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nThe vanguard marched across the bridge, Thalia gazed at the towering wall before her. It stood strong and formidable. 𝘪𝘦.𝘤𝑜

nIts stone surface bore the scars of time and countless battles, serving as a reminder of its impenetrable nature.

nOver the years, the wall had been strengthened and upgraded, becoming an imposing structure.

nIt featured two imposing bridges that connected both sides, serving as the only means of entry on foot into the Dreadvale.

nIn the front and back of the wall were deep ditches, acting as additional barriers on either side.

nIt had successfully thwarted numerous beast waves and attacks, with flying creatures brought down by mages and archers.

nThalia and Xanthe closely trailed behind Kalia, who led the group from the front.

nShe turned to the twins, cautioning them, “Girls, stay vigilant. We’ve received multiple reports of creature attacks near the wall.”

nThe twins nodded, their eyes filled with determination, as they pressed onward, venturing into the foreboding Dreadvale.

nAs the group crossed the second bridge, watched closely by the vigilant wall guards, their eyes widened in astonishment at the desolate landscape that greeted them.

nA chilling sight unfolded before their eyes.

nThe once-thriving land had been transformed into a barren wasteland, a stark contrast to the stories they had heard.

nBones of humans, beasts, and creatures littered the ground, creating an eerie carpet that crackled under their feet.

nGrinning skulls stared through empty eye sockets, their silent testimony mocking the living with a sense of impending doom.

nThe once-majestic trees now stood as gaunt specters, their withered branches reaching out like skeletal arms, swaying ominously in the cold breeze.

nNo signs of foliage remained, only twisted and decaying remnants of what had once been.

nA sickly haze clung to the air, obscuring distant horizons and casting a pall of despair upon the land.

nAn unsettling silence permeated the atmosphere, broken only by the mournful howl of a distant wind.

nIn the midst of this eerie scene, Xanthe’s sharp eyes spotted a dilapidated farmhouse in the distance, its appearance rundown, and its front door has been broken off.

nKalia led the hunters as they continued down the old dirt road toward Frostholm.

nAfter an hour of travel, the group’s unease intensified as an unsettling change swept over the surroundings.

nThe horses abruptly halted, their instincts overriding any commands from their riders. A heavy fog descended upon the area, casting an ominous veil over their path.

nA palpable sense of fear hung heavily in the air, emanating from the trembling bodies of the horses, revealing their unease.

nParalyzed with fear, the horse’s minds consumed by a desperate longing to retreat to the safety of the wall, the hunters awaited Kalia’s command.

n“Everyone, tether the horses by the old farmhouse and proceed on foot!”

nThalia and Xanthe dismounted their trembling horses, but the frightened animals bolted away the moment the girls released their grip.

nStanding there, their senses heightened, they listened intently to the eerie silence that surrounded them. Thalia took charge, casting an enhancement spell.

n“Radiant Eyes.”

nAs her spell took effect, Thalia’s vision sharpened, allowing her to spot an arrow hurtling toward Xanthe.

nReacting swiftly, she drew her sword and deflected the projectile.

nAcknowledging her sister’s skill, Xanthe nodded in gratitude and retrieved her spear from a storage ring, skillfully parrying the onslaught of incoming arrows.

nSuddenly, a bone-chilling howl pierced the air, heralding the emergence of a swarm. Waves of Ratlings charged recklessly toward the hunters, driven by a frenzy to destroy.

nThe Ratlings, named after the fall of Frostholm, moved with a single-minded determination.

nKalia’s voice echoed with urgency, “Hunters, brace yourselves! It’s an ambush!” Each hunter swiftly armed themselves, standing resolute in preparation for the imminent threat.

nWith remarkable speed, a shield wall was erected just in time to meet the violent assault of the Ratlings. The wall held firm, though the impact pushed it back.

nMeanwhile, archers positioned at the rear unleashed volleys of arrows, while mages cast spells into the horde, creating chaotic explosions of magic.

nThalia locked eyes with Xanthe, and a silent understanding passed between them.

nWith unwavering determination, they sprinted towards the shield wall, their movements fluid and purposeful. As they neared the shield wall, they leaped over it with grace.

nEmpowered by their vampire essence coursing through their veins, every motion of Thalia and Xanthe exuded a deadly grace.

nThey descended on the opposite side of the wall, ready to unleash their fury upon the Ratlings.

nThalia moved with mesmerizing agility, her sword cutting through the air with lethal precision, dispatching dozens of Ratlings in rapid succession.

nXanthe, standing tall and resolute, commanded the battlefield with an air of majesty.

