The ground trembled with each foot strike. The giant figure that emerged from the red mist now stood before Kael. Its body was as tall as a village tower, its skin armored, and its back towered with rows of sharp, spear-like spikes. Its two red eyes glared at Kael with hatred.
Kael trembled, his body already weak, but his grip on Astralis remained tight. "I… have to fight it…" he whispered, even as his knees shook violently.
The monster roared, then swung its massive arm like a fallen tree. Kael rolled to the side, his sword scraping against the ground. Dust billowed, and the rubble behind him shattered into pieces.
Kael struggled to his feet, drew Astralis, and slashed his sword at the creature. Craang! The impact emitted light, but only left a thin crack in the monster's steel skin. Its roar echoed, making Kael's ears ring.
Strike after strike, Kael delivered, Astralis's light slashing through the monster's tough hide, but his own body grew weaker. His injured left arm was getting worse, his breathing was labored, and his vision was starting to blur.
The monster retaliated with a stomp. The shockwave sent Kael flying against the rubble wall. Blood poured from his temple. Astralis nearly slipped from his grasp, but he forced himself to stand.
"I… can't stop…" Kael dragged his feet forward, even though his body was resisting. With a final scream, he ran and thrust his sword straight into the monster's chest. Astralis' light exploded, sending the creature flying. But the explosion also sent Kael crashing to his knees, all his strength drained.
The monster roared again, rising even more furiously. Its giant hand raised, ready to strike Kael, who was now unable to stand.
Kael could only close his eyes, his sword still gripped despite his body's weakness. "If this is the end… I hope Astralis can find a more deserving owner…"
Just before the giant claw struck, a golden light shot from the night sky. Horses' galloping could be heard, accompanied by the sound of trumpets.
"Arrow formation! Protect the young man!"
Hundreds of glowing arrows were fired, raining down on the giant monster. The creature roared in pain, retreating several steps. From the mist, a line of silver-armored soldiers with phoenixes on their chests emerged. They were the troops of Solaris, a southern kingdom renowned for its bravery and prowess.
A knight stepped forward, his armor gleaming in the firelight from the troops' torches. With a long spear blazing like a blazing fire, he led a direct charge at the giant monster.
Kael, half-conscious, could only see the glow of fire and hear the violent clashes around him. The sounds of battle echoed, but his vision grew increasingly blurry.
Before darkness engulfed him, he caught a glimpse of the Solaris knight's face, his eyes sharp and determined.
"Rest now, young man. We will continue this battle."
Then everything went black.
The faint sound of sparks could be heard, accompanied by the pungent aroma of herbal medicine. Kael slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurry, only to see a white ceiling with simple carvings. His body felt heavy, but warm, as if he were lying on a soft bed he'd never felt before.
"I… where am I…?" he muttered softly, trying to move his fingers.
Footsteps sounded from the door. A young man in simple clothes carried a tray filled with a bowl of warm soup. As soon as he saw Kael sitting up, the tray nearly fell from his hands.
"Oh my! You… you're awake!" the young man exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock.
Kael gritted his teeth, trying to focus. "I… who are you? Where am I?"
The young man placed the tray on the small table beside the bed, his face still shocked. "I'm just a servant in the Solaris kingdom. You should still be in a coma; the healers said it might be weeks before you could open your eyes. But… you woke up so quickly."
Kael looked down at his bandaged hand. Astralis was nowhere to be seen. He took a deep breath. "So… it was the Solaris army that saved me?"
The servant nodded quickly. "That's right. You were found in the ruins, near death. If it weren't for Lord Ardyn's intervention, you would have been eaten by that monster."
Kael paused for a moment, trying to remember the final burst of light, the sound of the luminous arrow, and the Solaris knight staring at him with determination. He clutched the blanket in his hands.
The servant offered him a bowl of soup. "Eat first, you need your strength. Afterward, Lord Ardyn will want to speak with you directly. He said… you hold something more valuable than a thousand treasures."
Kael turned slowly, staring at the young man in confusion. "You mean… that sword?"
The servant fell silent, then quickly lowered his head, as if afraid to say his name. "I… I don't know the details."But the entire kingdom of Solaris is in an uproar. They say... you're the one who brought the sword."
There was a moment of silence. Kael stared at the steaming bowl of soup. His heart was pounding.
"Then..." he whispered, barely audible, "my destiny has truly changed."
The waiter could only stare at him with a confused expression, not daring to ask further.
Kael finished his soup slowly with the last mouthful, then handed the empty bowl to the waiter. "Thank you..." his voice was hoarse, almost a whisper.
The waiter smiled slightly and bowed. "I'll take it out. Get some rest."
He then walked out with light steps and closed the door gently.
Kael took a deep breath, leaning back against the soft pillows. His heart was still filled with questions: about the sword, about the giant monster, and about himself, as if drawn into a current of fate he couldn't resist.
He had barely closed his eyes for a moment when the bedroom door opened again. Heavy footsteps echoed, in contrast to the servant's light steps. The scent of metal and armor filled the room.
Kael immediately straightened.
A tall man entered, his black hair neatly tied back, his face stern yet dignified. His silver armor was adorned with a golden phoenix carving that seemed to glow in the torchlight.
Kael recognized him immediately.
"...You're the one I saw before I passed out..." Kael murmured, his voice filled with disbelief.
The man smiled faintly, but his gaze was sharp.
"Yes. I am Lord Ardyn, commander of the Solaris forces." He approached, looking down at Kael from the edge of the bed. "And you... should still be in deep sleep. Our healers said your body needs weeks to recover." But you woke up in just one night. That… surprised me."
Kael looked down for a moment, his hands unconsciously clenching the blanket. "I don't know why… I just felt… I had to wake up. It was as if something was calling me."
Ardyn narrowed his eyes, watching Kael for a long moment as if trying to pierce his heart.
"You're not the only one surprised, young man. My entire army witnessed how the sword glowed in your hand. A sword that should have been a legend… has now become a reality."
The room fell silent. Kael fell silent, staring at Ardyn with a tense expression.
"So… the Astralis sword… really chose me?"
Ardyn nodded slowly, then spoke in a low but determined voice.
"And in fact… yes, the sword chose you."