At that exact moment, like a sudden flash of lightning ripping through a stormy sky, Cedric disappeared.
Thane slammed his massive shield hard into the ground with a thunderous CRASH.
"O Goddess of Light, she who is Light! Guard me with your radiant brilliance! In shadow deep and endless, let Your holy power fuel my might!"
A golden barrier erupted from the shield, shimmering outward like liquid sunlight, spreading rapidly to cover himself and the knights behind him.
The blood swords came crashing down.
A deafening CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! rang through the air as steel met magic.
Some barriers held, shimmering and humming with power.
But others shattered—splintering like fragile glass beneath the relentless assault.
Knights cried out in agony, the sharp blades piercing through armor and flesh alike, dropping them instantly.
Amid the chaos, Ivan's mighty wings unfurled with a fierce WHUMP, and he launched into the air, rising above the carnage.
Then, crackling electricity sparked to life around Cedric's form.
His blade glowed with crackling golden lightning, humming with raw power. He reappeared, materializing right before Theron.
"I will not allow your escape," Cedric said coldly, voice sharp as ice.
With blinding speed, he swung his sword, releasing multiple streaks of golden lightning.
They shot through the air like jagged arrows, aiming directly for Ivan high above.
Ivan gritted his teeth, the veins on his arms bulging as mana poured into a blood sword that appeared in his hands, its blade swirling with dark energy.
He swung fiercely, slashing down two of the incoming lightning strikes—SHING! SHING!—but the others bore down relentlessly.
"Dammit… too late to evade!" he cursed through gritted teeth, manifesting a crimson, glass-like barrier that encased him like a fragile bubble.
The lightning slashes struck with a series of sharp CRACKS! CRASHES! The barrier held… then shattered—webs of cracks spidering outwards until the glass broke apart in shards.
The lightning tore through Ivan's sword, slicing clean through the enchanted steel, then cutting into his flesh.
His eyes went wide in shock and pain.
A terrible, guttural scream tore from his throat—raw and desperate, filled with agony and fury:
"AAARRRGGHHHH!"
Blood sprayed as Ivan's arm and leg were sliced away midair.
But his wounds began to glow crimson and heal rapidly, limbs knitting themselves back with otherworldly speed.
Within seconds, his body was whole once more, his expression cold and fierce.
He smiled, blood dripping from his lips, eyes glowing a terrifying red.
"Bye for now, King Galewyn.
When we meet again, I'll make sure I kill you all," he vowed, voice low and deadly.
Suddenly, a blinding white light flooded the battlefield—five airships hovered above, their searchlights piercing through the gloom and locking onto Ivan's form.
Inside one of the ships stood Lucan Calvorn: black hair tousled by the wind, piercing blue eyes burning with determination.
A 5-star Knight, first son and heir of Duke Tharion Calvorn, Duke of Verdoria, and known across the Western Marches as the
"Flaming Lion of the West."
Lucan jumped off the airship.