That morning, the war drums thundered across Grimhollow. Three thousand
soldiers of Valoria stood in formation before the cult's fortress. Their faces
were as hard as steel, armor gleaming in the sunlight, banners snapping high in
the wind. The neigh of horses and the clatter of weapons filled the air with
tension. Yet beneath it all flowed a shared conviction: today, they would break
the wall of darkness.
Arthur stood at the very front. Both katanas were drawn, his breathing
steady despite the heavy pressure of the battlefield. The Oculus on his wrist
pulsed, displaying runic lines swirling across the blue barrier that enveloped
the cult's stronghold. He studied the wall closely, then drew in a deep breath.
"Now or never."
He raised his hand, channeled mana, and unleashed Dragon's Breath.
A torrent of dragon fire slammed into the wall, making the barrier ripple
violently. The heat licked the faces of the soldiers in the front ranks,
forcing some to squint against the glare. The magi quickly followed with Arcane
Bolts, Ice Lances, and bursts of flame. Dozens of
explosions rocked the ground, and the Oculus log flickered with an update: self-repair
delay extended.
Arthur lifted his sword high.
"Divine Light, now!"
A dozen magi from the Mage Tower raised their staves. Beams of holy light
shot into the sky, then converged on a single point. The barrier trembled, a
thin crack appearing. Cheers rippled through the ranks, but Arthur only
narrowed his eyes.
Dragon's Breath spreads too wide. If I compress it and channel it
through a narrow point, it might pierce instead of just burn.
He pulled the dragon fire back into his chest, holding it until his body
trembled. The tip of his katana he coated with Qi Sword: Needle Point,
shaping a funnel-like conduit. His muscles strained as he layered Body
Reinforcement to withstand the recoil. Heat flared along his arm, but
he did not falter.
He released it. The torrent that normally fanned outward burst forth as a
compressed blast. Its roar was like a dragon forced through a narrow throat.
The blue wall shook violently, ripples recoiling as the crack widened. Soldiers
behind him shouted in disbelief. Arthur's lips curved in a thin smile.
"Dragon's Breath, compressed to a single point… this is Dragon Burst."
He leapt high, golden qi from the Heavenly Valoria Technique
cloaking his body. With a sweeping Dual Blade Dance, he struck
the crack twice in rapid succession.
CRAAAACK!
The barrier shattered, shards of blue light raining down like broken glass.
A roar of triumph surged through the army, echoing through the trees of
Grimhollow.
"Forward!" Arthur shouted, his voice booming like thunder tearing the fog
apart.
The Valorian host surged. A few mounted soldiers charged first, bursting
through the gate scorched open by Dragon's Breath. For a moment it seemed
clear, but disaster struck the next instant. The ground beyond the gate
exploded in flashes of crimson. Iron spikes shot upward, poisonous fumes burst
in the air, and several riders were struck. Two soldiers collapsed instantly,
their armor blackened. Screams rang out in panic.
Arthur roared, his voice cutting through the chaos.
"Off the horses! Now!"
The soldiers nearest the gate hurled themselves off their mounts. Several
steeds, riderless and panicked, kept running forward—straight into the hidden
traps. Explosions ripped through their bodies, blood and fire spraying the
stone. One soldier, too slow to leap, was caught in the blast. His mangled form
was thrown aside, lifeless. His comrades cried out in rage, but the formation
had no time to mourn.
Arthur's jaw tightened. "Damn them… they turned the gate into a
slaughterhouse."
He thrust his hand into the air.
"Release all the horses forward! Let them trigger the traps!"
The order was grim, but necessary. Dozens of horses were loosed, stampeding
toward the gate. Explosions erupted in succession, iron and flame devouring
them. Black smoke and the stench of burning flesh choked the air. Soldiers
covered their mouths, eyes stinging with fury.
Arthur exhaled coldly.
"The way is clear. Advance with caution."
The ground around the gate smoked with ash. Arthur poured qi into his legs,
fusing Gale Step with the Heavenly Valoria Technique. His body
blurred, moving so fast he seemed to glide above the earth. Soldiers gasped in
awe, whispering of light-born steps. To Arthur, it was simply Gale Step driven
beyond its limit.
He scaled the wall, fingers gripping fractured stone, then hurled a qi-laced
branch. The blast knocked cultists from their perches. Arthur spun in a flurry
of blades, the Dual Blade Dance cutting left and right,
carving a path for his men. Wooden ladders slammed against the wall, and soon
the Valorian banner snapped atop the gate.
