King Gulben steadied his breath, his body burning with the raw power he had absorbed from countless slain monsters. His muscles no longer ached as they once had — his body had adapted, strengthened beyond its previous limits.
The air in this dinsion was thick with energy, yet it never felt enough. He needed more.
He pressed forward, cutting down another twisted beast with a single powerful strike. The creature's essence rushed into him like a tide, filling him with renewed vigor and power. His vision sharpened, his reflexes honed further. He was growing stronger by the mont.
Then, a new presence made itself known.
A loud and guttural growl echoed through the red-tinged sky, sending a vibration through the very ground beneath his feet.
King Gulben turned, his sharp gaze locking onto the hulking figure erging from the dark mist ahead.
It was massive figure, easily three tis the size of an Elf or human. Its form was a grotesque fusion of humanoid and beast.
Patches of matted fur covered parts of its muscular fra, while other areas remained bare, revealing sinewy flesh beneath.
Clawed hands flexed with barely contained aggression and bloodlust, their sharp tips gleaming ominously. Its legs, digitigrade like a true predator, dug into the earth with each step. His muscles rippling with terrifying strength.
The most unsettling feature however, was its eyes. Sickly green, glowing with malice and predatory gaze. That eyes watching him with an unsettling intelligence.
Thick saliva dripped from its jagged maw, pooling onto the ground with a faint sizzle, as if its drool alone carried sothing unnatural.
King Gulben felt the weight of the creature's presence pressing against him.
A lesser warrior might have hesitated, might have turned and run. But not him.
He had co too far and grown too strong. There was no turning back at this point. He keeps going and co back alive as soon as possible.
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With a sharp exhale, he lunged toward the creature, calling upon his Magic.
A burst of radiant light erupted from his hand, aid directly at the monster's glowing eyes. The sudden brilliance illuminated the twisted landscape, montarily blinding the beast.
The creature let out a furious snarl, staggering back, its claws swiping wildly at the air. That was the opening he needed.
King Gulben moved like lightning, his sword flashing as he slashing its blade again and again. Each slash was precise. He aid aid it at the creature's tendons, joints, and any weak points that he could exploit.
Dark blood sprayed as he cut deep into the creature's flesh, his strikes relentless. The force of his attacks sent shockwaves through the air, each impact more brutal than the last.
But the monster was not so easily felled.
A split second after his last strike, the beast's claw lashed out with terrifying speed.
Gulben barely had ti to react.
The claw hit his side, sending him skidding backward across the rough ground. A sharp pain flared through his ribs but he gritted his teeth, refusing to let it slow him. The pain subsided in instant because of his strength now.
The creature roared, its vision clearing.
Now it was its turn to attack and King Gulben braced himself.
King Gulben dived to the side just as the beast's massive claw ca crashing down where he had stood.
Rolling to his feet, he imdiately slashed his sword upward, aiming for the creature's exposed torso.
But the monster reacted so quick, it intercepting the attack with its thick, clawed hand. A sharp clang rang out as steel t monstrous talon, sparks flying between them. The force of the impact vibrated through Gulben's arms. This monster is pretty powerful.
The beast snarled, its glowing green eyes narrowing. Without warning, it opened its maw and spat a thick glob of saliva straight at him.
Gulben's instincts scread danger. He barely managed to leap backward and landing several ters away as the foul liquid splattered onto the ground where he had stood. The earth sizzled, dark smoke rising from the spot.
He grimaced. "Disgusting… and likely deadly."
If that spit touched him, he wouldn't just be sickened — it could burn straight through his armor and flesh. He had to be more careful.
Gritting his teeth, he raised his hand, summoning light once more. The creature howled in irritation as its vision was stolen again but this ti, it lashed out wildly in all directions, preventing king Gulben from closing in.
He cursed under his breath and changed tactics. Raising his sword, he slashed forward, sending a crescent arc of energy flying toward the beast.
