Full Chapter – The Duel That Shook the Pass
Location: Blood Sigil Forest Pass – Nightfall.
The mercenaries lie scattered, broken or frozen. The air smells like scorched leaves and ionized magic. But the battlefield isn't still. Because in its heart—two powers clash, and only one can remain standing.
The Flames that Shouldn't Exist
Max and the Commander moved like forces of nature—no hesitation, no wasted motion.
She surged forward, red flames spiraling from her gauntlets, heat rippling the air.
Max dodged, barely — shadows folding around him like a cloak — but the tips of her flames still seared his arm, sending a jolt of pain up to his shoulder.
She grinned beneath her helm.
"You burn. So much for darkness being immune."
"Shadows don't die," Max said quietly. "They just learn to hide deeper."
He vanished.
Literally.
Into the Black
The Commander spun, but the shadows devoured her surroundings — everything became dim, the trees warped, and light faded like ink dropped into water.
"Illusions?" she growled.
Max's voice came from everywhere.
"No. This is me."
She slashed her blade in a wide arc, summoning a wall of explosive fire — and it cleared the area in a burst of ash and flame.
Max reappeared behind her midair, one leg sweeping toward her head—
She caught it.
And hurled him into the ground so hard it cracked the earth.
"You're strong," she said. "But you're still a boy playing soldier."
Max staggered up, blood dripping from his lip.
Then smiled.
"That's funny. Because I was about to say the same thing."
Shadowborn Surge
His aura exploded.
It wasn't pure darkness anymore — not cold and empty.
It pulsed with violet veins of living force, flickering like dying stars in a collapsing void.
He raised both hands — and dozens of shadowspears rose from the ground like ghost soldiers, pointed directly at her.
She roared — her own core flaring to full.
They collided.
Shadow spears vs inferno blades.
Smokestrikes vs fire barrages.
The ground cracked. Trees fell. The sky itself seemed to dim.
Max fought harder than ever before — but not just for survival.
For his siblings.
For his past.
For the part of him that wanted to believe he was more than the monster in the dark.
Just When It's Almost Over…
She caught him in a brutal flame hook across the ribs — Max collapsed, panting.
She stood over him, raising her sword for the final blow.
"Your core's impressive. Shame your spine isn't."
A blast of royal energy interrupted her.
She staggered back, barely shielding in time.
Seris stood behind her brother, hands glowing with unstable magic, eyes blazing.
"Touch him again," she hissed, "and I'll crown you ashes."
Rael was beside her, crossbow drawn. "You had your chance."
"You—?" the commander blinked. "You still had fight?"
Tristan's ice blade returned, sliding against her boot. "They're Velthar royalty. Not paperweights."
Hadi and Tristan Tag In
Hadi recharged with a deep breath and burst forward, tackling the commander to the ground with a plasma slam that cracked the stone.
Tristan froze her legs midroll.
Max raised one hand from where he knelt, and the commander's shadow rose behind her — binding her in place.
"You've lost," Max said quietly.
"Maybe. But next time…"
She vanished in a spark — an emergency blink scroll, a failsafe used only by Peak Ember elite.
Gone.
Victory… For Now
The siblings collapsed beside each other, panting, bruised, bleeding.
Max lay still for a while.
"She was fast."
"You were faster," Hadi said, grinning despite a black eye.
Seris knelt beside Max, dabbing at his wound.
"You saved me again."
"I'd do it again," Max said quietly, then glanced at Tristan. "But next time you flirt with danger, remind it I'm not as nice as you."
Tristan smiled. "I'll make sure it fills out a form."