Then new enemies appeared.

Crimson Night Terrors appeared from the forest depths, similar to their black counterparts but fundamentally different.

Power radiated from them in waves that pressed against spiritual armor, an aura equivalent to Second Class Beast Masters.

Each one represented a threat that would require multiple fighters to handle safely.

Six of them rushed forward simultaneously, targeting the group with tactical precision.

"Joseph, Marie, Honor with me!" Dune commanded, his great sword already moving to intercept the first Crimson Terror. "The rest handle the others!"

The formation split smoothly.

Joseph lance blasted forward, rushing through the air as it pierced into a Crimson Terror mid-charge. The lance sank deep into its body before the wind burst from the lance, leading to blades of wind bursting from the Crimson Terror. The creature shrieked so loudly that it made his skull ache and mind shake, but he didn't relent.

Marie raised Longinus, the crimson-gold spear blazing with light. She thrust forward, activating Purging Lance. A pillar of golden-white light erupted from the spear's tip, striking a second Crimson Terror directly.

The concentrated power bore through the creature's form, leaving a hole that glowed with residual energy. The Terror tried reforming, but the light prevented regeneration, leading it to dissolve.

Honor's wings of twilight spread wider, constellations glowing within their semi-transparent forms. He waved his banner, and Cessation Orbs appeared before rushing toward a third Crimson Terror.

The orbs swirled around the creature, pulling at its body, and the body began breaking down. The Terror resisted its magic against the deterioration, but the orbs were relentless until finally the Crimson Terror broke down.

Dune engaged two Crimson Terrors simultaneously. His great sword moved in patterns too fast to follow clearly, each swing producing shockwaves that forced the creatures to dodge or be obliterated.

They tried shifting to the side, but Dune had fought for decades, his experience already having him moving before them, and never allowing one to reach his blind spot.

Behind them, Reinhard led the defense against root-humanoids and Phantasm Beasts. His Zenuken carved through constructs while Veryn's light beams punched holes through clusters, attempting to overwhelm them. Janus's roots wrapped around enemies, binding them long enough for Casseo's sword to finish them.

One Crimson Terror broke away from Dune's engagement, rushing toward the rear group.

Honor intercepted, his banner sweeping across its path. The torn flag struck the creature, black aura spreading on contact. The Terror's form began deteriorating, but it pushed through the effect with raw power, accepting the damage to reach its target.

Marie spun, Longinus already moving as she pierced out, the spear's tip caught the Terror's torso.

Then she tapped into more of her Beast Spirit, bringing forth another piece into reality. The two spectral wings swirling around her transformed into blade-like weapons that struck from impossible angles.

The Edge Blades ignored the Terror's defensive, cutting directly into its essence. The creature shrieked, stumbling as mental and physical pain overwhelmed its ability to coordinate.

Marie then blasted out with a fist that blasted into the Crimson Terror's face. And then a light shone before her purging lance blasted through the creature, exploding it into fragments.

The sixth Crimson Terror face began peeling back layers to reveal something that suggested a mouth, but wasn't quite. "Your actions are meaningless." It spoke while dodging Dune's sword strikes. "The people you sacrificed yourselves for have forgotten the good you did. All they recall is that you failed to stop the roots from invading their homes, capturing their loved ones, and dragging them away into the forest."

Dune's sword swept through the space where the Crimson Terror had been a moment before. The creature dodged with the roots pulling it away while it continued questioning Dune.

"All of them cursed your names. All of them wished you would suffer. All of them wished you didn't exist."

Dune laughed with no anger or pain despite the accusations. His great sword continued moving in devastating arcs, each swing forcing the Crimson Terror to retreat or be destroyed.

The Crimson Terror circled, seeking an opening. Two more Crimson Terrors appeared from the trees, joining the engagement. They attacked, one high, one low, one from the side, but Joseph intercepted the high attack, lance catching the creature mid-leap.

The speaking Terror continued. "While those in the current generation don't even remember you. To them, you're all just failures, nothing more."

Marie's spear thrust through the low attacker, light blazing from the impact point. Honor's banner swept through the flanking assault, black aura causing deterioration.

"So what if people forget the good we did and only remember our failures?" Dune's voice carried across the battlefield. "We are Forerunners!"

His great sword swept in a full circle, shockwave expanding outward to catch all approaching enemies. "We continue pushing forth simply because we hope people will see our failures and overcome them!"

Dune's spectral form burst with increased intensity, golden light blazing brighter until it was painful to look at directly. The shockwaves from his strikes grew wider, reaching farther, striking harder, while his movements sped up.

"The good we do isn't for people to remember but for us to take pride in as we meet our end!" Each word was punctuated by devastating strikes that obliterated everything within range. "And what do you mean our age is over? Our Golden Age will never be over as long as the Forerunners people continue existing!"

Root-humanoids rushed forward in a desperate wave, trying to overwhelm through sheer numbers. Dune's fist clenched and smashed downward, then another golden veil erupted, spreading outward to catch the entire assault.

Constructs blasted into fragments, unable to withstand the terrifying power.

"As long as they continue struggling to live for one more day! Relying on each other to create a place they can call home!" His great sword carved through two more Crimson Terrors attempting to flank, the shockwaves from both strikes merging into a larger wave that cleared the entire left side of the battlefield.

"You may have toppled us and destroyed us, but the Forerunners Kingdom still remains standing and strong! Sure, we may have been suppressed, but our failures have inspired new people to take up our burdens and push forth to accomplish what we couldn't!"

The speaking Crimson Terror tried retreating, recognizing the danger too late. Dune moved with speed that contradicted his spectral nature, closing the distance in a single leap.

His great sword raised overhead, both hands gripping the handle, power gathering along the blade until it shined like the sun.

"So long as we have people willing to continue moving! Whether it be in the past, present, or distant future! The Forerunners' Golden Age will never die!"

The sword came down in a devastating vertical slash.

"It will only continue growing, shining brighter, and overcome all obstacles that wish to end it!"

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