With the walls secured, Arthur unleashed dragon fire once more. This time he
forced it to expand outward, transforming the linear torrent into a spreading
inferno. Flames rolled in all directions, igniting hidden traps across the
courtyard. Small explosions popped like fireworks. Soldiers cheered, naming the
move Flame Nova, though Arthur only muttered, "Names don't
matter. The path is open."
The inner yard became hell. The stench of wet earth mingled with rotting
flesh. Hundreds of undead clawed out of the ground, half-rotted bodies lurching
forward. Black-furred beasts the size of horses roared, eyes glowing crimson.
Cultists screamed incantations from balconies, their hands dripping with blood.
"Shield wall!" shouted Sir Alaric Stormvale.
A line of iron shields slammed together, forming a human bulwark. Spears
jabbed through the gaps, flaming arrows streaked through the haze. Archmage
Arion raised his staff, voice ringing.
"Divine Light Expand!"
A wave of radiant light burst forth, burning swathes of undead to ash.
Cheers erupted, but they faltered as a crushing aura descended. From the smoke
emerged five Elders, flanking Agramon, the cult's leader.
Agramon strode calmly, his black staff sinking into the ground. "Come then,
young king. Let us see if your light can swallow the night."
Arthur stepped forward, the Heavenly Valoria Technique thrumming through
him, golden qi rippling across his body.
"Today, Valoria redeems its past."
Dark runes spread from Agramon's staff, forming a shadowed zone. The ground
grew heavy, each step dragging like lead. Arthur channeled more qi, his body
glowing as he resisted. Spears of darkness shot at him; he deflected with a
katana and countered in a sweeping Dual Blade Dance, shards of
shadow bursting apart.
Grinding his teeth, Arthur drove the Heavenly Valoria Technique harder. His
body shook, then he ignited Overdrive. Golden light blazed,
his power spiking. Soldiers gasped, awestruck. "That's Heavenly Valoria
combined with Overdrive!" they shouted. The clash between the two leaders split
the earth, shockwaves ripping the air.
But not all Valorians survived the charge. On the left flank, a horned beast
plowed into the spear line, tossing men aside. Two soldiers were crushed
beneath its claws, their screams cut short. Their comrades closed ranks, faces
grim and tear-streaked, rage burning in their eyes.
To the side, Varreck raised his skeletal staff. "Rise, traitorous bones!"
Dozens of skeleton warriors clawed free. Arion responded instantly. "Solar
Flare!" Fire and light consumed them in one sweep. Bone Prison erupted around
him, but Arion shattered it with Arcane Barrier, then called
down Meteor Flare. The sky itself seemed to hurl judgment.
Elsewhere, Kaelgor, the rune-tattooed giant, swung his red axe. Erlic stood
firm, raising Aegis Barrier to block the blow, while Lionel
lunged with his spear. Kaelgor kicked him aside, sending him sprawling, but
Lionel rose, panting, qi burning along his weapon. With Dragon Spear
Thrust, he drove Kaelgor back a step, sparks flying as steel clashed
with rune-carved flesh.
Drosk slid from the shadows, hurling Shadow Bind. Black
tendrils snared soldiers' legs. Alaric charged, his heavy blade cleaving down
with Iron Breaker Slash, severing the bonds. Drosk retreated
like smoke, but Alaric barked, "Close ranks!" The soldiers surged, boxing the
Elder in.
On the right, Myrrha's illusions multiplied the enemy, while Sylas cursed
the men, sapping their strength. Magi of Valoria countered with Divine
Light Circle, a white dome banishing illusions and curses alike. Even
so, two soldiers fell to Sylas's curse, eyes blank, their bodies limp. Their
comrades dragged them away with clenched jaws.
Arthur's breath came ragged. The Oculus pulsed, displaying the rhythm of
Agramon's runes. He studied the pattern, then smirked.
"Every system has a flaw—even yours."
With the Heavenly Valoria Technique fueled by Overdrive, he surged forward.
Both katanas flashed, a crossing slash tearing through Agramon's Dark Barrier.
Blood, black and viscous, welled from the cult leader's shoulder.
Agramon only laughed, low and resonant.
"Good, young king. But this is only the beginning."
The true battle had only just begun.