The Echoes of battle faded as leon and the remaining allies rushed through the dimly lit corridors of the Castle. The weight of their losses hung heavy in the air, Especially the loss of their beloved mage, Who had sacrificed herself to give them a chance to escape.
"Keep Moving We Can't stop now!" Leon Urged, His heart racing as he glanced back at Arlen.
Suddenly, A chilling laugh echoed through the Hallway, Halting their progress. General Aldric stood before them, His dark Armor Gleaming Ominously in the torch light. His eyes were cold and triumphant.
"You really thought you can escape me?" He Taunted, His voice dripping with disdain. "The mage was foolish to think her sacrifice would matter. I killed her myself. She died for nothing!"
Leon Felt a surge of rage at the General's Words before he could retaliate, Arlen stepped forward, Determination etched on his face.
"Let us pass, Aldric. Your Fight is with me!"
Aldric's smile widened, Clearly Enjoying the Challenge. "Ah, The brave Swordsman steps up. But what can you do against me? Your friend's will die today, And you'll follow shortly after."
"Not if i have anything to say about it," Arlen replied, Gripping his sword tightly.
Leon reached out, Desperate. Arlen, No! we can find another way!"
But Arlen shooked his head, His expression resolute. "You need to reach the Throne room. You have to stop this madness. I can hold him off."
With a final Glance at Leon, Arlen charged at the general, His sword glinting in the dim light, The clash of steel rang through the air as they engaged in the battle, Arlen fighting with all his might. But Aldric was relentless, Parrying blows and countering with vicious strikes.
"Foolish boy! You think you can protect them?" Aldric taunted, landing a blow that sent Arlen staggering back. This is where your journey ends."
Arlen, Bloodied but undeterred, Lunged again. "Ill buy you time you need!" He shouted, Determination burning in his eyes.
As the fight escalated, Leon felt a surge of despair and anger. He couldn't let Arlen sacrifice himself like this. But deep down, He knew Arlen was right; They had to reach the throne room.
With One final Push, Arlen managed to land a hit on Aldric, Causing the general to momentarily falter. "Go! Now!" He shouted his voice strained.
Realizing he had no choice, Leon turned to Elena, urging her to go onward. "We have to go! We can't let Arlen's sacrifice to be in vain!"
As they Fled toward the throne room, Arlen's voice echoed behind them. "Remember me, Leon! Fight for our fallen comrades!"
Leon swallowed hard, the weight of grief settling in his chest. But he pushed forward, knowing that Arlen's sacrifice would not be forgotten. They had to make it count.
With a heavy heart and a fire of rage igniting within him, Leon and the heroine burst through the grand doors of the throne room. The lavish decor faded into the background as Leon’s focus narrowed on the figure of the king, lounging arrogantly on his throne.
“You will pay for your treachery!” Leon roared, his fists clenched tightly as he charged forward, intent on confronting the man responsible for so much suffering.
Just as he closed the distance, General Aldric stepped into his path, a wicked smile stretching across his bloodied face. “Did you really think it would be that easy, boy?” he taunted, effortlessly blocking Leon's advance.
Leon stumbled back, confusion etched on his face. “How are you still standing?” he shouted, eyes darting to the wounds marring Aldric’s armor.
“Your friend didn’t last long, did he?” Aldric replied, his voice laced with mockery.
In that moment, Leon turned, ready to fight back, but his gaze fell upon the lifeless body of Arlen, beheaded and sprawled on the cold marble floor. Horror gripped him as he realized the truth, and his heart sank. The sight of Arlen’s sacrifice hit him like a punch to the gut.
“No… Arlen!” he gasped, disbelief and rage intertwining within him.
Beside him, the heroine recoiled in terror, her hands covering her mouth as she stumbled back. “No! Arlen!” she cried, eyes wide with fear.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
The king leaned forward in his throne, an arrogant smirk on his face. “Look at your precious friend, Leon. A pathetic end for a pathetic hero.”
Aldric stepped closer, savoring the moment. “Now, are you ready to meet your demise? I’ve waited far too long to end this charade.”
Leon’s world narrowed to a singular focus: vengeance. Grief transformed into a burning rage as he turned back to Aldric, fists clenched. “You’ll pay for this!” he shouted, charging at the general with fury.
The throne room erupted into chaos, the echoes of clashing steel reverberating through the air as Leon fought against the darkness threatening to consume him.
As the battle raged on, Leon's heart raced with desperation. He fought against Aldric, his fury pushing him to the edge, But in a sudden, cruel moment, The general lashed out, His sword slicing through the air and striking Elena.
"No!" Leon shouted, Horror flooding his senses as she fell to the ground, clutching her side, blood pooling around her.
Aldric's cruel laughter echoed through the throne room, mocking Leon's anguish. "Looks like your beloved is on the brink of death. How poetic."
Leon rushed to her side, kneeling beside her as panic surged within him. "Stay with me! Please!" He begged, cradling her head in his arm.
Elena's eyes fluttered open, pain etched on her face, but she managed a weak smile. "Leon... Don't let this war consume you," She whispered, her voice barely a breath. "You have to keep fighting... For those who still live."
Tears brimmed in Leon's eyes as he held her close, his heart breaking. "I can't lose you! I won't!"
With a trembling breath, she struggled to continue. "I... I love you." Her voice faded, and her eyes began to glaze over, drifting toward the void.
Aldric sneered from a distance, relishing in their despair. "Such touching words. It won't matter soon."
