Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

The situation escalated far faster than any of them had anticipated...

At first, they had believed the six-winged guardian was the only obstacle standing between them and survival, only to realize that it had merely been the prelude to their true nightmare...

The instant the colossal guardian began raising its Greatsword once again, the Terracottas stationed at the foot of the dais sprang into motion as one.

Their synchronized footsteps reverberated through the crypt like rolling thunder as dozens of armored constructs surged up the broad staircase in flawless formation...

The oppressive silence that had settled over the ancient hall after the guardian’s devastating strike was shattered in an instant, replaced by the deafening cadence of marching steel and an atmosphere so suffocating that even breathing felt difficult.

Crimson light spilled from the narrow slits of their visors, casting blood-red reflections across polished helms and ancient armor. Spears, swords, shields, maces, and axes glimmered beneath the eerie glow as the relentless legion advanced with mechanical precision, every movement perfectly synchronized...

Veyrath, having only just recovered from the guardian’s previous blow, stared at the approaching Terracottas in utter disbelief. The color drained from his face before he sharply turned toward the failed Gnost.

”Kaeloris!” he shouted, panic bleeding into every word. ”Didn’t you say they were inactive?”

His voice trembled with equal measures of fear and accusation.

Kaeloris, who had instinctively hidden behind Valmyr during the guardian’s earlier assault, adjusted his crooked spectacles with trembling fingers. His lips parted, searching for an explanation, but before a single word escaped him..

”Now isn’t the time for pointless arguments.”

Regaleon’s sharp voice sliced through the mounting chaos with undeniable authority.

”We deal with this first, then...”

He was yet to complete his words when Aureleah’s desperate scream echoed throughout the crypt.

”WATCH OUT!”

Regaleon spun around just in time to witness the six-winged guardian completing its backswing...

The enormous Greatsword rose high above its head, gathering terrifying momentum. Air howled violently around the descending blade as though the very atmosphere was being torn apart.

Then... It fell.

”DOWN!”

Regaleon’s roar echoed across the crypt just as the Greatsword crashed into the dais...

BOOM!

The collision was even more catastrophic than before...

Instead of merely reducing stone to rubble, the impact unleashed an overwhelming concussive blast that exploded outward from the point of contact. The invisible wave of compressed force swept across the platform like a raging tidal surge, pulverizing fractured stone and scattering clouds of dust in every direction.

The entire dais quaked violently...

Regaleon bore the brunt of the blast first.

The overwhelming force ripped the failed Knight from his footing, hurling his armored body several meters through the air before he slammed shoulder-first into the obsidian floor. The violent collision forced fresh blood into his throat, and this time he couldn’t suppress it.

A thin stream of crimson trickled from the corner of his lips as he retracted his helm...

Veyrath fared no better.

Already weakened from the previous exchange, the failed Alchemist was launched into the air like a leaf caught in a hurricane. His body spun helplessly before crashing headfirst against the unforgiving stone floor.

A violent ringing filled his ears and stars burst across his vision as a searing pain spread through his skull...

Nearby, Aureleah instinctively wrapped herself around Sylveris...

The siblings were swept away together, sliding violently across the obsidian platform. Aureleah tightened her embrace, shielding her sister with her own body before her back struck the ground with a sickening impact.

Pain shot through every bone in her body, yet she refused to loosen her grip...

Valmyr instinctively raised his massive shield to protect the others but the effort proved futile.

The overwhelming force tore the shield straight from his grasp before sending it skidding across the shattered platform. The failed Vanguard himself was violently flung backward, landing heavily upon one shoulder.

A sharp crack echoed from within his body; whether it was a bone or merely strained muscle, even he couldn’t tell...

Kaeloris’ spectacles flew from his face as the failed Gnost tumbled helplessly through the dense clouds of dust. His slender frame offered almost no resistance against the violent gust carrying him across the dais like a scrap of parchment caught in a storm...

Not far away, Caelestra instinctively crossed her arms before her face but the action accomplished absolutely nothing.

