Chapter 105: The Flames of War
Scene: The South Nation's battlefield. Zarek's army, a formidable force of warriors clad in white and imbued with Divine Mana, advances with deadly precision. The Knights and heroes of the South Nation stand united, their hearts steeled for the brutal battle ahead.
Narrator: The clash between the South Nation and Zarek's forces has begun. The air is thick with the sound of clashing steel, the roar of unleashed mana, and the cries of warriors locked in combat. The heroes and knights fight side by side, their resolve unshaken as they defend their homeland against the invading army.
Rylan, his Abyssal Blade glowing with dark energy, charges toward the fray, his eyes locked on one of Zarek's most feared allies—Vesper. The two warriors are about to engage when King Alden steps in, his presence commanding and unwavering.
Rylan: (determined) Vesper… I'll take him down.
King Alden: (firmly) Rylan, save your strength. This battle is far from over. I'll deal with Vesper.
Rylan hesitates, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. He's eager to prove himself, to protect his comrades from the menace before them. But he knows better than to question his king. With a nod, he steps back, his blade still at the ready for the next wave of enemies.
Rylan: (reluctantly) Understood, Your Majesty. Be careful.
King Alden turns his full attention to Vesper, his expression serious and focused. The battlefield around them fades into the background as the two warriors prepare for a clash of titans. Vesper, a tall and imposing figure with a cold, calculating gaze, smirks as Alden approaches.
Vesper: (mocking) So, the mighty King Alden finally graces me with his presence. I've heard tales of your prowess with Flame Mana, but I wonder… can the stories truly do you justice?
King Alden: (calmly) You'll find that the stories are just the beginning. This is your only warning, Vesper. Leave now, and I might spare you from the fate that awaits Zarek and his army.
Vesper's smirk widens into a full grin, a cruel, almost predatory expression. His Divine Mana flares up, surrounding him in a halo of blinding white light.
Vesper: (amused) Spare me? How noble of you, Alden. But you misunderstand—I'm not here to negotiate. I'm here to crush you and your pitiful nation under Zarek's heel. Now, show me the flames you're so proud of. Let's see if they can stand against the light of divinity.
King Alden doesn't respond with words. Instead, he raises his hand, summoning his Flame Mana. His aura ignites with a fierce, fiery glow, the flames around him crackling with intense heat and power. The air between them ripples with the conflicting energies of fire and light, each one pushing against the other.
Without hesitation, King Alden launches a barrage of flame attacks at Vesper. The fire roars as it speeds toward its target, engulfing the space around Vesper in a searing inferno. But Vesper moves with lightning speed, dodging the flames with inhuman precision. He laughs, a low, menacing sound that echoes across the battlefield.
Vesper: (mocking) Is this all you've got, King Alden? I expected more from the ruler of the South Nation!
Vesper retaliates, gathering his Divine Mana into glowing orbs of light—Holy Bombs. With a flick of his wrist, he hurls them at King Alden. The bombs explode on impact, sending shockwaves through the air, each one bright enough to blind and powerful enough to destroy.
But King Alden is undeterred. He channels his Flame Mana into his hands, activating his Fire Gauntlet ability. His hands are encased in fiery armor, the flames burning hotter and brighter than before. As the Holy Bombs approach, King Alden swats them away effortlessly, the explosions dissipating harmlessly against his fiery shield.
Vesper: (impressed) Not bad, Alden. It seems the flames of your reputation are well-earned. But you're only delaying the inevitable. You can't hope to match the power of divinity!
King Alden remains silent, his focus unyielding. He knows he cannot afford to prolong this battle. Vesper is powerful, but Alden has faced stronger foes. He cannot allow this fight to drain his energy—not with the greater battle still raging around them.
King Alden: (calmly) Vesper, you talk too much. If you're so confident in your divinity, then try and survive this.
With a deep breath, King Alden gathers all his Flame Mana, focusing it into a single, devastating attack. The air around him grows hotter, the flames intensifying as they spiral upward. The ground beneath them scorches as the flames twist and coil, forming a massive tornado of fire.
Vesper's eyes narrow, his smirk fading as he senses the overwhelming power building within Alden. The flames burn with a fierce, unyielding intensity, the heat so intense it distorts the air. Vesper braces himself, his Divine Mana flaring as he prepares to counter the oncoming assault.
Vesper: (serious) Impressive, King Alden. But I've faced worse. Let's see if your flames can truly match the divine!
With a final push, King Alden unleashes his most powerful technique—Asura's Inferno. The tornado of flames roars as it hurtles toward Vesper, the sheer force of the attack tearing through the battlefield. The flames twist and spiral, consuming everything in their path with a relentless, fiery fury.
Vesper raises his hands, summoning a barrier of Divine Mana in a desperate attempt to fend off the flames. But the power of Asura's Inferno is too great. The flames crash into the barrier, burning with an intensity that overwhelms even Vesper's divine defenses. The holy light shatters under the onslaught, the flames breaking through and engulfing Vesper in a searing inferno.
Vesper screams in agony as the flames tear through him, his Divine Mana burning away under the relentless heat. The inferno rages on, the flames growing hotter and brighter as they consume Vesper's power. For a moment, it seems as though the fire itself is alive, roaring with the fury of a thousand suns.
Finally, the flames begin to dissipate, the air around them cooling as the inferno fades. The battlefield falls silent, the only sound the crackling of dying embers. Vesper, now severely burned and unable to fight, collapses to the ground, his body smoking from the intense heat.
King Alden lowers his hands, his expression calm but resolute. He steps forward, looking down at the fallen warrior.
King Alden: (quietly) This is the fate that awaits anyone who dares threaten my people.
Vesper struggles to lift his head, his once confident demeanor shattered. He coughs, blood staining his lips as he looks up at Alden with a mixture of pain and disbelief.
Vesper: (weakly) How…? How could your flames…? I am divine…
King Alden: (firmly) Divinity means nothing when it's used to oppress the innocent. Your power is nothing but a tool of destruction, Vesper. And like all tools, it can be broken.
Vesper's vision begins to blur, his strength fading rapidly. He lets out one last, bitter laugh before his body goes limp, the last remnants of his Divine Mana flickering out like a dying flame.
Narrator: In the face of overwhelming power, Vesper falls. King Alden, his expression still serious and unyielding, has emerged victorious. But the battle is far from over.
The warriors of the South Nation, having witnessed their king's victory, find renewed strength. The sight of Vesper's defeat ignites a fire within them, a determination to stand tall against the invaders.
King Alden, though weary, turns his gaze back to the battlefield. The war is still raging, and his people need him. With a deep breath, he steels himself for the battles to come.
The chapter ends with King Alden standing amidst the scorched battlefield, his victory over Vesper a testament to his strength and resolve. The war continues, but the South Nation now has a glimmer of hope.
Narrator: King Alden's flames have proven their might, but the battle is far from won. The warriors of the South Nation press on, their spirits lifted by their king's triumph. The true test of their strength and unity has only just begun.