Chapter 11: The War Begins – Bloodfang’s Challenge

The air was thick with tension.

Leon stood at the edge of the fortress, his sharp gaze fixed on the horizon. The land before him stretched out in darkness, yet he could feel them coming.

The Bloodfang Legion.

A faction of ruthless warriors who ruled through brutality. They did not tolerate rivals. They did not accept equals. And they certainly would not let a new leader rise uncontested.

Korran, his newly appointed field commander, stood beside him. His expression was grim, but his stance was steady.

"They'll be here by nightfall," Korran muttered. "Bloodfang never sends warnings. If they're marching toward us, they're coming to kill."

Leon exhaled, feeling the surge of energy still coursing through his body from the Abyssal Ritual. He had changed. Evolved. But power alone wouldn't be enough.

This wasn't about personal strength.

This was war.

And war was won through strategy.

The Battlefield – Preparing for the First Strike

The warriors of the Forsaken had begun mobilizing. The fortress, though old and weathered, still provided natural defenses. But Leon knew better than to rely on stone walls alone.

Karos strolled up to him, arms crossed. "So, Supreme Leader, what's the plan?"

Leon ignored the sarcasm. "We don't wait for them to bring the fight to us."

Karos smirked. "Good answer. What are you thinking?"

Leon turned toward Korran. "How does Bloodfang usually attack?"

Korran didn't hesitate. "They rely on overwhelming aggression. They'll send forward an elite force first—brutal, fast, meant to break morale. Then the full legion sweeps in to finish the job."

Leon nodded. Classic shock tactics.

"If we hold position, we let them dictate the pace of battle," Leon said. "Instead, we strike their vanguard before they get close. We disrupt their formation, throw them into disarray."

Karos let out a low whistle. "Bold. Risky."

Leon smirked. "Risk is the price of victory."

The First Battle – Bloodfang's Arrival

As night fell, the distant sound of marching boots filled the air. The ground trembled slightly, dust rising in thin clouds as the enemy approached.

Then, from the shadows of the ruined wasteland, they emerged.

A force of fifty warriors, clad in dark abyssal armor, their red insignia marking them as Bloodfang's elite.

They moved like predators, their weapons gleaming in the dim light.

Leon's instincts sharpened.

"They're testing us," Korran muttered.

Leon raised a hand. "Then let's give them an answer."

The Counterattack – Supreme Strategy in Motion

Leon's forces had already split into three divisions. Fast-strike warriors had been placed along the cliffs overlooking the battlefield, while the main force was stationed in the fortress as a fallback line.

But the real trap had been set beneath them.

Hidden trenches.

The moment the enemy charged forward, they would find themselves falling into chaos.

Leon watched, his breathing steady, as the Bloodfang vanguard approached. Then, as they reached the designated mark—

He gave the signal.

A sudden burst of movement—the ground gave way beneath the enemy, and in the blink of an eye, half their force was swallowed by hidden pits.

Shouts of confusion and rage filled the air.

And that's when Leon struck.

"Move in."

His warriors, who had been waiting in the cliffs, rained down upon them.

Swords clashed, blood spilled, and the once-pristine battlefield turned into a warzone.

Leon's First True Battle

Leon's Supreme Instinct burned through his mind. He saw everything—every movement, every strike, every opening.

A Bloodfang warrior lunged toward him.

Leon sidestepped smoothly, his blade flashing. He struck once—precisely at the warrior's exposed joint—severing a tendon.

The man collapsed.

Another came from behind—Leon spun, kicking the enemy's weapon aside before delivering a crushing elbow to the ribs.

He wasn't just fighting.

He was dismantling them.

This was Supreme Adaptation in motion.

With every attack, he learned. With every movement, he became faster, sharper.

The enemy began to hesitate.

And that was when the real attack came.

A massive warrior, nearly seven feet tall, charged through the chaos like an unstoppable force. His weapon—a giant battle axe, infused with abyssal fire—swung down toward Leon.

Leon reacted instantly.

He twisted his body at the last second, letting the axe pass just inches from his face.

Then, before the warrior could recover—

Leon drove his sword forward, piercing through the man's chest.

The warrior let out a strangled gasp—then collapsed.

Silence filled the battlefield.

And then—the Bloodfang warriors began to retreat.

Aftermath – Victory and Consequences

Leon stood among the fallen, his blade dripping with blood. His warriors surrounded him, many injured but still standing.

The Bloodfang vanguard had been crushed.

The main force was still out there.

But this—this was a statement.

Leon turned to his army, his voice carrying through the battlefield.

"This is what happens to those who think we are weak."

The Forsaken roared in approval.

Karos clapped him on the shoulder. "I have to admit, that was impressive. But this isn't over."

Leon nodded. "I know."

Because even as he stood victorious, he could feel another presence watching.

This battle had been a warning.

The real war was just beginning.

Meanwhile… Celeste's Awakening Deepens

Celeste sat in silence, her fingers trembling.

She could feel it.

Something had changed.

Visions of battle, of blood, of a name she couldn't shake.

Leon.

Her heart clenched.

"I need to find him."

The time was coming.

And this time, she wouldn't lose him again.