Leon felt his world shatter as he gazed at her, Memories flooding in his mind-moments of laughter, shared dreams, and the warmth of her presence. The vibrant colors of their happiness splintered into a crimson hue, the throne room illuminated in a harsh red light that mirrored his anguish.
"No!" He screamed, rage igniting within him like a wildfirem. The sight of Elena slipping away shattered him completely. "I won't let you take her! I won't let you win!"
The room seemed to pulse with his fury as he rose to his feet, every ounce of grief transforming into a raw power. The memories of the their time together fueled him, Interwhining with his rage, Igniting an unstoppable force.
He turned to Aldric's whose smug expression faltered as he realized the shift in Leon's demeanor. "What's wrong? Scared?" The general taunted though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
But Leon was beyond fear. He charged at Aldric, the air crackling with his rage. "I'll end this now!"
With every swing of his sword he unleashed his wrath, Overpowering the General with a ferocity that surprised even himself. The throne room trembled under the weight if his vengeance, the echoes of his strikes resonating like thunder.
Aldric Struggled to defend himself, his previous arrogance crumbling under the relentless assault. "No! This can't be happening!" He shouted, panic creeping into his tone.
Leon's vision narrowed on Aldric's by the memory of Elena's last words, And with a final, devastating blow, he struck.
As Aldric's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, Leon stood over him, breathing heavily, Adrenaline coursing through his veins. But in that moment of victory, A thought pierced through the fog of rage: The king had Escaped.
Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and dashed from the throne room, fueled by a singular purpose. Each step pounded with determination as he sprinted through the castle halls, his mind fixated on the figure of the king slipping away.
The king had to pay for everything- the betrayal, the loss of Arlen, and now the impending death of his beloved Elena. Rage blazed within Leon, Driving him forward as he closed the distance between them.
He rounded a corner, and there was the king, A look of shock etched across his face as he turned to see Leon barreling toward him. "You... How did you-?" The king stammered, eyes wide with fear.
In an Instant, Leon leaped into the air, sword raised high. He roared, Slicing down with all his might.
The blade connected, and the king staggered back, disbelief etched across his features before crumpling to the floor, Lifeblood pooling around him.
But there was no time to celebrate. A soldier lurking nearby rushed at leon, sword drawn, Attempting to defend the fallen king. Leon pivoted, instincts hone from battle, and with a swift, lethal Strike, he dispatched the soldier, his rage consuming him.
With a heart heavy with loss, Leon took a moment to catch his breath. The weight of his actions pressed upon him, but there was no time for remorces; He needed to return to the throne room.
As he sprinted back, memories of Elena flashed theough his mind-her laughter, her warmth, and the promise they had made to each other. Those moments now stained with red, Overshadowed by the tradegy of the day.
Leon pushed through the doors of the throne room once more, his heart sinking as he saw her lying there, sill, the light fading from her eyes. "No... not like ths," he murmured, rushing to her side.
But as he knelt beside her, a sound caught his attention, The unmistakable thud of armored footsteps echoed in the corridor. He turned, instincts on high alert, And spotted a flag approaching the throne room, its colors signaling a foreign kingdom trying to take advantage of the chaos. Panic surged within him as he realized the fight
was far from over.
As leon knelt beside his beloved Elena, the despair threatening to consume him, a sound shattered the moment-a heavy thud of armored footsteps echoed through the corridor. He turned, his heart pounding, and spotted the foreign army advancing, their banner flapping Ominously in the air.
The general of the foreign army, a towering figure clad in dark armor, Stepped forward with a smug grin. "Look what we have here! A little rat scurrying in the shadows of a fallen kingdom," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Kill him! Let the world see what happens to those wo dare defy the crown!"
At the command, the soldier charged forward, weapons raised. Rage ignited within Leon, boiling over like a storm ready to unleash its fury. "You think you can just in here and take everything from us?" He bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos. "I will make you pay for your arrogance!"
In a blinding flash, Leon sprang to his feet, his sword gleaming with Lethal intent. The first soldier lunged at him, but with a swift, a powerful strike, Leon sent him sprawling to the ground. One by one, the soldiers fell before him their lives snuffed out in an instant.
His movement were a blur, fueled by grief and fury, as he dispatched enemy after enemy. Blood soaked the floor, pooling beneath him as he moved through ranks of the foreign soldiers like phantom of vengeance. "You dare threaten my home?!" He roared, cutting down another foe.
The General watched of the foreign army watched, eyes widening with fear as Leon's rampage continued, His power overwhelming, Leon was no longer the man they could control; he was a force of nature, driven by loss and anger, and he would not be stopped.
But as Leon continued his relentless assault, he began to feel the toll it took on him. The weight of his grief pressed heavily against him, and with each enemy he fell, the darkness around him deepened. His vision blurredz and he realized he was beginning to tire, his body straining under the relentless pace he had set.
"Is this all you've got?!" Leon shouted, but deep down, he felt the enroaching exhaustion. Despite his strength, he was only human, and the effects of his fury were starting to manifest.
Just then, the Foreign general took a step back, signaling his remaining troops, "Fall back!" He yelled, but it was too late. Leon charged at him sword raised high, determined to end this madness once and for all.
With a final, desperate swing, he felled the last of the soldiers in his path. But the fight had taken its toll, As he turned to confront the general, Darkness began to creep into the edges of his vision, and his legs buckled beneath him.
Leon staggered, gasping for breath feeling the weight of everything-the battles, the losses, the memories of Elena-crushing him. In his final moments, he saw her face, A warm smile shining through the haze.
As he collapsed to the ground, the world around him faded to black, leaving only the sound of the distant chaos and the echoes of his own heart, a final beat resonating before silence enveloped him.