The concussive force swallowed her whole, sweeping both her and Vaelorin off their feet before sending them sprawling across the fractured platform...

Agony coursed through every exile immediately...

And yet they weren’t the only ones caught within the devastation.

The advancing Terracottas staggered as the blast swept over them, their flawless formation briefly breaking apart. Several constructs were knocked from the staircase, crashing down the ancient steps in a deafening cascade of steel...

And even then, not a single one ceased advancing.

Without hesitation, they rose once more and continued their relentless march and before the exiles could fully recover, the Terracottas were already upon them...

Their disciplined ranks separated into smaller squads with flawless efficiency, surrounding the eight survivors while they were still struggling to regain their footing.

The first construct struck instantly...

WHOOSH!

Its spear lunged toward Regaleon with a terrifying speed.

Instinct alone saved the silver-haired Knight.

Twisting sideways at the final moment, the failed Knight narrowly avoided being impaled causing the spearhead scraped across his battered Amour, showering brilliant sparks before burying itself deep within the fractured stone.

Ignoring the pain screaming through his body, Regaleon instantly rolled to his feet and another spear flashed past his face scarcely a heartbeat later...

Elsewhere, a Terracotta swung its sword toward Caelestra.

She managed to duck just in time as the ancient blade hissed through the air barely inches above her head, close enough for the rushing wind to brush across her hair.

Her pupils constricted and without hesitation, she staggered backward, desperately widening the distance between herself and the construct.

But whether that distance would prove sufficient remained to be seen...

Valmyr had barely regained his footing before two Terracottas converged on him.

One charged head-on while the other circled toward his exposed flank.

The failed Vanguard’s eyes darted toward his shield lying several meters away as his thoughts raced.

The first weapon descended and Valmyr narrowly sidestepped the blow before throwing himself into a desperate roll across the shattered floor.

His fingers wrapped around his Soul Essence just in time to protect himself against the next attack...

CLANG!

A heavy mace slammed against the shield with an explosive force.

The impact reverberated through his entire body, nearly knocking him flat once more as his boots scraped across the obsidian stone...

Nearby, Aureleah intercepted a sword aimed directly at Sylveris...

CLANG!

Steel collided with steel and a shower of sparks erupted as her twin daggers locked against the Terracotta’s blade.

Every muscle in her arms screamed from the force behind the strike, yet her cold, unwavering gaze never faltered.

With a swift kick, she drove the construct backward before immediately grabbing Sylveris by the wrist.

”Stay close to me.” She warned.

Her voice remained calm despite the chaos, but there was an undertone of severity in it.

Even as she spoke, her sharp eyes had already locked onto another Terracotta that was advancing toward them...

Meanwhile, Kaeloris narrowly avoided a descending mace.

BOOM!

The weapon smashed into the stone where he had stood only moments earlier, reducing the fractured floor to rubble.

His heartbeat thundered within his chest and just before he could even steady himself, another Terracotta swept a sword toward his neck.

Kaeloris jerked backward in blind panic, causing the blade to miss by less than an inch...

The cold wind trailing behind the weapon grazed his skin; but the Terracottas gave him no chance to recover.

Their relentless assault continued without pause...

Several meters away, Veyrath slowly pushed himself to his feet, one hand clutching his throbbing forehead.

His vision remained blurred from striking the ground earlier as the world spun around him...

But just as his sight began clearing, something flashed toward his face. His eyes widened the instant he realized what it was; a sword.

Pure instinct forced him backward as the razor-sharp tip narrowly missed his nose...

The Terracotta didn’t relent after that attack as it immediately followed with another slash aimed straight for his torso.

Fear overwhelmed the failed Alchemist, causing him to leap backward in desperation... But that turned out to be a mistake.

The instant his feet touched the ground, they landed upon a mound of broken debris left behind by the guardian’s devastating blow; his footing vanished beneath him and instantly, he crashed heavily onto his back.

Before the failed Alchemist could scramble away, the Terracotta had already raised its sword once more and the ancient blade was merciless as it descended towards him...