King vs. King

The battlefield burned.

The clash of steel rang through the Bloodstone Plains, mixing with the screams of dying men and the roar of flames. War machines fired again, their projectiles carving deep craters into Solmaria's ranks. The ground shook with every impact.

Valtherion walked through the chaos like a god of war, his golden eyes glowing beneath his helm. His sword cut through armor and flesh like paper. Every step he took left another corpse in his wake.

Elyndra fought beside him, moving with deadly precision. Her rapier struck vital points with practiced ease—throats, hearts, gaps in the armor. The battlefield was a dance, and she was its master.

Kael, further ahead, was a storm of brute force, his axe splitting men apart with every swing. His armor was stained crimson, his breath heavy but excited.

But then—

A horn sounded.

Deep. Powerful.

A ripple spread through Solmaria's army. The frontline steadied. The retreating soldiers stopped, gripping their weapons tighter.

And then, from behind the ranks, a lone warrior rode forward.

King Aldros.

His warhorse galloped across the battlefield, its heavy armor glinting in the firelight. He wore no crown—only a bloodstained greathelm, its visor shaped like the maw of a beast. His armor, thick and battle-worn, was the color of aged steel, draped with a crimson cape.

His greatsword rested on his shoulder, its blade nearly as long as a man.

Valtherion exhaled through his nose, watching as Aldros slowed his horse.

The Solmarian king lifted his blade and pointed it straight at him.

"A duel?" Elyndra asked, stepping closer.

Valtherion smirked. "No. A hunt."

Aldros swung his blade downward.

And his army charged.

The Battlefield Explodes

Solmaria's second wave hit like a storm.

Knights in full plate slammed into Valtheria's forces, their war cries shaking the air. Behind them, spearmen drove forward in unison, their weapons forming an impenetrable wall.

Valtherian soldiers fell.

The once-crumbling Solmarian army pushed forward, carving through the chaos with renewed strength.

Then came the war beasts.

Massive creatures—half-lion, half-dragon—bounded through the ranks, their riders guiding them with chains. Their roars shook the air, their fangs tearing through flesh and armor alike.

One lunged at Kael.

He dodged left, barely avoiding its snapping jaws. Its rider swung a halberd at him, but he blocked it with his axe and twisted, yanking the rider off the saddle. Before the beast could react, Kael buried his weapon into its skull.

It collapsed with a dying shriek.

But more were coming.

Valtherion vs. Aldros

Valtherion barely paid attention to the chaos around him. His eyes were locked on Aldros.

The Solmarian king rode fast, his sword held low, angled for a killing blow.

Valtherion lifted his own blade.

Then—Aldros leapt off his horse.

The massive king shot forward like a cannonball, his greatsword raised high.

CLANG!

Valtherion blocked, but the sheer force sent him skidding back, his boots carving deep trenches into the dirt.

Aldros landed in a crouch.

Then, without pause, he swung again.

Valtherion leaned back, the blade slicing just inches from his face. The air pressure alone cut through the ground behind him.

The moment Aldros's strike finished, Valtherion countered. His sword flashed, aiming for the king's throat.

Aldros twisted his greatsword at the last second, deflecting the blow. Sparks flew.

Then they moved.

Blades clashed in a rapid exchange—strike, parry, counter, dodge. Each blow sent shockwaves through the battlefield. Soldiers from both armies stopped fighting, their eyes drawn to the duel.

Aldros stepped in, twisting his grip. His greatsword came down in a vertical arc.

Valtherion sidestepped—

Too slow.

The blade grazed his shoulder, cutting deep through his armor. Blood sprayed.

Valtherion exhaled sharply, ignoring the pain. His counter was immediate—he swung low, aiming for Aldros's ribs.

The king caught the blade with his gauntlet, blood dripping from his fingers.

Then he punched Valtherion across the face.

The impact sent him flying.

Valtherion hit the ground, rolling twice before stopping.

Aldros exhaled, shaking the blood from his hand. "You're fast. But speed alone won't kill me."

Valtherion stood, wiping his mouth. His golden eyes glowed brighter.

Aldros raised his sword again. "Come."

Valtherion obliged.

They clashed once more.

The Turning Point

The duel raged on.

Each exchange sent shockwaves through the battlefield, forcing soldiers to keep their distance.

Aldros's strikes were brutal—each swing powerful enough to shatter stone. But Valtherion was relentless, weaving through attacks with calculated precision.

Then—

Valtherion feinted left. Aldros moved to block.

But it was a trick.

At the last second, Valtherion twisted his wrist, changing the angle of his strike. His blade carved across Aldros's side, cutting through his armor.

A deep wound.

Aldros gritted his teeth, stumbling back.

Valtherion didn't stop. He lunged forward, his sword aiming for the king's heart—

But something slammed into his back.

A war beast.

The massive creature tackled him, its claws sinking into his armor. He hit the ground hard, the beast snapping its jaws near his throat.

Elyndra reacted instantly, driving her rapier into its eye. The beast screeched, thrashing. Valtherion shoved it off, rolling to his feet.

But that split-second distraction had given Aldros time to recover.

The king exhaled sharply, gripping his side. Blood dripped from his wound, but he still stood tall.

"Enough games," he muttered.

He lifted his greatsword with both hands.

The blade burned.

A deep crimson glow engulfed it, the air around it distorting from sheer heat.

Valtherion narrowed his eyes.

This was different.

Aldros's voice was calm. "You're not the only one with tricks."

Then—he swung.

A wave of pure destruction erupted from his blade, carving through the battlefield.

Valtherion barely had time to react.

He braced himself—

The attack hit.

A massive explosion of fire and force erupted around him, consuming everything in its path.

Soldiers were blown back. The battlefield trembled.

When the dust settled—

Valtherion stood.

His armor was scorched, blood dripping from fresh wounds.

But he was still there.

Aldros narrowed his eyes.

Valtherion exhaled, rolling his shoulders. Then he cracked his neck.

"That all?"

Aldros frowned.

Then—Valtherion moved.

Faster than before.

He was suddenly behind Aldros, blade inches from the king's back.

Aldros barely turned in time to block.

CLANG!

A shockwave exploded from the impact.

Valtherion's smirk returned.

"Now," he murmured, "it gets fun."