The sound of clashing armor echoed through the radiant streets.
Kaosu, Supira, and Kaiyo sprinted through the shining pathways, their lungs burning, their footsteps loud against the stone. Behind them, golden soldiers shouted, their spears of light cutting through the air. But the trio darted through alleys and over bridges until, at last, the shouts faded.
They slowed, gasping for air, sweat dripping down their foreheads.
"Think… we lost them…" Kaiyo muttered, leaning against a wall.
Supira gave him a sharp look. "Don't relax yet. They'll regroup."
It was then a voice called out from the shadows of a narrow street. "Over here. If you want to live, follow me."
The three turned, wary. A boy stood there—about their age, ragged clothes, but with sharp eyes that gleamed with intelligence.
"Who are you?" Kaosu asked cautiously.
"No time," the boy said quickly. "Soldiers are swarming this area. If you want to survive, trust me."
With little choice, the three exchanged glances and nodded. They followed the boy through winding alleys and across glowing fields, running for nearly an hour until their legs nearly gave way. Finally, he stopped before a small, weathered shed tucked away near the kingdom's edge.
Inside, it was cramped, lit only by a faint lantern. The four sat down—but the three sat apart from him, keeping distance.
The boy broke the silence. "Name's Kaji. What brings you to the Kingdom of Light?"
Supira's eyes narrowed. "Why do you want to know?"
"Yeah," Kaiyo added. "Why does it matter?"
Kaosu, ever polite, gave a small nod. "We're heading to the Castle of Kings."
Kaji's eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his face. "The Castle of Kings? You'll never last a day in that area."
Supira raised an eyebrow. "And why not?"
"Yeah," Kaiyo leaned forward. "What's there?"
Kaji's tone darkened. "That place… it's surrounded by strange creatures, twisted monsters, and guarded tighter than any fortress in the realm. You can't just walk in."
Kaosu frowned, his mind racing. "Then how do we get inside?"
Supira crossed his arms, thinking. "We could dig under. A tunnel straight beneath the walls."
Kaji shook his head immediately. "Bad idea. The underground is crawling with creatures worse than anything above. They'll devour you before you even reach the walls."
Kaiyo snapped his fingers. "Then we go over. Drop in from above."
Kaji scoffed. "And face a hundred soldiers before you hit the ground? Did you forget who guards that place?"
Kaosu spoke up after a pause. "What if… we joined them? Not disguises. But actually slipped into the ranks of the soldiers."
Kaji blinked, stunned, then smirked. "That's… not a bad idea. But there's a problem. They remember what he did here." His eyes shifted to Kaosu. "And when they look at you, they see him."
Kaiyo frowned. "Then we just need a mask. Hide Kaosu's face."
Supira leaned forward, intrigued. "That could work."
Kaji chuckled softly. "Smart. But if you want to walk into the Castle of Kings, you'll need more than masks. You'll need power. Strength far beyond what you have now."
The trio exchanged glances, and despite the danger in his words, they all gave the same slight grin. The challenge only fueled them more.
Far above, in the skies where stars clashed against suns, Kori's battle raged on.
Hono's massive form towered over him, glowing with divine fire. The guardian raised its burning hand and slammed it into the earth, forcing Kori back again. But still, Kori stood. His body was battered, his breath ragged, yet his eyes blazed with defiance.
"You've lasted longer than I expected," Hono said, his booming voice echoing across the kingdom. "But now… it's time to end this."
Kori's claw pulsed with faint light as he lowered it slightly. "It doesn't have to be this way. We can stop this. We can resolve this peacefully."
But Hono's expression hardened. "There is no peace for those who walk the path of Kudo."
He raised both arms, and the skies darkened as energy gathered around him. The ground beneath the kingdom trembled, light spiraling into his massive frame. The sheer pressure of it could be felt across the land—Kaosu, Supira, Kaiyo, Kaji, and even the villagers froze, looking up in terror as the heavens themselves seemed to quake.
Kori's eyes widened. His instincts screamed.
The attack was like a sun collapsing into itself before erupting outward.
"Starfall Judgement!" Hono roared.
The blast consumed everything.
Kori braced himself, claws crossed before his chest. The explosion struck like a train, the force ripping through his body and hurling him downward. His scream was drowned by the roar of energy, until silence fell again.
When the smoke cleared, Hono stood tall, lowering his arms slowly.
Kori's body plummeted, crashing into the land below, unconscious.
The guardian exhaled, his runes dimming as he whispered, "Sleep… until you are worthy." And with that, Hono's giant form dissolved, returning to his slumber.
The chapter ended with Kori broken and silent upon the land, while the Kingdom of Light held its breath.