Horrific Shorts: Zombie Edition

The blinding collision between the Dawnblade and the Spear of Corruption shook the world.

A pillar of white and crimson light erupted from the Heart Forge, piercing the clouds above Blackstone Ridge. The mountain trembled beneath the overwhelming force as shattered crystals rained into the molten rivers below.

When the light finally faded, Victoria Kane landed upon the cracked stone floor, breathing heavily.

The Dawnblade still burned with pure white fire.

Its blade had not broken.

Instead, it shone brighter than ever.

Across the chamber, Roland Thorne staggered backward. The spear of corruption had vanished, leaving deep fractures across his black crystal armor.

His crimson eye burned with fury.

"Impossible..."

"No mortal should wield that much power."

Victoria lowered the Dawnblade.

"It isn’t my strength."

"It belongs to everyone who refused to surrender."

Around her, the spirits of the Thirteen Marshals lifted their weapons in silent agreement.

The Eternal Flame answered with a warm golden pulse that swept through the chamber.

The corruption surrounding the forge shrank even farther.

But victory lasted only a heartbeat.

A deafening roar rolled across the heavens.

Far above Blackstone Ridge, the remaining golden chains imprisoning the Hollow King glowed with unbearable intensity.

Then...

Three more chains shattered at once.

The mountain quaked violently.

Outside the fortress, defenders rushed to the walls as the earth split apart for miles.

A colossal figure slowly rose from the abyss.

The Hollow King’s chest emerged from the broken prison, followed by his armored waist.

Ancient chains still wrapped around his legs, but they strained against his immense strength.

His crimson eyes blazed like twin suns.

Every undead creature bowed in worship.

His voice thundered across the frontier.

"Enough."

"I have hidden behind chains for centuries."

"Now..."

"...I shall face you myself."

Inside the Heart Forge, even the Last Sentinel tightened his grip upon the great war hammer.

"He is forcing the prison apart."

"If the final seals fail..."

"...nothing will imprison him again."

Dr. Evelyn Brooks stared at the glowing readings on the forge’s crystal instruments.

"The seals are weakening faster than we can restore them."

"We’re running out of time."

Cole Mercer reloaded his rifle and glanced toward Victoria.

"Tell us what comes next."

Victoria remained calm.

She looked at every face around her.

Cole.

Lucas.

Dr. Evelyn.

Father Gabriel.

Gideon.

Even Elias Crow, whose spirit now stood proudly among the Marshals.

"We don’t wait for him."

"We take this fight to the surface."

The Last Sentinel nodded.

"That is the duty of the Last Marshal."

He struck his hammer against the crystal floor.

The Heart Forge answered.

A magnificent bridge of golden light rose from the Eternal Flame, spiraling upward through the mountain like a radiant staircase.

"It leads directly to the summit of Blackstone Ridge," the Sentinel said.

"There the final battlefield awaits."

Before anyone could move, Roland Thorne laughed.

Though wounded, the corruption surrounding him began rebuilding his shattered armor.

"You still don’t understand."

Victoria faced him.

"What are we missing?"

Roland’s smile grew colder.

"You believe the Hollow King is your greatest enemy."

"He is merely the conqueror."

Victoria frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Roland slowly raised a trembling hand toward the ancient ceiling.

"The Hollow King did not create the infection."

Silence filled the forge.

Even Gideon looked stunned.

Roland continued.

"He found it."

"He awakened something buried long before humanity built its first kingdom."

The spirits of the Thirteen Marshals exchanged troubled glances.

Marshal Isabella Ashcroft lowered her head.

"It cannot be..."

The Last Sentinel’s blue eyes dimmed.

"So the ancient prophecy was true."

Outside, another earthquake shook the mountain.

The Hollow King spread his freed arms toward the storm-filled sky and laughed with terrifying confidence.

"My prison ends..."

"...but its master is still sleeping."

Victoria gripped the Dawnblade as an uneasy feeling settled over her heart.

If the Hollow King feared something even older than himself, then the battle for Blackstone Ridge was only the first step toward an even darker destiny.

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