Chapter 171: Breaking the Gates

The sky was painted with the first hues of dawn as Jay and his forces marched toward Isolde's fortress. Her tower loomed in the distance, an ominous silhouette against the lightening sky, encircled by towering walls and patrolled by her shadow-enchanted guards. The fortress was her final bastion, where she'd amassed her remaining forces and the last remnants of her dark magic. But Jay, now armed with the shadow blade, was ready to face whatever horrors awaited.

Mira walked beside him, her face resolute, her gaze fixed on the fortress. The traitor, now a trusted ally, marched with purpose, offering insight into Isolde's defenses as they approached. Despite the risk, the atmosphere among their group was one of steely determination. They had come too far to turn back.

As they neared the outer gates, the sounds of marching alerted the fortress guards. Arrows rained down from above, the archers' blackened bows seeming to draw energy from the shadows themselves. Jay raised the shadow blade, focusing his mind as he'd practiced since the night before. The blade responded to his command, absorbing the darkness around him and projecting a shield, deflecting the arrows mid-air.

"Now!" Jay shouted, signaling his fighters.

A group of loyalists charged forward with ropes and grappling hooks, throwing them up to scale the walls. Mira, agile and fearless, took to the front, scaling the stones with ease and dropping down on the other side to dispatch the first line of Isolde's guards.

Jay followed, the shadow blade humming with energy in his hand. He felt its hunger intensify as it tasted the fear of his enemies, a raw, primal force that surged through him. He pushed the darkness down, controlling it, harnessing it as he cut through the guards blocking their path.

Inside the fortress walls, the chaos was palpable. Isolde's soldiers were spread thin, surprised by the sudden assault. Jay could see the cracks in her forces—signs that her power was weakening. The guards, once loyal to her in fear, seemed hesitant, some even retreating from the blade's ominous glow.

"Jay, to your right!" Mira's voice called, and he turned just in time to parry a blow from a towering guard, whose axe came down with brutal force. Jay twisted, letting the shadow blade absorb the attack's impact, then countered with a swift slice. The guard staggered, his weapon clattering to the ground as he fell.

Together, Jay and Mira pressed on, moving deeper into the fortress. The walls around them seemed to close in, darkness pressing down from every corner. Jay's grip tightened on the shadow blade as he could feel its influence creeping into his mind, whispering promises of strength, visions of power. He took a steadying breath, focusing on Mira's presence beside him.

The traitor led them down a narrow hallway, whispering directions to avoid the more heavily guarded areas. The walls were adorned with eerie tapestries depicting ancient battles, dark sorcery, and symbols of shadow magic. The fortress felt more like a temple to the dark arts than a place of governance, and Jay couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

"Isolde's throne room is just ahead," the traitor said. "She'll be waiting for us."

Jay nodded. "Everyone, stay close. She's bound to have something up her sleeve."

They pushed through the heavy doors, and the throne room spread out before them in all its ominous splendor. The ceiling soared high above, supported by dark pillars carved with serpentine designs. At the far end of the room, sitting atop an obsidian throne, was Isolde herself.

She looked different from when Jay had last seen her—her face was gaunt, eyes ringed with shadows, her skin almost translucent. But her gaze was as piercing as ever, her expression one of cold fury. Shadows coiled around her like serpents, moving in time with her breath.

"So, the prodigal son returns," she sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "And you've brought friends. How quaint."

Jay stepped forward, lifting the shadow blade. "It's over, Isolde. Your reign of terror ends here."

She laughed, a hollow, brittle sound that echoed through the chamber. "You think a blade forged in darkness will turn against me? I am the shadows, Jay. And the shadows obey me."

With a flick of her hand, the room darkened, and the shadows around her grew denser, forming into ghostly apparitions with hollow eyes and twisted, skeletal forms. Jay could feel the blade in his hand react, its energy surging in response to the darkness around him.

The apparitions lunged, and Jay swung the blade, releasing a wave of shadow energy that cut through them. The blade's power felt stronger than ever, but it took effort to control. He could sense it wanting to unleash more, to consume everything in its path.

"Your blade hungers, doesn't it?" Isolde taunted, her smile widening. "How long do you think you can resist its call?"

Jay clenched his jaw, refusing to let her words rattle him. "Long enough to put an end to you."

Mira moved in beside him, her sword flashing as she cut down another apparition. She glanced at Jay, worry flickering in her eyes. "Don't let her get in your head, Jay. We're in this together."

The words grounded him, and he focused his mind, bringing the shadow blade's energy under control. Together, they advanced toward Isolde, cutting down the apparitions as they went. The closer they got, the more desperate she became, summoning more shadows to her aid.

"You are nothing without your shadows!" Jay shouted, channeling a surge of power through the blade. A wave of darkness exploded from the sword, obliterating the apparitions and clearing a path straight to Isolde.

She staggered back, her eyes widening in shock. "You… you've tamed it. But how—?"

Jay didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, the shadow blade aimed at her heart. Isolde raised her hands, trying to summon another shield of shadows, but her power wavered, and the barrier crumbled.

Just before his blade struck, she whispered, "You have no idea what you've awakened."

With a final thrust, Jay drove the shadow blade into her chest. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, and Isolde let out a scream as the shadows around her convulsed, then imploded. The darkness coiled back into the blade, and she collapsed, her body dissolving into mist.

Silence filled the throne room. Jay stood over the spot where Isolde had fallen, breathing heavily. The shadow blade in his hand was calm, its hunger temporarily sated.

"It's over," Mira said, her voice filled with relief.

Jay nodded, though he felt the weight of the blade more keenly than ever. He knew now what the figure in his vision had meant—the blade would always demand more, always hunger for more darkness.

He sheathed the blade, turning to Mira and the others. "Isolde is gone, but the kingdom still needs healing. There's a lot to rebuild."

The traitor looked around the room, as if seeing the fortress for the first time. "With her gone, the people will finally be free."

Jay allowed himself a brief smile, a feeling of triumph mixed with the awareness of what still lay ahead. The kingdom might be free of Isolde's dark rule, but the shadow blade was still his burden to bear.