The Inner Odyssey

Alden tried not to dwell on the disturbing news.

He couldn't believe the Crimson Apostles had not been caught and tried for their heinous crimes yet. Perhaps they had a Skill or someone that helped them evade capture, such that they could hide in the shadows, lurking, waiting. But, it was still disconcerting that such a dangerous group were allowed to roam free in the Sanctuary, and essentially do as they pleased.

The Crimson Apostles were not the only hidden faction. In fact, there were plenty of rumours circulating of other strange sects, with equally questionable tastes and ideologies. However, Alden thought that the Crimson Apostles were special, in that they were very eerie and very prone to grotesque acts of violence.

Now, he had even more reason to be paranoid every time he stepped out.

'What a pain.'

He sighed.

Soon, the two-hour break came to an end.

Alden was glad - he did not have enough of an appetite to continue eating after finding out about the attack. Zaruk and the leader of the House Galeheart soon returned, as well, both wearing inscrutable expressions.

Doubtless, what they had seen was not pretty on the eyes.

His intense dislike of the former aside, Alden felt queasy just thinking about the scene of the large-scale murder. The young man's gut churned with repulsion. Thankfully, just then, the Guild Tournament started back up again, saving him from having to remain in this state.

With the preliminaries out of the way, it was time for the knockouts.

Hopefully, everything would proceed smoothly, and the finals of the Guild Tournament would take place without a hitch. Alden braced himself for a long afternoon of observation as the contestants battling in the first round slowly trickled out, ready to fight.

***

The first clash involved the Holy Knight Order.

They had won their last two remaining bouts after their intense draw against the Storm Sentinels to earn a place against the Night Ravens. Of course, everyone in the arena expected them to progress, but it should prove for an interesting bout.

The Holy Knights wore their signature stone-like armour flecked with golden runes that Alden now knew served the purpose of repair. The air around the Tournament favourites was calm, their postures tranquil and professional.

Opposite them, the Night Ravens stood.

They wore a dark unhooded mantle, but that wasn't what caught Alden's attention. Instead, it was their peculiar masks, strangely beak-like. The bill was large, strong, and curved.

It was as if they were ravens.

…Night Ravens, to be precise.

Entranced, Alden almost missed the horn which signified the beginning of the clash.

The Night Ravens struck first.

Immediately, their figures rippled and shook, as if something was quaking in the centre of their being. A moment later, their frames burst into a flock of raven-black crows, each with razor sharp talons and terribly dark, abyss-like eyes.

The shower of ravens cawed and flapped their wings, a cacophony akin to the rustle of countless leaves washing over the Holy Knights.

As a result, the stone-like warriors seemed to enter a daze.

By the time they regained their wits, it was already too late.

The mass of ravens descended on the Holy Knights in a display of harrowing, gruesome glory. They scratched at the armour with their talons and pecked at the slits of the vizor with their curved beaks. The Night Ravens did not show any mercy.

They mauled and clawed at the Holy Knight's armour.

Metal rent and groaned, its dying screech sending shivers down Alden's spine.

However, the Holy Knights did not give up.

Runes flared, bathing the flock of crows in a golden light.

It was as if the ravens were Defiled, and the holy light was purifying them from their corruption.

At the same time, the figures of the Holy Knights shone with a light green hue. Wind energy poured out from them in vast torrents, slicing, shredding, lacerating any crow that dared draw near.

The lacerated ravens burst apart, exploding in a spray of shadows.

Which was interesting…

Just then, Alden saw the Night Ravens summon even more crows from the remnants of their fallen, shadowy brethren.

Now, a veritable flood of lethal, sharp-edged ravens swarmed the Holy Knights.

It was terrifying.

Once again, the Holy Knights found their endurance tested.

And once again, they displayed why they were the top-ranked Guild.

Their figures glowed with more wind energy, and the armour-repairing runes shone brighter, as well.

That was not all.

Suddenly, each Holy Knight swung their weapons - imbued with green wind energy - in wide arcs, clearing a small swath of their immediate vicinity. At the same time, they used their bodies to create large, twisting vortexes.

The ravens could not resist the suction force, and found themselves absorbed into the whirlwind.

Immediately after, green wind energy shredded their frames.

The ravens swiftly returned to the embrace of shadow.

Unwilling to waste the chance, the Holy Knights stepped forward, and suddenly, the three vortexes combined to form a devastating hurricane.

Wind screamed and keened, as if displeased.

…And the object of its displeasure could do nothing but dissolve into wisps of shadow.

The flock of ravens struggled against the hurricane, trying to avoid its path. However, the murderous cyclone was too fast, ravaging through their ranks with the domineering might only the wind possessed.

The hurricane continued to tear through the swarm of crows, shredding and mutilating them, until it cut the swarm in two, and dissipated on the other side.

It had done its job.

Now, the number of ravens had thinned considerably. Large gaps appeared in their flock.

And to top it all off, it seemed the Night Ravens couldn't replenish all the shadowy crows they had lost - only a few seemed to return. Suddenly, the ravens glowed with a glossy, jet-black hue.

It was as if they had been imbued with more mana.

In the next moment, the creatures were upon the Holy Knights.

Abruptly, a raven exploded.

…Out of its own volition.

This then led to a chain reaction.

Alden's good eye gleamed.

And before the Holy Knights knew it, they were at the very centre of a large, very careless swarm of self-exploding crows.

Their stalwart figures drowning in the chaos.