The moment Valthor raised his hand...
The world held its breath.
A chilling silence spread across the battlefield.
No wind.
No movement.
No sound.
As though reality itself feared what would happen next.
---
Then—
The Titans roared.
---
Thousands of monstrous voices shook the heavens.
Mountains trembled.
Rivers surged.
The very air seemed to crack beneath the force of their cries.
---
Madison stared in disbelief.
The army stretched endlessly across the horizon.
A living ocean of destruction.
---
Every Titan was different.
Some towered like mountains.
Some possessed wings that darkened entire regions.
Some were wrapped in lightning.
Others burned with silver fire.
---
And all of them served Valthor.
---
The Dark King lowered his hand.
---
"Advance."
---
The single word echoed across the world.
---
And the army moved.
---
Instantly.
---
The ground shook.
The sky darkened.
The Final Siege had begun.
---
Alarms exploded throughout Covenant City.
---
Soldiers rushed toward defensive positions.
Skyships rose into the air.
Massive crystal barriers activated around the city.
---
Energy surged through ancient structures.
Weapons dormant for centuries awakened.
---
Madison watched everything unfold.
---
"What do I do?"
---
For the first time since arriving...
She looked lost.
---
Not afraid.
---
Lost.
---
Because she wasn't a warrior.
She wasn't a general.
She wasn't a chosen hero.
---
She was Madison Walker.
---
A woman who had spent most of her life trying to figure things out one day at a time.
---
Queen Elyria approached.
---
Then placed a hand on Madison's shoulder.
---
"You survive."
---
Madison blinked.
---
"What?"
---
The Queen smiled sadly.
---
"If you survive..."
---
Her gaze shifted toward the battlefield.
---
"There is still hope."
---
The answer somehow felt terrifying.
---
Because it implied something obvious.
---
The enemy wasn't targeting the city.
---
The enemy was targeting her.
---
As if reading her thoughts...
Queen Elyria nodded.
---
"Valthor isn't here for the Covenant."
---
Silence.
---
"He's here for the Heir."
---
Madison's stomach dropped.
---
Of course he was.
---
Nothing could ever be simple.
---
Then suddenly—
BOOOOOOM!
---
A Titan struck the outer barrier.
---
The impact shook the city.
---
Cracks spread across the crystal shield.
---
Citizens screamed.
---
Soldiers shouted orders.
---
Chaos erupted.
---
And that was only the first attack.
---
The war had barely begun.
---
Then a silver-armored knight rushed toward the Queen.
---
Urgent.
Panicked.
---
"Your Majesty!"
---
The knight dropped to one knee.
---
"The eastern barrier has failed!"
---
Silence.
---
Everyone froze.
---
Because the siege had started less than five minutes ago.
---
And already a section of the city's defenses had collapsed.
---
The Queen's expression darkened.
---
"Impossible."
---
The knight swallowed.
---
"There's something else."
---
Nobody liked those words.
---
Not ever.
---
The knight looked directly at Madison.
---
Then whispered:
---
"The enemy has a Walker."
---
The plaza became silent.
---
Absolutely silent.
---
Madison frowned.
---
"What does that mean?"
---
The knight looked horrified.
---
Then pointed toward the battlefield.
---
Far beyond the city walls.
---
A figure stood beside Valthor.
---
Human.
---
Tall.
---
Wearing black armor.
---
Holding a silver sword.
---
And around his neck hung the symbol of the First Traveler.
---
The Walker symbol.
---
Madison felt her blood run cold.
---
Because the man's face looked familiar.
---
Very familiar.
---
Not identical.
---
But close enough.
---
Close enough to resemble her.
---
Like looking at an ancient reflection.
---
Like looking at a distant ancestor.
---
The figure slowly raised his sword.
---
Then pointed it directly toward Covenant City.
---
Directly toward Madison.
---
And a voice echoed across the battlefield.
---
A voice heard by every soldier.
Every citizen.
Every Titan.
Every living thing.
---
"Return the Heir."
---
Silence.
---
The figure's golden eyes glowed.
---
"Or watch this world burn."
---
Queen Elyria looked horrified.
---
Aethel looked stunned.
---
Even the ancient guardians seemed unable to believe what they were seeing.
---
Madison turned toward them.
---
"Who is that?"
---
Nobody answered immediately.
---
Because nobody wanted to.
---
Finally...
Aethel whispered the name.
---
"The Last Walker."
---
A chill swept through the city.
---
Because somehow...
The greatest enemy of the First Walker's bloodline...
Was another Walker.
---
To be continued...