Alarice wasn’t shocked to see the extent of destruction caused by the shifters across the small towns that were around the northwestern trade routes.

There were next to no survivors and that’s what caused great distress to him. He had been certain that such a calamity would never befall the kingdom since he had control over Frosthail but now here they were facing the damage that he at one point considered to be impossible.

Dahlia, on the other hand was equally distressed, she had seen such a destruction inside the kingdom before once, when she had fought alongside Ocean to protect the people but this seemed different. In the past, there were rogue shifters who were smuggled inside the kingdom and then released in a town but this time, the stakes were greater and these shifters were mutated.

The mutations were enough to remind her of the two cheetahs she had seen back in Mordino- the pets of the former King Salem who had fed them demon’s blood and created the powerful mutants.

But in the present times there were much too many shifters around to make sense of how it could have been done or for how long the planning had been going on.

She had learned from Ocean that there was someone on the side of the dark forces who was capable of teleportation so, it was highly possible that they had somehow teleported these many shifters to kingdom but it still raised too many questions in her head.

Dahlia swung her spear making the blood droplets fly off just as the knights under her command were finishing off the last remaining shifter wolves.

She wiped the water from her forehead and then glanced up at the rain clouds, if not for the blood of the dead and shifters then the environment would be filled with the mana that was suffused in the rain.

A small smile tugged at her lips as she thought of how while the battles were going on the purification of the lands was also going alongside the subtle healing of the fighting forces.

"Always the one to cover all possibilities." She muttered but then sighed as she brought the communication brooch that was beneath her armor to her lips.

She poured her aura into it and thought of her husband.

"Alarice? Alarice, can you hear me?" She called.

After a few seconds, the sound of scuffling and rustling poured from the clear crystal.

"Yes, dear. Are you all right?" Alarice responded.

"I am fine, but... do you notice as how the number of these shifters is so abnormal?" She asked.

"Yes, I do."

"Did anyone from Seraph Knights contact you?" Dahlia asked.

"No, that’s what shocks me. I reached out to them a while ago and they told me that there was nothing amiss in Frosthail." Alarice said.

Dahlia’s eyebrows furrowed.

Just then Sir Adler who had been accompanying Dahlia rode beside her on his horse.

"We have finished clearing this place, Madam." He reported.

Dahlia nodded at him keeping her attention on the conversation at hand.

"Then, could it be that they were teleported?" Dahlia wondered aloud.

Alarice hummed, "Master Ocean did say that the dark forces have access to teleportation but...for one mage to teleport these many shifters in an orderly manner is impossible."

"Unless there are more than one mages." Sir Adler prompted.

Dahlia nodded and Alarice added, "Indeed, I was also thinking of the same, but then that means we have to face the dark mages."

"Where are you right now?" Dahlia asked.

"I have finished securing the northwestern trade routes and also checked the Magic Gate. It is thoroughly destroyed so, having reinforcements from Frosthail wouldn’t be easy." Alarice said.

Dahlia’s frown still stayed as another thought came to her mind, "But isn’t it strange that these mutated shifters are still working in coordination?"

Usually the rogue shifters would cause great harm not only upon the area and people around them but also on themselves especially if there are different kinds of shifters involved. But these mutated shifters seemed to differentiate between the side to attack and the side to spare.

"Whatever it is, we will find out later but first we need to take care of the situation at hand. Where are you right now?" Alarice asked, "I’m coming to you."

"I’m at the intersection of the-"

Just as Dahlia was speaking Sir Adler noticed something from the periphery and before the other knights who had noticed could shout, Sir Adler’s sword was out with one hand pushing Dahlia away.

His sword clanged against the dark whip which curled around his blade and instantly his blade rusted away.

Sir Adler was shocked as he yanked his blade back only to have it crumble away.

"What the-"

"Watch out!" Another knight shouted and Dahlia and Adler quickly had their horses leap away from the upcoming huge hammer that smashed into the ground where they were standing just moments ago.

The ground cracked upon impact and Dahlia and Sir Adler turned to face the two figured clad in black. One wielded a black whip that moved like an alive black snake while other had a huge hammer that seemed twice the size of the wielder man.

Behind them, Dahlia spotted another figure who seemed to be standing without any visible weapons as if they were there only for support.

She exchanged a glance with Sir Adler, they had to battle these three in order to get their answers.

On the other side, just as Alarice was about to leave the northwestern trade route and march towards further north he happened upon two figures clad in black as well. Only these two seemed to be of similar heights around two meters tall, each wielding a claymore.

"Dark mages." He understood quickly and unsheathed his own sword.

