Location - Shiu battlefield
A massive eagle soared through the sky, its sharp eyes scanning the carnage below. With a swift dive, it landed on the mutilated corpse of a fallen sorcerer. Its talons dug into the lifeless flesh, tearing off a chunk with its beak.
All around, the battlefield was littered with bodies. Sorcerers lay dead, their bodies torn apart, blood staining the ground. The air reeked of death and decay. More eagles descended, drawn to the feast, their wings flapping as they fought over the remains of the fallen.
Magic surged through the battlefield, explosions of energy colliding with steel and flesh. Sorcerers fought desperately, their bodies battered and broken, struggling to hold their ground. But the demon army was relentless.
They came from the shadows. They never stopped coming.
The sorcerers were outnumbered. Outmatched. The demons had the advantage, and they pressed it mercilessly.
Screams filled the air. Steel clashed. Blood splattered.
The battle was a massacre.
On the other side of the battlefield, Nirav, Wu Chan, and Firoaz stood, their bodies drenched in blood. Wounds covered them, blood dripped from their injuries, but they refused to fall.
Before them stood Mirauza and his Dark Legion.
The setting sun bathed the battlefield in a fiery mix of orange and red, casting long shadows behind them.
Nirav clenched his teeth, frustration boiling inside him. "Damn it... my healing is slowing down."
Wu Chan's grip tightened around his sword. "Same here... What about you, Firoaz?"
Firoaz exhaled sharply, anger flashing in his eyes. "I hate to admit it... but it's the same for me."
Nirav's voice tensed. "What do we do now?"
Wu Chan's breathing was heavy. "There's no other way... we have to fight."
Firoaz smirked, his bloodied fingers tightening around his hammer. "It's a Do or die situation, we have to do it."
Mirauza chuckled, his cold eyes gleaming with amusement. "How dramatic... I suggest you to say your last words now. Because in the end, all three of you will die."
Firoaz let out a low growl, his muscles tensing. "I'm not dying until I crush you."
Mirauza's laughter echoed across the battlefield. His eyes widened with excitement.
"Then try it."
With a roar, the Dark Legion charged forward.
Mirauza stood back, a twisted smile on his face, watching as his troops rushed toward the wounded trio.
Nirav, Wu Chan, and Firoaz tightened their grips on their weapons, preparing for the assault.
The moment the first enemy closed in, they struck.
Blades slashed, weapons clashed, and blood sprayed into the air.
The trio swung their weapons in wide, powerful arcs, cutting down the advancing troops. But the Dark Knights dodged effortlessly, moving with unnatural speed. Then, without hesitation, they retaliated.
A barrage of sword strikes came from every direction.
The trio blocked and countered, but the pressure was relentless.
Nirav found an opening.
"Power of Water-Aqua Crescent Strike!"
His blade glowed with deep blue energy, slashing in a wide horizontal arc. The powerful crescent slash tore through two Dark Knights, severing them in half.
But then-their bodies started merging back together.
Nirav's eyes widened. "What the hell?!"
Before he could react, a Dark Knight lunged from behind, sword descending fast.
Nirav barely dodged, twisting away. His voice tight with urgency, he shouted, "They're regenerating instantly!"
A Dark Knight lunged at him to strike again, and he barely blocked in time.
Wu Chan, locked in his own battle, responded between heavy breaths. "I figured that out already! They're equal strength compared to 1st grade sorcerers or even higher. In addition, their regeneration is insane!"
His eyes flashed.
"Power of Thunder-Dancing Thunder God!"
Wu Chan's sword crackled with lightning, moving like a blur. His thunder-infused slashes cut through multiple Dark Knights, slicing them apart.
But they regenerated instantly.
Wu Chan gritted his teeth in frustration. "This isn't working!"
Meanwhile, Firoaz unleashed his fury.
"RAAAAAH!!"
His massive hammer crashed into the ground, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Dark Knights were flung into the air, their armor shattering on impact.
But even after being thrown aside, they got back up.
They kept coming.
From every direction, more attacks rained down. The trio was barely keeping up.
Wu Chan's mind raced. They needed a bigger attack. Something overwhelming.
Then, an idea sparked for Wu Chan from sees Firoaz attacks.
"Nirav! Use your Water Dragon!"
Nirav, still fighting off the Dark Knights, nodded sharply. "On it!"
He raised his hands, his voice booming across the battlefield.
"Waves arise, deep and wide! Spirits of water-WATER DRAGON!"
A massive dragon of swirling water burst from the ground, crashing into the enemy ranks. The Dark Knights were thrown aside, momentarily slowed.
Wu Chan saw his chance.
"Might of Thunder, Crash of Lightning, Roar of Dragon-THUNDER DRAGON!"
From above, a colossal dragon of pure lightning descended, striking the battlefield with a deafening roar. The shockwave shattered the ground, sending electric currents rippling through the Dark Legion.