nHer sweeping attacks cleaved through the horde, decapitating any foolish creature that dared to venture too close.

nIn a moment of perfect synchronicity, the sisters unleashed a shared spell, their voices intertwining with arcane power.

n“Blood Vigor.”

nAn intense surge coursed through their veins, further augmenting their already formidable abilities.

nTheir senses sharpened, their bodies grew stronger, and a wave of power enshrouded them, fueling their relentless attacks.

nUndeterred by the sheer number of Ratlings, the twins seemed to transcend the limitations of time itself as they engaged in a relentless dance of destruction.

nTheir movements flowed with precision and grace as if guided by an unseen force.

nHundreds of Ratlings succumbed to their relentless onslaught, but for each foe defeated, a hundred more surged forward to fill the ranks.

nThalia quickened her pace, honing her focus on the larger and more formidable Ratlings, her strikes unerringly finding their mark.

nMeanwhile, Xanthe stood firm at the front of the shield wall, her powerful strikes cutting down the Ratlings and holding back their relentless advance.

nDespite the loss of several hunters during the chaos, the wall held firm, and the twins continued their relentless slaughter of the swarm.

nTheir unwavering attacks created breathing space for the other hunters, enabling them to launch a counterattack.

nAfter an hour of relentless fighting, the last of the creatures were dispatched. A fatigued Kalia emerged, her voice strained yet filled with gratitude.

n“Girls, well done. Without both of you, we would have lost even more hunters.”

nHer gaze turned to the fallen, and it was then that Xanthe inquired, her voice devoid of emotions, “How many have we lost?”

nKalia lifted her gaze, locking eyes with the vibrant green orbs of the twins. For a fleeting moment, she felt herself teetering on the edge of a trance, but Thalia swiftly intervened.

n“We have warned you, Miss Kalia, about meeting our gaze. You risk falling under our charm.”

nKalia shook her head, a knowing smile gracing her lips as she replied, “We lost 13 hunters. Four were dragged off, and nine perished on the frontline.”

nThe twins nodded in unison, meticulously cleaning their weapons before securely stowing them away.

nWith the horses gone, the vanguard continued their march on foot until the sun began to set.

nKalia’s voice echoed through the ranks, “Halt! We shall make camp for the night. We cannot risk traveling further; it’s the perfect time for another ambush.”

nThe weary group came to a stop and turned their gaze to the right, where the tumultuous Shadowflow River flowed beside them.

nThe hunters swiftly set to work, establishing a tightly packed camp, while some of them erected a protective Rune perimeter.

nThalia and Xanthe positioned their tent a little distance away from the rest, creating their own magical perimeter of defense.

nKalia organized the night watch rotations when a piercing screech reverberated from all directions, causing a flurry of activity in the makeshift camp.

nThe men and women quickly gathered, forming small defensive squares in anticipation of an incoming attack. Yet, despite their anxious waiting, nothing happened.

nThe tense atmosphere lingered, and the twins stood outside their tent, scanning the surroundings. Thalia activated her Radiant Eyes once more, searching for any signs of danger.

nHowever, even with her enhanced vision, there was nothing to be seen.

nIt was then that Kalia called out to everyone, “Everyone, calm down. I’ll increase the number of guards so you can get some rest.”

nAs the night wore on, the atmosphere was filled with the sounds of screams and screeches, echoing through the air.

nOut of the total count of over 400 hunters, a dedicated hundred stood on guard, ever watchful and prepared for any potential attacks.

nAs the morning sun rose, the dense fog dissipated, revealing a desolate landscape that stretched out before them.

nThe river, characterized by its deep and mysterious waters, exuded an eerie ambiance. Whispers spread among the hunters, murmuring about glimpses of moving shadows beneath the surface.

nThalia approached Xanthe from behind as she stood at the river’s edge, her gaze fixed on the distance. Concern etched in her voice, Thalia voiced her apprehensions.

n“Sister, there is an eerie silence around us. I fear another attack may be imminent,” she expressed her worry.

nXanthe nodded in agreement and responded, “Yes, sister, there will be another attack, but not just yet.” 𝘪𝑎.

nAs the group dismantled their temporary camp and prepared to resume their journey, their attention was drawn to the approaching figures of the remaining hunters.

nLeading the group was the same man who had spoken to Kalia earlier.

nThe vanguard came to a halt as the other hunters reached them, displaying signs of weariness but no major injuries. Stepping forward, the man addressed Kalia directly.

n“Kalia, we were ambushed three times during our journey here. Ratlings were among the attackers, alongside some unidentified creatures that none of us have encountered before.”

nA

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