The horn echoed across the battlefield.
Low.
Heavy.
Unmistakable.
---
"Positions!"
---
Sir Vald's voice cut through the air like steel.
---
Soldiers rushed into formation.
Shields locked.
Weapons raised.
Breath held.
---
Alex stood among them, spear in hand.
---
His grip tightened.
---
This is different…
---
Not like before.
---
This time—
They weren't running.
---
They were holding the line.
From the horizon—
They came.
---
Rows of soldiers.
Organized.
Disciplined.
---
Armor glinting under the fading light.
---
The Varkhane Empire.
---
"…Steady," Theo muttered beside him.
---
The ground trembled as they advanced.
---
Then—
---
"ARCHERS!"
---
Arrows filled the sky.
---
A dark storm descending.
---
"Shields!"
---
THUD. THUD. THUD.
---
Screams followed.
---
The first wave had begun.
---
"Forward!"
---
Steel met steel.
---
The line collided.
---
Alex thrust his spear forward—
---
CLANG.
---
Blocked.
---
A sword came toward him—
---
He moved—
Barely.
---
The blade grazed his arm.
---
Pain flared.
---
But he didn't stop.
---
He adjusted.
---
Thrust again—
---
This time forcing the enemy back.
---
Not victory.
---
But not helpless either.
---
Then—
---
Something shifted.
---
A weight.
---
Heavy.
---
Oppressive.
---
"…Do you feel that?" Alex muttered.
---
Theo stiffened.
---
"…Yeah."
---
A pause.
---
"…Commanders."
---
The enemy line parted slightly.
---
A man walked forward.
---
Slow.
Relaxed.
---
A sword resting on his shoulder.
---
And a smile on his face.
---
"…Finally," he said.
---
A soldier charged him.
---
Desperate.
---
Kael didn't move.
---
Until the last second.
---
One step—
---
A blur—
---
SHHK.
---
The soldier dropped.
---
Silence rippled through the battlefield.
---
Kael tilted his head.
---
"…That's it?"
---
His smile widened.
---
"…I expected more."
---
Behind him—
The air began to tighten.
---
Heat gathered.
---
A woman stepped forward.
---
Calm.
Controlled.
---
Eyes cold.
---
Lyra Voss.
---
"Stop playing," she said softly.
---
Kael sighed.
---
"You're no fun."
---
She ignored him.
---
Her gaze moved—
Scanning.
---
Then—
---
It stopped.
---
On Alex.
---
"…You."
---
Alex froze.
---
"You interrupted my spell."
---
The battlefield seemed to shrink.
---
Theo stepped slightly forward.
---
"…That's not good," he muttered.
---
Kael followed her gaze.
---
"…That one?"
---
He looked Alex up and down.
---
A pause.
---
"…He looks boring."
---
"He is not," Lyra replied.
---
That changed everything.
---
Kael's smile widened.
---
"…Good."
---
⚔️ The Battle Intensifies
"Advance," Lyra said calmly.
---
The enemy surged.
---
Harder.
Faster.
---
Alex barely kept up.
---
Strike.
Block.
Move.
---
Too slow.
---
Too weak.
---
He was being pushed back.
---
Again.
---
A sword came from the side—
---
Alex reacted.
---
Not thinking.
---
His spear shifted—
---
Not a block.
Not a strike.
---
A movement.
---
The blade slid off—
---
Redirected.
---
"…What—?" the enemy soldier gasped.
---
Alex thrust.
---
The man fell back.
---
Alex froze.
---
That…
---
The feeling again.
---
Fleeting.
---
Gone.
---
But this time—
---
Someone saw.
---
👁️ Watching Eyes
From behind the lines—
Sir Vald's gaze sharpened.
---
"…That movement," he murmured.
---
Theo blinked.
---
"…Wait—did he just—"
---
But the moment had passed.
---
⚠️ Targeted
Lyra's eyes narrowed.
---
"…Again."
---
Kael smirked.
---
"Now I'm interested."
---
He stepped forward.
---
Slowly.
---
Directly toward Alex.
---
The pressure—
---
Crushing.
---
Alex tightened his grip on the spear.
---
His heart pounded.
---
But his eyes—
Steady.
---
So this is the real battlefield…
---
Ahead—
A monster approached.
---
And for the first time—
---
Alex didn't step back.