The battlefield trembled—each clash of blades and bursts of chaos shaking the very ground beneath their feet.Jiya moved like a storm, her blade no longer just steel but a radiant extension of her soul. Every swing shattered the Queen's defenses, forcing the towering monster back step by step.The once-overwhelming presence of the Orc Queen began to falter under Jiya's relentless assault.Veer, battered and bloodied, staggered to his feet. His eyes were wide, awe-struck. "Sister…"Ashish and Anika pressed from the sides, creating openings, but it was Jiya who held the center. Her aura blazed brighter with every heartbeat, an unstoppable tempest.The Queen roared and unleashed a wave of dark magic—fire and illusions twisting together into a deadly maelstrom.But Jiya's aura cut through it like a blazing sword, dispersing the nightmare into nothingness.With a cry that echoed across the chaos, Jiya drove her sword forward—piercing the Queen's corrupted heart. The energy burst outward in a radiant shockwave, tearing through the vile carcass of the Orc Queen.The monster shrieked—a sound that pierced the heavens—then collapsed with a thunderous crash, her massive body lifeless on the ground.Silence fell—thick and heavy.Then, the battered fighters erupted into cheers, a fleeting flicker of victory amid the chaos.But that moment was shattered—only a breath long.Across the field, the Orc King froze.His crimson eyes locked on the fallen Queen. His chest heaved—panic, despair, and rage battling within him. The crystal embedded deep in his chest pulsed violently, faster and faster—like a heart losing control."No… no… not her…" His voice was a guttural growl, a primal cry of anguish.His mind roared—a tumult of emotion none could hear except himself.We didn't choose this war.
We didn't come here willingly.
We were driven, chained, forced into obedience.
Why must we bleed for crimes not ours?
Why are we always villains—oppressed, misunderstood?Those words burned within him—not as excuses, but as a cry of anguish that nobody could understand.Then, his sanity cracked.The Orc King roared, a sound born of pure rage and despair, clawing at his chest as the crystal erupted in a surge of violent power.Black veins spread like wildfire, consuming his body as the stone in his chest pulsed like a starving beast—drinking everything in its reach.The empowered orcs screamed—a chorus of terror—as their bodies shriveled, their muscles dissolving into frail husks, their skin clinging to bones. Eyes hollowed, lives drained in an instant—their existence reduced to shadows collapsing into dust.The battlefield fell into a ghastly stillness.Hundreds of fallen orcs—twisted, shriveled, carcasses decaying into nothingness—lay scattered across the ruined land.Only a handful of normal orcs remained alive—staring in terror at their once-mighty king.And the king himself...His form twisted and warped—energy pouring from the crystal—the voice that now echoed was no longer his; it was a guttural howl of rage and corruption.He was no longer just a ruler.He was the crystal's beast.Veer gritted his teeth, fists shaking in silent fury."What… what is he turning into?" he whispered.Jiya stood silent, her aura still burning fiercely—her eyes fixed on the monstrosity before them.Aditya, breathing hard from his own fierce fight, leveled his blade with steady resolve."The real fight," he said, voice deep and heavy, "is only beginning."