As Two elven warriors stand sentinel before the entrance gate, their keen gazes sweeping the perimeter. Their spears, etched with radiant runes, shimmered with an ethereal glow in the gentle verdant light. It was a watch steeped in tranquility—until the very breath of the forest turned traitorous, whispering of an impending wrong.
A flicker of movement, swift and uncharacteristic, snagged the attention of one. A small, metallic object tumbled through the underbrush, its faint clink slicing through the quiet as it came to rest just beyond the gate.
The first elf's gaze sharpened, his brow furrowing. "What is this? It doesn't feel like any ordinary metal. No, this was no accident."
The second elf stepped forward cautiously, gripping his spear tighter. "It's a distraction—meant to draw our attention. We should warn the chief—"
But before his words finished, a sharp hiss escaped the object. Thick gray smoke exploded outward in a swirling cloud, swallowing the gate in a blinding haze. The air turned heavy. Their limbs began to weaken.
"Smoke...!" the first elf gasped, coughing as he stumbled.
That was the moment.
Sunil burst from the trees with a grin, sprinting towards the elves while sliding through the grass. His crossbow was already loaded. With a flick of his wrist—thunk—the bolt pierced the first elf's side. The impact flared with a sickly green glow as poison surged through the victim's veins.
The elf warrior vomited blood, staggering backward. "Wh-what… is this…?" he choked, collapsing to his knees. Within seconds, life left his eyes.
"Too easy," Sunil muttered, standing over the fallen elf.
But the second elf was quicker. Heart pounding and vision barely clear, he shouted, "Who are you?" and swung his enchanted spear toward the source of the attack.
Zahir burst through the smoke with a laugh, unsheathing his sword in a fluid motion. Metal clashed against rune-bound wood as the two met in a flurry of blows.
The second elf snarled, "You'll regret stepping foot here—"
Zahir, with a smile, blocked a wild swing, twisted his blade, and in one sharp arc, disarmed the elf. In the next, his sword pierced through the elf's armor and chest. With a sigh, the second elf warrior fell and died on the spot.
The silence spread after the fight.
Ravin emerged from the trees and bushes, his movements calm and precise. He knelt beside the fallen elves—now still and lifeless—pulling a small metallic beetle insect from his coat pocket. It pulsed faintly.
He placed it on the nape of the first elf's neck, then the second. "Rise and open your eyes once again."
As Ravin lifted his hand, a magic circle formed in the air—glowing faintly with shifting glyphs. The beetle twitched. Then, impossibly, both dead elves' eyes flickered open. Joints cracked, and bones groaned as they stood once again, not with life, but as chilling undead bodies with lifeless red eyes and blood trickling from their mouths, moving like a puppet-like purposed.
Zahir's eyes lit up. "Whoa! Zombie—no, no—zombie puppet elves! That's next level item!"
Sunil raised a brow. "Your teacher really made that thing?"
Ravin gave a rare smile. "Yep. It's a beetle that carries a zombie symbiote. It emits false life signatures, now it will help us to distract attention of the other elves."
Zahir lifted his sword onto his shoulder, pride evident in his step.
By looking at zahir , That sword made by me, so use it care fully said by Ravin , he continued his words voice even, "Control your emotions. The sword has only two magic energy , First light and second water elements. When the user's emotions change, the sword's power also shifts, from Light to Water or Water to Light, making its strikes sharper."
Zahir gave a cocky grin. "Emotions are my playground, brother."
Sunil turned toward the gate, now unguarded. "Enough talk. We've broken the threshold. Time to move."
Zahir laughed, eyes gleaming. "Now the real fun begins."
As the first and second elf zombie warriors saw Ravin's signal, they ran to attack the other elves in the village.
The undead bodies of the two elven warrior guards sprinted through the narrow earthen paths—their limbs stiff, their eyes lifeless. When the villager elves saw the two undead elves, they shouted loudly, "Zombie elves are attacked the normal elf villagers!"
