The abandoned mall stood like a a Haunted house in the heart of Ariha, its shattered windows and the smoke that filled the air, a remaining evidence of the catastrophe. The atmosphere was filled with something far worse than blood, it was decay, the kind that didn’t come from the dead but from things that refused to die. Hadi sent Ali, Malik, and Laith to help. Three days ago, the Knights of Ariha received a call from a worker in the mall, saying that he saw a group of ghouls in a warehouse. Soon, the ghouls flooded the mall, and chaos erupted. The Knights of Ariha went there immediately but were unable to eliminate the ghouls. There were too many of them, and they couldn’t find out where they were coming from. Malik tightened his grip on his blade as he, Ali, and Laith approached the barricade where the Knights of Ariha had set up their command post. The leader, Hassan, turned to greet them, his face streaked with dirt and exhaustion. "Took you long enough," Hassan muttered, wi

The air was thick with the buzzing of wings and the hissing of serpents as Fahid, Mahmoud, and Ali stood back-to-back, surrounded by shifting, monstrous forms. The ghouls twisted into giant bees, scorpions, snakes, and snarling dogs, their eyes glowing with malevolence. Mahmoud tightened his grip on his emerald-green wooden sword, its surface shimmering with ancient energy. "They don’t give up, do they?" he muttered, eyeing a ghoul that had taken the form of a massive, venomous wasp. Ali spun his radiant blade, its golden light cutting through the unnatural darkness. "No, but neither do we," he replied, determination hardening his voice. Fahid smirked, electricity crackling along his azure sword. "Then let’s finish this." With a synchronized battle cry, the three warriors lunged forward. A ghoul in the shape of a monstrous bee dove at Ali, its stinger glistening with poison. He sidestepped, his light sword flashing in a swift arc, slicing the creature in half. It dissipated

Ali slumped on the couch, his brow furrowed as the familiar weight of frustration settled over him. The air in the house felt heavy, thick with unspoken tension. His father, arms crossed, stood in front of him. "It's been months, Ali. Months without a job! I paid for your courses, certificates, so much money! And for what?"Ali sighed, he's been hearing this everyday now, he was growing tired of hearing the same lecture. "I’m trying. It’s not my fault the country’s drowning in unemployment."His mother, stirring a pot in the kitchen, scoffed. " Your cousin Ahmad just finished medical school. he already has a job at the hospital."Ali’s patience snapped. "I don’t care about my cousin! Why can’t you be proud of me? I’m a knight! I protect people, I protect you from ghouls!" His mother slammed the spoon down. "Who said I wanted this? Fighting monsters? I never agreed to this nonsense!"Before the argument could escalate, the door burst open. Ali’s younger brothers, Sami and Sameer , c

Ali emerged from the dark tunnel, his clothes dusty and his breathing heavy, but relief washed over him as he stepped into the open air. His friends, who had been anxiously waiting, spotted him and immediately rushed forward. "There you are!" Fadi exclaimed, clapping him on the shoulder. "We were starting to worry." Karim crossed his arms, eyeing the box in Ali’s hands. "What’s that? Did you find something down there?" Ali glanced at the ornate box, his fingers tracing its intricate carvings. "I’m not sure yet," he admitted. Karim leaned in, curiosity lighting up his face. "Well, open it already!" With a deep breath, Ali lifted the lid. Inside lay an ancient scroll, its edges slightly frayed with age. Carefully, he unrolled the parchment, revealing strange symbols and markings. Fadi frowned. "What does it say? It looks like some kind of old language." Ali’s eyes scanned the text, and to his surprise, the words made sense. He began reading aloud, his voice steady despite