🔥 Chapter 7 — Forcing the Defensive
The battlefield trembled under the combined fury of Emberfire and the King's general's green energy. Kael's flames spiraled in intricate patterns, slicing through the whips and arcs of green light, forcing the general to react rather than dictate the fight.
Rhyne shouted over the roar of clashing power, "Kael! Keep him off balance! Don't let him recover his rhythm!"
Kael's eyes glowed fiercely, Ember coiling around him like a living storm. He could feel the general's aura straining, pulse irregular, defenses weakening. "I can feel it… the Ember is guiding me! Every strike is forcing him into reaction mode!"
The general launched a sweeping attack, energy whips moving in a synchronized wave. Kael didn't just block; he flowed with the Ember, redirecting the energy, creating a spiral of fire that trapped the whips mid-air. Sparks and shards of ice erupted as the general stumbled backward, momentarily unbalanced.
Rhyne pressed the advantage, slashing through residual green energy to open space. "Now, Kael! Keep pushing!"
Kael focused, flames forming multiple extensions—blades, whips, and spiraling barriers that moved as if alive. Each strike was faster, sharper, and perfectly timed, forcing the general to defend, retreat, and adapt continuously. For the first time, Kael realized the battle wasn't just about strength—it was about control.
The general hissed, eyes narrowing with frustration. His previously confident movements faltered as Kael's Ember attacks became increasingly unpredictable, anticipating his counters before they even began.
Kael lunged forward, the Ember forming a spiraling spear of concentrated fire aimed at the general's core. Green energy surged to meet it, but Kael's flames twisted around the defenses, breaking the aura and striking true.
The general staggered, stepping back, forced onto the defensive. Kael's breathing was heavy, Ember thrumming violently as he maintained his assault.
Rhyne landed beside him, eyes wide. "Kael… you've broken his flow. He's reacting, not acting."
Kael's voice was steady, fierce. "Good. Now we exploit it. Every second counts. The longer he reacts, the closer we are to victory."
The battlefield roared with fire and green energy, a deadly dance as Kael began dictating the battle, shaping the fight with the Ember's full force.