Maid Marian vs. Velasca

7. The First Battle

The air crackled with tension as we approached the gates of Velasca's dark fortress, our hearts steeled for the inevitable battle. The wind howled through the cliffs, carrying with it the faint echoes of dark magic that seemed to saturate the very ground beneath our feet. I could feel it creeping closer, a heavy presence that made the fur on my neck stand on end.

"We're not alone," Krystal murmured, her blue eyes narrowing as she surveyed the looming shadows ahead.

I drew my bow, the wood familiar and comforting in my grip. Footman and Alaric were already on edge, their hands ready on their weapons, though I could see the strain in their eyes—the growing pull of Velasca's magic.

Then, without warning, a rustle came from the trees surrounding the cliffside. Shadows detached themselves from the darkened forest, moving swiftly and silently toward us. Velasca's troops. They weren't human—no, they were twisted creatures, half-animal, half-shadow, with glowing red eyes and weapons gleaming in the dim light.

"They're coming!" Judy shouted, her sharp reflexes already springing into action as she hefted a mace, a far heavier weapon than her usual baton.

The first of the shadowed creatures lunged, and in one swift motion, I notched an arrow and released it. The arrow flew true, piercing the chest of the first attacker. It howled, dissolving into smoke as it hit the ground, but there were more—many more.

Krystal stepped forward, her eyes glowing with a strange energy. "Keep them off the men," she said, her voice calm but commanding. "I'll handle this."

Before anyone could respond, she raised her hands to the sky. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and then, with a blinding flash, bolts of lightning shot from her fingertips. The air hummed with electricity as the bolts streaked toward the advancing troops, striking them down one by one.

The creatures screeched, their forms disintegrating under the assault of Krystal's lightning, but they kept coming. More surged from the shadows, their movements fast and fluid, their weapons flashing in the pale light.

Judy was already in the thick of the fight, her mace swinging with deadly precision. She knocked one of the creatures aside with a powerful blow, the weapon sending it flying back into the shadows. Another lunged at her, but she spun around, her foot catching it in the side and sending it crashing to the ground.

"Come on!" she shouted, grinning despite the danger. "Is that all you've got?"

Footman and Alaric joined the fray, their swords flashing as they fought off the advancing creatures. Footman's strikes were precise and deadly, though I could see the strain in his eyes as he battled not only the troops but the pull of Velasca's magic. Alaric fought fiercely, his sword a blur as he cut down one creature after another, but the tension in his body betrayed the same internal struggle.

I notched another arrow, releasing it just as one of the shadowed figures lunged at Footman. The arrow struck true, and the creature dissolved into smoke before it could reach him. "Stay focused!" I shouted, my voice sharp with command. "Don't let them overwhelm you!"

Krystal unleashed another volley of lightning, the sky crackling with energy as the bolts struck down more of Velasca's twisted soldiers. The air was thick with the smell of burnt ozone and magic, the battlefield lit by the bright flashes of electricity.

Judy swung her mace again, her movements fluid and powerful. "They just keep coming!"

"We can handle them," I called back, releasing another arrow. "Just keep fighting!"

The creatures surged again, their numbers seeming endless, but we held our ground. Krystal's lightning tore through them, Judy's mace smashed them aside, and I picked them off one by one with my arrows. Footman and Alaric fought with everything they had, their swords gleaming as they cut down the attackers.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of Velasca's troops fell, dissolving into smoke and shadow. The battlefield was silent once more, save for the crackling of residual energy in the air. I lowered my bow, my heart pounding in my chest, and glanced at the others.

Judy wiped her brow, her ears twitching as she surveyed the scene. "Well, that was intense."

Krystal lowered her hands, the glow fading from her eyes as she caught her breath. "It's only going to get harder from here."

Footman and Alaric sheathed their swords, both of them looking worn but still determined. The pull of Velasca's magic was still there, lurking in the background, but for now, they seemed to have fought off its worst effects.

I stepped forward, my voice steady but resolute. "We keep moving. This was only the beginning."