Betrayal

King Zachariel conjured a massive swirling tornado, sweeping most of King Philippe's knights along towards the forest. The sky rained down a relentless barrage of fireballs, while the trees danced violently, their branches slashing through the bodies of the Ghouls encircling Ludwig.

Everywhere Ludwig looked, he saw a landscape ablaze with destruction. Thankfully, there were no civilians left, only the knights valiantly defending the kingdom.

Ludwig never expected Liam's plan, orchestrated with Minister Quagmane, to unfold so effectively. With the aid of King Daemond and King Zachariel, they compelled King Philippe to confess his true motive—forcing Ludwig to marry his daughter against his will for his personal interests.

The trusted and most loyal knights of Ludwig were divided and concealed within the forest near the border, while the remaining ones were escorted to the wedding venue in anticipation of an attack by Amelia and her allies.

Now, their strategy had borne fruit. Amelia was surrounded by countless Ghouls who launched an immediate assault on Ludwig and his knights. 

However, King Daemond's knights swiftly intervened, creating waves on the ground that opened pathways and buried a significant number of the Ghouls. This tactical maneuver cleared the path for Liam and Ludwig to approach Amelia, who stood nonchalantly amidst the chaos.

Behind Amelia, Prince Ludwig's knights wielded swords engulfed in flames, swiftly dispatching the Ghouls with fiery strikes.

On the side, King Zachariel's knights unleashed a relentless barrage of arrows upon the enemy forces, adding to the chaos.

Despite the overwhelming numbers of their foes, it became evident that their knights possessed superior skills and prowess in combat, causing the number of Ghouls to dwindle rapidly.

Amelia, sensing the tide turning against her, unleashed a ferocious counterattack. Flames reminiscent of the fire that once scorched Ludwig's body erupted from her hands, twisting and weaving like serpents. This inferno devoured everything in its path, reducing even the Ghouls to ash. The black fire showed no mercy, consuming everything in its wake. 

The innocent of Amelia had gone that admired by the Ministers. It was changed into ruthlessness. The side of her eyes wrinkled and suddenly her face became old. It seemed that the black sorcery was indeed effective. Even the her then red lips were now black. The dark sorcery slowly poisoning her body and also the Ones of the Fire Kingdom.

As Amelia's fire homed in on Ludwig and Liam, they swiftly evaded, repositioning themselves closer to Amelia. However, to their surprise, the fire altered its trajectory, relentlessly pursuing them.

Her allied Ghouls, realizing that the fire spared no allegiance, scrambled away from Amelia. The knights followed suit, leaving only a few figures standing amidst the now desolate clearing.

Although a dozen Ghouls launched an assault, Liam skillfully fended them off until only Amelia remained standing.

The forest lay in ruins, consumed by the raging inferno, yet neither Ludwig nor Liam seemed affected by the intense heat.

As Ludwig closed the distance to Amelia, he aimed for her neck with the blade once owned by the Former King. However, she effortlessly dodged his strike and countered with a swift kick to his exposed chest.

Ludwig gritted his teeth, the intensity of his rage fueling his movements as he lunged forward, aiming to strike Amelia's heart with the sword. Amelia, with her agility, managed to evade the blow, but the sword's edge grazed the side of her waist.

Amelia's eyes blazed with fury as she retaliated, unleashing a torrent of black fire towards Ludwig's face. He swiftly ducked, countering with a well-placed kick to her leg, causing her to stumble and emit a frustrated groan.

Raising the sword once more, Ludwig aimed for her heart, but Amelia began chanting in a language unfamiliar to him. Suddenly, a force slammed into his chest, sending him hurtling to the other side of the forest. Despite the intense pain erupting from his heart, Ludwig gritted his teeth and pushed through, determined to continue his assault on Amelia.

With unwavering determination, Ludwig closed the distance with lightning speed. As Amelia prepared to conjure another fire, Ludwig swung the sword, landing a deep wound on her chest.

Amelia's piercing scream echoed through the air as her body erupted into scorching flames, engulfing her in a fiery aura. With a fierce determination, she leaped towards Ludwig, her flames licking at his arm, causing searing pain to surge through him. 

