SICARII

The squad and the carriage pressed forward, crossing the border and entering Delria's vast, untamed wilderness. The land was cloaked in ancient forests, trees towering like silent giants with roots that twisted and stretched across the earth in thick, knotted webs. Shafts of light broke through the dense canopy above, casting the forest floor in a dappled, shifting glow. Here, nature seemed alive in a way that felt almost mystical—Delria's forests were older than memory, bearing the weight of countless battles, whispered legends, and hidden lives.

As they moved deeper, the landscape revealed hidden towns tucked within the embrace of the trees. Small wooden homes and structures were carved directly into the trunks of massive oaks, their walls decorated with intricate carvings of beasts and symbols. Caves nestled within hillsides bore signs of life—faint fires glimmered within their depths, and figures occasionally peered out, their gazes wary and unwelcoming. This was the home of the Beast folk, a land steeped in their heritage, filled with places of quiet resilience where families had dwelled for generations, shielded from the outside world by the forest's natural fortress.

The tension grew thicker with each step forward. The presence of the Berserkers—marked by their attire and demeanor—did not go unnoticed. Beast folk paused in their routines, heads turning to follow the strangers with narrow eyes and expressions hardened by centuries of distrust. Rarely did anyone from the Nordic lands venture so deep into Delria, and even less so were they greeted with anything resembling hospitality. This was a land scarred by history, and each wary glance cast their way held the weight of ancient resentment.

Luna could feel it—the unspoken hostility, the sharp gaze of every Beast folk they passed, the way conversations hushed as they drew near. Beside her, Zak scanned their surroundings, his eyes alert, his hand never straying far from his weapon. Lara and Luca moved in silence, senses heightened, as if expecting an ambush at any moment. Despite their mission of peace, it was clear that they were seen as intruders, and every step they took seemed to drive them deeper into foreign, hostile ground.

As the forest grew denser and the path darker, the towering trees seemed almost to lean in, watching, judging, as if the land itself remembered the sins of the past. The road wound deeper into Delria, leading them closer to the summit that promised peace—yet surrounded by the watchful eyes of a people who had suffered too long to believe in such things.

The squad moved deeper into the forest, the air growing thicker, heavier with each step. Sunlight barely pierced the dense canopy above, casting the woods in a dim, almost sinister twilight. No sign of habitation lingered here—just the rustling of leaves, the distant creak of branches, and a sense that the very forest was holding its breath, waiting.

Suddenly, shadows flickered above. Massive shapes moved within the branches, darting through the treetops with impossible speed. Zak halted the squad with a sharp gesture, and they quickly surrounded the carriage, their eyes scanning the shadows, each muscle poised for action.

Lara lifted her crossbow, fingers steady as she scanned the treeline. Her voice was a low warning. "Something's coming… everyone, on guard."

A voice rang out from the canopy, fierce and filled with fury. "For Delria!" A creature half-lion, half-man dropped from above, golden fur rippling over powerful muscles as it launched itself straight at Luca, claws extended. The beast's eyes were wild, filled with the old rage of his people.

Luca spun to face the attacker, dodging back just in time as claws sliced through the air, narrowly missing his chest. He countered with a swing of his sword, bringing the blade down in a controlled, swift arc. The beast met him with a snarl, claws locking against the blade in a harsh, grating clash. Metal and claw sparked as they grappled, each struggling to overpower the other, their breath ragged with exertion.

"Come on, you savage!" Luca grunted, straining as he tried to push the beast back.

The lion-beast let out a guttural roar, pressing forward with brute strength, his claws scratching against the edge of Luca's blade, sending sparks scattering in the darkened forest.

"Luca, watch out!" Luna called, rushing toward him.

But before she could reach him, another figure swooped down from above—a woman with the head and wings of an eagle, feathers dark as midnight, talons gleaming as sharp as steel. She crashed into Luna with brutal force, knocking her off her feet and sending her flying backward. Luna's body collided with a tree, the impact echoing through the forest as bark splintered, and she gasped, feeling the wind knocked out of her lungs.

