Morning came with a thin mist veiling the fields as Arthur stood at
Valoria's vanguard. In the distance, he saw Solaris banners thickening behind
the walls of Draxenhold. Twelve thousand from Veritas and thirty thousand from
Ironvale had arrived the night before.
"They ran without rest," Arthur murmured. "And in just one day, they've
already reached Draxenhold."
Beside him, Lionel Drest, head of the Defense Council, let out a heavy
breath.
"Your Majesty, we number only seventeen thousand five hundred. Solaris inside
Draxenhold stands at fifty-seven thousand. We are outnumbered three to one.
What is your plan?"
Arthur turned, eyes cold, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Just wait. The surprise comes from within."
He closed his eyes, spreading qi into the air. The vibration brushed against
the city walls, shimmering like cracks forming in glass.
Yes… they have no idea.
Arthur pushed his qi further, reaching for the dual-layer runes that had
been slipped into the city yesterday: hidden in supply depots, armories, even
on ladders and shields deliberately left behind. The first layer gnawed at the
barrier's nodes, while the second waited as a trigger for explosions.
"Awaken."
The sky trembled. Solaris' barrier blazed, fissures of red light streaking
across it. A roar of qi filled the air like a thousand gongs struck at once.
Then, with a deafening crash, the barrier shattered.
"Arthur, you bastard!" Serath's curse echoed from within the city.
The second layer came alive. Explosions tore through Draxenhold. Supply
depots erupted, fire spearing into the sky. Armories went up in flames, weapons
raining down like steel storms. Ladders, shields, even sections of the walls
collapsed under successive blasts.
The devastation reached beyond the military. Civilian districts shook;
markets burned, windows shattered, homes cracked. Civilians screamed as chaos
swept through the streets. Many were injured, though miraculously, none were
killed.
Panic consumed Solaris. Of fifty-seven thousand soldiers, more than half
were obliterated in an instant. Streets turned into rivers of smoke and cries.
Lionel Drest glanced at Arthur, eyes wide.
"He… he actually did it."
Old mage Eldrin whispered, trembling, "This man… he's like a god casting
judgment."
Arthur drew both katanas—Valoria's Ancient Katana in his right hand, Fang of
the Earth in his left.
"Advance!"
Valoria's soldiers surged forward. Solaris' lines crumbled. Draxenhold's
streets fell into Valoria's hands.
But Serath did not retreat. With both blades drawn, hatred burned in his
eyes.
"Arthur! Today I end your deceit!"
Arthur stepped forward, qi wrapping around him, his twin blades vibrating
with restrained force.
The clash erupted. Serath lunged with Dual Sword Arts, his blades forming a
spiral of mana, unleashing a storm of radiant strikes. Arthur countered with
Dual Blade Dance, his katanas flowing with precision, parrying each blow and
returning strikes infused with qi.
Serath roared, unleashing Flame Rend, a wave of fire laced with mana rushing
straight ahead. Arthur leapt, cutting downward with Moon Splitter. His blade
carved the wave apart, splitting the ground beneath as if the earth itself
yielded.
Blow after blow thundered across the city. Cuts marked Arthur's arm, blood
streaked Serath's face. Yet qi coursed endlessly through Arthur, making him
lighter, sharper, deadlier.
Serath launched his final strike, blades piercing from both sides. Arthur
crossed his swords, deflected the assault, then unleashed Dragon Fang Strike.
Both katanas shone—Valoria's Ancient Katana stabbing forward, Fang of the Earth
slashing across—forming a qi-born dragon that engulfed Serath.
Serath staggered, chest armor torn apart, blood spraying. With his last
breath, he spat a curse.
"Arthur… damn you…"
His body collapsed lifeless onto Draxenhold's streets.
Cheers of Valoria thundered. Draxenhold had fallen.
That night, word spread across Etheria.
In Veritas, people poured into the streets, shouting in shock and awe.
"Arthur destroyed Draxenhold! Solaris' barrier is gone!" Senators trembled,
some with admiration, others with fear.
"If he can shatter Solaris, who can stop him?"
In Ironvale, Sunstones and Silverwood cheered, though unease lingered in
their voices.
"If Arthur could topple such a fortress, what happens if one day he turns his
gaze on us?"
In Solaris, grief tore through the capital as only fragments of their army
limped home. Children whispered Arthur's name in terror. Streets and markets
buzzed with a single story:
Arthur, the Barrier Breaker.
In Solaris' retreating camp, bonfires blazed but the command tent was
frigid. Emperor Lucian sat rigidly over his maps. Generals stood pale and
silent around him.
Footsteps rushed outside. A spy, caked in dirt and blood, stumbled in and
dropped to his knees.
"Your Majesty… Draxenhold… has fallen."
The tent froze.
The spy's voice shook.
"Serath… slain by Arthur. Explosions from within wiped out more than half our
forces. Of fifty-seven thousand, only six thousand escaped. Civilians were
wounded, half the city lies in ruin. Draxenhold… now belongs to Valoria."
The tent shook with fear. Some generals slammed tables, others lowered their
heads, but none dared meet Lucian's eyes.
Lucian rose, his steps heavy as he approached Varenius Drakemont.
"This… is your fault."
Drakemont flinched, trying to defend himself.
"Your Majesty, if you grant me time—we can still—"
His words ended with steel. Lucian's blade flashed, severing Drakemont's
head. Blood sprayed across the floor.
Generals froze, their faces ashen.
Lucian's voice thundered.
"Draxenhold has fallen. Withdraw all troops from the frontiers. We march for
the capital tonight. We must arrive by dawn!"
In Veritas, senators gathered at the watchtower, staring at the now-empty
border. Solaris banners were lowered, their lines retreating.
A young senator cried, "This is our chance! Strike them while they're weak!"
An elder shook his head, his voice trembling but firm.
"If we strike now, Arthur will see us as thieves of his victory. Let Solaris
retreat. The world already knows who rules the battlefield—and it is not us. We
must not become Valoria's enemy."
Debates raged, but at last Veritas agreed: let Solaris withdraw
unchallenged.
In Ironvale, King Barthol stood on the eastern wall, watching the dust of
Solaris troops vanish toward their capital.
"They run…" he muttered, then raised his sword high.
"Solaris truly runs!"
Cheers erupted from Ironstones and Silverwood. But after the celebration,
they too decided not to pursue, choosing instead to rebuild the strongholds
Solaris once claimed.
By morning, Lucian had returned to Solaris' capital. Seated upon his throne,
he received the grim report: from one hundred and twenty thousand soldiers,
only thirty-four thousand remained. His chest tightened, fury and despair
weighing heavy.
He summoned his Chief Diplomat, Cassian Verdan.
"Cassian, secure peace with Valoria. Five years. Whatever they demand, so long
as it is gold, give it."
Cassian bowed, then asked cautiously.
"Your Majesty… what if Arthur refuses to relinquish Draxenhold?"
Lucian closed his eyes, then opened them with bitter resolve.
"Let it go. If the city stays with them, we redraw our borders. No more wars.
For now, we rebuild our strength."
Cassian lowered his head, answering firmly.
"Yes, Your Majesty. It will be done."
Lucian turned toward the palace window. The Solaris sun still shone, but
dimmed—overshadowed by the name now echoing across the world:
Arthur, the Barrier Breaker.