Horrific Shorts: Zombie Edition

In the heart of the ancient city of Valaris, the sun was setting, casting a blood-red hue across the battlefield. The clang of swords and the cries of fallen warriors filled the air, yet amidst the chaos, one figure stood unmoved—the Champion of Valaris, known as Thalon the Unyielding.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Clad in obsidian-black armor, inlaid with glowing veins of molten fire, Thalon's presence alone commanded fear. His helmet, sculpted like the face of an ancient god of war, bore no human expression, only the burning gaze of his fiery eyes.

The intricate designs on his shield and breastplate glowed like the embers of a forge, marking him as the last guardian of the city, a relic of the gods' forgotten favor.

The enemy was closing in, a vast horde of conquerors seeking to crush Valaris under their heel. They came with overwhelming numbers, their banners fluttering in the dying light, but none dared step too close to Thalon. His spear was legendary, forged in the depths of the earth by divine hands.

It gleamed with the same molten light as his armor, a weapon that had tasted the blood of a thousand foes and stood as a symbol of the city's unbroken spirit.

Thalon's breath was steady, though his body was weary from days of battle. The flames in his eyes flickered, not out of exhaustion, but as a warning. With every step he took forward, the ground seemed to rumble beneath his feet. The sky above darkened, as though the heavens themselves were mourning the fall of Valaris.

But Thalon had made a vow.

As long as he still stood, the city would not fall.

The first wave of enemies charged, their spears aimed for his heart, their shields raised in a futile attempt to defend against the unstoppable force before them. Thalon raised his own spear, and with a single thrust, the earth split beneath their feet. Flames erupted from the ground, swallowing the front lines of soldiers as though they were nothing but dry leaves in a wildfire.

Their screams echoed into the night, but Thalon did not flinch.

The second wave hesitated, fear creeping into their ranks. Thalon's eyes burned brighter, the molten glow pulsing through his armor as though it had a life of its own. He raised his shield, deflecting a hail of arrows that disintegrated the moment they touched its surface.

A lone warrior, braver—or perhaps more foolish—than the rest, charged forward with a war cry. Thalon met him head-on, their weapons clashing in a burst of sparks. But the warrior's blade, no matter how sharp, could not penetrate the god-forged armor. With one swift motion, Thalon disarmed his opponent and, with a sweep of his spear, sent him flying back into the ranks of his comrades.

The horde faltered. The battlefield was littered with the bodies of those who had tried and failed to breach the champion's defenses. But Thalon did not relent. He marched forward, an unstoppable force of fire and steel, driving the invaders back step by step.

But for all his power, Thalon knew the truth. He was but one man, one last ember of a dying flame. Valaris was burning, its walls crumbling under the relentless siege. The gods who had once blessed his people had long since abandoned them, leaving only the memory of their might in the form of Thalon's cursed, burning armor.

As the enemy regrouped for their final assault, Thalon raised his eyes to the heavens. The stars were obscured by the thick smoke of battle, but he could still feel their ancient gaze upon him. His grip tightened on his spear.

"If the gods will not protect Valaris," he murmured, his voice like the crackle of flames, "then I shall."

The ground beneath him began to tremble. A roar, deep and primal, echoed from the very heart of the earth. Thalon planted his spear into the ground, the molten glow in his armor intensifying until it became blinding. The air around him grew hot, and the invaders stepped back, shielding their eyes from the unbearable light.

In that moment, Thalon became one with the fire.

The battlefield erupted in flames. The earth split open in a fiery chasm, consuming everything in its path. The invaders' cries were drowned out by the roar of the inferno, as the molten core of Valaris rose to claim its due.

When the flames finally subsided, there was nothing left but ash. The invaders were gone, their army obliterated in the blaze. And at the center of the scorched battlefield, Thalon stood alone, his armor blackened and charred, the flames in his eyes dim but still burning.

Valaris had been saved, but at a cost. The city was a ruin, its people scattered. But the legend of Thalon the Unyielding would live on—a lone warrior who defied the gods, who became the fire, and who, in the end, saved his people by becoming their last, eternal flame.