Refusing to succumb to the agony, Ludwig swiftly retaliated. He delivered a powerful kick to her stomach, causing her to stagger backward. As he raised his sword once more, poised for a strike, Amelia countered with a dagger forged from black fire, halting his advance.

Pushed back by Amelia's force, Ludwig found himself dodging her relentless assault of fire and black fire daggers. The sky above them rained down these lethal projectiles, reducing anything they touched to mere ash in an instant. 

The battle between them raged on, each move calculated and executed with precision amidst the blazing chaos of their elemental powers.

Ludwig summoned his own fire, fashioning it into a protective shield above his head to deflect the raining black fire daggers. With determination fueling his every step, he advanced towards Amelia, using the blazing shield to safeguard his approach.

Meanwhile, a few meters away, Liam employed his mastery over water, crafting a protective barrier against the relentless onslaught of fire daggers directed at him.

Together, they moved steadily towards Amelia, intent on closing the distance. However, before they could reach her, Amelia began chanting once more, her spell casting a sinister smile across her face. In a sudden flash, Ludwig found himself transported back to the heart of the town, kilometers away from Amelia's grasp.

His body crashed through shops and structures, the impact causing immense pain as he struggled to regain his footing and summon his strength. Groaning, he pushed through the pain, determined to stand once more and rejoin the battle.

Ludwig surged back into the woods, his determination unyielding as he aimed a decisive strike at Amelia's neck with the sword. However, Amelia met his attack head-on, her flames scorching his hand once again, eliciting a sharp hiss of pain from him.

The intense agony radiated through his entire arm, the flames from his own fire now consuming him. Despite the searing pain clouding his senses, Ludwig gritted his teeth, mustering all his remaining strength to swing his sword and drive it deep into Amelia's flesh.

Amelia let out a guttural roar of pain as the blade pierced her, momentarily staggering under the impact. Meanwhile, Liam, who had been vigilant, swiftly dispatched a Ghoul that had nearly caught Ludwig off guard from behind. Gasping for air, he struggled to catch his breath.

As Liam witnessed Amelia's fire engulfing Ludwig's arm, and saw the sword firmly embedded in her shoulder, he swiftly moved to Ludwig's side. His hand, enveloped in glowing water, reached out to grasp Amelia's neck, preventing her from teleporting away.

In the midst of this confrontation, nearly two dozen Ghouls returned to the fray. However, their numbers were matched by reinforcements led by Commander Leonel, bolstering their ranks in the fight against the Ghouls.

Despite being restrained by Liam, Amelia attempted to strike Ludwig, but Liam tightened his grip on her neck, his voice carrying a steely resolve. "Move, and I will snap your neck." Each word dripped with the weight of his determination, causing Amelia's neck to start bleeding from the pressure of his nails.

Despite their intense desire to end Amelia's life, Ludwig and Liam knew they couldn't kill her while the pair of Ones from the Fire Kingdom remained within her body. The dark sorcery she wielded ensured that if she died, the magic would consume her entirely, possibly destroying the Ones within her irreversibly.

Aware of this grim reality, Amelia laughed mockingly at Liam's threat, her laughter echoing throughout the forest. Her laughter carried a sinister tone, embodying a sense of insanity and wickedness that chilled those around her. She understood the power she held over them, knowing they couldn't act against her without risking the destruction of the Ones trapped within her.

Amelia's taunting words echoed through the tense air. "We all know you can't kill me, dirty blood. The Ones die with me, and your beloved kingdom will perish along with me." She attempted to twist away, but Liam's grip tightened, rendering her motionless and silent, though not enough to end her life.

Liam's smirk beside Ludwig was unmistakable. "Do you think I care?" His words surprised Amelia, her eyes widening as she saw the anger etched on his face, a side of him Ludwig knew well. "I'm not part of this kingdom, a 'dirty blood' as you call it. If your death means the destruction of this kingdom, do you think I care? All I want is to see you pay for hurting my sister."

Ludwig, understanding that Liam's words were meant to intimidate rather than convey true intentions, watched the exchange with a sense of caution. Had Liam truly intended to kill Amelia, she would have been dead the moment his grip tightened around her neck.

