The castle courtyard had turned into a sea of fire, smoke, and blood. The broken walls still smoldered from magic blasts. The iron scent of blood mingled with the stench of charred flesh. Soldiers of Valoria screamed—some collapsing, others lifting their blades with grim determination.
For a brief moment, cheers rose when the last undead crumbled. But those voices died away as black mist returned, curling up from the ground. From within it emerged the Elders of the Demonic Cult, their faces twisted in fury and vengeance.
Lionel Drest, Head of the Defense Council, stepped forward. His spear glimmered with golden qi. His eyes locked onto Kaelgor, a giant etched with runes, his body twice the size of any man. The crimson axe in his hands swung down once, and the earth split open. Stones shattered, and soldiers were flung like dolls—two hit the ground with broken bones, never rising again.
Lionel dug his spear into the ground, holding the force at bay. Blood dripped from the corner of his lips, but he stood firm. "If I fall, Valoria falls with me! Tighten the lines!"
Kaelgor laughed, his voice booming like thunder. "Tiny man, I'll crush you into dust!"
The giant charged, axe whirling toward Lionel's skull. Lionel pivoted, his spear catching the blow. The impact cracked the ground beneath his boots. "Huff… you're not the first giant I've faced."
With a roar, Lionel funneled qi into his weapon. Dragon Spear Thrust shot forward, piercing Kaelgor's shoulder. Black blood sprayed. Spearmen jabbed at the giant's legs, forcing him to stumble, yet Kaelgor swung wildly, cleaving three soldiers apart in one sweep. Two never rose again.
Lionel's face twisted with rage. "You won't die in vain!" Leaping high, his golden spear plunged into the giant's skull. Kaelgor's roar ended in silence as his massive body toppled, shaking the ground. Soldiers cheered, though many wept, their victory mingled with grief.
Not far away, Erlic faced Myrrha, mistress of illusions. The yard filled with dozens of her copies. Soldiers stabbed at shadows, slashing their own allies. One cried out, horrified, blood from his friend staining his hands.
Erlic slammed his staff into the ground. A shield of blue light spread out. "Don't trust your eyes! Trust my voice and follow orders!"
Myrrha laughed, her voice echoing from every corner. "Your eyes are my blades. I need no sword when you kill each other."
Erlic closed his eyes, listening intently. "To the right!" Soldiers thrust in unison, breaking through an illusion. A shadow shrieked before shattering.
Myrrha lunged, her black dagger aimed at Erlic's chest. His barrier caught the blow, his arms trembling from the force. "Your illusions are nothing but tricks!"
He unleashed Arcane Surge. The blast hurled Myrrha backward, blood spilling from her lips. "My illusions… can't be broken…" she whispered before collapsing, her mirages vanishing like smoke in the wind.
In the center, Archmage Arion clashed with Varreck, an old necromancer wielding a bone staff. "Rise, traitorous bones!" he roared. Hundreds of skeletons clawed up from the earth, eyes glowing red.
Arion's eyes narrowed. "If you summon bones, then I'll summon stars. Meteor Flare!"
The sky turned red, raining fireballs that shattered skeletons into ash. The stench of burning bone filled the air. Varreck only laughed, black blood streaming from his eyes. "Your magic is mighty, but how long can you endure?"
With a gesture, he conjured Bone Prison. Jagged ribs of bone erupted, locking Arion in place.
"Now die with me!" Varreck bellowed.
Arion closed his eyes, calm. "Arcane Barrier." A shockwave burst forth, shattering the bone cage. He raised his staff, summoning one final meteor. The blazing sphere plummeted, engulfing Varreck. The necromancer shrieked as his body and staff disintegrated in fire.
"The stars shine brighter than bones," Arion muttered, standing tall despite trembling from exhaustion.
On the flank, Sir Alaric Stormvale led shield-bearers against Drosk, the shadow assassin. Chains of darkness whipped out, tangling soldiers' legs. "Shields up! Hold formation!" Alaric roared.
The phalanx locked shields tight. Alaric's blade cleaved through a chain with Iron Breaker Slash, sparks flying. Drosk materialized, daggers lunging for Alaric's throat.
With a sudden throw, Alaric hurled his shield into the assassin's face. "Now!"
Dozens of spears lunged forward. Drosk screamed as his body was skewered, dissolving into smoke. Relief swept the ranks, though one squad collapsed, wounds festering from the cursed chains.
