chapter 8: a lone swordsman

The wedding was in full bloom, a moment of joy and unity for the kingdom of Eldoria. The people laughed, cheered, and celebrated as Amara and Kek exchanged vows beneath a sky painted with enchanted flower petals. Magic filled the air, resonating with warmth and peace.

But far beyond the celebration, in the distant shadows of Eldoria's borders, danger loomed.

The rival kingdom had long awaited this moment—the perfect opportunity to strike when the kingdom was at its most vulnerable, lost in festivities. Their forces, a monstrous legion of warriors, sorcerers, and demon-bound creatures, marched under the blood-red banner of their vengeful leader, Yugri. The earth trembled beneath their feet, the sheer weight of their army sending ripples of impending doom across the land.

At the front of the march, Yugri raised his fist, commanding silence. His eyes burned with the fire of vengeance.

"My warriors!" his voice thundered, carrying over the thousands that followed him. "This is the moment we have waited for! The kingdom of Eldoria will fall today! We will take our revenge! We will tear apart their walls, slaughter their heroes, and crush their peace! In the name of our lord, we will bring ruin upon them!"

The army roared in response, a deafening war cry shaking the very heavens. Weapons clashed against shields, the ground vibrated with their raw hatred.

Yet, just as they advanced, something unexpected happened.

A lone figure stood in their path.

A single man, standing against an army of fifty thousand.

His long silver hair flowed in the wind, his hand resting on the hilt of a magnificent sword that shimmered under the moonlight. His black armor bore the scars of countless battles, yet his stance remained unyielding. His presence alone was enough to halt the march, his aura pressing down on them like an invisible storm.

A whisper spread through the ranks. Fear crept into the eyes of even the bravest warriors.

Suax, the Legendary Swordsman of Eldoria.

Yugri's eyes widened in disbelief. "You... I thought you died in our final battle!" he spat, his fists tightening.

Suax remained silent, his piercing gaze fixed on the army before him.

"You couldn't defeat me in your own domain, where you were at your strongest," Suax finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying an edge sharper than his blade. "And now, here you stand, thinking you can defeat me in my land?"

The air grew tense. Yugri's soldiers glared at Suax, their hatred festering. But beneath that hatred, there was something else—fear. They had heard the stories of this man. They had witnessed his power before.

Yet, Yugri sneered, stepping forward. "It does not matter," he growled. "I will finish what should have been done long ago. Kill him!"

With a single command, the massive army charged at Suax.

And Suax moved.

The Dance of Death

Like a specter of death, Suax vanished from sight, reappearing in the heart of the enemy forces.

A single slash.

Blood sprayed across the battlefield as fifty soldiers fell in an instant.

His movements were fluid, like water flowing through a broken dam. Every step he took was precise, every strike calculated. He was not just cutting down enemies—he was an unstoppable force, a whirlwind of steel and fury.

Each swing of his sword cleaved through dozens, sending shockwaves that tore apart the very ground beneath them. Soldiers screamed as they were flung into the air, their bodies torn apart like paper. Warlocks tried to cast spells, but before their lips could form the words, their heads rolled from their shoulders.

The sky was painted red with blood. The earth trembled beneath the weight of fallen warriors.

"Monster!" one soldier screamed before his voice was silenced by a blade through his chest.

Suax did not falter. Did not hesitate.

His blade sang through the air, a symphony of destruction.

"Protect Lord Yugri!" a commander yelled, rallying the elite warriors forward.

The most powerful knights and warlocks of the rival kingdom charged in unison, their weapons glowing with deadly magic. One launched a volley of flaming spears. Another unleashed a massive tidal wave of dark energy, powerful enough to level mountains.

Suax did not slow down.

He weaved through the attacks like a ghost, stepping past the flaming spears as if they were mere illusions. The dark energy surged toward him—only for his sword to slice through it, splitting it apart as if it were nothing more than mist.

He dashed forward.

One second, he was in front of the knights. The next, he was behind them.

A gust of wind followed.

And then—silence.

The knights collapsed all at once, their bodies split apart in a single perfect strike.

The army wavered. Panic set in. The once fearless warriors began retreating, their morale shattered by a single man.

And yet, in the midst of this carnage, Yugri still stood.

The ground cracked beneath his feet as he clenched his fists.

"Enough!" he roared, his body exploding with raw energy.

The shockwave from his power sent dust and debris flying. His muscles pulsed with divine strength, his form radiating with dark energy. His once-human body flickered with a monstrous transformation, veins glowing with unholy fire.

"You think you can defeat me, Suax?!" Yugri bellowed.

Suax lifted his blade, his expression unchanging. "You seem weaker than when we last met," he said simply.

Yugri snarled, vanishing in an instant.

A flash of movement—then an explosion of power as Yugri's fist slammed into Suax, sending him crashing into the ground with the force of a meteor. The earth split apart, creating a canyon-sized crater.

Silence.

Then—

With a blur of motion, Suax reappeared behind Yugri, his sword flashing.

A deep gash opened along Yugri's back, blood spraying into the air.

The battlefield trembled beneath their battle. The clash of their strength tore mountains apart. Rivers split. The sky itself cracked as if protesting against their sheer force.

With every exchange, Yugri's strikes grew more desperate. His once-overwhelming power waned in the face of Suax's flawless precision.

And then—

A final slash.

Suax's blade cut through Yugri's body, slicing through his very essence. Yugri's physical form shattered, his body dissolving as he was forcefully banished back to his realm.

As the dust settled, only one warrior remained standing.

Suax, bloodied but victorious, his sword still humming with residual power.

The battlefield was no more—it had become a wasteland of destruction, an entire kingdom's worth of land torn asunder.

And yet, the wedding still carried on in the distance, unaware of the storm that had nearly reached them.

Suax sheathed his sword, exhaling deeply.

"This isn't over," he muttered, his gaze turning toward the shadows of the rival kingdom.

The battle was won.

But war was far from over.