Davian and Rune who had been wiping the shifters clean from their designated sides were having some level of success since they had found a few survivors who were given first aid before teleported off to Oasis.

But what the survivors told them was another matter.

Davian had picked out a young man from underneath the rubble of a fallen house, he was trapped there along with the corpses of two more and the shifters must have assumed that everyone were dead.

The young man reported seeing a few dark figures walking ahead of the horde of these shifters. At the head of the group was the figure of a young child, followed by four tall figures, all clad in black.

The young man couldn’t describe their features. All of them had their hoods drawn, and before anyone in the town could question them, the calamity had already descended.

The young man was greatly shaken and had sustained grave injuries so, he was immediately ushered away.

As Davian and Rune marched through the forest, the thick air of tension remained between them. They were both thinking of the same thing but neither was breaching the subject.

"Young Master Rune, Prince Davian." Sir Rudyard spoke up from behind them.

The other Knights had also heard of this and were desperate to know what they were facing, hence it was upon their Captain to quell their worries.

The two young men turned to him and Sir Rudyard started, "About what the witness from the last town reported."

Rune and Davian exchanged a glance before they stopped riding and turned to face the knights under their command.

Davian knew it wouldn’t be easy to let them know that they were not only fighting the mutated shifters now but also the dark mages. These knights, including himself had never fought the kind of enemy they were facing now but to admit lack of information could cause the morale of the men to crack. So he had been thinking of what he could do to keep them motivated.

Rune glanced at Davian before he spoke, "Master Ocean had warned us about this."

Sir Rudyard’s lips pursed as his jaw clenched, a few more knights who were close by heard it and grew anxious.

"The-Then does Young Master know what we’re up against?" One of the knights asked.

Rune’s fingers clenched against the reins of his horse before he answered, "We’re under attack by the dark forces, the people that the witness mentioned were highly likely the dark mages."

This shocked the knights to a great extent, their horses grew restless as well, as they shifted from one foot to another mimicking the distress of their mounted masters.

"B-But how is this possible?! The dark forces? Dark mages? Aren’t they all just fictional?" One of the young knights stuttered.

"Considering what’s going on do you still think it’s fictional?!" Another from beside him snapped.

"But, if these are dark mages then...does that mean even a demon is involved?!" Another knight wondered aloud.

The waves of shocked gasps and panicked guesses rolled across the entire platoon and Davian sighed.

He glanced at Rune who appeared unperturbed by all this as if he expected them all to calm down by themselves. But just then he turned his head and met Davian’s gaze, he didn’t say anything but Davian felt as if he was telling him that it was his turn now.

Davian shook his head lightly, the droplets of rain glistened off his jet black hair and flew off with the movements.

"All right, enough!" He called out loudly making the knights to momentarily fall silent and looked at him.

"Causing a ruckus and panicking over it won’t fix the issue here." He spoke with a firm voice.

"B-But how are we supposed to go against the da-dark forces, Your Highness? I-Isn’t it only the Dragons who are capable of doing that?" One of the knights asked.

"Watch what you say?! Dragons are evil!" The one beside him grimaced.

The last words irked both Davian and Rune. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Have you met one to be sure that they are evil?" Davian asked the knight.

The knight opened his mouth but then noticing the murderous glint in the eyes of both the young men thought it’d be wise to be silent.

"Whatever we have to call this battle can be decided later, as of now the dire times are upon us and the kingdom is in danger. So, instead of panicking like headless chickens think of what happens to your families and loved ones if you let the enemy go free because you are scared of their infamy."

The men clamped their mouths shut hearing Davian’s words that carried the steel of his strength.

"Dark forces or not, they are here to bring harm upon our lands so, it is our duty to fend them off. I and Young Duke will take the lead, as before and face these vermin. What you do, will be your own decision."

Davian turned to Rune who gave him a shrug, Sir Rudyard gripped the reins of his horse and announced.

"It is my duty to protect the Young Master and Prince Davian, I dare not flee for my life when you are risking your lives. I shall go with you."

The knights hearing him felt greatly ashamed of themselves. They had fought in the war against Denril and each of them had brought Glory to their families, yet, here they were cowering just after hearing of the enemy from ancient times? What could be more disgraceful?

"I will go too!" One of the young knights shouted from behind the group.

"I shall go too!"

"I wouldn’t dare face my father if I turn back here. I’ll go too!"

"These vermin need to be taught what happens when they mess with the wrong people."

"We all will follow your command, My Lords!"

The energetic roars of agreement rolled around the men like the thunder flashes above them.

Davian turned his head slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips hearing the men’s battlecries before giving his command.

"All right men, let’s march forth!"