Lara quickly pivoted, aiming her crossbow toward the eagle-woman. Her voice was steady, yet filled with determination. "Get off her!"

She released the bolt, and from her crossbow flew a massive arrow, cloaked in a swirling, inky shadow, as if darkness itself had been summoned to fuel its flight. The arrow tore through the air, hissing like a storm before it struck the eagle-beast square in the chest. The impact was explosive, sending the beast crashing down to the ground in a flurry of feathers and dust. She shrieked in pain, momentarily stunned, but her wings twitched as she began to rise again, her eyes burning with vengeance.

Luna staggered to her feet, catching her breath, her gaze hardening. "Thanks, Lara… but she's not down yet."

Before the squad could regroup, three more figures dropped from the trees, landing in a loose circle around Zak. The first was a towering, bull-headed creature with massive horns and dark, blood-red fur. The second was a crocodile-beast with elongated jaws filled with sharp teeth, scales glinting in the dim light. The third was a spider-like creature, a twisted fusion of human and arachnid with eight arms, each tipped with serrated claws.

Zak tightened his grip on his Storm Cleavers—twin axes gleaming with deadly purpose. "Come on, then!" he challenged, spinning the axes in his hands. As he swung them forward, they seemed to draw the very air toward their blades, sending a gust of wind spiraling outward, stirring the dust and leaves around him.

The bull-headed beast charged first, horns aimed directly at Zak's chest. Zak sidestepped swiftly, slashing downward with one cleaver, sending a sharp gust of wind that knocked the beast off balance. But before he could press the advantage, the crocodile-beast lunged from the side, snapping its jaws inches from Zak's arm.

"Zak, behind you!" Lara shouted, loading another bolt.

Zak twisted, slashing with both axes, sending a rippling wave of wind toward the crocodile-beast. The creature staggered back, hissing, but the spider-beast was already upon him, skittering close, its claws swiping in quick, deadly arcs. Zak parried, his axes clanging against the spider's limbs, each impact sending shockwaves up his arms.

"Need a little help here!" he called out, straining against the spider-beast's relentless assault.

Luna rushed to his aid, her own blade flashing as she intercepted one of the spider's claws, slicing it clean off. The beast hissed, rearing back in pain, giving Zak the opening he needed. He swung both axes in a cross-cut, sending a gust so powerful it knocked the spider-beast onto its back, where it writhed and screeched, unable to right itself.

Meanwhile, Lara took aim at the bull-beast, who had recovered and was charging again. She released another shadowed bolt, the arrow tearing through the air with dark energy, burying itself into the creature's shoulder. The bull-beast let out a pained roar, staggering but still advancing, fury etched across its features.

"Lara! Aim for the head!" Luca called, still locked in combat with the lion-beast.

Lara steadied her aim, her gaze unflinching. She took a breath, waiting for the perfect moment as the bull-beast lowered its head to charge. She released the bolt, and it flew true, striking the creature right between the eyes. With a final bellow, the bull-beast collapsed, the light fading from its eyes.

In the midst of the chaos, Luna faced the eagle-woman once more, who had regained her footing and launched herself into the air. She dived toward Luna with talons outstretched, but Luna braced herself, timing her counter perfectly. Just as the eagle-beast was about to reach her, Luna sidestepped, slashing upward, her blade grazing one wing. The beast faltered, crashing to the ground with a screech.

Zak, breathing heavily but eyes blazing, looked at the fallen beasts surrounding them. "Everyone alright?" he asked, voice strained but steady.

Luna nodded, her eyes sharp. "For now. But we need to keep moving before they regroup. This was just the beginning."

They exchanged a quick, determined look, regrouping around the carriage. The forest still loomed dark and ominous, but the squad was undeterred, each of them ready to face whatever Delria had yet to throw at them.