Lyra's heart dropped to her stomach as the skies were filled with flying demons and the streets on fire. Bells rung to signal an attack is in progress as war cries paired with screams filled the air. Metal clashed against metal, and stone rumbled when the buildings were destroyed. Lyra couldn't help but find strength in her mother's crossbow.

The door behind them burst open, and General Knhaul stood breathless but relieved as he saw Kaelen.

"Father!" Said Kaelen, pointing down at the city. "Who would do this?"

Knhaul hurried to the edge to view the battlefield. "The Underworld has come to finish what we started."

He lowered his stance and quickly transformed into a werewolf. Lyra watched—for the first time, a werewolf transformation. Hair grew suddenly, enveloping his entire body. She could see some of the bone reshape itself within. His hands reached for his belt, where two clawed gauntlets rested, equipping them to both his hands. A red flying demon soared towards them at terrifying speeds, its body growing larger as it approached. General Knhaul readied himself, angling his shoulders to lessen his profile from the front. Lyra blinked her eyes in disbelief as lightning began to disperse from his gauntlets.

The demon pulled its wings back as it dove for the opening. Knhaul jumped, the demon narrowly missing him. He twisted his body in midair, gaining momentum, and as he came down, his fist made contact with the demon's body, arcs of lightning connecting to the strike. It screeched in pain, but it wasn't finished yet. It flapped its wings, causing General Knhaul to step back but failing to see its tail whipping from the side, sending Knhaul tumbling into a wall. Kaelen grabbed his twinblade from his back and hurried to distract the demon. He jumped and tried stabbing the demon on the way down, but it moved out of the way. It brought out a weapon of its own with a smile so sinister it struck fear for a moment.

Lyra took aim at the demon, shutting one eye to focus her shot with the other. As she exhaled, she felt time slow as she pulled the trigger. She watched intensely as the bolt flew through the air only to be blocked by its wing.

Its wings were as hard as metal.

Shooting it brought aggro to her. The demon made clicking sounds as it approached her. Lyra began to circle around the demon as she loaded her next bolt. She took aim, and once she saw an opening, she stopped and pulled the trigger, but the demon had faster reflexes with its wing.

Kaelen charged again, starting his assault with one of his blades coming from the floor, but the demon simply leaned back. This time the demon decided to strike back, forcing Kaelen to cross blades with it.

"What are you doing, boy!?" General Knhaul said, stumbling to his feet and coughing. "Change! You know all of your physical capabilities will be enhanced."

Lyra questioned why he didn't turn into a werewolf like his father, but her focus changed to placing another bolt on the rail. Since Kaelen had the demon occupied, Lyra tried to shoot it from the side again. The bolt flew, and it successfully pierced the shoulder of the demon. It let out a deafening screech. She hurried to load another bolt, but the demon shoved Kaelen back, then flapped its wings, becoming airborne. Though the ceilings were high, it still gained a few feet on them. Its deathly stare now on Lyra.

Kaelen tried to tag it with the tip of his sword, but it effortlessly dodged his attempts. Knhaul pulled his elbows deep behind his back as he squared his feet, his hands balled into a fist. The lightning began to crackle to life once again, but this time the gauntlets began to glow as the lightning became more erratic. With a grunt, he jabbed a fist out, aiming a concentrated lightning bolt at the demon. The demon dipped low into the room without touching the floor, but it didn't anticipate the second charged attack as it was hurled towards him. Thunder cracked with Knhaul's strikes, a bright light flashing with each one.

The demon crashed to the floor near Lyra, smoking from the direct hit of the lightning. Lyra held her crossbow at its head as she approached it.

"No!" Knhaul screamed as he launched himself towards her.

But it was too late. The demon used its tail once again, revealing a dagger-like tip. The tail whipped around again and slashed at her back. Thanks to the armor provided by the Senate, it nullified most of the attack except for the blunt force as it knocked her away.

"Lyra!" screamed Aeris.

Hearing her shout, Lyra tried to get up. Her body already ached from one blow. She got up to one knee, but the demon already stood over her. General Knhaul punched the demon with all his might, surprising Lyra with his speed. The demon staggered, leaving an opening for Kaelen to strike. He twirled his blade to gain momentum in his swing, and with swift execution, Kaelen laid a devastating blow across the demon's chest. The demon spewed blood from its mouth, its lungs possibly filling with blood. Despite its grave injury, its mouth began to curl as its eyes widened maniacally. General Knhaul delivered a rib-shattering punch to the demon, causing it to keel over. In the moments the demon fell, Kaelen wasted no time severing its head from its body.

