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Chapter 128: The Fall of Gregor
Chapter 128: The Fall of Gregor
The Plan is Set
It had been a week since the battle with Maelis. Seraphis, Elowen, Theia, and Sylvaine stood at the edge of a dense forest, looking at the distant fortress where Gregor, the next council member, resided. The towering stone walls loomed above them like an ominous shadow.
"Gregor is a beast," Seraphis said, her voice low, almost a whisper. "He’s stronger than Maelis, and his fortress is built like a castle. We’ll need to be careful."
Elowen adjusted the knives at her waist, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I like challenges," she said, her voice dripping with excitement.
"We’ll approach from the east," Theia stated, her voice sharp. "Less guarded, more cover for us." Her usual soft demeanor was replaced with cold precision, a direct contrast to her normal self.
"We move fast and quiet," Sylvaine added, her eyes glowing faintly with shadow magic. "Gregor won’t be expecting us this time."
Seraphis nodded, her sharp gaze scanning the horizon. "Let’s do this."
The Approach
The team moved swiftly through the thick underbrush, silent as shadows. Each footstep was calculated, every breath controlled. They had studied the movements of Gregor’s men for days, watching, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
By nightfall, they had reached the base of the fortress, where they crouched in the shadows, observing the guards as they walked the perimeter. The thick stone walls of the fortress loomed above, but the night was their ally.
Seraphis’s sharp eyes picked out the weak points—gaps in the patrolling rhythm, soldiers that were too distracted, and a section of the wall with minimal guard presence. She gestured to Elowen and Sylvaine to follow her.
"Move swiftly," she whispered. "Elowen, you handle the left flank; Sylvaine, take the right. Theia, with me."
With that, they split up.
Infiltration
Elowen moved like a shadow, her form barely a blur as she darted between buildings, her steps as silent as the wind. Her knives gleamed in the moonlight, and every time she cut down a guard, they fell soundlessly, their bodies slipping to the ground.
Sylvaine, cloaked in shadows, melted into the darkened corners of the fortress. Her dark magic swirled around her, making her nearly invisible. "One down," she muttered softly, as she flicked her wrist, sending a shadowy tendril into the heart of a guard. The man’s eyes widened in fear as the shadow consumed him.
Meanwhile, Seraphis and Theia approached the main door, which was heavily guarded. The guards’ attention was focused on their patrol, giving them just enough time to make their move.
The First Clash
Theia lunged forward, her daggers flashing as they met the first guard’s throat. A gurgled scream filled the air before the man collapsed to the floor.
Seraphis followed swiftly, her twin daggers finding the next guard’s chest. She twisted, and the blade sliced cleanly through, causing the man to fall in a dead heap at her feet.
Then, it happened.
A loud crash echoed through the courtyard as Gregor’s voice thundered from within the walls. "Intruders!"
The ground seemed to shake as Gregor stepped out of the darkness, his massive figure towering above the assassins. His face was scarred, his eyes wild with rage. In his hand, he wielded a huge greatsword, the blade nearly as tall as a man.
"You dare to challenge me?" Gregor’s voice was deep and filled with venom. "I’ll show you what happens when you cross me!"
The Battle Begins
Seraphis and Theia immediately sprang into action, darting forward. Seraphis aimed for Gregor’s midsection, her daggers slicing through the air with deadly precision. But Gregor was faster than they had anticipated.
He swung his greatsword down in a massive arc. The blade sliced through the air like a force of nature. Seraphis barely dodged, twisting to the side with a fluid motion, but the blade grazed her side, sending a jolt of pain through her body.
"You’re fast," Gregor growled, his voice full of amusement. "But not fast enough."
Elowen and Sylvaine had already made their way to the courtyard’s outer edges, setting up ambushes for any reinforcements that might come. Sylvaine’s shadow magic swirled and pulsed, ready to consume anyone who dared approach.
"Now," Seraphis whispered, barely a breath between her words. She dove at Gregor again, her daggers aimed directly for his chest. But Gregor was waiting.
He parried her blades with his massive greatsword, sending a shockwave of energy through the air. Seraphis stumbled backward, her daggers nearly knocked from her hands.
The Battle Intensifies
Gregor grinned, clearly enjoying the fight. "Is that all?" he taunted. "You’ll have to do better than that."
Seraphis’s eyes burned with fury. "You talk too much."
In the blink of an eye, she vanished again, her speed a blur. She reappeared behind Gregor, aiming a dagger at the back of his neck.
But Gregor wasn’t caught off guard this time. With a quick turn, he swung his sword backward, aiming to cleave her in half. Seraphis barely managed to dodge, but the sword whipped past her and sliced through her arm, sending a spray of blood into the air.
"You’ll regret that," Seraphis hissed through clenched teeth, her wounds igniting her rage.
A Dangerous Fight
The battle between them raged on, each strike from Gregor sending shockwaves through the air, each dodge from Seraphis taking all of her focus and skill. Theia joined the fray, aiming her daggers at Gregor’s legs in an attempt to slow him down. But he was a juggernaut, his body moving with an unnatural speed and precision for his size.
He spun and slashed, his blade catching Theia across the chest. She gritted her teeth, stumbling backward. The blood seeped through her clothing, staining the dirt beneath her.
"You’ll pay for that," she growled, her eyes glowing with vengeance.
Seraphis’s Strategy
Seraphis took a step back, observing Gregor’s movements. His greatsword was a powerful weapon, but it was also clumsy when not swung properly. She needed to exploit that weakness.
"Theia!" she shouted. "Distract him!"
Theia nodded, charging at Gregor once more, her daggers flashing. She feigned an attack to his right before slamming her dagger into his side.
Gregor howled in anger, turning to strike at her.
This was Seraphis’s chance. With a burst of speed, she darted to Gregor’s left side, avoiding his greatsword as it swung through the air. She lunged at his unguarded side, dagger in hand. This time, her strike found its mark.
The dagger pierced his side, cutting deep into muscle and bone. Gregor roared in pain, but before he could retaliate, Seraphis twisted the blade, tearing it through his insides.
The Final Blow
Gregor staggered backward, blood pouring from his wound. His movements became slower, more clumsy.
Seraphis wasn’t done yet. She charged, faster than ever, daggers raised high.
With a swift, brutal movement, she plunged both daggers into Gregor’s chest. He gasped, his greatsword slipping from his grasp as he fell to his knees.
"You should have stayed hidden," Seraphis whispered, her voice cold and final. She twisted her daggers one last time, and Gregor’s body crumpled to the ground, dead.
Aftermath
The battlefield was silent. The only sound was the faint rustle of the wind through the trees. Seraphis stood over Gregor’s lifeless form, her breath heavy with exhaustion.
"That was too close," Elowen said, wiping blood from her blade.
"We need to get his head," Seraphis said.
Theia and Sylvaine moved quickly to cut off Gregor’s head.
"What now?" Theia asked, looking at Seraphis.
"We send this back to the Ivory Tower," Seraphis replied. "Let them know we’re coming for them all."
The Message
The head of Gregor was packed away, ready for delivery