World Of Worlds (Arula: One)

Chapter 25

The plan was simple—enter Shurli after dark and take control. But like all plans, this one wasn't as straightforward as Karma had hoped. Guards patrolled the city walls, their torches flickering against the cold stone. Hidden in the shadows, Karma and her team waited for an opening. Across the way, she spotted Wiltin's unit, while Dagner and his dwarves crouched in position. Omar remained by her side, as always—loyal until the end, Karma thought. Loyal even when the end does come.
Suddenly, an arrow sliced through the night, striking one of the guards. The man crumpled with a silent cry.
Shouts erupted from the walls as soldiers rushed toward their fallen comrade. That's it, Karma thought, her pulse quickening. The signal. Omar placed a firm hand on her shoulder, his eyes asking a silent question—Are you ready?
Karma nodded. She whistled, the soft but distinct sound signaling her team to move. Pressing against the cold stone, she darted along the wall, her team close behind. They reached a narrow crack in the structure, barely visible in the dim moonlight. Karma smiled. She remembered finding it years ago. Without hesitation, she slipped through the gap, leading her team into the heart of the city.
Crouched low in a darkened alley, they waited. More shouting filled the air. Guards scrambled from their posts, abandoning the walls, the city streets, and even the castle as they rushed toward the main gate.
"We're under attack!" a voice bellowed.
"Arm yourselves!" another shouted.
Now. Karma gave the signal, and her team emerged from the shadows, sprinting toward the castle. Just as they reached the entrance, a squad of soldiers blocked their path. Swords clashed as Karma and her team fought their way through. She was impressed by the elves' skill in battle—then again, she had never once bested Omar in a fight.
Pushing forward, Karma and Omar pressed deeper into the castle, their numbers dwindling as some of their team remained behind to fend off waves of soldiers.
"Are you ready?" Omar asked, parrying an attack and driving his blade into an oncoming guard.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Karma grunted, swinging at a soldier behind her. Her sword missed by mere inches, and the soldier retaliated with a brutal downward strike. She barely managed to dodge before Angel lunged, sinking her teeth into the man's throat.
"Good girl," Karma breathed. Angel let out a satisfied yelp before bounding ahead. Omar reached out, grasping Karma's hand, and pulled her forward.
By the time they reached the throne room doors, only the two of them remained—along with Angel and Shari. The saber-tooth ferret crouched low, blood dripping from his fangs as he licked them clean. Karma shoved the heavy doors open, sword at the ready.
As expected, the king's guards stood waiting. The battle erupted in an instant. Karma and Omar fought with deadly precision, cutting through the soldiers with swift, practiced movements. Angel snarled and leaped onto her enemies, while Shari struck with terrifying speed.
Through the chaos, Termis remained seated on his throne, watching with a smirk of amusement. Karma fought her way to the base of the dais, her breath ragged, her blade slick with blood. Yet when she met Termis's gaze, she saw no fear—only cold amusement.
Slowly, he stood. Then, to her disgust, he began to clap. "Oh, wonderful," he declared, his voice smooth, mocking. "How wonderful! Our dear Creator has managed to cut through nearly all of my men." Darkness flickered in his icy blue eyes as he stepped forward.
"It's over, Termis," Karma growled. "Your city is surrounded. Thousands of elves and dwarves stand ready outside these walls. There is nowhere to run." But Termis merely laughed.
A wicked, echoing sound that sent a chill down her spine. "AH-HA!" Termis laughed, his voice echoing through the throne room. "You think you can threaten me? Me?" Then, just as quickly as it appeared, his smile vanished, along with the amusement in his eyes.
"I tried to be nice, Creator. Oh, I did," he said, his voice turning cold. "But now, I fear your time in this land is over." Reaching beneath his shirt, he pulled out the chain with the key dangling from it. With a smirk, he yanked it off his neck and tossed it to the ground. "Nice trick," he sneered.
In the blink of an eye, Termis drew his sword and slashed downward, aiming for Karma's head.
She barely rolled out of the way in time, hitting the marble floor hard. Strands of her hair floated through the air where his blade had sliced clean through. Missed me by a hair—literally, Karma thought.
A battle cry rang through the room as Omar charged, his sword raised, but more guards flooded into the chamber, forcing him to shift his focus. He fought them off with swift, precise strikes, Angel snarling and lunging beside him while Shari clawed at their enemies.
Termis tilted his head, watching the fight unfold with mild interest before stepping down from the dais, his sword glinting in the dim torchlight as he stalked toward Karma.
Karma scrambled to her feet, gripping her sword tightly. She charged at him, and their blades clashed with a metallic ring. Termis easily parried her strike and retaliated with a quick slash toward her legs. She leaped back just in time, then countered with a swing toward his chest.
To her surprise, the blade sliced through his shirt, drawing blood. Termis staggered back, his hand brushing the fresh wound. For a moment, he looked stunned—then he laughed.
"You think that will stop me?" he mocked. "You just got lucky." He swung again, their swords colliding in a furious dance of steel. With every clash, Termis pressed harder, pushing her back. His sword twisted around hers, wrenching it from her grip.
Karma barely registered the loss before a crushing blow struck her chest. She hit the floor with a painful thud, her vision swimming as the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. She tried to move, but her body refused to obey.
Termis loomed over her, his laughter ringing in her ears. He pressed his boot firmly against her chest, pinning her down.
"Like I said, Creator, you can only get lucky." He raised his sword, preparing for the final strike—when he let out a strangled cry.
Termis staggered, his sword slipping from his grip as he tumbled forward. Shari clung to his back, his saber-like teeth buried deep into Termis' shoulder, razor-sharp claws digging into flesh. Karma forced herself up, her legs weak beneath her.
"That's enough, Shari," she rasped. The ferret released his grip and leaped down, his muzzle dripping with blood. His sharp eyes flicked to Karma, awaiting her next command.
She stepped closer to Termis, who groaned in pain, clutching his wounds. She crouched beside him, lowering her voice so only he could hear. "And like I said," she whispered, "you will pay for your crimes."
Straightening, Karma turned to the room. The battle had ended. Elves and dwarves filled the throne hall, some wounded, all breathing hard, their weapons slick with blood. She spotted two elves who still had some strength left in them. "Take him to the dungeons," she ordered.
The elves stepped forward, seizing Termis by the arms. As they dragged him away, a triumphant voice rang out— "We did it! Hoorah!" A wave of cheers erupted through the hall, victory washing over the warriors who had fought so hard.
Even Karma, aching and exhausted, allowed herself a smile. Her gaze dropped to Shari, the small but fierce saber-tooth ferret standing proudly by her side. For the first time since she had met the creature, she truly admired him.