The village was in turmoil. No one knew what to do. The king – he had actually come.
"He crossed the river... for the first time," the villagers murmured in disbelief. "Why today? Why now?"
Sador clenched his fists. "Because of us. They're only here because you freed us. You shouldn't have done that."
But Jarul shook his head. "Never say that again. You belong with us – and nowhere else. This day had to come. Sooner or later, we would have had to face the king... and now that time is here."
While chaos erupted around him, Keal remained silent. His gaze was calm as he looked to his companions – and they nodded back at him.
"Then it's settled," said Torgul firmly.
"All who cannot fight – get to safety!" Jarul shouted. "Take the children into the forest! The rest of you – prepare yourselves!"
Footsteps echoed, weapons were distributed, eyes met. In the distance, it appeared – the king's army. Massive, disciplined, terrifying.
When it reached the village, the army halted. No attack. No command. Just silence.
"Why aren't they attacking?" Jarul whispered.
"What is he planning?" Sador muttered, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The villagers stood in tense lines, many with trembling hands. All eyes were on the king, who sat atop his steed, towering above his army – silent.
Then a man in a black tabard stepped out from the front – the king's herald. In a loud voice, he called:
"The warrior of light – step forward and serve your king!"
Silence. No one responded. The people looked around in confusion.
"Step forward," the herald repeated, "and fulfill your duty. The king calls you!"
Kiro glanced at Elandra, his thoughts racing. Did he mean... Unutay? But Elandra merely furrowed her brow and gave a small shake of her head. With a subtle gesture, she signaled: Stay quiet.
Jarul now stepped forward himself.
"There is no one here who belongs to you! Leave while you still can – or you will meet your end!"
The herald scoffed. "Silence, rebel. If he does not fulfill the prophecy, this village will burn! Radiant warrior – come forth!"
Again: no response. The tension was thick. Even the king's soldiers looked uneasy. The advisor turned to the commander.
"Who was it? Did you see him?"
"No," the commander replied seriously. "I don't see him."
Then Keal stepped forward, his voice steady:
"If it's a fight you want, then fight. We are ready. But if you retreat now, we'll spare your lives – and you never return."
The advisor sneered at him.
"Who are you to threaten us? A nobody, barely more than an insect!"
Keal remained unfazed.
"I'm the one who will cut off your king's head – if he doesn't leave now."
The advisor flew into a rage. "Enough! Burn this village to the ground! Prepare yourselves!"
A furious roar surged through the king's army.
Panic spread among the villagers. Many fell back, their hope fading. No walls, no shields, no magic to protect them. What could they possibly do against such an army?
Then Keal turned to face them – and raised his voice:
"Only your fear can defeat you today. If you believe in yourselves – and in the one standing beside you – then you cannot lose!"
His eyes swept over the crowd.
"Fight for your land. For your families. For your people. Today is the day we either fall together... or win together!"
The Battle Begins
With thunderous steps, the King's army advanced. Rows of heavily armored soldiers marched in perfect unison, their massive shields locked together, swords already drawn.
"Get ready!" Keal shouted. "They're coming!"
The villagers stood behind him, two steps back, weapons trembling in their hands. The tension hung heavy in the air. With every step the royal troops took, the fear in their eyes grew.
"Hold your ground!" Keal shouted again. "Do not retreat!"
Torgul stepped up beside Keal, axes firmly in his hands. Unutay joined them silently. Jarul and Sador also moved into the front line. Five men standing like a wall before the village.
Then – a rain of arrows. From the rear ranks of the royal army, volleys flew through the sky. The soldiers lifted their shields in perfect sync, a metallic thunder echoing through the valley as the arrows clattered off.
But that was only the beginning.
"Flank attack!" Keal bellowed, as suddenly, lizard riders burst from the woods on both sides. The massive beasts charged forward, their armor clinking, riders armed with lances and cuirasses on their backs.
"Cover the sides!" Keal commanded. Elandra and Kiro reacted instantly – their arrows hissed through the air, striking true at riders and beasts alike. The village's archers followed suit, launching volleys toward the flanks.
In that moment, the King's armored units began their march. A storm of steel rolled toward Keal's defense line.
"Now!" Keal cried. "Hold your ground!"
Torgul roared, raised his axes high and hurled them with brutal force into the front line of attackers. Shields splintered, bodies flew.
Keal, Jarul, Sador, and Unutay threw themselves into melee. Blades clashed, sparks flew. Unutay moved like lightning, a shadow in motion. Every strike of his was lethal, every step calculated. He danced through the enemy like a storm, letting no one past.
The villagers fought bravely behind the front, trying to hold back the lizard riders with spears. They called out courage to one another, while Elandra and Kiro supported them with precise shots.
High atop a hill, the King's commander watched the battle unfold. As he saw Unutay cutting through his men – unstoppable, with inhuman strength and grace – his eyes widened.
"That's him...," he muttered. "The Luminous Warrior..."
The King recognized it too. A gleam appeared in his eyes, almost greedy. He leaned toward his advisor.
"Send the Wardens. I want him – alive."
Four elite warriors, dressed in black with ornate masks, stepped forward. Without a word, they dashed directly toward Unutay.
They moved like shadows through the chaos. Their movements synchronized perfectly, like one body in four shells. Their dark armor barely gleamed, dull and deadly. In their hands: curved-blade spears – forged for speed and precision.
Unutay sensed them before he saw them.
