The whole army was marching in the silence of night. Only the sound of boots, armor, and horses echoed in the air. The massive manor of Lord Varrow wa in front of them. The walls were tall and proud, torches burned faintly on the guard posts. The gate was closed, guards sleeping lazily in their posts.
But suddenly, one guard woke up and saw the endless sea of soldiers approaching. His eyes widened, he jumped to his feet, then pulled a lever.
Boom
A golden shield erupted around the entire manor. It covered the gate, walls, and roof, with blazing symbols glowing on the surface. The soldiers stopped their march and raised their weapons.
General Kaelor moved his horse forward, his voice heavy. "Prime Minister, the shield is active."
Jean rode his black horse closer, his cloak fluttering in the cold wind. His eyes glowed faintly red and his hand moved to his sword hilt. "It will not stand before me."
He dismounted his horse and walked forward. Raising his left hand, he chanted words in an ancient tongue. Magic circles started forming in the air. Flames roared around his palm, merging into a burning spiral.
"Break."
Jean thrust his palm forward. A colossal fireball erupted from his hand and crashed against the golden barrier. The impact shook the ground. Cracks spread across the shield like broken glass. The second fireball hit before the first light faded, and the entire barrier shattered into sparks that fell like burning rain. Then both gates burst open.
"Attack!" Kaelor roared, raising his spear high.
The whole army rushed inside. Soldiers in black and crimson armor—Taron Vesh's men—came running from every corridor and courtyard. Swords clashed against swords. Arrows rained from the windows towards the imperial soldiers. And the ground of the manor became a river of blood as cries of men filled the night.
Kaelor led the front, cutting through Taron's guards with his spear. Jean fought at his side, flames swirling around his blade as he slashed, sometimes sending fireballs that incinerated a group of enemies at once.
The battle raged through the manor halls until finally they broke into the heart of the estate. A massive door stood at the end of the corridor. Jean kicked it open and the door crashed against the walls.
Inside, Taron Vesh was sitting calmly on a wide chair. His scarred face was half-covered in shadow. His serpent tattoo glowed faintly on his bare shoulder, golden rings shining under candlelight. His eyes were cold and fearless. Then he looked toward Jean and Kaelor as if he had been waiting.
"You came faster than I expected." Taron leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "So the king sent his dogs."
Jean stepped inside, sword in his right hand, flame burning in his left. "Tonight you die."
Kaelor entered after him, his spear ready.
Taron stood slowly, his presence heavy and suffocating. "Come then."
Jean charged first, his blade glowing red. When Jean's sword met Taron's massive cleaver, sparks flew. The clash shook the room. Kaelor thrust his spear, but Taron swung his weapon and blocked easily, throwing Kaelor back with brute strength.
Flames burst from Jean's hand, forming into a fireball. He thrust it toward Taron's chest. The explosion burned half the room, but when the smoke cleared, Taron was still standing there, and Taron lips curled in a grin.
Taron smirk towards jean and Kaelor as he wants to say 'how pitful'. Then Taron body blurred. His movements became faster than normal eyes could follow. He slashed, kicked, and moved like a beast unleashed.
Kaelor tried to engage, but Taron vanished and reappeared behind him, slamming a punch into his back. Kaelor crashed into the wall, blood dripping from his lips. He gripped his spear, but Jean raised his hand. Kaelor had survived Taron's punch only because of his magic armor.
"Stay back, General. You can't follow this speed."
Kaelor lowered his weapon reluctantly and stepped aside.
Jean chanted again, his aura surging. His body glowed with flames as his speed suddenly rose, matching Taron's movements. Both Taron and Jean became blurs across the room, clashing again and again. Sparks and fire covered the walls. The floor cracked beneath their feet.
The whole manor shook like an earthquake. Walls crumbled, furniture burned, and windows exploded into shards. The roof started breaking apart.
Kaelor watched in awe as the two monsters fought. But then, suddenly, something changed. Jean's movements started slowing down, his fireballs became smaller, and his strikes felt weaker.
Taron saw it and smiled. Then he vanished again and reappeared in front of Jean, driving his knee into Jean's stomach.
Crack
Jean's body flew backward and smashed against the wall. He fell to the ground, coughing blood. His sword slipped from his hand.
Kaelor rushed to him and knelt. "Prime Minister—!"
He saw Jean's face clearly in the flickering firelight. His skin was wrinkled, his hair turned white strand by strand, and his body shriveled. Jean Graven had suddenly become an old man.
Kaelor understood Jean's situation. Because of overuse of magic power and body strengthening, his life force was burning away. Taron appeared behind him with killing intent, raising his cleaver to cut him down.
But before the strike landed—
Boom!
Taron's body flew across the chamber as if struck by a giant force. He smashed into the wall, stones breaking and dust filling the air. His body was half-buried in the debris.
Kaelor froze, eyes wide. It looked like someone had just kicked Taron Vesh away.
Kaelor saw a katana pierced into the ground, still in its sheath. Its handle was black with a red rhombus pattern and gold at the end.
Taron could feel a ruthless and menacing presence from the katana. Taron looked toward the far distance, under the moon.
"So. You finally appeared, murderer of my men."
Far from the manor, on the roof of a lone watchtower, Arin was standing still. Behind him, the moonlight carved his shadow across the stone, revealing the power he carried. His black suit and long collar whipped in the cold wind. Both hands rested calmly behind his back as if he were waiting.
Then—
"Engrave."
His eyes blazed crimson, and cracks split open from the corners of his eyes, spreading like veins of fire across his skin. More cracks rippled beneath his clothes, glowing faintly. A storm of blood erupted at his feet, twisting upward like a tornado.
BOOM
Arin disappeared, and the roof of the watchtower beneath him shattered—in a single blink.
He reappeared beside the katana, one knee pressed against the ruined floor. Slowly, he rose to his full height. The blade, as long as his waist, gleamed under the moonlight. With a calm motion, he drew the katana free, leaving the sheath buried in the ground behind him.
Without a word, Arin began walking toward Taron Vesh.
To be continued…