Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece

The calm didn't last.

Barely five minutes had passed. Maybe not even that.

Then they heard it.

The ground rumbling again. A low, steady thump that grew louder with each passing second.

Kyle slowly turned his head toward the ridge.

And his stomach dropped.

Another wave of red-armored knights was cresting the hill. Even more than before. At least a dozen this time.

Their weapons gleamed under the pale dungeon light. Towering behind them were two heavy units.

Massive, armored figures that looked more like walking walls than men.

"Not again…" Kyle muttered, already bringing Zalrielle up.

The tachi's blade shimmered faintly, a cold, bluish light flickering along the edge.

Serena's glaive hummed softly with crackling purple energy.

Her fingers spun it once, and she dropped into her stance without a word.

She didn't look nervous. But there was a subtle twitch in her brow. A quiet tension behind her calm expression.

Cassian was breathing heavier now. He rolled his shoulders and forced fire to burn across his knuckles again, though it flickered unevenly.

"I don't think we can hold them all off," Cedric said. Stepping forward with both hands on his longsword.

"Not this many."

Kyle didn't answer right away.

He didn't have to.

They were tired.

Every one of them was carrying some kind of wound.

A cut. A bruise. Sore muscles, broken rhythm.

Even Eleanora wasn't untouched. There was a sharp tear across her left sleeve, and fresh blood stained her ribs.

She adjusted her grip on her estoc, silent.

But Kyle saw it.

Her hand was shaking. Just a little.

He felt the chill of mana building in his spine, preparing to fight again.

But before the red knights could reach them.

Clang!

A sharp. Blaring horn echoed through the battlefield. It didn't sound like the Red Legion's call.

From the left flank, black-armored warriors burst into view. A full squad, moving in formation.

Their armor was edged in silver and deep gray, and the sigil on their chest plates burned a faint violet-blue in the dim air.

"The Black Legion…?" Kyle whispered, blinking.

The clash was instant.

One of the Black Knights swung a massive axe, tearing straight through a red knight's guard.

Another drove a spear under a heavy unit's shoulder plate, pulling it out with a brutal twist.

The Black Knights were fast. Organized.

Efficient.

Kyle didn't hesitate.

He ran forward, Zalrielle glowing brighter now. Ice and lightning surging together.

He swung the blade sideways, catching a red knight in the midsection.

The frostbite spread instantly from the cut, locking the man's armor in place as he collapsed with a grunt.

Another knight tried to attack from the side. But Eleanora intercepted.

She moved fast. Her estoc slicing cleanly between the gaps in the armor. Her face remained cold, even as blood sprayed across her clothes.

"On your left!" Serena called out to Cassian, warning him.

Cassian pivoted and ducked. A blade narrowly missed his head.

He responded with a flaming punch to the enemy's knee, forcing them down, and a Black Knight finished the job with a heavy swing.

The ground became chaos.

Cries of pain.

Sparks flying.

Frost and lightning dancing through the smoke.

A red soldier lunged at Cedric, but this time, he didn't hesitate.

He parried cleanly and countered. Driving his sword through the man's chest. He exhaled sharply and turned to block another.

Serena fought in silence. Her eyes narrowed as she swept her glaive again.

Lightning snapping out with each swing. She cut down two enemies who tried to flank Cedric from behind.

She didn't say anything, just nodded once and moved to the next.

Kyle felt blood drip from his forearm. He'd been grazed again. He ignored it. Just kept moving.

Cassian took a nasty hit to the leg. He gritted his teeth and dropped to one knee.

Eleanora stumbled when a red knight rammed her shoulder. But she twisted and stabbed the man in the stomach before he could swing again.

Kyle looked around in a blur. Trying to take everything in.

Everyone was injured.

Everyone except…

Cedric.

He was bruised. Scratched maybe. But compared to the rest, he was nearly untouched.

He was moving cleaner now. No fear in his eyes. Just focus.

And finally—

Finally—

The tide broke.

The Red Legion began to fall back.

The heavy units staggered, bleeding from deep cracks in their armor.

The last of the red knights turned and fled back over the hill. Limping and leaving behind the wounded and the dead.

Silence slowly crept over the battlefield.

Bodies, red and black, were scattered everywhere. Smoke hung in the air like a thick mist. The heat of fire still lingered.

Blood soaked into the dirt in dark puddles.

Kyle leaned on Zalrielle, breathing hard. His chest ached. His arms were sore. But they were still standing.

Cassian sat on the ground, wiping sweat from his face. Grimacing as he touched his injured leg.

Eleanora was sitting beside him. She said nothing. But Kyle saw the faint wince she tried to hide.

Serena was off to the side, staring at her glaive. She slowly turned it over, checking the edge.

There were small chips now. Her hands trembled slightly, but her face remained cool and unreadable.

Kyle turned. Just as one of the Black Knights approached.

The man's armor was scratched and dented, but he stood tall.

He removed his helmet, revealing a broad face with short black hair and a long scar down his cheek.

"You five," the man said, voice deep but respectful. "You fought well."

Kyle blinked at him. "We didn't really have a choice."

The man chuckled. "Still. Not many mercenaries would jump into a losing fight without asking questions."

He looked around, at all of them. His gaze lingered on Serena, then Cedric, then back to Kyle.

"You held your ground," he said. "We owe you for that."

Cassian frowned, confused. "Mercenaries?"

The knight shrugged. "You are not soldiers. You're not Red. And you stood with us. That's all that matters out here."

Then he stepped back and added, "Our commander wants to meet you. He saw the fight. Said anyone reckless enough to survive that deserves a word."

Kyle looked around at his team. Tired. Bleeding. Still catching their breath.

But they were alive.

And for now. The battlefield was quiet.

"…Alright," Kyle said, finally. "Lead the way."

They followed.

Not because they trusted this place.

Not because they had answers.

But because in this cursed dungeon, one thing had become clear:

They didn't choose a side.

But a side had chosen them.

———