He turned calmly – his eyes meeting four silent faces behind silver-edged masks. No words. No warning. Only the quiet moment before the storm.
Then they attacked.
Two from the front, one from the side, the fourth from behind. Blades flashing, their moves so fast that ordinary fighters couldn't track them. But Unutay didn't step back. He inhaled, let his blade slide in one smooth motion – and parried the first three strikes with elegant ease.
The fourth spear cut only air. Unutay turned in a blink, slamming the hilt of his sword into the attacker's chest, sending him stumbling backward.
A moment of stillness.
Then, the dance began.
The ground beneath their feet trembled as the five fighters fell into a duel that felt beyond human. Blades clashed, sparks flew, footsteps kicked up dust. Every strike, every leap, every spin was part of a deadly rhythm.
The King's warriors were no ordinary soldiers. They moved with precision, their tactics refined. One would distract while the other two attacked from the blind spots. The fourth observed every move, analyzing, adapting.
And yet – they could not break him.
Unutay was like water. Flowing. Unstoppable. Every attack became a trap. He didn't just defend – he led them exactly where he wanted.
A single cut – the first warden fell. Silent, without a scream. A clean strike, straight through the armor.
The remaining three paused for a heartbeat. Then they attacked faster, now fueled by frustration and fury.
But Unutay was no longer the same man who had first entered this war.
Something had awakened within him.
His movements grew even more fluid, his blade seemed to pulse – as if it were breathing. In his eyes glowed that eerie light once more – faint but unmistakable.
The second fell with a severed leg. The third – a deep gash across his chest.
The last one, the tactician, stepped back. Hesitated. But it was too late. With a single, swift lunge, Unutay was upon him – his sword stopping a finger's width from the man's throat.
Silence.
Then Unutay turned away.
The fourth fighter dropped to his knees, removing his mask – and stared after Unutay, wide-eyed and afraid.
The lifeless bodies of the King's elite lay scattered around Unutay. Blood soaked into the dusty ground. Their once-perfect armor shattered. Their faces frozen in horror.
The rest of the soldiers, having witnessed it, hesitated. Their weapons trembled in their hands. No one moved. Yet something drove them forward – perhaps fear, perhaps blind obedience. They charged at Unutay once more.
Keal had seen it all. The way Unutay moved – precise, calm, like a shadow with the force of thunder. It wasn't just skill… it was something else.
"What… what are you?" Keal whispered. "How strong...?"
A soldier noticed Keal's distraction and attacked. But before the blow could land, Torgul stepped in and slammed the attacker to the ground with a roar.
"Keal! Focus! Now's not the time to stand and stare!"
Keal snapped out of it, tightened his grip – and fought on.
From the ridge above the battlefield, the King watched with growing desire. His eyes gleamed, his fingers twitched. The wind tugged at his cloak, but his gaze remained locked on Unutay.
"Now… now it is certain. That's him," he whispered, almost in a trance. "He belongs to me. He is my destiny... my warrior... my right."
Then, a long horn blast echoed through the valley. The sound cut through the chaos – the signal for retreat.
The royal soldiers began pulling back, one by one. The villagers exchanged confused glances. They had expected death – not a retreat. Could this be... victory?
The dust on the battlefield slowly began to settle. Out of the thinning haze, the King emerged – riding atop his black-scaled lizard mount, flanked by his remaining guards.
He rode directly toward Unutay.
Kiro raised his bow, an arrow already drawn.
"He's exposed. I can take him out—"
"No," said Keal, grabbing his arm. "Wait."
The King dismounted, slowly walking toward Unutay. Each step deliberate, almost reverent. He came to a halt and looked up.
"You are the one. The warrior from the prophecy. The protector of the King. The shield that will lead this realm. Come – stand at my side. Together we'll shape history."
Unutay's gaze remained cold. He stared at the man before him.
"I don't know who you are. But someone like you... I will never follow."
The words struck like lightning. The King's eyes narrowed.
"Then you will learn what it means to defy me. If you do not serve me – everyone here dies. I'll burn everything. EVERYONE."
Unutay slowly raised his sword.
"Then you have a choice: leave. Or I'll kill you. Decide."
"How dare you speak to your King like that?!", the royal advisor shouted, stepping forward.
A whistle.
Before anyone could register the movement, the advisor's head hit the ground. No one had even seen the strike.
Gasps echoed from both sides – friend and foe alike froze.
Unutay's voice was calm:
"This is your final warning. Leave now – and never return. Or die."
The King stood frozen. But the desire to possess Unutay burned stronger than any logic. He believed it was his fate – that the shining warrior should kneel before him.
He drew his sword and stepped closer. One step. Then another. And struck.
Unutay blocked effortlessly.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.
The King answered with another blow. And another.
Unutay parried each one. Then – with a single, clean thrust – he drove his blade through the King's chest.
Silence.
The King's body collapsed to the ground. His crown fell into the dirt.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Unutay stepped forward.
"Your King is dead. Lay down your weapons – or come and meet your end. We're ready."
A long moment passed.
Then – the first sword hit the ground.
One by one, the soldiers dropped their weapons.
Keal stood still beside Torgul, stunned.
"What happened to Unutay...? I've never seen him like that," he whispered.
Torgul didn't answer right away. He frowned, eyes fixed on Unutay.
"I don't know. But that... wasn't just anger. There was something else in him. Something ancient."
Unutay turned to the crowd.
"The war is over. Go back to your families. Live in peace. And stop killing each other."