As Amelia's movements were restricted by Liam's grip, Ludwig seized the opportunity to act. He engaged in a fiery battle against Amelia's dark sorcery, struggling against the overwhelming power of her flames.

The tide turned slightly in Ludwig's favor when Amelia relinquished her hold on the fire that had been searing his hand. With his hand freed, he swiftly twisted the hand holding the sword and drove it deeper into her body.

Amelia's cry of pain echoed through the forest as the blade pierced her, and Ludwig capitalized on the moment, gripping her jaw tightly.

As Minister Quagmane materialized beside them, the tension in the air grew palpable. His body was drenched in blood, a grim testament to the ongoing battle. Minister Wilhelm stood beside him, visibly shaken by the unfolding events, fear and confusion etched on his elder face.

Minister Quagmane reached out to touch Amelia's arm, but the black fire that enveloped her caused him to recoil with a shout. Narrowing his eyes, he swiftly stabbed at Amelia, the blade nearly reaching her heart.

Amelia clenched her teeth in agony, the black fire dissipating from her body.

Taking advantage of the momentary respite, Minister Quagmane and Minister Wilhelm simultaneously placed their hands on Amelia's arm. Minister Wilhem's hand trembled as he glanced at the sword lodged in Amelia's shoulder, his expression a mix of fear and uncertainty amidst the chaotic scene.

Amelia attempted to reignite her fire, but before Minister Quagmane could be harmed, Ludwig acted swiftly. He twisted his hand, drawing blood from her shoulder, causing her pain and disrupting her ability to summon the flames.

"Let's make this quick," Minister Quagmane declared, initiating the ritual to extract the Ones from Amelia. The process required the combined effort of two Ministers, prompting Minister Quagmane to forcefully direct Minister Isaac into the forest to join them, despite Minister Wilhelm's reluctance due to the aftermath of the combat.

With their hands bearing the marks of their ministerial status, Minister Quagmane and Minister Isaac joined in chanting the ritual incantations in unison.

Amelia resisted fiercely, but Ludwig tightened his grip on her jaw, nearly cracking it, while Liam increased the pressure on her neck, causing her to choke and whimper in distress. 

As Minister Quagmane completed the blessing, he turned to Ludwig and carefully sliced his palm with the knife he had brought. As blood welled from the wound, Ludwig brought his hand close to Amelia's chest.

Upon feeling the touch of Ludwig's royal blood, the Ones within Amelia's body began to glow, slowly emerging from her chest. "No!" Amelia protested vehemently, thrashing and struggling against the firm grip of the four individuals holding her, but to no avail.

The intense pain from Amelia's black flames caused the Ministers to wince and release their grip slightly, but Ludwig and Liam remained resolute. They endured the searing agony, knowing that it was necessary to save their people and end the war.

Amidst the groans of pain from both sides, Ludwig and Liam tightened their holds on Amelia, refusing to relent. She continued to struggle fiercely, but as the Ones finally surfaced, it marked a crucial turning point in the tumultuous battle.

The Ones, known as Aureate Flame, was a crystalline ball that should have been glowing with fiery energy, appeared ashen in color due to the influence of the black sorcery surrounding it. However, as it came into contact with Ludwig's bloody hand, it underwent a remarkable transformation. Bathed in his royal blood, the Ones regained its original golden hue, its fire returning in a brilliant shade of blue.

The ball then divided into two parts, symbolizing its intended recipients—Ludwig and his Queen. However, with only Ludwig present in front of the Ones, it fused back into a single entity and entered his body, as if seeking refuge within its rightful king.

As the Ones entered Ludwig's body, he could sense the immense power surging within him, starting from his heart and spreading throughout his entire being. The energy building up inside him was overwhelming, causing him to lose control momentarily.

In the midst of this powerful surge, Ludwig involuntarily released his hold on Amelia, dropping to his knees as the intensity of his newfound power hit him with tenfold force. Being an Ascendant, his innate power amplified the heat coursing through him, resulting in excruciating pain that threatened to overwhelm him.

"You've ruined everything!" Amelia shouted in frustration, but before Liam could retaliate and end her, a spherical portal opened beside her with a suddenness that caught everyone off guard.