CHAPTER 14

Chapter 14: The First Night of Battle

A cold wind blew around the outpost. The sun had completely set, and only the torches provided light in the darkness. The princes and princesses stood at various points along the stone walls, staring into the endless void of the desert.

A heavy silence filled the air.

Ryo stood next to Aya, gripping his sword tightly. In a calm voice, Aya asked,

"Where do you think they're coming from?"

Ryo gazed at the horizon.

"I don't know… but I have a bad feeling about this."

Suddenly, a loud, eerie roar echoed through the night.

"GHHHRAAAAH!!!"

The soldiers on the walls tightened their grips on their swords. In the distance, dark shadows emerged—far too many of them.

The creatures of darkness had arrived.

---

The Attack Begins

Kazuki shouted,

"Everyone, get ready! They're coming!"

The first wave of creatures rushed toward the walls. Their bodies were made of swirling shadows, and their eyes burned like fire. Some crawled on all fours, while others hovered with unnaturally long limbs.

The first clash began.

Flaming arrows rained down. Some creatures were destroyed instantly, but others kept coming. They clung to the stone walls and began climbing up.

Sachiko cursed,

"Damn it! They're climbing the walls!"

Ryo held his breath. Time seemed to slow down. He could see every movement of the creatures with perfect clarity.

This was what the Minister had spoken about…

His power had awakened again.

He stepped forward.

---

Ryo's First Strike

One of the creatures reached the top of the wall, its glowing red eyes locked onto him. It raised a clawed hand to strike.

But before it could attack, Ryo suddenly dodged. He pressed his foot against the stone wall and lunged forward with incredible speed. His sword flashed through the air—cutting cleanly through the creature.

With a piercing shriek, the shadowy beast disintegrated.

Kazuki, who had witnessed it, widened his eyes in shock.

"Hey! Since when were you this fast?!"

Ryo didn't have time to respond. More creatures were climbing. Tightening his grip on his sword, he rushed toward the next one.

---

Unleashing New Powers

On the other side of the wall, Aya and Sachiko were also fighting.

Aya pressed her hands together and whispered a chant. The air around her twisted, and suddenly, a powerful wave of energy burst out.

"BOOM!!!"

The creatures approaching her were thrown off the wall, crashing onto the ground below.

Sachiko, seeing this, smirked.

"Finally showing your power, huh, Aya?"

Breathing heavily, Aya replied,

"I… I think I can control magic now."

At that moment, Yuma, standing atop one of the towers, raised his hand toward the sky. The air grew colder, and tiny ice particles formed around him.

He muttered under his breath,

"Ice…"

With a swift motion, sharp ice shards shot forward, freezing the creatures instantly.

Kazuki, still engaged in battle, grinned.

"So, everyone's awakening their powers now, huh?"

---

The Calm Before the Storm

After a few intense minutes, the first wave of shadow creatures had been repelled. Their lifeless, dark bodies littered the ground, and the outpost was still standing.

The princes and princesses exchanged breathless glances. For the first time, they truly felt like they were on a battlefield.

But the Minister, who had been watching from a distance, whispered to himself,

"This is only the beginning."

Far in the darkness, a pair of much larger, glowing red eyes appeared.

A far more dangerous creature was approaching the outpost.

End of Chapter 14.