The forest felt wrong again.
Ammon sensed it first an invisible an invisible weight pressing against his chest, a faint whisper tugging at the edge of his thoughts. Ayden stood beside him tensed and ready.
Then Lucian stepped forward.
His eyes glazed with dull, lifeless sheen. His usual dark aura now carried jagged ripples of shadow, as if something unseen held his body like a puppet.
Ayden pulled Ammon back, "General what happening to you?"
Lucian didn't answer. He moved with his sword in his hand.
The attack came like a storm- fast, brutal and twisted by the presence shadowing him. Ayden barely blocked the first strike, the impact sent him skidding across the forest floor. Ammon was forced into a combat instantly, his blade clashing against Lucian's with a sharp cry of metal.
The trees shuddered, the wind warped. Every time Lucian's blade cut through the sky, dark particles scattered like ash from a dying flame.
"Ammon don't let him touch you- the energy is wrong!" Ayden shouted.
But it was too late.
Lucian shifted, faster than Ammon eyes could track, his corrupted blade grazed his side.
A thin line. A shallow cut.
Yet, the moment it touched him, Ammon felt ice raced through his veins. His world flickered. His heartbeat slowed down. The whispers grew louder pressing, urging, inviting.
No... not inviting.
Claiming.
Ayden saw it and snapped.
A fierce glow burst from him- raw and pulsing with power he rarely unleashed.
His anger radiated in the air like waves of heat. All hesitation vanished, Ayden attacked Lucian with a force that splits tree trunks and sent shockwaves shaking the ground.
Lucian countered, but his movement deteriorating- lines of stain cracking through the shadow controlling him.
Though poisoned and shaking, Ammon raised himself forward, his grip tightened to his blade as black spots covered his vision.
Ayden moved in sync with Ammon, two blades cuttin the shadow from opposite angle. Lucian resistance wavered then collapsed entirely under the combine attack. His knees hit the ground, the dark influence leaking from his body like smoke.
Lucian looked up at them, free only for a moment. He is rising. "The dark knight... Hart... he is almost-"
His words cut as the corruption dragged him into unconsciousness.
Ammon dropped to his knees.
Ayden turned instantly, catching him before he hits the ground. Ammon skin was cold- too cold. The poison was spreading fast pulsing with dark energy beneath the skin.
"Ammon_hey look at me. Ammon!" Ayden's voice cracked as he shooked him gently.
The forest darkened around them. shadows crawled between the roots.
Ammon's eyes fluttered, losing focus.
Ayden held him tighter losing into the cold forest.
Someone! Anyone! Help!