Lythria was eager to show Veer the special attack she had finally mastered. It was one of the greatest techniques in Mythria, tracing its roots back to the legendary Mystic Tree. Though she had only grasped a fraction of its true power, she already knew about the demon's weakness. Without hesitation, she unleashed her lotuses, aiming directly at its eyes.
She expected Veer to be amazed, but when she turned to look at him, his reaction was a bit out of place. He seemed surprised, yes but to a extent that he was sweating.
"Are you okay?" she asked gently.
Veer nodded faintly, about to speak—when John suddenly leapt in front of the demon. In his hands was a strange, spiraling longsword. Its surface gleamed with interwoven materials, dyed in crimson, as if it had been forged from fire itself. He began chanting, and the air ignited. Red flames erupted violently, engulfing the surroundings.
Eleana's eyes narrowed, then relaxed. "So it's a flame-enhanced sword. For a moment, I almost mistook it for something else."
John moved in a bizarre pattern, plunging the burning blade into the ground before launching himself skyward. With a roar, he drove the sword straight into the demon's eye. The creature shrieked as its flesh melted, and within a handful of merciless strikes, it was reduced to ashes.
"Finally, that guy isn't so useless after all! Haha!" Caria laughed, cheering loudly from the back.
Veer could only stare in amazement. So John was this strong all along…
Eryssa collapsed weakly to the ground, gasping. "What… what a terrifying demon that was…"
"Let's rest," Eleana suggested, supporting her. "There should be a spot just ahead. We'll set up camp tonight and continue in the morning."
That night, while Eleana and Lythria kept watch, Veer laid down with his eyes closed. Slowly, he felt himself connecting to the stars again. His newly formed star chakra stirred on its own, and the pool of energy within him expanded, little by little.
Meanwhile, the two figures whispered at the edge of the firelight.
"Did you see him?" Lythria said with a small pout. "He was completely dumbfounded when I attacked with my lotuses."
Eleana smiled faintly. "He's been through a lot this past week. He's lost consciousness three times already. We should let him rest." She hesitated, then asked, "By the way… did your mother give you any special instructions?"
Lythria shook her head. "No. After Veer collapsed that day, I met her. We spoke about a few things, but… no instructions. Only that I should stay close to Veer."
Eleana gazed up at the starlit sky, her expression heavy. "Let's hope everything works out."
The stars twinkled faintly above as the atmosphere was serene.
By morning, they set out again. As they approached the borders of Drudar, a royal carriage passed by. Surrounded by knights clad in black steel, the air around it was suffocating. Each knight carried an aura as oppressive as Eleana's.
Veer narrowed his eyes. The carriage bore not the flag of Drudar, but the emblem of a wolf's head. Their own kingdom's crest was that of a maiden with a bow.
As the carriage neared, a cold sweat ran down Veer's back. A presence—familiar, dreadful—brushed against him.
"Don't react," Eryssa whispered, her voice taut. "The spirits are warning him. Whoever's inside… is as strong as my father."
The carriage halted. The armored knights turned their sharp gazes upon them. One stepped down, gripping John's shoulder with crushing force. John winced, teeth grinding as his body bent under the pressure.
"Enough," came a deep voice as the carriage door opened.
A towering figure emerged, clad in grey armor. At his mere presence, the knight who had grabbed John shuddered and immediately released him, lowering his gaze. The armored man walked forward, then bowed deeply to Eryssa.
"Princess," he said, his voice steady and cold. "Forgive the insolence of my subordinate."
Before anyone could react, the man raised his blade and, with a single stroke, severed the knight's left arm. The man screamed in agony.
"Stop the bleeding," the knight commander ordered calmly. "Tend his wounds. Give him medicine."
The group was stunned, but none dared show weakness.
Once more, the mysterious knight bowed before Eryssa. "Princess… why are you traveling on foot? Ah, no matter." His tone grew darker. "I pray for your safety in the coming war. And… it begins now."
He turned and reentered the carriage. Veer caught a glimpse of silhouettes inside before the door slammed shut. The carriage rolled away, its oppressive aura lingering like a stormcloud.
The moment it vanished, Eleana and Eryssa both coughed up blood, their bodies trembling. They had been suppressing the crushing pressure this entire time. But Veer felt it—it wasn't just the armored knight. Something even more terrifying lurked within that carriage.
Caria and Lythria rushed to help them, while John staggered weakly. Their expressions were dark, weighed with unspoken fear.
"I don't feel good about this…" Eryssa whispered. "Something is brewing. We need to move faster."
By the time they reached the kingdom gates, the guards were unusually cheerful.
"Please, hurry inside!" the head guard urged. "Skip the formalities. The announcement is about to begin!"
Veer frowned, confusion swirling in his mind. But Eryssa, Eleana, and John's expressions grew heavier with every step. Even Caria's bright face had turned grim.
As they entered the capital outskirts, crowds had already gathered before the announcement boards. Suddenly, a hum filled the air, and glowing projections appeared across the city.
Eryssa exhaled slowly. "It's Sister Ava's magic… only she can project communications like this across the entire kingdom."
In the largest projection, the king of Drudar himself appeared. His face was dark, his voice booming with authority.
"My citizens of Drudar!" he declared. "Today, I stand before you to speak of the atrocities committed by Braevan. Time and again, they have crossed the line. At Princess Alicia's birthday, it was they who struck the blow. My daughter still suffers. We lost a guardian. My youngest son… slain. We even punished a group of traitors working for them."
The crowd roared in anger.
"They dared to demand Princess Eryssa's hand in marriage for their unworthy prince. They threatened that, should we refuse, they would seize the initiative to attack. But worse still… we have learned that my exiled brother—the infamous Bloody Shura, butcher of innocents—now stands with Braevan! "
Gasps echoed across the city.
"After long deliberation with the council, I hereby declare—" The king's voice thundered. "Drudar Kingdom will march to war against Braevan!"