The aftermath of Shinari''s judgment was a swift, yet solemn procession. The traitors, oncemanders and strategists of high regard within the Celestial toon, found themselves escorted under heavy guard to a sleek, unmarked vessel. The air was thick with a sense of finality, the cool dawn light casting long shadows across the tarmac as they were led aboard.


    The soldiers and officers, who once might have saluted these men, now watched in silence, a respectful distance maintained, their gazes averted.


    Commander Taren ric, his shoulders squared yet bearing the invisible weight of his disgrace, was among them. As he stepped onto the vessel, he turned for a brief moment, casting ast look back at themand center — a fortress of unity and purpose he had once helped uphold.


    The realization that he would no longer be a part of its future, that his ties were irrevocably severed, settled deep in his bones.


    Inside, the vessel was stark yetfortable, designed not to punish but to segregate, to remind them of their istion from the entity they once served with pride. As the doors sealed shut, a heavy silence fell among the upants, each lost in their own tumult of regrets and what-ifs.


    Their destination was clear: return to their families, to face the remnants of lives they had irrevocably altered. Shinari''s orders were explicit — they were to have no contact with anyone within the Celestial toon. Any attempt to breach this mandate would result in immediate termination for those involved.


    It was a decree that underscored the depth of their betrayal and the lengths to which the toon would go to preserve its integrity.


    Yet, unbeknownst to ric and his fellow exiles, Shinari had taken further precautions. As the vessel lifted off, disappearing into the burgeoning light of dawn, a shadowwork was activated. Selected men of unquestionable loyalty and discreet efficiency were tasked with monitoring the traitors.


    These watchers were Shinari''s eyes and ears, a silent testament to her resolve that the safety of the toon was paramount. Each of these men understood the gravity of their duty — the traitors, despite their fall, held knowledge and influence potent enough to orchestrate damage from the shadows.


    "Now that''s out of the way. I can put my mind back to the war." She looked at one of her assistant. "Any news about Aldred?"


    "No, madam."


    "Where did he go?" Shinari wondered.


    …


    Francus held his breath, finger on the trigger. His sight was upon a massive winged-creature that had strange tendrils moving around it.


    His massive sniper at the ready. Then, a secondter, he pulled the trigger.


    Bang!


    In less than a second, a stting sound reverberated as a huge chunk of the creature''s brain exploded.


    The massive creature, with its wings momentarily ceasing their beat and its tendrils going limp, plummeted towards the dense canopy below. The impact sent a shockwave through the forest, leaves and branches erupting in a chaotic dance as the body crashed onto the foliage. A cacophony of cries and the hurried rustling of countless creatures filled the air, a testament to the disturbance.


    Birds, their feathers a blur of color, took to the sky in a frenzied escape, while smaller creatures darted for cover, their panic tangible.


    Francus lowered his sniper, the adrenaline slowly ebbing from his veins. "Gotcha," he murmured to himself, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. The satisfaction of the shot was fleeting, reced by the weight of the task ahead. He knew the forests of Aerilon were home to more of these behemoths, each a potential threat to the settlements skirting the woond.


    As he prepared to descend from his vantage point, a voice crackled over hismunicator, "Francus, report. Was your hunt sessful?"


    He clicked the device, speaking as he navigated the thick underbrush with practiced ease. "Affirmative. One less nightmare for the vigers. But there''s more stirring in the shadows. I can feel it."


    "Understood. Return for resupply. We can''t afford any blind spots, especially with the celestial anomalies increasing."


    Francus paused, his gaze drifting to the skies where stars fought against the dawn''s light.


    Back in the vige, Grigor already waited for him.


    "You got one?" Francus asked.


    "One? I killed two!" Grigorughed as he raised his massive axe atop his shoulder.


    "I killed one because that''s the only one to kill. If there were thousands, I would have killed them all too."


    "Save the excuses, young man."


    Francus and Grigor made their way through the streets, their recent exploits already the subject of hushed whispers and awed nces. The vigers respected them, feared warriors who stood between the unknown horrors and their peaceful existence.


