He turned his attention to locating the President, but no matter how hard he looked or how far he extended his senses, he couldn't see or feel him anywhere. Frustration flickered across his face as he took a step toward the two elders, intending to finish what he started. However, a faint pulse of mana caught his attention, drawing his gaze to a pile of rubble near a shattered boulder.
Knox's eyes narrowed as he approached the debris. The mana signature was weak, almost invisible, but it was undeniably there. He kicked aside the rocks and rubble, revealing the remnants of the President's lifeless form. The air around the body was thick with the residual energy of his powerful abilities, a ghostly echo of the formidable opponent he once was.
"So, you didn't make it," Knox murmured, his voice a mix of satisfaction and disdain. It seems you weren't as strong as you thought."
He turned his attention back to the two elders, their barrier shimmering faintly in the distance. The sight of them huddled together, protected by their last-ditch effort, sparked a cold, burning resolve within him. Knox's body was still thrumming with the power he had unleashed, and the thrill of the fight hadn't yet faded from his veins.
With a flick of his wrist, the flame-made swords roared back to life, casting an eerie glow over his face. He began to walk toward the elders, each step purposeful and unyielding. The ground beneath him sizzled and cracked, scorched by the intensity of his power.
Sensing his approach, the two elders reinforced their barrier, their faces pale and eyes wide with fear. They had witnessed the carnage Knox was capable of, and they knew they were no match for him. But retreat was no longer an option, and surrender would only mean a slower, more painful death.
Knox could see the desperation etched into their faces as he closed the distance between them. Their barrier flickered and pulsed, straining against the overwhelming power he exuded. With a single, decisive strike, Knox plunged his fiery swords into the barrier, shattering it like glass.
Jasmine and the other elder stood together, their faces etched with grim determination. This was their last stand, and they knew it. Jasmine made one final, desperate attempt to sever Knox's connection to the system. She gathered the last vestiges of her strength, focusing her mana into a tiny, concentrated speck of energy aimed directly at Knox.
Knox sensed the shift in the air. His eyes snapped to Jasmine, narrowing as he saw the faint glimmer of her attack. The speck of mana shot toward him, a desperate attempt to cripple his power.
A sinister smile curled across his lips. With a fluid motion, he raised his flaming sword and swatted the speck away before it could reach him. The mana dissipated harmlessly into the air, neutralizing its threat.
"Did you really think that would work?" Knox's voice was cold and mocking. He advanced towards Jasmine and the other elder, his swords still ablaze with searing white flames.
The elder, seeing their last hope dashed, stepped in front of Jasmine. "You won't touch her," he growled, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and defiance.
Knox's smile widened. "Brave, but foolish."
With a swift, merciless strike, Knox brought his swords down. The elder raised his arms to block, but the flaming blades cut through his defenses with ease. The elder's scream echoed across the battlefield as the flames consumed him, his body collapsing in a charred heap.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Jasmine's face paled, the last of her hope extinguished. She staggered back, her body trembling with exhaustion and fear. Knox took a step toward her, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. The terror in her eyes was a reflection of the countless lives he had snuffed out, and it only fueled his twisted sense of triumph.
"Now," he said, his voice a low growl, "it's time for you to join the rest."
Before Jasmine could react, Knox's swords slashed through the air, cutting through her with the same ruthless efficiency. Her scream was brief, silenced almost instantly as the flames engulfed her. In moments, she was reduced to ashes, just another casualty of Knox's relentless rampage.
As the last remnants of Jasmine and the elder faded away, Knox stood alone once more. The battlefield was a wasteland of death and destruction, a testament to his unstoppable power. He took a deep breath, feeling the raw energy coursing through his veins, unchecked and unchallenged.
The adrenaline from the battle slowly faded, leaving Knox feeling drained and heavy. His muscles ached, and his breath came in ragged gasps. The fiery aura that had surrounded him dimmed and flickered out, the heat dissipating into the cool night air.
Knox glanced around the battlefield one last time. His vision blurred and unfocused. His legs wobbled, barely able to support his weight. With a final, exhausted sigh, Knox collapsed to the ground. The earth beneath him felt cool and oddly comforting, a stark contrast to the scorching heat he had wielded throughout the battle. He closed his eyes, letting the darkness envelop him, his body completely spent.
For a moment, there was silence, the stillness of the night broken only by the distant crackle of dying flames and the faint rustle of the wind. Knox lay motionless, his energy completely depleted, as the aftermath of the battle settled over the ravaged land.
*** *** ***
He woke up with a start, a slight panic flashing across his face. His breath came in quick, shallow gasps as he looked around, expecting to see his enemies looming over him. But the battlefield was eerily silent. The charred remains of soldiers and the scorched earth were all that remained of the fierce conflict. Everyone was gone. Everyone was dead.
Knox slowly stood up, using his hands to help him rise. His body ached with a profound, bone-weary fatigue, and every movement sent a fresh wave of pain through him. He took a moment to steady himself, checking his mana reserves. They were low but not dangerously so. He guessed he had been passed out for close to a week.
With a deep breath, he surveyed the desolate scene one last time. His goal was almost within reach. All the districts had been wiped out, leaving only one final destination: the capital, the last bastion of Aetherian power.
Knox set off, his steps slow and deliberate at first, then gradually gaining strength as he moved. Each step was a reminder of his purpose, each breath a testament to his resilience. The path ahead was clear, and his resolve was unwavering. The capital awaited, and with it, the final confrontation that would decide the fate of the Aetherians once and for all.
As he approached the outskirts of the capital, he felt a surge of anticipation. This was it—the culmination of all his efforts, the final step in his quest for vengeance. The city loomed ahead, its towering walls and fortified gates a stark contrast to the destruction he had left in his wake.
His plan was simple but devastatingly effective. Knox would wipe out the entire city in one catastrophic strike. He began to gather his mana, channeling it into a single point between his fingers. The fire arrow took shape, a searing, incandescent bolt of pure destructive energy. Mana flowed into it with a ferocity he had never summoned before, each second intensifying the blazing arrow's power.
For ten minutes, he focused all his energy and willpower on charging the fire arrow. It grew brighter and hotter, a miniature sun glowing ominously in his hand. The air around him crackled with raw energy, distorting with the immense heat radiating from the concentrated fire.
Finally, Knox was ready. He pulled his arm back, using his fingers as a makeshift string for the deadly bow he had formed. The fire arrow trembled with pent-up power, a barely contained force of destruction.
With a deep breath, Knox steadied himself, aiming at the heart of the capital. He could see the city's walls and towers, but none of it would matter. They would all be consumed in the inferno he was about to unleash.
He released the arrow. It shot forward with a deafening roar, tearing through the air like a comet. The ground beneath Knox's feet shook with the force of the release, and the sky lit up as the fire arrow streaked toward its target.
The moment the arrow hit, there was a blinding explosion. The sky turned white, and a shockwave rippled out from the point of impact, flattening everything in its path. The city's walls crumbled, buildings disintegrated, and a fiery blast wave engulfed the entire area. The air filled with the sound of the earth-shattering blast, followed by a deafening silence as the firestorm roared through the city.
Knox stood at a distance, watching as the capital was reduced to ashes. The fire arrow had done its work perfectly. The once mighty city was now a smoldering ruin, nothing but charred remains and molten stone.
For a moment, Knox felt a pang of something akin to regret. But it was fleeting. This was his purpose, his mission. The Aetherians had to be eradicated, and this was the final step. He turned away from the burning city, a grim satisfaction settling over him.
His journey was complete. The capital was no more, and with it, the last stronghold of the Aetherians had fallen. The Harbinger of Destruction had fulfilled his promise.