The village emergency bell rang, echoing like a war cry through the forest canopy—a haunting rhythm of alarm. Within seconds, shadow elf warriors emerged from their homes and huts, spears drawn, bows at the ready, the runes on their skin glowing defensively. A storm was brewing within the heart of the woods.
Amid the swelling tension, three intruders moved silently.
Sunil crouched behind a thick tree, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, look at that… our distraction's doing wonders."
Zahir, slinking beside him, scanned the nearby huts as he watched the chaos unfold. "They're panicking. Classic undead zombie panic. Now's our chance—let's find what we came for."
Behind them, Ravin, ever calm and composed, adjusted the metallic bracelet on his wrist. "Okay, now we all have to act like professionals."
"Before we split," he said, his voice low but firm, "look at these bracelets on our wrists. Remember how they work?"
He tapped his bracelet, and a faint flicker of blue runes activated on all three of their arms.
"This isn't just decoration. It's magic item. It will help us communicate from a distance, like a phone. You speak, and I hear."
Zahir opened his mouth, clearly ready with one of his usual sarcastic remarks.
Ravin shot him a cold glance. "Don't interrupt. I'm not finished."
Zahir shut his mouth, grinning sheepishly.
Ravin continued, "The bracelet also scans magical items. When you touch something valuable—sacred, cursed, or enchanted—it will give you information about that item. Use it wisely."
As when the alarm bell rang with fierce urgency, its sound like thunder pounding through the canopy above, twisting through the village and the elves' panic spread around.
Inside the hut, the air suddenly felt heavier.
Centaur Beni stood just outside the doorway, his large frame silhouetted against the light and thinking what happening here suddenly , elf are here and there. His expression was unreadable.
He turn towards hut looking inside of the it.
Ketaki's keen eyes snapped to him. "Hey, Centaur," she said firmly, "please check the surrounding area of the village. Something's off."
The Centaur snorted, his lips curling into a familiar, half-crazed grin. "Heh. I knew it. Knew peace wouldn't last if we came here." Without another word, he moved to check the situation.
Mohit leaned closer to the open window, his brows furrowed. "That's the emergency bell, isn't it?"
"Yes," Ketaki replied, her voice calm but edged with tension. "It means there's an intruder or danger near the village borders."
Meera moved closer to Ketaki and asked, "Do you think it's something serious?"
Madhav, resting on the bed, said, "Hey, we can help you if it's something serious."
Ketaki shook her head slightly. "No, no... our elves warriors can handle it," she said, her silver hair catching a sliver of light. "I can feel it... in the roots, in the air. Something's wrong."
She stepped toward the door.
Mohit stood quickly. "Wait, are you going out?"
Ketaki looked back once, her eyes sharp. "Stay here. All of you will be safe here. If there's trouble, we need to know what it is."
Mohit then said, "We can help you and your people."
Ketaki replied, "No, we are elves. This is my village and my people. If difficulties arise, we need to find a solution together."
Madhav, after thinking for a little while, gave a small nod. "Okay, go. We'll be fine. Just be careful." After hearing Madhav's words, Ketaki moved out of the hut.
Sunil crept like a predator, his boots silent on the mossy ground. His eyes flicked from hut to tree branch, scanning for his target—Centaur Beni. He spoke to himself, "I'm seeing elves running here and there, clearly frightened, and also those plant monkeys, but not that Centaur."
Suddenly—
"Halt!"
Three shadow elf warriors emerged from the treeline like specters, their armor laced with leaves and bark, glowing tattoos pulsing along their arms. Their spears rose in unison, eyes burning with confusion that quickly twisted into hostility.
Sunil blinked. "Oops, hello," he muttered with a crooked grin. "Guess it's time for Zahir's plan... the loud one."
He ran a hand through his hair and straightened his shirt, like a performer before a stage.
One shadow elf warrior said, "Hey, unknown, please don't move. Surrender yourself."
Sunil replied cheerfully, "Okay, okay, no need to yell. Let's fight!"
