🔥 Chapter 6 — Breaking the Guard
The northern highlands quaked beneath the intensity of Kael's duel with the King's new general. Flames and green energy clashed in arcs that lit the frozen battlefield, carving trenches into the ice and stone. Kael's Ember pulsed violently, feeding off both his determination and the rhythm of his enemy's attacks.
Rhyne leapt over a surge of green energy, striking at a whip that had nearly ensnared Kael. "Kael! He's adjusting faster than before! You need to anticipate beyond what you saw!"
Kael's eyes glowed bright blue-white, Ember flames spiraling along his arms. "I know. I can feel the flow… the Ember is telling me where he's vulnerable. I just need to break his guard."
The general lunged, unleashing a rapid series of energy whips that snapped like thunder. Kael dodged, letting the Ember guide his movements, and for the first time, he didn't just react—he countered. Fire extended outward, wrapping around the whips and redirecting them back at the general. The green energy flared, colliding with the Ember in a blinding explosion.
Kael saw an opening—a tiny gap in the general's stance, where the hidden aura had weakened from repeated strikes. Channeling every ounce of the Ember's power, he unleashed a concentrated strike, a spiraling spear of fire that pierced through both armor and aura.
The general staggered, taken aback. Green flames flickered around him as he tried to absorb the energy, but Kael's Ember adapted mid-strike, flowing seamlessly around the protective layers. For the first time, the general's calculated movements faltered.
Rhyne landed beside Kael, sweat and frost covering him. "You did it! That strike—he wasn't ready for it!"
Kael's chest heaved, Ember still coiling violently. "We've only opened the first layer. He's strong… but every power has limits. We push forward, and we find the next one."
The general steadied himself, green energy pulsating with renewed intensity. Yet there was a flicker of hesitation—a crack in his composure that Kael could sense.
The northern highlands were a battlefield of ice, fire, and energy, and the duel between Kael and the general escalated into a true test of skill, strategy, and the Ember's untapped potential.