Firoaz grinned, lifting his hammer.
"Power of Strength-CONSECUTIVE HAMMER BLOW!"
His hammer struck the earth repeatedly, each blow sending powerful shockwaves through the battlefield.
The Dark Knights were torn apart by the relentless assault.
Wu Chan, his eyes filled with urgency, turned to his comrades. "Guys, I have a plan to defeat him."
Nirav, his expression hardening, snapped back, "Then tell us, what is it?"
Wu Chan exhaled sharply. "Nirav... Firoaz is our key to reaching Mirauza."
Firoaz blinked in confusion. "What? Me? But... how?"
Wu Chan's voice was firm. "Listen. Our weapons only cut through them, but they regenerate instantly. Your hammer, however, sends them flying-far away. If you keep smashing them out of the way, we can create a small path straight to Mirauza."
Nirav frowned. "Mr. Wu Chan... are you insane? There are hundreds of them! And they're strong as first-grade sorcerers. On top of that, our Aki levels have dropped significantly."
Wu Chan's gaze sharpened. "That's why we have to create an opening for Firoaz! We'll push our magical chant dragons to the limit and hold them back. If any Dark Knights get through, Firoaz will smash them away. That's our only shot."
Nirav clenched his fists. "But that will consume a massive amount of Aki! Even if we reach him, how do we break his Supreme Technique?"
Firoaz nodded. "Yeah, Mr. Wu Chan. Nirav is right."
Wu Chan's frustration exploded. "Then tell me a better plan!"
Silence.
Wu Chan's glare turned to Nirav. "Well?! Do you have a better idea?!"
Nirav's face darkened, his voice low. "No..."
Wu Chan's jaw tightened. "Then this is our only option! Firoaz, if we create the opening, can you reach him?"
Firoaz clenched his hammer. His eyes burned with determination. "I will."
They moved into formation, preparing for the charge.
But Firoaz hesitated for a moment. "Wu Chan... even if we undo his Supreme Technique... can we actually defeat him?"
Wu Chan's eyes remained locked on Mirauza. "I'm not sure... but Supreme Techniques are the ultimate arsenal. They consume a massive amount of Aki. If we force him to undo it, he'll lose a huge portion of his power. That's our best chance."
Firoaz exhaled sharply. "But... we don't even know how to cancel his technique."
Nirav smirked grimly. "Firoaz, every technique has a weakness. Even Supreme Techniques. We just have to reach him first. Once we do, we'll find his weakness and strike."
Firoaz's grip on his hammer tightened. His expression hardened. "I get it now. Let's do this."
Just then-BOOM!
The two magical chant dragons of Nirav and Wu Chan were destroyed, torn apart by the relentless Dark Knights. A monstrous wave of enemies charged toward them.
Wu Chan turned to Nirav. "Ready?!"
Nirav wiped the blood from his mouth. "Yeah."
Wu Chan began chanting, his voice thundering over the battlefield.
"Might of thunder, crash of lightning-"
Nirav followed, his tone unwavering.
"Waves arise, deep and wide-"
Wu Chan's eyes flashed.
"Roar of the dragon-THUNDER DRAGON!"
Nirav's voice boomed.
"Spirit of water-WATER DRAGON!"
A massive, crackling thunder dragon materialized in the sky, its body radiating raw electricity. At the same time, a colossal water dragon surged forward, roaring with immense force.
The Dark Legion charged at full speed.
Wu Chan and Nirav let out a battle cry. "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"
The Thunder Dragon crashed into the right flank, sending Dark Knights flying, while the Water Dragon slammed into the left, splattering water and forcing the knights back.
Firoaz charged.
His eyes were filled with fire.
Three Dark Knights appeared before him, swords raised.
One swung down-a killing blow-but Firoaz dodged to the side, spinning his hammer.
CRACK!
His hammer slammed into the knight's chest, launching him into the air.
The other two lunged.
Firoaz gritted his teeth, chanting. "Power of Strength-ROCK BREAKER BLOW!"
His hammer struck with devastating force, sending the two knights flying like ragdolls.
He turned to face Mirauza. The demon lord smiled coldly.
A fresh wave of Dark Knights surged toward Firoaz. Nirav and Wu Chan fought desperately to hold them back.
The Thunder Dragon roared, its electric body crackling fiercely, but the Dark Knights dodged every attack.
The Water Dragon crashed down, but they leaped over the waves, blasting it with beams of darkness.
Wu Chan gritted his teeth. "Nirav! Hold on a little longer!"
But the Dark Knights retaliated. They fired beams of dark energy, striking both dragons, weakening them.
Firoaz saw everything. His mind screamed one thing.
"I have to finish this NOW... or we lose!"
With a battle cry, he charged forward, swinging his hammer like a rampaging beast.
One knight-smashed into the sky.
Two knights-shattered into the distance.
