The forest city of Asorcaia was eerily quiet. Hundred of Elven men and women were armed for battle at the city gates. A man in bright gold armor and a dragon shaped helmet stepped on top of a platform and all the soldiers stopped and saluted him. His name is Cael Medasael, current commander of the entire Asorcaian army.

“Some of you are hardened soldiers who have witnessed countless wars, others are fresh from training, itching to get your feet wet.” Cael shouted in Elvish. “We all have different beliefs, we all come from different walks of life. Today none of that matters. Today we are all Elves! These monsters think they can stroll into our homes and push us around. Enslave our men, murder our women and children. Not today! They may have the numbers, but we have something they don't have.” Cael points towards the emerging zombie army. There is panic among the troops for a moment, until they notice a bright white light. “Way to make an entrance brother.”

Jherys Medasael, Asorcaia's Paladin, the single most powerful man in Asorcaia, ripped through a swarm of zombies as if they were paper. He walked towards the army, his white blade surrounded by white flames, leaving a trail of corpses behind.

Cael draws his spear and points it to the fallen first wave. “Well then, should we let the Paladin have all the fun?” The enemy's second wave came into view. “Let's send those bastards back to hell!” The entire Elven army cheers and charges, leaving their commander behind.

“Nice speech.” A figure in a black cloak emerges from the shadows beside Cael.

“How are the evacuations coming Devon?” Cael said.

“A lot of people are reluctant to leave their homes, some assume it means surrender.” Devon said. Cael sighed.

“Well get the rest to safety.” Cael ordered. “We should be able to hold them back from the city, but we can't be too careful.” Devon nodded then disappeared in a cloud of shadows. A glowing circle of Mana wrapped around Cael's feet. With one leap he ripped through the air and crashed into enemy soldiers. It all seemed too easy.

Jherys grabbed a skeleton knight and crushed it's skull with his bare hands. Every movement left a body on the ground. It has been decades since he has fought like this, without mercy, without remorse. Devon showed up behind him and almost met Jherys' blade.

“Not bad Luthor.” Devon said. Luthor was the name Jherys used outside Asorcaia. “You can be pretty scary when you cut loose.”

“This is the first time I've ever been able give it my all in a fight...” Luthor said. “...ever!” He gracefully chopped down another enemy knight. “I thought you were getting the civilians to safety.”

“Been a little difficult.” Devon said, pulling two daggers from his side to cut up a zombie. “Especially one specific person. Your wife.”

“Aelolae...” Luthor said. “What's the problem?”

“I... can't find her.”

“What!?” A skeleton exploded from the Light of Luthor's sword.

“If I can't find her, it means that she doesn't want to be found.” Devon said, as another enemy met it's fate. “What did you do?”

“So this is my fault?” Luthor cut through them like paper.

“You two can't even look at each other nowadays without an argument.” Devon's knife went through a skull. Luthor sighed.

“There's a small clearing about a mile behind her father's house.” Luthor said as he continued to fight. “That's were we used to sneak off to when we were kids.” There was an explosion and Elf bodies flew from it. “By the gods! Go! Now!” Devon silently disappeared as giant, hulking, zombie behemoths came into view. They crushed Elves like bugs. “Cael!”

“On it!” Cael jumped onto the face of one of the beasts and jabbed his spear between it's eyes. Archers hidden in the trees flung arrows and Mages threw all kinds of spells, but it seems like they've lost the advantage. A massive skeleton in heavy armor stepped forward.

“I am Manuel, apostle of Drahcirx!” The beast shouted. “Surrender and accept my lord as your new God and you shall be spared!”

---

“This is so stupid.” Devon said to himself as he jumped through the trees. “Why do I always get caught up in everyone else's petty squabbles?” He dropped to the ground behind Aelolae Medasael. She sat beside a small, fish filled pond.

“My husband tell you about this place?” She said, moving strands of her long, light brown hair from her face. She stood to face Devon, who nodded.

“It's not safe.” He said. “They broke through the front line. The safe house is well hidden underground, I can teleport us there...”

