The day was thunderous.
Black clouds smothered the sky, their weight pressing down as rain began to pour without mercy. The group hurried toward a nearby cave, boots sinking into mud, cloaks already soaked through by the time they reached shelter.
They gathered around a small campfire, its flames flickering weakly against the damp stone. Steam rose from armor and clothes alike.
That was when Arin noticed it.
An armor-plated corpse lay slumped near the cave wall, motionless, half-buried in shadow.
"Hey," Arin said cautiously, pointing. "There's someone's corpse here."
Hanase barely glanced at it. "Just leave it alone."
Arin stepped closer anyway.
A faint red light flickered behind the corpse's visor.
Metal scraped against stone.
The armor ground loudly as a finger twitched—then an arm moved.
The corpse rose.
"Death Knight," Arin shouted. "Run—outside!"
The thing lunged instantly. Its blade crashed into Arin, who barely managed to block before the force hurled him backward and out of the cave. Rain slammed into him as he skidded across the ground.
The Death Knight followed.
"Why now, of all times?" Leiofa shouted.
It leapt forward. Neblaheim intercepted the strike, steel screaming as weapons collided. Arin rushed in and slashed at the knight's arm—
The hand flew off.
It hit the ground… then crawled back, snapping into place as if it had never been severed.
"They need purification!" Leiofa yelled. "Normal attacks won't kill them!"
The Death Knight swung again. Arin dodged and jumped back as Neblaheim shoved the creature toward Hugoruo. Hugoruo hadn't seen it coming—the knight twisted with the momentum and struck Dephore instead, sending him tumbling.
Leiofa stepped in, barely managing to fend the knight off.
Arin charged and slashed again. The blow was blocked, the impact throwing the Death Knight sideways—crashing near Askiro.
Askiro turned to flee.
The blade came down.
Arin leapt between them.
Steel tore into his arm. Blood sprayed as he was slammed into the ground, pain ripping through him. Leiofa shouted "hanase, go and heal arin, we will hold him off". Leiofa struck the Death Knight away before it could finish him.
Hanase rushed to Arin, hands glowing as she began to heal him.
"Askiro—" Arin gasped. "Is she safe?"
Hanase's hands trembled. Tears slipped down her face before she forced herself to breathe and steady him.
Before either could speak again, the Death Knight lunged toward them.
Neblaheim and Hugoruo moved together, blocking the strike and shoving it back. Dephore tried to raise his hand, light forming—
The Death Knight struck first.
Dephore was sent flying, his body slamming into a tree with a sickening crack.