Hidden Pathways (BOOK 1)

Covert Expedition - Chapter 87

The three warships swiftly reached the shoreline, cutting through the waves with an urgency matched only by the determination etched on the faces of the warriors aboard. As the vessels grated against the sandy beach, a tide of warriors surged forth, their footfalls pounding the earth like a relentless drumbeat. They raced towards the looming figures of Gargeal and Eldritch, their hearts pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread, ready to lend their strength to the fray.

"Arrghhh!" The collective war cry reverberated through the air, a primal declaration of defiance as they closed in on Gargeal with relentless fervor.

Among them, some warriors bore the weight of past injustices inflicted by Gargeal and his ilk. Memories of Renaissance rebels crushed under his iron grip fueled their fury, cursing the tyrant for his sins.

"You'll pay for your crimes!"

"I'll end you!"

"Perish now!"

"I despise you!"

"You'll answer for what you've done to my kin!"

With a deep inhale, Gargeal braced himself against Eldritch's relentless assault, the clash of steel ringing out like a grim symphony. With calculated precision, he wielded his massive greatsword, its arc sweeping through the air with deadly intent. Yet, instead of dealing fatal blows, he struck with the flat of his blade, sending warriors crashing to the ground in a cacophony of groans and grunts, their bodies bruised but still breathing.

Stepping back momentarily, Eldritch surveyed the scene, a mix of frustration and disappointment etched across his features. The once-ferocious warriors now lay strewn upon the ground, their unconscious forms a testament to the futility of their efforts.

"Useless, useless, USELESS! DAMNATION!" Eldritch's voice echoed with bitter resentment, a stark contrast to the chaos that surrounded him.

Gargeal remained silent, his muscles tensing as he braced himself for Eldritch's impending onslaught.

"ARGHHH! Let's end this once and for all!" Eldritch's voice pierced the charged atmosphere, laced with a raw determination that echoed through the battlefield.

With a primal roar, Eldritch surged forward, his spear thrusts relentless and unforgiving. However, Gargeal's movements were a testament to his skill, each precise shift of his body and expert parry of his greatsword thwarting Eldritch's every attempt.

"Fuck! Fuck! FUCK! Damn you to hell!" Eldritch's frustration erupted in a torrent of curses, his voice strained with the effort of his futile assault.

"You're all consumed by your rage, trapped in its relentless grasp, unable to break free. It's a sorrowful sight," Gargeal's voice rang out, heavy with regret and empathy.

Eldritch's fury only intensified at Gargeal's words, his grip tightening on his spear as he pushed himself to strike faster and harder.

"Blinded? Blinded by what? By the very rage that you and your ilk ignited, plunging us into this senseless war! It's because of you... IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU THAT MY SIMPLE LIFE AS A WARRIOR IN THE KINGDOM OF AETHERIA WAS SHATTERED!" Eldritch's voice cracked with emotion, each word dripping with bitterness and sorrow as he unleashed a flurry of attacks.

In the midst of battle, Eldritch's mind flashed back to simpler times, memories of his wife at his side as she prepared breakfast, a stark contrast to the chaos that now engulfed him.

"ARGHHHHH!" The anguish in Eldritch's cry echoed across the battlefield, a visceral reminder of the pain that fueled his every strike.

In the heat of battle, Eldritch found himself swept up in a torrent of emotions, his heart pounding in rhythm with the frenzied pace of his spear thrusts. With each passing moment, his attacks grew faster, fueled by a potent mix of determination and raw emotion, causing Gargeal to tighten his grip on his greatsword, his stoic facade belying the subtle beads of sweat forming on his brow.

Then, in a sudden flash of insight, Eldritch unleashed a daring maneuver, a calculated risk that caught Gargeal off guard, eliciting a triumphant cry from the depths of Eldritch's soul.

"CAUGHT YOU!" Eldritch's voice rang out, a mixture of triumph and determination as his spear surged forward, aimed straight for Gargeal's chest.

But just as victory seemed within his grasp, a sudden blur of motion intercepted his spear, sending it spiraling away, shattering the momentum of their clash in an instant. Both combatants froze at the interruption, their attention drawn to a commanding voice that echoed across the battlefield, demanding their immediate attention.

"Eldritch. Gargeal. That's enough!" Zach's voice thundered, slicing through the tension like a blade, compelling them to halt their skirmish and stand frozen in place, their eyes locked on the source of the authoritative command.

Zach strode towards them with deliberate steps, a sense of dread crept over Eldritch, memories of past conflicts with Zach flooding his mind like a relentless tide.

"No... No, no, no, no, no. NO! NOT AGAIN!" Eldritch's cry of frustration pierced the air, a stark testament to the tumultuous history shared between him and Zach.

Zach closed the distance between them, his steps deliberate as he approached Eldritch with a solemn air.

"I never intended to end your life, nor do I or my crew harbor any desire for further bloodshed," Zach spoke, his gaze lowered in a gesture of humility.

Eldritch paused, the weight of Zach's words settling heavily upon him as he grappled with their significance.

"What?! What kind of deceit is this?" Eldritch's voice betrayed his confusion, his brows furrowing in disbelief.

"You heard correctly. The Renaissance faction seeks an end to the cycle of violence," Zach explained, his gaze remaining fixed on the ground.

"What?! After decades of warfare, you expect me to believe that mere words can absolve the destruction and suffering inflicted by you and your allies? Think, think, THINK! Are you even thinking straight?" Eldritch's frustration spilled out in a torrent of words, his anger palpable.

In the midst of his turmoil, memories of happier times with his wife flooded Eldritch's mind, a bittersweet reminder of what had been lost.

"And while I willingly defended the kingdom of Aetheria in times of war, understanding the duty of protecting the innocent, the moment you involved my wife, it ignited a fire within me! YOU MONSTER! Do you even comprehend the agony of losing a loved one, especially to senseless conflict that you perpetuated?" Eldritch's voice cracked with emotion, but before he could continue, he was abruptly cut off..

Eldritch, the depth of your pain is something I comprehend more than you may realize," Zach's voice, though gentle, carried a profound sorrow that echoed in the space between them.

Eldritch's gaze shifted, a glimmer of curiosity mingling with the surprise in his eyes.

"What do you mean by that? You, devoid of emotion? Engaging in such destruction and bloodshed, one might argue you're a monster!" Eldritch's tone, once filled with curiosity, now simmered with anger and uncertainty.

"I never desired this conflict, Eldritch. Truly, I never did. If only I could have glimpsed the future, seen the aftermath of our actions, perhaps then I would have hesitated to continue, or even started, this tragic path. Regret weighs heavily upon me. The cries and anguish of those we've harmed haunt me even now," Zach's voice quivered with emotion, his facade of composure crumbling beneath the weight of his remorse.

He pressed on, "But now, with clarity, I yearn for an end. To change. We yearn to change. I understand your rage, fueled by the memories of war. But now is the time for resolution. We must rise above."