“No!” Aelolae interrupted. “I... I can't be teleported.” She looked away.

“You have got to be kidding me.” Devon slapped his palm into his forehead. “There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of, I've been doing this for years.”

“It's not that, I... I'm...” She was interrupted by a loud crash. A massive undead creature roared as it pushed down trees. It looked like a massive boar with half a tusk and covered in rotting flesh.

“Get down, now!” Devon shouted as the beast charged towards them. Dark Mana surrounded his outstretched hands as  shadows emerged from the ground to restrain the monster. He used the shadows to throw the creature to the ground. He grabbed Aelolae and jumped in the trees. “I'm getting us away from here whether you like it or not!”

“No!” She yelled. “Please don't!” She had genuine fear in her eyes.

“Give me one good reason why not!” Devon shouted, visibly very angry.

“I'm pregnant!” Aelolae, also quite angry, yelled. Devon's jaw dropped and he nearly fell out of the tree. He was utterly speechless. Aelolae calmed down a bit. “The doctor told me that too much exposure to that kind of magic could...”

“I... I know.” Devon managed to say. He let out a heavy sigh. “It's his kid, right?”

“Of course!” She was again, quite mad.

---

“Alright, let's move out!” Eblan yelled as they picked off the rest of the zombies. “They're conserving Mana, so we gotta walk.” Everyone started packing up after getting healed. Reina finally joined back up with them soon after.

“Where's 17?” She asked. “I hope he's okay...”

“Hopefully they were able to finish the bastard off.” Raiden said. Everyone, even Eblan looked shocked. “Please, all you need to do is spend five minutes with him and you'll start thinking the same way.”

“Well that's not very nice.” 17 casually walked towards Raiden, not a scratch on him. “How's it going buddy?”

“Shut up.” Raiden turns to walk away.

“How's that girlfriend of yours doing?” A smirk swept across his face. “Oh, that's right, you let her-” Raiden punched him in the face. “Phew, and here I thought I'd leave without a scratch.”

“C'mon! Stop goofing off and lets head out!” Eblan shouted, his voice shockingly stern.

“Why the rush? I wanna do a bit of looting.” 17 rubbed his sore face.

“If you must know, Jenny got hurt and Trillian forced me here before I could see if she was okay!” Eblan said. “I can't leave you guys behind or Trill will kill me.”

“I heard about that.” Raiden said. “Fredrich said she was hit by a poisoned arrow... Go on ahead. I'll lead and take the hit from Trillian.”

“Dude, I owe you one.” Eblan gave Raiden a hug strong enough to pick him off the ground then disappeared into thin air.

“Lets get going.” Raiden ordered the others.

---

Things  were quiet as they walked back to the guilds. All of a sudden Raiden and 17 stopped. “Get down!” Raiden yelled. A blur raced towards them. Carly shrieked as it came closer to her, Ray jumped in front of her at the nick of time and was knocked to the ground. The beast stood with a big smile on his face. His body was made up of several different body parts.

“S'up. Call me Victor, the Lord's greatest apostle.” Raiden immediately attacked, only for Victor to effortlessly dodge. “Not allowed to kill you pretty boy, but everyone else is fair game.” 17 throws a knife, but Victor moves out of the way again. “This all you got?” Reina and Torydaes flank him. Reina shoots a bolt of lightning, only for the enemy to move causing it to strike Torydaes. He then proceeds to grab Reina and throw her at the unconscious Elf. Corrado and Grif gets some distance. Grif shoots a fireball from his staff while Corrado's flames shoot from his gauntlets. Of course, these are easily avoidable. He faces Franklin, looking down into his eyes. Franklin was frozen in fear. “Wanna go first?” A blade emerged from his right palm and he pointed it at Franklin who preceded to drop his sword.

“That's not very nice.” A mysterious voice whispered.

“Wha? Who's there!?” Victor yelled. A man in a tattered brown cloak and long brown hair covering his face appears beside him. Victor moves back and Franklin faints.

“My name's Sylva.” The wind blew the hair from his face. He was smiling pleasantly. “Nice to meet you.”