Chương 88: Chapter 87: The Last Stand of the King

The moment Rayan stepped through the Celestial Gate... Heat slammed into his face. The sky above Ayanor had turned crimson. Thick smoke covered the heavens, hiding the sun behind rolling clouds of ash. Every street that had once echoed with merchants and children was now consumed by flames. The proud capital of Ayanor... Was dying. For a brief second... Rayan couldn't breathe. The city where he had laughed as a child... Where his mother had smiled... Where his father had taught him how to wield a sword...

Was barely recognizable. Broken towers pierced the smoke like shattered spears. The royal palace burned. The Black Sun banner fluttered above its highest tower. His hands clenched into fists.

"... Father." The Alliance Army emerged behind him. Every soldier froze. Cassian slowly lowered his spear.

"... Gods..." Even Siena, whose composure rarely faltered, stood speechless. This wasn't a battlefield. It was a massacre. Bodies of Royal Knights covered the streets. Yet something immediately caught Rayan's attention. The civilians. Thousands of them... Were alive. They were retreating through hidden evacuation routes beneath the city walls. King Dasrath had bought them time. Even while facing an impossible enemy... He had protected his people first. Rayan smiled bitterly.

"That's exactly what you would do..."

"Your Highness!" A wounded captain stumbled toward them. Half his armor was missing. One arm hung limp. He dropped to one knee.

"The King..."

"Where is he?" The captain pointed toward the palace. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"He refused to retreat."

"He ordered every remaining knight to escort the civilians."

"And then..."

"He walked into the palace alone." Cassian's eyes widened.

"Alone?" The captain nodded.

"He said..." Tears streamed down the veteran's face.

'A king does not ask his people to die in his place.' Without another word... Rayan sprinted. Golden Astra exploded beneath his feet. Entire streets blurred as he raced through the ruined capital. Cassian, Siena and the Guardian followed close behind. Every step revealed more destruction. Black Sun warriors fought Royal Knights in the streets. Children hid beneath broken wagons. Healers desperately tried to save the wounded. Rayan didn't slow down. He couldn't. Every heartbeat felt like an eternity.

Inside the Royal Palace... Silence. The magnificent throne room had become a battlefield. Broken pillars lay scattered across the marble floor. The royal throne had split in half. Blood stained the white stone. At the center... King Dasrath remained standing. Barely. His armor had been shattered. His left arm hung uselessly. Several deep wounds covered his body. Yet... His sword still pointed forward. Opposite him stood a single man. Dressed entirely in black armor. Unlike the ordinary Black Sun warriors...

His helmet resembled a crowned skull. His crimson Astra burned like molten lava. He slowly applauded.

"Remarkable."

"You've survived longer than expected." Dasrath laughed weakly.

"You talk..."

"... too much." The commander smiled.

"My name is Mordren."

"First General of the Black Sun."

"You should remember the name of the man who ends your bloodline." CLANG! Dasrath charged. His exhausted body ignored every wound. His sword erupted with brilliant golden Astra.

"Dharma Blade Style..."

"... King's Roar!" The throne room exploded. Golden energy swept toward Mordren like a tidal wave. For a brief instant... The Black Sun General disappeared inside the attack. Smoke filled the hall. Silence followed. Then... A black blade emerged. It pierced straight through the golden light. The attack split apart. Mordren walked forward unharmed.

"Beautiful technique." He raised his sword.

"But..."

"... your Astra has faded." CRASH!! The black blade struck. Dasrath barely blocked. The impact shattered his sword. Fragments scattered across the throne room. For the first time... The King stood defenseless. Mordren raised his weapon.

"Goodbye." BOOOOM!! The palace wall exploded inward. Golden light flooded the throne room. A black-and-gold figure crashed between them. 6Shadowbreaker stopped the descending blade only centimeters from Dasrath's neck. The shockwave ripped through the palace. Mordren's eyes narrowed.

"So..."

"The prince returns." Rayan slowly looked back. His father's eyes widened.

"... Rayan." For several seconds... Neither spoke. No words were needed. Everything they wished to say... Was already understood. Dasrath smiled.

"You came."

"I was late."

"No." The King gently shook his head.

"You came..."

"... exactly when a son should." Rayan's voice trembled for the first time.

"I'm taking you home." Dasrath looked around the burning throne room.

"This..."

"... is my home." Silence. The old King's smile remained warm.

"Listen carefully."

"You are no longer my son." Rayan stared at him.

"You became..."

"... Humanity's King..."

"... the day they chose to follow you." Those words struck deeper than any wound. Mordren sighed dramatically.

"This reunion is touching."

"But..." He pointed his blade toward Rayan.

"I have another king to kill." Golden flames erupted around Shadowbreaker. For the first time since arriving... Rayan smiled. Not with joy. With absolute resolve.

"No." His voice echoed throughout the palace.

"You'll never touch him again." The Dharma Astra roared to life. The newly inherited Lionheart Dominion expanded across the throne room. Golden runes covered the walls. The despair that had gripped every surviving knight vanished instantly. Outside the palace... Thousands of Alliance soldiers felt the aura. They looked toward the throne room. Hope returned to their eyes. Mordren frowned.

"So this..."

"... is the power Kael warned us about." He slowly removed his helmet. A scar stretched across his face. His crimson eyes glowed with excitement.

"Excellent."

"I've waited twenty years..."

"... to fight the true heir." He planted his sword into the cracked marble. Dark Astra erupted toward the heavens. The palace began collapsing around them. Dasrath quietly stepped backward. He no longer needed to fight. His son... Had arrived. And for the first time since the invasion began... The King allowed himself to believe... That Ayanor still had a future. To Be Continue....