The Black legions arrival

Kyle's grip on the Fallen King's Blade tightened as the weight of the woman's words settled over him.

The Black Legion had passed through this settlement two days ago.

They were close. Too close.

His mind raced, calculating how much time they had before the enemy returned. If the Legion was actively searching for him, then it meant someone had put a bounty on his head. He had expected that ever since the mercenaries attacked. But the Legion wasn't just another group of hired killers.

They were a force. Disciplined. Ruthless. Unstoppable.

And they were hunting him.

The woman—who Kyle assumed was the Elder the guard had mentioned—watched him carefully, waiting for a reaction. The rest of the settlement's people stood just behind her, wary, their expressions a mix of fear and curiosity.

Kyle exhaled slowly. "What did they ask?"

The Elder tilted her head slightly. "They were searching for a Marked. A warrior carrying a blade that does not belong in this world." Her gaze flickered toward the sword at his side. "They didn't say your name, but I suspect they didn't need to."

Kyle's jaw tightened. So they knew about the sword.

The Fallen King's Blade had drawn attention the moment he had claimed it, but if the Legion was specifically tracking it, then there was more to this weapon than just an old relic.

"They were heading north," the Elder continued. "Toward the Frozen Reach. But they'll come back this way."

Kyle nodded, running through his options. He had two clear choices—leave before the Legion returned, or stand his ground and fight.

The first option would buy time, but not much. The Legion wouldn't stop hunting him just because he ran. They would track him down, no matter how far he went.

The second option was dangerous. The Legion was unlike the mercenaries he had fought before. If they returned in force, this small settlement wouldn't survive a direct confrontation.

Rin, standing just beside him, shifted uneasily. "Kyle…"

He glanced down at them.

The goblin child's expression was unreadable, but their sharp eyes carried understanding. "You're gonna fight them, aren't you?"

Kyle rolled his shoulders, testing the weight of the blade at his side. His body was still sore from the last battle, but Blood Reclamation had worked through most of his wounds. He wasn't at full strength, but he was close enough.

"I'm not going to let them keep chasing me," he said simply.

The Elder exhaled through her nose, her lips pressing into a thin line. "If you fight, you will bring war to my people."

Kyle met her gaze, unwavering. "If I leave, they'll still come. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not next week. But they'll keep hunting anyone who knows anything about me." His voice was steady, firm. "Running won't change that."

The Elder studied him for a long moment before nodding. "You're not wrong." She turned to the gathered villagers. "Prepare the barricades. Gather supplies. If the Legion returns, we will not be unprepared."

The people hesitated, some exchanging uneasy glances, but no one objected. These were survivors, people who had already endured too much.

Kyle turned back toward the northern horizon, his instincts sharpening.

The Black Legion was coming.

And he was going to be ready for them.

---

The settlement worked quickly. Wooden barricades were reinforced with iron scraps, weapons were distributed among the villagers, and watchtowers were set up along the perimeter. It wasn't much, but it was something.

Kyle spent the hours leading up to nightfall preparing himself. He checked his armor, wrapped fresh bandages over his healing wounds, and tested the balance of his sword. The Fallen King's Blade still pulsed faintly, as if waiting. Its abilities were locked, but he could feel the power inside it, just out of reach.

Rin sat on a nearby stone, watching him. "You think we can actually win?"

Kyle didn't look up. "We don't have a choice."

Rin sighed, rubbing the back of their neck. "That's not an answer."

Kyle finally met their gaze. "We can't outnumber them. We can't overpower them. But we don't have to." He gestured toward the settlement. "They expect us to run. That's our advantage."

Rin blinked. "You're planning an ambush."

Kyle nodded. "The Legion fights with discipline, but discipline can be broken. We don't let them dictate the fight. We control it."

Rin gave him a considering look before smirking. "You really don't think like a normal person, do you?"

Kyle let out a short breath. "Never had the chance."

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the settlement. The air grew colder, the wind carrying the faint whisper of something distant.

And then, in the dark, the first signal came.

A single torchlight appeared on the road. Then another. And another.

Kyle stood, his muscles coiling like a drawn bowstring.

The Black Legion had arrived.

---

The mercenaries had been well-trained, but the Legion was something else entirely.

They moved in perfect formation, rows of armored soldiers marching in unison, their weapons gleaming under the moonlight. Their helmets were dark steel, their armor engraved with sigils that pulsed faintly. At their center, a commander on horseback, his cape billowing in the cold wind.

Kyle exhaled slowly, stepping onto the barricade.

The commander reined in his horse, his gaze locking onto Kyle. "Warborn."

Kyle met his gaze without flinching. "Legion."

The commander's voice was calm, but laced with authority. "You've caused quite the disturbance. You've been marked for capture." He gestured toward the settlement. "Hand over your blade, and I will allow these people to leave unharmed."

Kyle laughed.

It was a short, sharp sound, cutting through the cold night air like a blade. "You're lying."

The commander tilted his head. "You think I would break my word?"

Kyle smirked. "No. I think you never planned to let them leave in the first place." He pointed his sword toward the soldiers. "You wouldn't send this many if you only wanted me."

The commander's expression didn't change. "A wise observation."

Then, with a simple flick of his wrist, he gave the order.

"Take him."

The Legion moved as one, their advance smooth, controlled, precise.

Kyle's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword.

Then, he whispered to Rin, "Now."

The ambush began.

From the shadows of the buildings, arrows rained down, striking the first ranks of the Legion. The villagers, armed with bows and makeshift weapons, launched their surprise attack, forcing the disciplined formation to falter.

Kyle moved.

He leapt from the barricade, landing directly into the fray, his sword flashing as he tore through the first soldier's armor.

A shockwave of raw power pulsed from the Fallen King's Blade.