"Lucia! Lucia! Wake up!" Athar's voice tore through the night, barely piercing the suffocating veil of war.
The air was thick with acid smoke, twisting shadows dancing in the glow of distant fires. Explosions rumbled like the wrath of vengeful gods, shaking the ground beneath him. The clash of steel rang through the choking mist, mingling with the dying screams of the fallen. "They've reached the camp! Wake up, damn it!"
Lucia's red eyes snapped open. Smoke curled around her, thick and heavy, carrying the stench of fire and blood. Distant flames cast long shadows, flickering like ghosts in the night.
She reached for her sword. The silver blade shimmered under the pale moonlight, untouched by the dirt and gore of battle. Its hilt, wrapped in deep blue, felt steady in her grip. At the top, a small crystal glowed faintly, like a trapped star.
She had come here to heal, not to fight. To mend wounds, not to spill blood.
But war had no mercy. And tonight, she would raise her blade, whether she wished to or not.
Lucia moved like a ghost in the moonlight, her blade flashing through the darkness, a deadly dance of steel and shadow. The screams of the dying mixed with the clash of metal, but she did not waver. Every strike was precise, every movement effortless, as if she had done this a thousand times before.
Athar watched, frozen in disbelief. He had never seen her fight like this so fierce, so untouchable, yet wrapped in an air of mystery. The woman he knew was a healer, a gentle soul. But here, bathed in the pale glow of the moon, she was something else entirely.
Ash swirled through the battlefield like snowflakes caught in a merciless wind. The air was thick with fire and death, yet Lucia moved forward, cutting down every enemy in her path.
Athar tore his gaze away just long enough to raise a protective spell over the tent where the wounded lay. The barrier shimmered for a moment before settling into place, shielding those inside from the chaos beyond. But even as he channeled his magic, his eyes kept drifting back to Lucia.
Who was she, truly? And what had awakened this side of her?
Lucia's way was blocked.
In front of her stood Vera, the Giant Slayer
...a young Oni with a fierce, untamed presence. Her sharp, glowing eyes burned with a strange power, crackling like distant thunder. The air around her seemed charged, as if a storm had taken form in the shape of a warrior.
She held a massive weapon, covered in ancient runes that glowed with a dark light. The weight of it should have been too much for someone her size, yet she wielded it effortlessly, as if it was part of her very soul. The battlefield around them fell still. The wind screamed through the swirling ash, and shadows of unseen warriors watched from the mist.
Lucia gripped her sword tighter. This was no ordinary enemy. Vera was a hunter of giants, a killer of legends. And now, her eyes were fixed on Lucia.
The battle for life and death was about to begin....
"I understand," Lucia said, her voice steady. Without hesitation, she charged toward Vera.
In an instant, the Giant Slayer leapt into the air, her massive weapon raised high. She swung it down with incredible force, but Lucia was quick, dodging the strike just in time. The ground beneath Vera's blow cracked open, and a shockwave blasted through the air, shaking everything in its path.
Lucia didn't hesitate. She pressed forward, her sword flashing in the air. This time, she struck Vera's weapon, the clash sending sparks flying as the two forces collided. The sound of metal against metal echoed through the battlefield.
"Why are you here?" Vera asked, pushing Lucia back. But Lucia didn't answer. She didn't hesitate to attack again.
This time, she was more careful. She jumped back and started to chant. "Rhu na...me rha..." A blue flame appeared around her sword, glowing brightly.
Lucia charged again, and with one powerful strike, Vera was sent flying, her weapon falling to the ground. Without wasting time, Lucia sent a blast of fire from her sword, hitting the ground and burning the enemies who tried to attack her while she was distracted...