King Gulben moved like a blur, his speed after getting thee essence were unmatched as he weaved through the battlefield, sending one crescent slash after another toward the beast.
The shimring arcs of energy tore through the air, forcing the creature onto the defensive. Each ti the blinding light began to fade, he summoned another, ensuring the monster remained disoriented.
Then, finally, one of his slashes struck true. The beast flinched, letting out a loud angry snarl as dark blood sprayed from its side.
King Gulben saw his opening and wasted no ti—he dashed forward, his sword gleaming as he plunged it deep into the creature's torso.
The blade tore through sinew and muscle, piercing straight into its core. But even with such a grievous wound, the monster refused to fall.
It let out a deafening roar, its claws swinging wildly in a last attempt to strike him down.
King Gulben didn't take any chances. He leaped back just in ti, narrowly avoiding the deadly swipe. Without hesitation, he repeated the assault — blinding light, swift slashes, precise strikes.
Again and again, he inflicted wound after wound, wearing the creature down until it could fight no longer.
With one final slash, the beast collapsed, finally died.
King Gulben narrowed his eyes at the fallen creature, unwilling to take any chances. With a swift motion he raised his sword and drove it down once more, slicing through its thick hide.
He struck again and again, mutilating the corpse to ensure it was truly lifeless. Only when the beast lay in a broken, unrecognizable heap did he finally step back, breathing steadily.
His gaze then shifted to the three objects lying nearby. Small, round, and made of segnted golden tal, each artifact pulsed faintly from within, as if holding a great power inside.
He knelt down, picking one up carefully. The mont his fingers touched its cool surface, sothing deep within him stirred—an instinct honed by the blood of Elven kings.
This wasn't just an artifact. It was a weapon. More precisely a bomb.
Gulben clenched his jaw, nodding to himself. There was no way such a powerful device would be left unguarded unless it held imnse destructive potential.
If it had taken a monster of that caliber to keep these bombs hidden, then their power must be beyond anything he had seen before.
King Gulben thinking that his mission was complete for now. He had gained enough strength, and now he held sothing that could shift the tides of war. It was ti to return to the palace.
---
The army of Daemons and Ogres in exo suits had reached the Magic barrier now, their hulking forms pressing forward with relentless aggression.
So had already died, struck down by Magic arrows fired from the palace walls, but most endured.
The runes etched into their exo suits shimred with protective energy, nullifying much of the damage and allowing them to advance without hesitation.
They opened fire, unleashing a storm of projectiles and energy blasts against the shimring barrier. Explosions rippled across its surface, causing montary distortions, but it held firm.
Reinforced by Eccar's powerful Magic, the barrier remained an unyielding wall between the palace and the invading forces.
Eccar, standing at the heart of the palace's defenses, maintained his composure as he channeled his energy into the orb. He could feel the strain creeping in — not overwhelming yet, but present. It was a slow but steady drain on his strength.
Still, he said nothing. The battle still long and the last thing he wanted was to cause concern.
From the tallest tower, Aerchon observed the battlefield. The sheer number of enemies battering the barrier was daunting, but for now, they were being held at bay.
He exhaled, gripping the stone ledge as his sharp eyes scanned the chaos below. He knew the truth—this defense wouldn't be possible without Eccar's reinforcent.
Even if his father had never openly acknowledged it, Aerchon wouldn't argue. Right now, Eccar's help was necessary.
For now, the barrier stood strong. And as long as it did, its good.
From above the clouds, the exhausted Laston simply observed before finally saying, "I'm going down."
Dredge and Veyna turned to him.
"Is it finally ti for you to take matters into your own hands, my lord?" Dredge asked.
"Yes. This battle is playing out a little differently than I expected. I thought the Dragonborn would show up imdiately so I could kill him first and eliminate the most troubleso threat. But since he hasn't appeared, I'll have to draw him out myself."
Without waiting for a reply, Laston began his descent.
Monts later, he appeared before Aerchon, who was watching the battle unfold.
And he grinned.
---
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