For a few seconds, I remained still.
My sword was still extended in front of me, pointed at the General's divided body lying on the shattered stones of the fortress. The golden energy that had exploded in the final strike was slowly beginning to fade from the surroundings.
The silence was absolute.
After so many bursts of mana, so many violent impacts, and so much crushing pressure, that silence felt almost unreal.
The air still vibrated slightly.
Particles of golden energy floated like small sparks around the blade.
I took a deep breath.
My chest rose and fell slowly as I watched the General's body.
Half of him lay a few meters to the right.
The other part remained fallen to the left.
No movement.
No sign of regeneration.
No flow of demonic mana rebuilding itself.
Nothing.
Even so, I kept watching for a few more seconds.
In previous battles against high-level demons, regeneration always came quickly. Sometimes in seconds. Other times in nearly imperceptible moments.
But now…
Nothing happened.
The black aura that had once filled the entire hall had completely disappeared.
In its place, the air felt lighter.
Less oppressive.
The forest outside could be felt again.
The scent of trees.
Of earth.
Of life.
I slowly lowered my sword.
The golden armor still covered my body, but the intensity of its energy was beginning to fade little by little. The strong glow that enveloped each metallic piece was now softer.
I took a few steps forward.
The ground was completely destroyed. Broken stones, pieces of columns, and fragments of the fortress walls covered everything.
The impact of the final strike had torn apart nearly the entire structure.
I looked again at the General's body.
The line of the cut remained clean.
Precise.
There were no signs of regeneration.
Finally, I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"It's over…"
My voice came out low.
Almost a whisper.
At that same moment, I felt something different.
It wasn't a threat.
It was a sensation coming from outside the fortress.
I closed my eyes for a second.
The demonic energy that had once dominated the entire region was weakening rapidly.
It was as if an invisible chain had been broken.
When I opened my eyes again, I understood.
The General's death had affected the entire demonic army.
Out there.
In the forest.
The demons were losing coordination.
The link that commanded them had been destroyed.
I looked up at the open sky above the ruined fortress.
The sun was beginning to emerge through the dark clouds that had once covered the region.
For the first time since the beginning of the battle, natural light returned to touch that place.
As I watched, a slight tremor ran through the ground.
I turned immediately.
But it wasn't regeneration.
The General's body was beginning to dissolve.
The demonic flesh slowly turned into black particles that dissipated into the air.
It was the same phenomenon that occurred with high-level demons when they died permanently.
I watched in silence.
Little by little, the entire body disappeared.
Only a few scorched marks remained on the stones where he had fallen.
Nothing more.
The final confirmation.
The Fourth General had been defeated.
The war… had ended.
Suddenly, I heard something in the distance.
First, there were shouts.
Then the sounds of battle fading.
Running footsteps.
I turned toward the shattered opening of the fortress.
Outside, the forest stretched as far as the eye could see.
And now it was possible to see what was happening.
Demons were retreating.
Others simply fell to the ground, as if the force sustaining them had vanished.
The adventurers and elven warriors advanced.
The enemy line was completely collapsing.
A few minutes later, I heard fast footsteps approaching through the ruins.
I turned.
The first to appear was Rai'kanna.
The warrior emerged among the broken stones with her sword still in hand, her intense gaze scanning the destroyed hall.
When she saw me standing, her expression relaxed immediately.
Right behind her came Liriel and Elara.
Liriel still held her staff, the divine aura around her body glowing softly. Elara walked beside her with her bow already lowered, but her eyes alert.
Vespera appeared soon after, moving silently among the stones like a shadow.
Lyannis was the last to arrive.
For a few seconds, none of them said anything.
All of them looked around.
At the ruins of the fortress.
At the destroyed battlefield.
And then at me.
Rai'kanna was the first to speak.
"You did it."
I nodded slowly.
"It's over."
Liriel closed her eyes for a moment, as if silently giving thanks.
Elara let out a long breath.
Vespera simply crossed her arms, analyzing the environment as she always did.
Lyannis looked at the open sky above us.
"The demonic army is collapsing."
I could feel that as well.
Without the General…
Without the link that commanded everything…
The invasion had completely lost its strength.
The Sacred Forest was safe.
For a few seconds, we just stood there, observing the silence that now dominated the battlefield.
After such a brutal war…
The absence of combat felt almost strange.
I looked again at the place where the General had disappeared.
Then I finally sheathed my sword.
The blade returned to rest.
The glow of the armor began to fade slowly, as if it too knew the battle had ended.
I took a deep breath once more.
And for the first time since the beginning of that war…
I felt something different.
Relief.
But deep in my mind…
A feeling still remained.
Because defeating a General…
Meant only one thing.
The Demon King certainly already knew.
And sooner or later…
He would respond.