    As they approached the central square, a figure detached itself from the shadows, moving with an elegance that seemed almost otherworldly. Eldermage Illyrion, leader of the Silverleaf Covenant, awaited them, his presencemanding yet serene. The ageless elf regarded the two humans with a gaze that seemed to pierce through to their very souls.


    "Francus, Grigor," Illyrion greeted, his voice carrying the melodious quality of wind through the leaves. "Your deeds echo even within the halls of the Silverleaf. You have our gratitude."


    Grigor, ever the brash one, pped Francus on the back with a grin. "Told you we''d make a ssh," he said, though his jest faded under Illyrion''s steady gaze.


    Illyrion turned his attention to the vige around them. "Yet, your bravery cannot forestall the darkness encroaching upon us. The celestial anomalies you''ve witnessed are but harbingers of a deeper malice."


    Francus stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "What do you suggest we do, Eldermage? Our des are ready, but we fight shadows."


    "We all know who these shadows are. The demons. Those nightmarish creatures would keep appearing as long as this war continues. Do you know where your leader is?"


    Both of them shook their heads. "He said he''s going to bring this war to the next phase. How, where, and when. We do not know."


    The night air, usually filled with the symphony of nocturnal creatures and the rustle of leaves, was abruptly silenced. Francus, Grigor, and Eldermage Illyrion froze, sensing a disturbance far beyond the ordinary. High above, the stars seemed to flicker and dim as if night itself recoiled in fear.


    Without warning, the sky was aze, not with the celestial glow of stars, but with the fiery engines of a vast demonic fleet. The vige, moments ago a bastion of tranquility, erupted into chaos.


    "By the ancient spirits," Illyrion whispered, his voice a mixture of awe and dread. His eyes, reflecting the fiery descent, knew too well what this signified. "The demons havee."


    "By the ancient spirits," Illyrion whispered, his voice a mixture of awe and dread. His eyes, reflecting the fiery descent, knew too well what this signified. "Zagrath hase."


    Francus and Grigor exchanged grim looks, understanding the magnitude of the threat. They had faced demons before, but never an army, and certainly never led by Zagrath, the me Warden himself. His name was a curse, whispered in fear by those who knew of the demonic realms.


    The demonic ships, ck as the void, descended like a gue upon the, their underbellies opening to unleash torrents of fire upon the forests of Aerilon. Trees that had stood for centuries were engulfed in mes within moments, the inferno spreading unchecked, a living entity consuming all in its path.


    Screams filled the air, not just from the vigers, but from the very heart of the forest, as animals and mystical beings alike fled from the destruction. The Silverleaf Covenant, guardians of nature, could only watch in horror as their domain was defiled.


    "We must act," Francus said, his hand already on his weapon, the gravity of the situation lending him resolve.


    Grigor nodded, his usual bravado reced by a steely determination. "To arms, then!"


    Illyrion raised his hand, and in an instant, a protective aura shimmered around them. "I will shield the vige as best I can. You must find Zagrath. Without him, their coordination will falter."


    As Francus and Grigor prepared to confront the demonic onught, a new figure joined them. Alyn, a seasoned warrior of the Silverleaf, her expression one of unwavering determination. "I stand with you," she dered, her bow ready.


    Together, they charged towards the chaos, the roar of the mes and the sh of battle filling the air. The demons, grotesque creatures of shadow and fire, met them with ferocity, but the trio fought with a fury borne of desperation and unyielding spirit.


    The forest became a battlefield, mes illuminating the night as shadows shed with light. Amidst this turmoil, Zagrath emerged, his presence like a dark sun, radiating malevolence. His armor, forged in the fires of perdition, gleamed with a sinister light, and in his hand, a de that seemed to devour the very essence of the light around it.


    "Ie here for one thing and one thing only. Celestial toon! Your leader is dead. Now I am here to kill you all!" Zagrath''s voice boomed, a challenge that carried over the din of battle. "Face your doom at the hands of Zagrath, me Warden of the Abyss!"


    Francus and Grigor looked at each other. "Aldred is dead?"


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