He carved a path through the horde, his hammer sending everything flying.
And then-he reached Mirauza.
Firoaz grinned wildly, his body covered in wounds but his strength unshaken.
He leaped high, his hammer raised for a devastating strike.
Wu Chan and Nirav's eyes widened in exhilaration.
"GET HIM, FIROAZ!!" Wu Chan roared.
"SMASH THAT BASTARD!!" Nirav bellowed.
Then suddenly A cruel, cold smile played across Mirauza's lips as the battlefield lay in ruin. Dark pools of inky blackness spread across the ground, and from their depths, ten heavily armored knights emerged, towering behind massive iron shields.
Firoaz's hammer descended like a meteor, aimed to end it all-
CLANG!
The impact sent a thunderous shockwave across the battlefield, but the strike stopped mid-air, blocked effortlessly by the iron-walled defense of the Dark Knights.
Firoaz's eyes widened in disbelief.
Before he could react-
BANG!
The knights slammed their shields forward, sending Firoaz soaring through the air like a broken doll.
"NOOOOO!" Nirav roared, his voice filled with helpless rage.
Wu Chan gritted his teeth, his fists trembling. "How...? How in the hell is he still summoning troops?!"
As Firoaz hurtled through the sky, another dark pool gurgled open.
From its depths-five more knights emerged, cloaked in black armor, their bows drawn.
The battlefield fell silent.
Then-
TWANG!
Five arrows shot through the air, each infused with dark magic, their speed almost invisible to the naked eye.
Two arrows pierced through Firoaz's chest-
"GAH!"
His body crashed onto the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
Another arrow struck Nirav's stomach.
"ARGH!"
Two more arrows slammed into Wu Chan-one into his stomach, the other into his chest.
"GAH..ARGH.."
Their dragons, weakened and dying, vanished into the void.
The three warriors fell to the ground, coughing up blood. Their bodies trembled, their vision blurred. Pain racked their limbs, but they still struggled, forcing themselves to move.
Yet, they couldn't.
Their knees buckled, and they collapsed.
Blood dripped onto the scorched earth.
Above them, Mirauza threw his head back and laughed-a deep, menacing sound that echoed through the battlefield.
"I TOLD YOU!" he bellowed, his voice filled with cruel amusement. "I TOLD YOU FROM THE BEGINNING-YOU WILL NEVER DEFEAT ME!"
His laughter grew louder, more twisted, until his entire body shook with wicked delight.
Then, with a monstrous grin, he sneered, "Now... I'm going to rip your bodies apart and feed you to my demons!"
The Dark Knights advanced, their blades gleaming, ready to deliver the final blow.
Firoaz, his vision hazy, let out a weak breath. "So... this is the end... Is humanity really going to lose...?"
Nirav clenched his fists, frustration boiling in his veins. "Damn it... I hate to admit defeat..."
But Wu Chan, despite his pain, smiled.
"We may have lost this battle... but they can't win. Someone will stop him. Someone stronger."
The knights were nearly upon them.
Their blades rose high, ready to strike.
And then-
A shift in the air.
A pressure so immense it shook the battlefield.
Mirauza's smirk faded. His entire body froze.
His eyes darted upward.
Something was coming.
A golden light ignited in the sky.
A figure descended-illuminated by a radiant, blinding aura.
The light pulsated with power, so immense that even Mirauza-the mighty demon commander-felt the weight of its presence.
It was as if a second sun had appeared.
The warriors on the ground felt it too.
Firoaz, Nirav, and Wu Chan lifted their heads weakly, their blurred vision struggling to see through the golden glow.
Then he landed.
BOOM!
The earth shattered beneath his feet.
A storm of smoke and dust erupted, blinding everything.
The Dark Knights recoiled, stepping back instinctively as the force of the landing sent shockwaves across the battlefield.
Silence.
Then, the dust began to clear.
And they saw him.
A lone figure stood before them, his back facing the fallen warriors.
His entire body radiated a golden aura, flickering like flames.
His suit was black, sleek, yet regal, and upon his chest golden energy glowed like molten light.
Across his back, two katanas rested in an 'X' formation.
He wore a golden helmet, its visor shining with an almost divine brilliance.
He stood tall. Fearless. Absolute.
That is Azad.
Mirauza's eyes narrowed, his body tensing. This presence... this power... it was different.
For the first time, he felt something gnaw at him.
Not anger.
Not annoyance.
Something deeper.
A feeling he hadn't experienced in centuries.
Unease.
The battlefield that had once been Mirauza's playground was no longer his to control.
Wu Chan, his body weak and trembling, managed a soft chuckle.
The narrator's voice echoed:
"Finally, the protector has stepped onto the battlefield to defend humanity against the demons. The battle is far from over-but the tides are turning. In the next chapter, witness the true power of the one chosen to protect mankind."
Chapter 13 - TO BE CONTINUED....