The demon's head rolled across the floor, and when it stopped, its face was left smiling wide. Surely to give nightmares and a grim reminder of what's to come when they're at peace.

Aeris hurried to Lyra and helped her up. The adrenaline was once again her ally, dulling the aches as it spread through her body.

"Are you alright?" Kaelen asked, putting his twinblade away.

"I'll be fine." Lyra inspected the bow, which was perfectly fine. Though her bolt supply was getting low. "Why didn't you change?"

Lyra didn't get to hear the answer as the palace shook. Knhaul rushed over to the edge again, looking over to see something he didn't think he would experience in his lifetime. Lyra adjusted herself and hurried to the edge. She felt fear like she had never felt before as the palace was now under siege. Large monstrosities with horns banged their heads against the golden doors. Lycra's army held the demons off to the best of their ability, but their numbers dwindled in the face of a more powerful force.

"This cannot be!" Knhaul grabbed Kaelen's shoulder. "We must hurry to the keep. There are civilians there who have been evacuated from the city. We must also escort our guests safely out of the kingdom."

"Father, we have to fight!"

"This is not the time to fight, boy!" General Knhaul looked at Aeris and Lyra. "You two follow him. The keep is towards the grand hall across the courtyard. Hurry before it's too late!"

Everybody ran out of the room with urgency. General Knhaul went a separate way into the palace as the other three headed towards the grand hall. The palace shook again, this tremor almost unbalancing them.

"This way! We are close!" Kaelen said, twisting and turning down corridors. He stopped at a flight of steps that went down. "Hurry!" He said, signaling the girls to go first.

Frightened voices and screams began to become audible as they descended. Soon they made it down and saw the grand hall. Civilians huddled at a large open doorway, waiting for their turn to enter the courtyard.

Another attempt was made at the castle doors, cracking the bar that held them shut. Dust fell from the ceiling. The lycan soldiers hurried to barricade the door by throwing themselves at it. However, their efforts were in vain as one exploded through the doors. The lycan soldiers who used their bodies to hold the door were thrown or crushed by its devastation.

The monster stumbled and fell onto its belly, crushing more in its wake. Soldiers took the moments to unleash a barrage of attacks on the colossal creature. It bellowed as it made a last attempt to live, but the lycans were successful in dealing with the siege titan. But with the behemoth inside, it meant that the demons outside could now storm the castle, and so they began.

All the lycans raised their weapons and charged in with great vigor. Their bodies collided with the invaders, leaving casualties on both sides. Cries of pain and anger mixed with the clashing of metals. All the warring sounds were amplified by the grand hall.

Another one of the siege monsters stepped into the room, challenging the nerves of the lycans that stood before it. One brave lycan tried impaling it, but its hide was thicker than they thought, trapping the weapon within its skin. The monster raised its fist as the lycan tried to retrieve its weapon, but the monster hammered its fist down, creating an unsettling image.

"Move!" A deep voice echoed.

One of the many doors that led to the grand hall swung open, and an unusually large lycan stepped through, towering over the others. Each step with the intent to kill. It seemed like his dark brown fur had frost embedded in it. His mouth snarled, and his blue eyes narrowed at the siege monster. His armor had stains of blood, making it hard to depict the actual color of the metal. The lycan's weapon, however, was something to behold. A long two-handed warhammer with one end of the head pointed. Its shaft had teeth from varying species lined up and down before the grip of the handle.

"General Gaius." The name slipped from Kaelen's mouth.
"Where was he all this time?" Lyra asked, wondering why not all of the generals weren't gathered at the palace.

"Some generals were tasked with forward observations. It seems like his team is back from deployment."

Lyra could see a twinkle in his eye as his stare admired the warrior that was General Gaius. She watched as the general dropped the head of the warhammer onto the ground, shattering the stone beneath it. The sound alone was enough to quiet the battlefield and draw the siege monster's attention. The general huffed, frost appearing at his feet and swirling upwards into the air with every breath.

