Chapter 8 - 1 Part 8:We finally met
The chamber was thick with the scent of scorched stone and blood. Sophius core has finally shattered. The silence that followed the giant's fallen metallic scrap was deafening, broken only by the labored breaths and groans of the wounded.
The knights, though victorious, bore the heavy cost of their triumph. Their armor was dented and scorched, many helmets missing, revealing faces streaked with blood, sweat, and soot. Some leaned on broken spears or makeshift crutches, while others lay on the ground, clutching wounds.
Despite the devastation, a flicker of pride and defiance remained. As the last echo of Sophius's collapse faded, the surviving knights raised their weapons—some with trembling hands—and let out a ragged, thunderous war cry, "For the fallen! For the! For the duke! For the realm!"
It was a roar not of celebration, but of promise—that their sacrifice would not be in vain.
Commander Darius turned sharply to his Marshal. "Count the casualties and report to me immediately."
Minutes later, the Marshal returned, his face grim. "Our elite force is nearly annihilated. Only 150 remain out of the original 500. Fifty more are wounded. The separated unit in the other chamber where dead with no survivor."
Darius's jaw tightened. "We don't have time to mourn. We find whoever is responsible for this madness—and we end them."
He turned to another figure standing apart from the others. "Allen, are you coming with us?"
Allen was still near the shattered remains of Sophius, his eyes scanning every scorched corner of the chamber, searching for answers to the riddle that had haunted him. He didn't look up as he replied, "Yes. I need to know the truth."