Chapter 13 – Cast Down to the Land
The Public Execution
The news spread quickly.
"The Low Human boy will be executed!"
"He dared to challenge the High Humans!"
"They will throw him off Sky City tomorrow!"
The entire city buzzed with excitement.
The High Humans laughed and cheered, eager to see Cedric fall. To them, it was entertainment.
The Low Humans whispered in fear, helpless to stop it.
Ciara and Orin were devastated.
"We have to save him!" Ciara shouted, pacing back and forth.
Orin frowned, deep in thought. "We can't just rush in. We need a plan."
But there was no time.
The next morning, Cedric was dragged out of his cell.
The guards led him to the center of Sky City, where a massive circular platform hung over the clouds.
Thousands of High Humans gathered to watch.
Cedric's hands were bound, his face bruised from the guards' beatings.
But his eyes were still strong.
He wouldn't give them the satisfaction of fear.
The High Human Council stood above, watching from a golden balcony.
The leader raised a hand.
"Cedric of the Low Humans, you are guilty of attacking a noble!"
The crowd cheered.
"As punishment, you will be cast down to the land, never to return!"
The guards grabbed Cedric and dragged him to the edge of the platform.
Below was nothing but clouds and sky.
A fall from this height meant certain death.
Ciara's Desperation
Ciara and Orin stood in the crowd, helpless.
"We have to do something!" Ciara trembled, tears forming in her eyes.
Orin gritted her teeth. "If we try anything now, they'll kill us too."
Ciara bit her lip, her fists shaking.
She refused to accept this.
The Fall
Cedric looked up at the sky.
"Is this how it ends?"
He closed his eyes.
A strange calmness filled him.
Then—
The guards shoved him.
He fell.
The wind rushed past his face, his body spinning through the air.
Sky City grew smaller and smaller above him.
The clouds swallowed him.
And then—
Darkness.
The Land Below
Cedric awoke to the feeling of cold grass beneath him.
His body ached all over, but he was alive.
"How…?"
He looked up.
The sky was far above, Sky City nothing more than a small dot.
He had survived the fall.
But how?
A faint golden glow surrounded his body. His powers… they had protected him, even if only barely.
He sat up and looked around.
The land was vast, filled with dense forests and tall mountains.
It was beautiful.
But it was also dangerous.
Cedric was alone.
And this was only the beginning
Alone in the Wilderness
Cedric sat on the damp grass, his body aching all over. He touched his chest. His heart was still beating.
"I should be dead..." he whispered.
He had survived the fall from Sky City, but he had no idea how. His body still felt weak, but something inside him had protected him at the last moment.
Looking around, he saw nothing but endless forest. The air was cold, and the wind carried an eerie silence.
No voices. No footsteps.
He was alone.
A sudden hunger gnawed at his stomach. He hadn't eaten since he was locked up.
He had to find food.
Slowly, he forced himself to stand. His legs shook, but he pushed forward, heading deeper into the woods.
The Blocker's Presence
Hours passed.
Cedric found a small stream and drank from it. The cold water eased his thirst but did nothing for his hunger.
As he wiped his mouth, a chill crawled up his spine.
He felt something watching him.
His breath slowed.
Then—
Crack.
A branch snapped behind him.
Cedric spun around, his hands clenched into fists.
Between the trees, something moved.
A dark shadow loomed in the distance. Tall. Broad. Silent.
Then, it stepped forward.
A Blocker.
A massive, armored demon with a jet-black body and red eyes.
It had no mouth, but Cedric could feel its hunger.
Blockers were terrifying creatures—demons that cut off their prey's power before using sheer brute force to kill them.
Cedric's blood turned cold.
He had no weapon. No magic. No help.
Just himself.
Running for His Life
The Blocker didn't rush. It walked slowly, each step shaking the ground.
Cedric turned and ran.
His legs burned as he sprinted through the forest. Branches scratched his face, and the wind howled in his ears.
But the Blocker was faster.
Every few seconds, Cedric heard it getting closer.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Cedric jumped over a fallen tree, his heart pounding.
He couldn't outrun it forever.
His only chance was to fight.
But how?
The Awakening of the Twin Swords
As he ran, his vision blurred. His body grew hot.
A voice echoed in his mind.
"You are the Monarch of Light. You do not run. You stand and fight."
Cedric skidded to a stop.
His hands trembled.
The Blocker charged toward him, raising its massive fist.
At that moment—
Something clicked inside Cedric.
A bright glow erupted from his hands.
Two swords appeared.
One golden. One gray.
They felt natural in his grip, as if they had always been part of him.
Cedric's eyes widened.
For the first time, he truly felt his power.
The Battle Begins
The Blocker swung its fist down.
Cedric dodged, rolling to the side.
Then, he countered.
His golden sword slashed forward.
A burst of light erupted from the blade, slicing through the Blocker's arm.
The demon roared, stumbling back.
It wasn't invincible.
Cedric's breathing steadied.
He tightened his grip on the swords.
"I can win this."
The Blocker lunged again, aiming to crush him.
Cedric didn't move back.
He stepped forward.
And attacked.
The Blocker's Power
Cedric gritted his teeth as the Blocker lunged, its massive fist swinging toward him.
He sidestepped, barely dodging the strike. The ground shook as the impact sent dirt flying into the air.
It's strong. Too strong.
Even with his new swords, Cedric knew he couldn't fight carelessly.
The golden sword in his right hand pulsed with light, while the gray sword in his left felt heavier, filled with shadowy energy.
He didn't have time to think.
The Blocker charged again.
This time, Cedric reacted on instinct.
He slashed upward with the golden sword, sending a wave of blinding light toward the demon.
The attack struck the Blocker's chest, forcing it back.
Cedric took the chance to strike with the gray sword.
The moment the blade touched the Blocker's black armor, it crumbled slightly, as if the sword was erasing its strength.
The Blocker stumbled, its red eyes flickering.
It's working.
But Cedric barely had time to breathe before the Blocker roared and swung its massive arm again.
This time, he couldn't dodge.
The attack hit his side, sending him crashing through trees.
Pain shot through his body. He could barely breathe.
A Fight for Survival
Cedric struggled to stand, his vision blurry.
The Blocker walked toward him, slow and steady, knowing it had the advantage.
Cedric gripped his swords.
His hands shook, but he didn't let go.
"If I don't fight… I die."
The golden sword shined brighter, and suddenly, a memory surged through Cedric's mind.
A time when he was not human.
A time when he was the Monarch of Light.
In that memory, he had fought creatures even worse than this.
And he had always won.
His fear faded.
Cedric charged forward, raising both swords.
The Blocker swung down, aiming to crush him again.
This time, Cedric didn't dodge.
He raised his gray sword, meeting the attack head-on.
The moment the blade touched the Blocker's fist, the demon's strength faded.
Cedric didn't hesitate.
With his golden sword, he slashed across its chest, sending a wave of holy light through its body.
The Blocker howled, falling to one knee.
Cedric leaped, bringing both swords down with all his strength.
The golden blade burned through the Blocker's core, while the gray blade drained the last of its energy.
The demon let out a final roar before its body collapsed, turning into black ash.
Victory… But At What Cost?
Cedric stood there, breathing hard, watching the ashes scatter into the wind.
His arms felt heavy, and his legs trembled.
But he had won.
He looked down at the twin swords in his hands.
"These are mine… but I don't even know how to use them properly."
He needed training.
But for now, he had to find shelter.
The sun was setting, and the forest was growing darker.
Cedric took a deep breath and walked forward, knowing that this was only the beginning.