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CHAPTER 26 Rage of Horizon and Emperor
The battlefield was painted crimson under a storm-dark sky. The ground trembled, cracked, and burned with the remnants of countless strikes. Two figures stood on opposite ends of the ruined valley—Vinicius Horizon in his newly awakened White Blaze Form, and the feared Kitaelin, whose aura flickered with the sharp and cold intensity of a predator who had forgotten mercy long ago.
Between them, another warrior struggled to rise—The Emperor, Kitaelin's former equal, his armor shattered, his blade chipped, yet his spirit refusing to fall. The wind carried sparks of fire, ashj, and the lingering echoes of rage.
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Vinicius' presence was overwhelming. His hair shone pale silver now, his eyes burning like molten white suns. A nine-tailed Kitsune silhouette stood behind him—flickering, holy, and terrifying.
The Emperor glanced at him, breathing hard.
"Vinicius… Horizon… This form… You've surpassed every known limit."
Vinicius spoke softly, yet every word struck like lightning,
"This battle ends here."
But Kitaelin only laughed.
His expression twisted into something between madness and pride, his aura transforming into his legendary Hwarang Kido Form. His body was wreathed in dark-red energy, like burning embers of a fallen star.
"Strong?" Kitaelin said, addressing Horizon with cold amusement.
"Yes, Horizon, you are strong… but not strong enough to defeat me."
He turned his piercing gaze to the Emperor.
"And you, Emperor… You are nothing but a fading stonee. To defeat you, I don't even need a form."
He raised his hand. Flame gathered.
"Fire Style: Blazing Wind of Fire!"
A surge of flame tore across the battlefield like a roaring dragon. The Emperor was thrown backward, engulfed, his scream echoing—half pain, half laughter.
"Ahhhhhhh—hahaha—!"
Smoke rose. His body fell limp.
One blow was enough to silence him.
Kitaelin exhaled slowly.
"One done. Unconscious…"
His eyes burned with merciless determination.
"But I am not here to leave them unconscious. I am here to end them."
Vinicius stepped forward, fury burning in his chest.
"White Shining—Kitsune Scratch!!"
The Kitsune spirit roared behind him. A blinding slash of pure white energy ripped through the battlefield, its brilliance tearing the air itself.
Kitaelin reacted instantly.
"Hmph. Shield Barrier!"
A golden barrier formed, absorbing the attack with a thunderous impact that shook mountains in the distance.
A figure appeared beside him—Dieago Lee, calm yet expressionless.
"Kitaelin," Dieago said, "let's go. Our mission is complete. There is no purpose left here."
Kitaenlin didn't turn. His eyes still locked on Horizon.
"Wait, Dieago. I haven't had fun yet. Let me enjoy this battle."
Dieago's voice remained steady, but a quiet pain existed beneath it.
"Because of that nature… you lost your friend."
The words struck harder than any blade. Kitaelin froze.
For a brief second—just one—his aura flickered. Not rage. Not pride.
But grief.
Kitaelin's voice lowered.
"…Don't remind me of him."
He clenched his fist, the battlefield air trembling as his aura surged again.
But after a moment, he sighed.
"Fine. Let's go."
As they turned to leave, footsteps echoed across the broken stone.
Gan-Yo approached, panic in his eyes.
"Kitaelin! Dieago! Where is my brother—Grace?! Tell me!"
Moments later, Grace arrived too—eyes full of desperation.
"You two… where is Gan? I am asking you!"
Kitaelin didn't even look at them.
"Stop doing cringe things. The battlefield is no place for emotional theatrics."
Dieago nodded.
"Yeah."
But inside, his thoughts whispered:
> Everyone sees Kitaelin as a villain…
But the truth is he's just a shattered soul.
His heart is full of wounds no one has ever seen.
The two figures walked away—two silhouettes vanishing into the smoke of destruction.
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Scene Shift
Far from the battlefield, dawn began to break. The sky glowed soft orange, as if the world itself needed to breathe after the chaos.
Zondra stood at the edge of a cliff, watching the horizon.
"Bachi… look. A beautiful sunrise."
The golden light gently touched the ruined world, as though promising that even after destruction, morning always comes.
But standing behind him, Aashin murmured:
"Total impact… has only just begun."
The wind carried their words into the silent air.
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To Be Continued…
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