chapter 26
A figure stood behind the fallen captain.
For a brief moment, there was no sound except distant footsteps and the faint echo of clashing steel further down the passage.
Then—
A blade moved.
Clean. Precise.
It cut through the air so smoothly it almost didn't feel real.
The captain's body froze mid-motion.
His eyes widened—not in pain at first, but in disbelief, as if his mind needed a moment to accept what had just happened.
A thin line of red appeared across his neck.
A second passed.
Then—
His knees gave out.
Thud.
His body hit the stone floor heavily, the sound echoing through the narrow underground corridor like a final verdict.
Silence followed instantly.
Even the distant battle seemed to hesitate for a breath.
Then the figure stepped forward from the shadow.
Red hair, slightly messy.
Casual stance, like he had just finished something mildly inconvenient rather than lethal.
A blade still raised loosely in his hand.
Chris.
He tilted his head slightly, looking at the body with mild curiosity.
Chris: "Huh… that actually worked?"
He blinked once.
Then added, almost thoughtfully:
Chris: "I was aiming for his shoulder though…"
A short pause.
Then a grin slowly formed.
Chris: "Well… close enough!"
---
John's Reaction
John's gaze shifted slowly toward him.
Not fast.
Not emotional.
Controlled.
Measured.
Cold.
John: "…Who are you?"
Chris blinked, as if only now remembering introductions were a thing.
Chris: "Huh? Me?"
He pointed at himself casually.
Chris: "I'm your new ally—"
John: "What?"
The single word cut sharper than steel.
Before anything else could be said—
Shouts erupted deeper inside the passage.
"Captain's down!"
"Don't let them escape!"
The sound of boots multiplied rapidly.
Stonehaven reinforcements were coming.
Fast.
Too fast.
But before they could properly organize—
Another presence stepped forward.
Marco arrived.
His footsteps were steady, even amidst chaos.
His face showed exhaustion—but his eyes were fully sharp.
Focused.
Controlled.
Marco: "John. Left flank."
John turned slightly, surprised.
John: "Commander?"
A brief pause passed between them.
Not emotional.
Not long.
But meaningful.
John: "You're here… you're alright."
Marco gave a small nod.
Marco: "Barely. But yes."
Then his eyes moved to Chris.
He studied him for half a second.
Just one.
Then exhaled faintly.
Marco: "Meet our new variable… Chris."
Chris lifted a hand casually.
Chris: "Hey."
Marco didn't react much.
Marco: "No introductions now. We move."
John immediately straightened.
John: "Understood."
---
Underground Battle – Escalation
Steel erupted again.
A soldier rushed forward from the darkness—
John moved instantly.
Blocked.
Redirected.
A clean strike ended it before the enemy could fully register the mistake.
Another came from the side—
John didn't even look fully.
He stepped in, adjusted his stance, and ended the attack in one motion.
No hesitation.
No wasted movement.
On the other side, Marco fought differently.
He wasn't chasing kills.
He was breaking structure.
Forcing gaps.
Destroying coordination.
Marco: "Don't let them regroup!"
His voice echoed through the tunnel.
Soldiers tried to form lines—but the narrow passage worked against them.
And against their enemies.
Chris, meanwhile, paused for half a second—watching.
Then his eyes lit up.
Chris: "Ohh… there's more!"
He charged in laughing.
Chris: "You guys are really persistent!"
A guard swung his blade—
Chris blocked it casually, shoved him back into the wall.
Chris: "Annoying!"
His expression shifted for a brief moment—something sharper underneath the playfulness.
Then he moved again.
Fast.
Unpredictable.
A kick sent one soldier flying.
A spinning strike dropped another.
Chris (laughing mid-fight): "This is actually fun!"
The passage filled again with chaos.
Steel. Sparks. Footsteps. Breath.
And then—
Silence returned.
Bodies lay scattered across the stone floor.
Only the three of them remained standing.
Chris exhaled slowly.
Chris: "Okay… that was better."
John glanced at him briefly.
John: "Your skills are good."
Chris immediately lit up again.
Chris: "Right?! I know, I know. I'm kind of amazing."
John didn't respond.
Just turned forward.
John: "We move. Now. The princess—"
Marco cut in immediately, voice serious.
Marco: "Already in motion. Let's go."
And they moved.
---
GRAND HALL – Rising Pressure
The hall was no longer calm.
It had shifted.
Not openly.
But subtly.
Like air before a storm.
The prince stood at the center, his patience visibly thinning.
His jaw tightened as seconds passed.
His eyes locked onto Guinevere.
Prince: "This is wasting time."
Guinevere didn't flinch.
She stepped forward calmly.
Guinevere: "Now… the second ritual begins."
A ripple moved through the nobles.
Confusion.
Unease.
The prince took a step forward.
Prince: "You are deliberately delaying this."
His voice sharpened.
Prince: "Do you think I cannot see what you're doing?"
Whispers spread.
The hall was beginning to shift.
Guinevere remained calm.
Guinevere: "I am protecting tradition."
Prince: "Tradition? You are a soldier. Not a scholar of rites. Not a noble. You do not decide what tradition is."
The air tightened.
Heavy.
Then—
The princess stepped forward.
Every sound faded instantly.
Her presence alone pulled attention.
Calm.
Composed.
Princess: "I am the one who requested it."
A pause.
Even the prince hesitated slightly.
All eyes turned to her.
Princess: "If I am to enter this marriage… I will do so according to Lumivales tradition."
Silence.
Then—
The king moved slightly on his throne.
Just a shift.
Barely noticeable.
But it changed everything.
One of his guards leaned in and whispered something.
The king's eyes narrowed.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
King: "…I see."
The guard stepped back.
And the atmosphere changed.
Not loudly.
Not visibly.
But completely.
Like the hall had just stepped into a colder world.
The king raised two fingers.
A commander nearby stiffened instantly.
No hesitation.
No question.
King (calm, absolute): "Kill them."
..CHAPTER 26ENDS...