhanced strength granted by his armor and his own battle-hardened instincts as he prepared to engage the seemingly endless tide of undead.