The elf warriors charged without hesitation.
Sunil ducked a glowing arrow and rolled into cover behind a rock. From his magic skill storage space, he pulled out his compact crossbow, flicked the loading gear, and fired—twang!
The bolt whistled through the air, striking one elves leg. The warrior grunted as poison laced through his veins, staggering but not yet falling.
"Fast, huh? Let's try faster."
Sunil tossed a small silver ball high into the air. It clicked faintly—tick, tick, tick—before hitting the ground with a clink.
The elf warriors noticed too late.
BOOM!
A burst of magical flame exploded in a tight radius, sending one elf sprawling into a hut wall. The shockwave cracked branches overhead, and smoke flooded the battlefield.
One elf emerged through the smoke, a bow glowing with wind-magic in their hands, and loosed an arrow that curved like a falcon.
Sunil flipped sideways behind a tree, the arrow grazing his shirt. "Nice shot," he chuckled, reloading his crossbow. "But not enough."
He sprinted forward, dodging a thrown spear by elve warrior, then slid beneath an elf's swing. From his skill storage space, he drew a second item—a dagger that sparked with static energy—and slashed across an elf's side.
Another metal ball hit the ground—tick... tick... tick...
Sunil backed up, hands out. "You've got about three seconds to—"
BOOM !
The final elf fell, winded and bruised, as smoke curled skyward. All the elf warriors in front of Sunil were now down.
Sunil stood in the center of the chaos, brushing dust from his sleeves. "Not bad, huh?
Meanwhile, Through the rising smoke of the blast, the air thick with the scent of scorched earth, Centaur Beni galloped across the village grounds. His hooves thundered against the hardened dirt as he passed and seen some scattered groups of female elves shouting warnings to each other, warriors rushing toward the entrance gate, and frightened villagers murmuring in panic.
"Undead... two elves came to this village, killing others and destroying things..."
"The gate's under attack!"
"Where's the chief?!"
As the Centaur heard the booming blast, he ran towards that direction with the speed of a horse. As he reached at the place where blast happened.
Here, Centaur Beni's sharp eyes caught a flicker of motion through the rising smoke—an upright figure standing too calmly amidst the chaos.
He halted with a powerful stomp, nostrils flaring, muscles tense beneath his dark shirt. The wind shifted, clearing the veil of smoke.
There stood Sunil, grinning lazily as if he had just strolled into a party.
"Well, well," Sunil said with a smirk, resting his crossbow casually on one shoulder. "My luck's unbelievable. Found you before Zahir and Ravin could sniff you out. Guess I win this little race."
Centaur Beni narrowed his gaze, his voice like gravel. "Who are you? And why have you come to this shadow elf village?"
Sunil tilted his head, as if considering whether to tell the truth or spin a tale. "Hmm... sorry, I make it a rule not to give personal details to strangers—especially not to a half-horse and half-man creature."
Centaur Beni's hooves dug into the ground. "You're mocking me."
Sunil, a smile playing on his lips, raised both hands in mock surrender, his smirk unwavering. "Okay, okay. Don't stamp me out just yet. I'll be honest—just a little. I came here with my friends for something fun. A bit of excitement. You know… kidnapping."
Centaur Beni's entire body tensed.
"Kidnapping?" he growled.
Sunil's grin widened. "Yeah. That human who's traveling with you—he's our target."
The Centaur's eyes blazed with fury. "You dare walk into this village, and speak of stealing one of my companions as if it's a game?"
Sunil shrugged. "Not a game. More like… a mission. But I do like to keep things light."
He pointed his crossbow at the ground, not aiming—yet. "So what now, half horse body-man? You gonna fight me? Or do we talk like civilized creatures?"
Centaur Beni's response was a low, guttural snort. "There is nothing civilized in your intentions."
Sunil's grin widened as Centaur Beni braced his stance, dust swirling beneath his hooves.
"So you don't want to talk?" Sunil teased. "Alright. But one thing—aren't you curious why we want that human?"