The siege monster began to rush towards him, the movement seemingly sluggish, but every step rumbled the ground. General Gaius grabbed the lower part of his warhammer and used his body's twisting momentum to launch the warhammer at the monster's head, successfully dealing a massive blow. The monster stumbled back from the impact, blood flowing from its mouth and the large gash on its cheek. Meanwhile, the warhammer wasted no time falling to the ground. Before it made contact with the stone, General Gaius grabbed the hammer with tremendous speed, using his momentum to swing the hammer once more. As the weapon picked up speed, it began to emit a bright blue glow; all of the hammer began to freeze—even his hands. The impact sent a chilling wave throughout the grand hall. Within a flash of a second, large spikes of ice exploded through the back of the siege monster, ending the battle.

Lyra couldn't help but stand in awe at the magical power that was displayed. A moment of worry weaseled its way in as General Gaius fell to one knee. His chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Lycans formed a line, stopping any demon from getting to the general.

"We have to help him!" Cried Lyra. But Kaelen did not move.

"Do not disrespect a lycan by assuming they've become weak." As Kaelen spoke, frost began to build on the floor where General Gaius was. "Our strength is measured by our endurance."

The towering lycan that was General Gaius stood again, his face filled with resolve. He began to move once again, forcing his way through the demons and slowing their advancement. His soldiers stood beside him, keeping up with the general until they made it to the castle doorway. The general's unit moved like a wall, keeping any demon from getting through.

General Gaius raised his warhammer above his head; the blue glow once again was being emitted before it came crashing down. The impact formed a glacier instantly plugging most of the doorway. He once again fell to one knee, but this time blood spewed from his mouth as he coughed.

Lyra hurried to General Gaius despite Kaelen's interjection. She readied her crossbow in case any of the remaining demons decided to attack her. When one of the demons came her way, she was ready. Lyra quickly raised the crossbow and pulled the trigger, but it completely missed due to her incompetence. The demon leapt through the air, its dagger-like teeth and claws threatening to take her life. She put the crossbow across her body, hoping to stop the demon, but a werewolf grabbed the demon and crashed to the ground. Lyra realized it was Kaelen who just saved her. She watched as he raised his twin blade and pierced the heart of the demon, clawing its throat out for reassurance.

"I didn't think I'd get to see this version of you again," Lyra exclaimed, nearly letting the excitement escape.

Kaelen just huffed at her and began leading the way. The two began running through the dwindling battle. The lycans slowly regained their footing.

Lyra knelt beside General Gaius and began rummaging through her pouch. Some of the lycans pointed their weapons at her, but Kaelen stepped in front of her.

"She's an ally!" He spoke.

"This battlefield is not for little girls," General Gaius said, his hand squeezing his side. "You need to leave."

Lyra finally found what she was looking for. It was a potion for healing. She held it out to General Gaius, but all he did was wave her off.

"Are you so naive that you'd rather die to something as pathetic as this?"

General Gaius snarled, using his war hammer to guide him to his feet. Lura couldn't help but step back while her head went as far back as it could.

"You insult my honor before I can even have it?!"

"Your honor should be in protecting your people!" Lyra said, holding out the healing potion again. "Fight for them, and you'll find your strength."

Lyra realized that the hair on his neck stood up but slowly went down as his demeanor eased.

"What is your name?" He asked, grabbing the potion.

"Lyra!"

His eyes stared deep within hers as if he could see her entire life.

"Your people are honored to have a warrior like you," he snapped the top of the potion bottle and tipped its contents into his mouth.

General Gaius reached deep within his breastplate and pulled out a dagger. "My life started here; it will end here. This is my final service for my kingdom." He handed Lyra his dagger, which felt like a short sword for her. "This is Oath Breaker. Take care of it for me."

The glacier began to crack, and General Gaius turned to stand before it. His soldiers embodied his resolve and formed a line.

"General Gaius has made up his mind," said Kaelen. Grabbing Lyra's arm. "We have to go!"

Lyra didn't argue. She did what she thought was right, and now she can rest easy knowing she did all she could.

The two made their way back to Aeris.

"Are you mad?!" She said, her words furious but hinting at concern.

"I can't just stand here and do nothing." Lyra argued.

Aeris took a deep breath and pointed at the doorway leading to the courtyard. The crowd had mostly cleared. Aeris led the way as if she knew where they were going. The three shifted their way through and finally made it to the courtyard.

· · ─ · ◯☽✵☾◯ · ─ · ·

The area was open, surrounded by walls, both built and natural. The moon shone bright in the midst of all the chaos, almost surrounded by a sea of heavy clouds. Small white particles fell from the sky. It began to snow.

Kaelen pointed out the keep. "There you will be able to find refuge and also a way to escape."

