The camp buzzed with a cautious urgency as dawn broke over the Highlands. Soldiers moved in tightly coordinated teams, fortifying defenses, organizing supplies, and preparing for the battle they all knew was coming. Despite the soldiers’ renewed confidence in Billy, the looming threat of the Shadow Lords kept everyone on edge.
Dorian stood in the center of the coalition’s command tent, his presence still drawing suspicious glances. Kaelin studied the map he had provided, his brows furrowed in concentration.
“These points,” Kaelin muttered, tapping on three marked regions. “They’re not just rich in chaos energy. They’re strategically linked. If the Shadow Lords control them, they can cut off every major route in the Highlands.”
Billy, standing tall despite his lingering exhaustion, nodded. “Which means we need to act before they solidify their positions.”
Lady Soria leaned over the table, her expression stern. “It’s risky. If we split our forces, we’ll be vulnerable to ambush.”
“We don’t have a choice,” Billy replied. His purple eyes glimmered with determination. “If we focus all our forces on one point, the Shadow Lords will consolidate power at the others. We hit all three simultaneously.”
Dorian cleared his throat, drawing their attention. “I can guide a team to the southern point. I know the terrain, and I know how they operate.”
Kaelin glanced at Billy. “Can we trust him?”
Billy locked eyes with Dorian, reading the faint glint of desperation in the man’s gaze. “For now, we don’t have a choice. But you’ll have someone watching you every step of the way.”
Dorian nodded solemnly. “Fair enough.”
---
The Divided Force
As the coalition mobilized, Billy divided the troops into three units. Lady Soria would lead the cavalry to the eastern front, where reports indicated heavy fortifications. Kaelin and his mages were assigned to the northern region, where chaos energy destabilized the terrain.
Billy himself would lead the main force westward, where the Shadow Lords’ influence was strongest. Dorian accompanied his group, with two of Soria’s elite riders tasked with monitoring his every move.
As they marched, Dorian approached Billy. “You’re putting a lot of faith in someone you don’t know.”
“I don’t trust you,” Billy replied bluntly, his gaze fixed ahead. “But I trust desperation. You’ve burned your bridge with the Shadow Lords. That makes you their enemy—for now.”
Dorian smirked faintly. “Fair point. Let’s hope my information doesn’t let you down.”
---
The First Strike
Billy’s unit reached the western outpost just before dusk. The air was thick with chaos energy, swirling in visible currents that pulsed against their senses. Shadow constructs patrolled the area, their forms grotesque and unnaturally silent.
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“Hold the line here,” Billy ordered his troops. “Kaelin’s disruption should weaken these constructs once it takes effect. Until then, no unnecessary risks.”
Dorian stepped forward, pointing toward a cluster of jagged rocks. “There’s a blind spot on the north side. I can slip in and disable their wards.”
Billy hesitated but eventually nodded. “You have ten minutes. If you’re not back by then, we move without you.”
Dorian vanished into the shadows, his movements eerily fluid. The soldiers watched him disappear, their nerves clearly frayed.
“Stay focused,” Billy said, his voice cutting through their doubt. “We move as planned.”
---
Chaos Unleashed
Minutes later, the sky above the outpost erupted with light as Kaelin’s disruption spell activated. The shadow constructs staggered, their forms flickering and dissipating like smoke.
“That’s our cue!” Billy shouted, surging forward in his Lord Form. His troops followed, their battle cries echoing through the ravine.
The Shadow Lords’ forces retaliated fiercely. Shadow beasts leapt from the darkness, their claws slashing at the coalition’s ranks. Billy cut through them with precise, devastating strikes, his chaos blade glowing with raw energy.
Dorian reappeared amid the chaos, his face pale but determined. “The wards are down! Their central node is exposed, but it’s heavily guarded.”
Billy’s eyes narrowed. “Then we break through.”
---
The Shadowborn General
As they approached the central node—a spire of pulsating black and purple energy—a towering figure emerged from the darkness. The Shadowborn General stood nearly ten feet tall, their armor gleaming like obsidian and their weapon crackling with chaotic power.
“So, you’re the infamous Lord Knight,” the General sneered, their voice deep and resonant. “The Shadow Lords have been watching you closely. They’ll be pleased to know I’ve ended your pitiful resistance.”
Billy stepped forward, his chaos energy flaring. “You’ll find I’m harder to kill than you think.”
The General raised their blade, pointing it directly at Billy. “Then prove yourself, chaos wielder.”
---
A Battle of Titans
The clash between Billy and the Shadowborn General was cataclysmic. Each strike of their weapons sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, forcing soldiers on both sides to shield themselves.
The General fought with precision and brutality, their strikes aimed to exploit any opening. Billy countered with agility and power, his chaos blade burning brighter with each exchange.
Around them, the battle raged on. Coalition forces pushed forward, inspired by Billy’s ferocity. Dorian worked with a small squad to disable the spire’s defenses, his knowledge proving invaluable.
Kaelin’s disruption continued to destabilize the constructs, tipping the scales in the coalition’s favor. But the Shadowborn General remained a formidable opponent, matching Billy blow for blow.
---
Turning the Tide
As the fight dragged on, Billy’s chaos energy surged to its peak. The faint hum in his veins became a roar, and his form began to shift. His Battle Form emerged, towering and radiant, chaos energy crackling like a storm around him.
The General hesitated, their confidence faltering. “What are you?”
Billy’s voice resonated with power. “The end of your reign.”
With a final, devastating strike, Billy’s chaos blade cleaved through the General’s defenses, shattering their weapon and armor. The General let out a guttural roar before disintegrating into a cloud of dark energy.
The battlefield fell silent as the spire crumbled, its chaotic energy imploding in a blinding burst of light. The Shadow Lords’ forces retreated, their cohesion broken.
---
Victory and Shadows
The coalition regrouped, their spirits lifted by the hard-won victory. Billy stood at the edge of the battlefield, his energy spent but his resolve stronger than ever.
Dorian approached cautiously. “You did it. The Shadow Lords won’t take this lightly.”
“They’ll come back stronger,” Billy said, his voice steady. “But so will we.”
Lady Soria arrived with a grim smile. “Two more outposts down. Kaelin reports similar success. For now, the Highlands are safe.”
Billy nodded, his purple eyes glowing faintly in the twilight. “We’ve bought ourselves time. Let’s make sure we use it wisely.”
---
End of Chapter 30