Centaur Beni narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself, "By the way, I have three humans with me." He then said loudly, "Yeah, I want to know why."
Sunil chuckled. "Fine, fine. Two reasons. But here's the catch—I'll only tell you if you tell me where he is."
Centaur Beni's silence was thunderous.
Sunil's grin vanished. "Didn't think so."
Without another word, Sunil flicked his wrist, drawing his dagger in a flash of silver. The air seemed to tense as the first movement exploded into action.
Centaur Beni lunged with the force of a storm, his powerful arms slamming toward Sunil. But the human was fast—he ducked low, rolled, and fired a bolt from his crossbow mid-spin. It scraped across Centaur Beni's shoulder armor, deflecting with a sharp ting.
The Centaur drew back, reached for his longbow, and unleashed an arrow with enough force to snap a tree branch. Sunil flipped aside, the shaft narrowly missing his ear.
Sunil pulled out a small metal orb from his skill storage space and tossed it to the ground. Click. Click. Boom! The blast sent dirt and smoke into the air, obscuring Centaur Beni's vision. But the Centaur charged through it, unshaken. His powerful legs thundered, and his fists crashed down, forcing Sunil to dodge, block, and roll with relentless speed.
"Damn," Sunil muttered between breaths. "You hit and attack like a mountain."
"And you talk too much," Centaur Beni growled, grabbing a spear from the ground and launching it. Sunil barely ducked, the weapon slicing the air just above his head.
They clashed again—Sunil's dagger against Centaur Beni's brute strength, the forest echoing with every strike and shout. But as the fight wore on, Sunil's eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Time for something special."
With a swift motion, Sunil reached into his storage space—an invisible ripple shimmered as his hand disappeared momentarily. When it reappeared, he held a thick rope, an item that seemed to possess the fluid movement of a snake.
Centaur Beni narrowed his eyes. "What trick is this?"
Sunil smirked. "Something serpentine."
He hurled the rope through the air—it twisted mid-flight like a living creature. Before Centaur Beni could react, it coiled around his forelegs, then snapped upwards to bind his arms in one seamless strike. The rope constricted like a python, glowing faintly as it locked tight.
Centaur Beni stumbled, his weight crashing to the earth with a resounding thud, kicking up soil and grass.
Ah, a magical rope indeed," Sunil said smugly as he walked closer. "Specially woven to bind anything with a spine... or perhaps six limbs, in your interesting case."
Centaur Beni snarled, his powerful muscles straining against the enchanted bindings. Yet, with every desperate tug, the rope pulsed with an inner light, seemingly drinking in his strength.
Sunil crouched beside him. "Now, shall we talk again, or do you want to keep playing the strong , silent type?"
As Centaur Beni strained against the magical rope, his powerful hooves scarring the earth beneath him, a sudden pulse of light shimmered from Sunil's wrist, catching his attention. He glanced down, a frown creasing his brow.
The bracelet—a band of matte black metal that seemed to hold the faint glow of crystal within its veins—was flickering magical erratically.
"Huh? Now what's going on?" Sunil muttered, tapping the side of the bracelet with a finger.
The flickering stabilized, and a voice echoed out, low and tinged with static. "Sunil, I have their location," Ravin's calm, calculated voice stated. "I extracted this information... forcefully... from the black shadow elves' chief. The human we're looking for is inside a hut northeast of the village. Not alone, though—there are three individuals in total. You need to get there quickly before they're moved."
The signal clicked off.
A wicked amusement lit up Sunil's eyes. He turned back to the bound Centaur with a broad grin, theatrically brushing off his shirt. "Looks like it's my lucky day. Not so much yours, though."
Centaur Beni growled, his eyes burning with fury. "Release me from this! I promise you won't able to get anywhere ."
Sunil winked. "And why would I do that? Oh, but I already have what I came for, haven't I? So thanks for the warm-up, horse-man."
He gave a final, dismissive glance.
"Enjoythe dirt."