Chương 82: Chapter 80: The March of the Black Sun

A cold wind swept across the lake. The last traces of the black feather dissolved into ash, carried away by the rippling water. Rayan remained motionless, his hand still outstretched where the feather had rested moments before. Kael. The name echoed in his thoughts. Not a Celestial. Not an Origin Beast. A man. A man who had once dreamed of becoming humanity's greatest protector. Now he had become its greatest threat. Behind him, the Guardian approached in silence.

"You've made your decision." It wasn't a question. Rayan nodded.

"We're going west." The old spirit closed his eyes for a brief moment.

"I hoped you'd say that." The following morning, the camp buzzed with activity. Messengers raced between tents. Blacksmiths repaired damaged weapons. Supply wagons were loaded with food, medicine, and Astra crystals. The Continental Alliance had transformed overnight. This was no longer a loose agreement between kingdoms. It was an army. Inside the command tent, leaders from every nation gathered around the great map. King Dasrath pointed toward the western frontier.

"If Kael reaches another sanctuary before us, he'll destroy another legacy." The Queen of Valoria frowned.

"But we can't abandon our borders."

"The Archons could attack again at any time." Before anyone could answer, Siena stepped forward.

"They won't." Several rulers looked at her in confusion.

"The First Child stopped the siege." She met their eyes calmly.

"He knows something has changed."

"Heaven has a new enemy now." The room fell silent. No one wanted to admit it. But she was right. For the first time in history... Humanity and Heaven were no longer each other's greatest concern. Cassian leaned over the map with an exaggerated sigh. The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"So..."

"We're chasing a psychopath across the continent." Rayan folded his arms.

"Essentially." Cassian grinned.

"Finally."

"A simple mission." Siena rolled her eyes.

"Nothing about this is simple."

"It never is." Hours later... The Alliance Army departed Ayanor. Nearly fifty thousand soldiers marched beneath a single banner. Not the banner of Ayanor. Not Valoria. Not any kingdom. A new banner. A golden sword surrounded by seven stars. The Banner of the Continental Alliance. Citizens lined the roads as the army departed. Children waved handmade flags. Merchants handed supplies to weary soldiers. Old veterans saluted silently. Rayan rode at the front of the column. Not because he was a prince.

Because everyone had chosen to follow him. The realization weighed heavily upon him. Leadership wasn't glory. It was responsibility. Every decision he made from this moment onward could save thousands... Or condemn them. By sunset, the army reached the Ashen Pass. The valley had once served as the primary trade route between eastern and western kingdoms. Now... It was a graveyard. Broken wagons littered the road. Abandoned armor lay scattered among the rocks. Not a single body remained. Cassian frowned.

"That's strange."

"The reports said an entire battalion disappeared here." Siena knelt beside one of the broken shields.

"There aren't any bloodstains." The Guardian slowly walked through the valley. His expression became darker with every step.

"They weren't killed." Rayan looked toward him.

"They were taken." The words had barely left the Guardian's mouth when a chilling laugh echoed through the cliffs.

"He noticed." The voice came from everywhere. And nowhere. Soldiers immediately drew their weapons. Mages activated defensive formations. Rayan's golden eyes scanned the valley.

"Show yourself." A shadow detached itself from the cliffside. Then another. Then dozens more. Figures wearing black cloaks silently appeared atop the surrounding cliffs. Each carried a crimson sword. Each wore a featureless black mask. None radiated Astra. Only emptiness. Cassian spun his spear.

"Well..."

"This looks unpleasant." One of the masked figures stepped forward. Unlike the others, his mask bore a golden crack running through its center. He slowly removed it. The man's face was young. Perhaps twenty years old. Yet his eyes... His eyes were completely black.

"The Dharma Heir." He smiled politely.

"Our master has been expecting you." Rayan stepped forward.

"Kael." The man nodded.

"Lord Kael sends his regards."

"He asked us to deliver a message." Without warning... The masked warrior drove his crimson sword into his own chest. The surrounding soldiers gasped. Instead of blood... Black smoke erupted from the wound. The man's body rapidly disintegrated. Before disappearing completely, he whispered one final sentence.

"The Fourth Sanctuary..."

"... already belongs to the Black Sun." Silence. Then— The valley exploded. Every remaining masked warrior burst apart simultaneously. A wave of dark energy surged through the pass. The surrounding cliffs began collapsing.

"Boulders!" someone shouted. The mountains themselves were falling. Cassian slammed his spear into the ground.

"Everyone move!" Lightning erupted across the valley, shattering several descending rocks. Siena raised both hands. Countless lotus petals expanded into shimmering barriers, shielding hundreds of soldiers. King Dasrath barked orders without hesitation.

"Protect the civilians!"

"Don't break formation!" Rayan looked upward. The largest section of the mountain was collapsing directly toward the retreating supply convoy. Hundreds of noncombatants were trapped. Without thinking, he sprinted forward. Shadowbreaker blazed with golden fire. The Dharma Astra answered his resolve.

"Lionheart Dominion." A golden aura exploded outward. Every nearby soldier felt their fear disappear. Their exhausted bodies moved again. Knights rushed toward the convoy. Mages combined their Astras. Shields locked together. For one impossible moment... Thousands of ordinary people stood together against a falling mountain. Rayan leaped into the air. Golden flames wrapped around Shadowbreaker. The sword grew brighter than the setting sun.

"Dharma Astra Art..." He drew back the blade.

"... King's Verdict." The strike split the heavens. A colossal arc of golden light crashed into the mountainside. The peak shattered. Millions of tons of stone exploded into harmless fragments that rained across the valley like dust. Silence followed. Then thunderous cheers erupted from the Alliance Army. The soldiers looked toward Rayan with renewed determination. They had just witnessed something beyond strength. They had witnessed a leader who moved first when everyone else hesitated. High above the clouds...

A lone figure watched the entire battle. Kael. His crimson-marked hand rested upon the hilt of a black sword. A faint smile crossed his face.

"So..."

"You've finally become worthy." He turned away from the valley. Beyond him, on the distant horizon, an enormous obsidian tower pierced the sky. At its summit, a golden sanctuary burned with black flames. The Fourth Dharma Legacy... Had already begun to fall. To Be Continue....