The fortress of Dredge Hollowborn did not rise from the land so much as violate it.
What should have been stone and iron had been replaced with warped bone and blackened metal, fused together in grotesque mockery of architecture. Spires curved like ribs clawing at the sky, while massive arches of fused skulls loomed overhead, their hollow eyes eternally screaming. Fog crept low along the ground, thick and suffocating, clinging to every shattered slab and twisted pillar like a living thing.
This place was not built.
It was grown.
At the edge of the battlefield, three figures stood unmoving, staring into the heart of the corruption.
Vael was the first to speak.
"So this is the hole that monster crawled into…" Her voice was cold, flat, carrying none of the awe or fear the fortress demanded.
Beside her, Mei tightened her grip on her sword. The blade hummed faintly, silver energy flowing along its edge like a restrained storm. Her face was calm—too calm—but her eyes burned with sharpened resolve.
"Let's end this fast," she said quietly. "Reider is waiting."
A low chuckle followed.
Eryndra stretched her arms, golden energy crackling lazily around her fingers as she smirked at the fortress ahead. "You two seem eager. Mind if I take the first hit?"
The answer came before either of them could respond.
The fortress howled.
A violent surge of dark energy erupted from its gates, tearing the fog apart as the ground split open. From the裂 cracks rose grotesque figures—creatures stitched together from bone, shadow, and malice. Empty sockets glowed faintly as they charged forward in a mindless wave.
Mei drew her blade in a smooth, practiced motion.
"I guess that's a no."
Vael stepped forward, one hand lifting as draconic runes flared across her skin. Purple fire licked along her arm, coiling like a restrained beast.
"Let them come."
They did.
The battlefield exploded into motion.
Mei moved first, her sword flashing as she carved through the leading monsters with clean, efficient strikes. Every swing was deliberate. Every cut fatal. Silver energy trailed her blade as she flowed from one enemy to the next without hesitation or wasted motion.
Eryndra laughed as she leapt into the air, golden light erupting from her palms in violent blasts that shattered bone constructs mid-charge. "You think these things can stop us?!"
Vael lifted off the ground, wings of condensed purple energy unfurling behind her as she unleashed a shockwave of dragonfire. The blast tore through the horde, erasing half of it in an instant. Bone and shadow disintegrated into ash.
Inside the fortress, Dredge Hollowborn watched.
He sat upon a throne made entirely of fused bones, his massive frame twisted unnaturally as armor melded with exposed sinew. His grin stretched too wide, teeth jagged and uneven as he leaned forward.
"So…" he chuckled, voice scraping like rusted metal. "Reider's women have come to die for him?"
His eyes narrowed, burning with cruel amusement.
"Let's see how much pain you can take."
Outside, Mei spun through another horde, her breathing steady, her focus unbroken. I have to be strong… for him.
Eryndra landed beside her, blasting another creature apart. "Still standing, princess?"
Mei didn't answer. She didn't need to.
Vael hovered above them, eyes glowing draconic gold. "Enough playing."
She raised her hand.
The explosion that followed was catastrophic.
A torrent of dragonfire tore across the battlefield, erasing everything in its path. The ground melted, the air screamed, and half the remaining monsters ceased to exist in a single, overwhelming blast.
Mei glanced over, a soft smile touching her lips. "Still as dramatic as ever, Vael."
Vael smirked faintly. "Just doing what I'm best at."
Eryndra's expression shifted—just slightly.
"Don't drop your guard," she said. "He's watching us."
The fortress gates opened.
Bone cracked.
Metal screamed.
Dredge Hollowborn rose from his throne, his massive body shifting as he stepped forward. Each movement sent shockwaves through the structure as he grasped a grotesque, bone-forged axe, dark energy pulsing along its edge.
"Enough," he growled. "I'll handle this myself."
He stepped out of the fortress.
The ground trembled beneath his weight.
"So these are Reider's little toys…"
Vael's power surged instantly.
"Say that again," she snarled, "and I'll rip out your tongue."
Dredge laughed. "Feisty. I like that."
Eryndra stepped up beside Vael, golden light flaring. "Keep talking. It'll make breaking you more fun."
Mei walked forward calmly, positioning herself between them.
"We're not here to talk," she said. "We're here to end you."
Dredge lifted his axe.
"Then come try."
Mei smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. We will."
They charged.
Power erupted as all three moved at once—Mei leading with her glowing blade, Eryndra forming spears of golden light mid-stride, and Vael's wings spreading wide as destructive magic surged around her.
Dredge met them head-on.
His axe swung down with titanic force, the shockwave splitting the ground and throwing debris skyward. The collision of their powers detonated in a blinding explosion that cracked the battlefield apart.
When the dust settled, the fight truly began.
Dredge stood laughing, dark aura swirling violently around him. "Come then! Entertain me!"
Mei smirked slightly. "Hey, Eryndra…"
"What?"
"How about a bet?" Mei adjusted her gloves. "First one to put him down gets a date with Reider."
Eryndra's eyes lit up. "Oh, now you're talking my language."
Vael said nothing—just smiled faintly.
Dredge blinked. "Are you seriously ignoring me to flirt over some brat?"
"Shut up," Mei and Eryndra said in unison. "You're just a stepping stone."
Vael's smile widened. A date with Reider, huh?
Mei moved first.
She dashed forward, blade blazing, aiming a clean strike at Dredge's chest.
"I'm not holding back!"
Dredge blocked with his axe, sparks flying. "Good! That's what I want!"
Eryndra appeared behind him mid-air, hurling golden spears. "Too slow, Mei!"
Dredge roared, spinning to block. "Pathetic!"
The battlefield erupted as Mei and Eryndra attacked simultaneously, their movements fierce and relentless.
"I'm winning this!" Mei snarled.
"In your dreams, princess!" Eryndra shot back.
Vael watched, arms crossed.
"Children…"
A massive swing of Dredge's axe sent both Mei and Eryndra skidding back.
"You're not worthy of him if this is all you've got!"
Vael stepped forward.
The ground cracked beneath her power.
"You're right about one thing," she said calmly. "They're wasting time."
Mei stared. "Vael?!"
Eryndra narrowed her eyes. "Hey—don't you dare steal this!"
Vael raised her hand.
Purple energy condensed violently, forming a sphere of compressed annihilation.
"Let's end this."
Dredge's eyes widened. "What the—?"
The beam fired.
There was no fight.
No scream.
Dredge Hollowborn ceased to exist.
The beam tore through him, through the battlefield, through the fortress behind him, disintegrating everything in its path.
When the dust cleared, Vael stood alone.
"I win."
Mei and Eryndra stared.
"You didn't even give us a chance!"
"That wasn't part of the deal!"
Vael smirked as she walked past them. "You never said I couldn't join."
"You knew what we meant!"
"You owe us a rematch!"
Vael glanced back. "Whoever beats me gets the date."
Mei muttered, "She's impossible."
Eryndra groaned. "Why is she always one step ahead?!"
Vael smiled softly. But… if it's for Reider, maybe a little fun is worth it.
Mei crossed her arms. "I'm not giving up that easily."
Eryndra cracked her knuckles. "Next time."
The battlefield stood silent.
One enemy down.
Far away, Reider walked toward the castle.
Time to end this.