[71] Darkness falls (II)

Asagi and the Masked Taimanin could only watch in awe, their mouths agape. "This... what kind of power is this?" Asagi whispered, unable to contain her astonishment. "They... they're the knights of legend..." the Masked Taimanin added, still unable to fully believe what she was seeing.

On the other side, Edwin Black, a man with vast knowledge of history, felt his heart tremble. 'Charlemagne... The knights of Charlemagne? This can't be... they're just myths...' he thought, confusion and fear overwhelming him. He knew all too well what the knights of Charlemagne represented—the legacy of King Karolus the Great, who in legend symbolized the strength and grandeur of Europe. But he had never imagined that such legends could manifest in reality, especially before the enemy he now faced.

One knight stepped forward, clad in shining golden armor, his sturdy helm and red cloak billowing in the wind, which carried magical energy from the surroundings. "Sir, by your command, we will see this task through," the knight said, his voice deep and regal, his gaze fixed on Edwin.

Kaoru nodded, his eyes filled with resolve. "Very well, let's finish this. Edwin Black, this is the end of your tyranny!"

With a rumbling sound that shook the ground, all twelve of Charlemagne's knights raised their weapons, ready to unleash a deadly assault. Edwin, now fully aware of the danger he faced, began chanting spells to gather his full strength. "Do you think I'll fall this easily!? I am the king of darkness!" he roared, sending out a powerful wave of gravity to repel the coming attack.

But Kaoru only smiled coldly. "Fight with all your might, but you will never defeat the knights of Charlemagne."

The final battle in Yomihara had begun, and the clash of swords and the collision of immense powers shook the entire underground city. The confrontation between ancient and dark forces reached its peak, and only time would tell who would emerge victorious.

—

Asagi and the Masked Taimanin were completely stunned. Amidst the chaos of Yomihara, filled with brutal battles and magical explosions, they witnessed something extraordinary, far beyond their expectations. The twelve legendary knights of Charlemagne, appearing as though straight from ancient tales, led by a mysterious man in majestic armor, dominated the battlefield with unstoppable force.

Each movement of Charlemagne's knights was like a dance of death, cutting down demon hordes, technologically advanced soldiers from the year 2082, and grotesque creatures like demonic worms without mercy. Those who should have been a great threat now appeared no more than helpless prey in the face of the knights' power. Their swords, spears, and axes gleamed under the magical energy radiating from Kaoru, the man leading them with an icy calm.

"What exactly are we witnessing here?" murmured Asagi, her eyes fixed on the scene before her. She felt overwhelmed by the sheer strength displayed by Kaoru and his knights. "This isn't something normal... they... they're more than human."

The Masked Taimanin stood beside her, cold sweat trickling down her forehead. "I don't know either... but clearly, that man—whoever he is—possesses incredible power. Like a god of war descended to this world."

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Edwin Black, a figure who had always been arrogant and had never known defeat, now appeared panicked. His face was pale, and his anger surged. He unleashed attack after attack, gravitational orbs that should have obliterated anything they touched, but each of his strikes had no effect on the knights standing before him.

"DAMN IT! Why won't you die!?" Edwin screamed, his voice filled with desperation. His left hand summoned a gravitational wave powerful enough to crush the entire underground city, but once again, his attack was met with nothing but the knights' calm defiance.

Elsewhere on the battlefield, Asagi and the Masked Taimanin seized the opportunity amidst the chaos. They managed to capture Kayla and Ingrid, both of whom were exhausted from the battle. With great effort, the two kept the women from rising again to interfere in the fight. They knew that, in this situation, they would not be the ones to finish the war—that was Kaoru's task.

"We need to get them out of here. Kaoru... or whoever that man is, he's taken control," the Masked Taimanin said, her voice tense. She didn't know who the man behind the grand armor was, but she could feel the overwhelming power radiating from him.

Asagi nodded, her eyes still focused on the battlefield. "I agree. There's not much we can do here... but we can make sure they don't get in the way."

The two dragged Kayla and Ingrid to a safer spot, far from the center of the fight. Yet, deep inside, their curiosity and admiration for Kaoru grew stronger. Who was this man, who so easily commanded legendary knights and conquered dark forces like Edwin Black?

Meanwhile, Kaoru stepped forward in the midst of the battlefield, his eyes fixed on Edwin, who now resembled a cornered animal. "Edwin Black," Kaoru's voice echoed throughout Yomihara, carrying with it a deadly calm. "This is the end."

Edwin gritted his teeth, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "You... you think you can stop me? I am the king of darkness! My power is limitless!"

But before Edwin could launch his next attack, one of Charlemagne's knights shot forward with incredible speed. In a single sword stroke, Edwin's body was thrown backward, black blood splattering through the air. There was no mercy in the strike, and Edwin felt himself being pushed closer to defeat.

Edwin Black now knelt before Kaoru, the figure who seemed more like an executioner ready to end it all. Edwin's once-powerful body now lay broken. His severed arms spewed blood, and his three eyes—once full of darkness and menace—now bled, their light dimming. His breath came in ragged gasps, as though his life was on the verge of extinguishing.

"You...," Edwin struggled to speak, his voice cracking with pain and despair. "I... can't be defeated... I... am... immortal..."

Kaoru, standing tall and regal, looked down at the once-feared figure. "Your power is nothing but an illusion, Edwin. The darkness you so proudly wield only blinded you. Nothing in this world is eternal." Kaoru's voice remained calm, as if he were passing final judgment.

With the legendary sword Caliburn in hand, Kaoru raised it high, ready to end Edwin's suffering. The sword shone brilliantly, emitting a holy aura that contrasted sharply with the darkness that had engulfed the battlefield. The blade's aura was so powerful that it shook the ground beneath them, even creating small cracks in the already shattered terrain of Yomihara.

Edwin growled, blood still dripping from his wounds. Deep inside, he knew the fight was over. Yet, the arrogance that had kept him at the pinnacle of darkness refused to accept this defeat. "I... will never... submit...!" he roared with what little breath he had left, though it was clear his body held no more strength.