"You're not coming with us?" Asked Lyra.

"My battle is here; I need to be with my people."

Screams came from the courtyard as a demon began to wreak havoc amongst the civilians. Kaelen perked up and hurried to the location of the scream. Without hesitation, Kaelen dived with his twin blades pointed at the demon, impaling it. As it screeched, he pulled his blade out and used the other side to sever its head from its body.

"Where did it come from?" Kaelen demanded an answer.

Some of the civilians shook as they raised their fingers towards the sky. Kaelen traced the direction they pointed at only to see flying demons carrying smaller ones. They began to drop them all at once, some not caring about how high they were, as some broke some bones upon touching down.

Kaelen steeled himself, lowering his stance until a chained weapon quickly claimed the life of a demon. As fast as it came, it quickly receded; Kaelen followed it with his eyes. Soon he found Alder at the other end. His armor still punctured from their last interaction.

"You're alright," Alder said, walking towards Kaelen. "You beat me up pretty badly. Opened my eyes as to who you really are. I respect that. Kept this as a reminder," his hand pointing out his flawed armor.

Kaelen didn't feel the need to explain as the demons began to eyeball them.

"We can talk later."

Alder laughed as he charged at the demons. His weapon spinning like an overclocked sawmill. He released the momentum of the chain. Its small but heavy ball crushed the skull of a demon in the blink of an eye. Alder tugged at the chain, and it came back to him. He twisted his body and shot the ball at the stomach of another demon, causing it to vomit. While its head was bent over, Alder used the chain to snap its neck, then started to spin his weapon again.

Kaelen stepped in and started by cutting the back of the leg on a demon, then stabbing its heart through its back. He launched his blade with one arm and ran with it as it pierced the chest of another. Kaelen pushed his blade downwards, spilling the demon's intestines from under it, then kicked the demon to the ground.

A demon lunged at Kaelen in his blind spot. If it weren't for the sound it made when a crossbow bolt struck it, he wouldn't have noticed. Kaelen didn't hesitate to finish off the demon and then looked for Lyra. He found her putting another bolt in her crossbow, nodding at her to let her know his thanks.

Kaelen hurried to help Alder, but he was almost finished, but he allowed Kaelen to finish the rest. The two admired each other's skills with their weapons, and Kaelen began to feel a sense of camaraderie.

Alder and Kaelen breathed heavily as they finished the demons. They looked at each other, their breaths visible but out of sync. Kaelen looked towards the sky, but the flying demons dissipated, leaving the skies alone.

His attention drew back to Lyra as she struggled to pull a bolt out of a demon. He jogged to her and she looked up at him.

"You know," she said, her teeth gritted. "You're more battle effective in your werewolf form."

"Well, it's a long story."

"If it's a long story, then I can wait." She said, finally pulling the bolt out. She inspected it, almost disgusted at the flesh that clung to it. "Can't get used to that."

"You will," said Kaelen. He looked for Aeris only to find her helping the people get to the keep. "Your friend is useful."

"Are you saying I'm not!?" She smirked.

Kaelen could feel the corners of his mouth curl, but it was interrupted as Lyra readied herself while she looked at the skies frantically. His head shot around to look up at the sky, but he saw nothing.

"What do you see?"

"It's not what I can see," she lifted her crossbow at the sky. "It's what I can feel."

An emberish glow began as a small dot in the sky, as if the sun was trying to peek through in the night. Kaelen's body turned and his mouth ajar as a fiery dragon burst through the clouds. But something was off, he felt. The dragon's scales were worn and chipped, its wings tattered with holes and dirt. Its fiery red scales cracked, revealing the magmatic glow from within. Looking into its eyes was like looking into hell itself.

It was undead.

The exanimate dragon landed, dirt and other natural debris puffed from the ground, moving like a wave throughout the courtyard before it settled. It let out a roar that gave a feeling of rage and anguish.

Kalen knew that they were no match for this many people. He grabbed Lyra by the arm and pushed Alder towards the keep.

"We cannot win. We have to get everyone in the keep as fast as we can."

Alder nodded, but Kaelen felt the disappointment radiate from him. The dragon reared its head, its emberish glow now a fiery hell.

"We're not gonna make it!" Lyra panicked.

As the dragon reached its peak intake of magical energy, a large shadow darted from above, shoving the dragon into the ground and driving it to the other side of the courtyard. It was King Emron in black and gold armor.