Only Sylas remained, a warlock of curses. His hands rose, waves of black magic spilling out. Soldiers collapsed, blood seeping from their ears, eyes lifeless. Sylas sneered. "Your mana dwindles. I can wait until you all crumble."
Lionel advanced, his spear stained with Kaelgor's blood. "You're wrong. We are not alone."
Erlic stood beside him, staff glowing. "Your curse is nothing but a shadow with a name."
Sylas faltered, his expression tense. "Agramon will avenge us—"
"No more for you," Lionel cut him short. His spear pierced Sylas to the ground. At the same time, Erlic's Arcane Surge exploded, reducing the warlock to ash.
Cheers erupted. The Elders were no more. Soldiers raised their weapons high, their cries breaking through the mist.
But the battle was not over. From the ruins of the castle, Agramon emerged. His black staff struck the ground, runes spreading like a net. Darkness rose, swallowing the light.
Arthur stepped forward, twin katanas gleaming. "Now it's your turn."
Agramon smiled coldly. "So you finally step from behind your army. Let's see if your light can consume the night."
Runes flared. Spears of shadow shot toward Arthur. His blades spun in Dual Blade Dance, slicing through a dozen at once. The shockwave shook the earth, soldiers staggering back.
Arthur's qi surged into his legs, invoking Gale Step enhanced by the Heavenly Valoria Technique. His body blurred into a streak of light, his slash cutting Agramon's cloak—yet the black barrier held.
"Light cannot pierce darkness," Agramon muttered.
Arthur's breath quickened. "And darkness cannot last forever." His twin blades crossed, sending golden arcs into the barrier, carving hairline cracks.
Agramon howled. "You think cracks matter? Behold!" Shadows swarmed, forming dozens of hands clutching at Arthur.
Arthur's body ignited in radiant qi. "Dual Blade Dance—Overdrive!" His blades spun, shredding the phantom hands. The severed shadows evaporated in light.
Agramon staggered, his face pale. "The mana… the stones are fading…"
Arthur saw his chance. His right blade blazed with Dragon's Breath, compressed into a volatile sphere. "Dragon Burst!"
The explosion hammered Agramon's barrier. Cracks spiderwebbed. Arthur surged forward with Gale Step, driving his left blade into the breach.
"VALORIA—WILL—NEVER—BOW!" he roared.
The barrier shattered, runes bursting apart. Arthur's blade pierced Agramon's chest. The cult leader coughed black blood, glaring with hatred. "This… isn't… over…"
Arthur tore his blade free, striking again. Agramon's body split in two, dissolving into ash.
Silence. Every soldier froze, staring at the fallen tyrant. Arthur stood amid smoke and dust, raising his twin blades high.
"VALORIA IS FREE FROM HERESY!"
The army roared in unison. "VALORIA! VALORIA! VALORIA!" Their chants thundered against the broken walls.
Arthur lowered his swords, collapsing to one knee, breath ragged. Noblemen rushed to him. Lionel bowed low. "Your Majesty… you did it."
Erlic added softly, "This victory is yours. But… are you well?"
Arthur gave a faint smile. "I'm alive. That's enough."
He looked around, voice steady. "Listen well. Split the forces. One group searches for Hadrix—he's surely still captive. The other tends to our dead and wounded. Record every loss. We must know what strength remains."
Commanders obeyed instantly. Lionel led healers to the injured. Alaric rallied the shield-bearers to comb the inner keep. Arion and Erlic began weaving detection spells.
Moments later, the search party advanced. Rubble was cleared, broken beams pushed aside. Others scouted dark corridors and collapsed barracks.
A young soldier strayed farther along the cliff. His torchlight revealed a narrow cave mouth, mist curling at its edge. The air reeked of blood and rot. Heart pounding, he stepped inside.
The light revealed gaunt figures shackled to the walls. Hollow eyes stared back, some barely breathing, others lifeless.
The soldier stumbled back, chest heaving. He bolted out, shouting. "Commander! Quickly—you must see this!"
A captain and several men rushed in. Their torches cast light over the chamber. Dozens—perhaps hundreds—were chained inside. The stench of filth and death hung heavy.
"My gods… what have they done…" one whispered, voice breaking.
The captain's jaw clenched. His fists shook. "Send word to His Majesty Arthur. Tell him… we've found the captives."
The cave fell silent save for the ragged breaths of the broken souls chained within.