The Commander Rises

The wind howled through the ancient trees, carrying the scent of burning wood and iron. Kaelion stood on the cliff's edge, gazing down at the battlefield forming in the valley below. A sea of armor and glowing eyes met his gaze—Soul Knights, Soul Archers, and twisted mages drawn from the depths of death itself. The Soul King had unleashed his entire legion.

Sylene stepped up beside him, her Tempeststone pulsing softly in her hand. "They're preparing for war. This isn't a skirmish, Kaelion. This is a full assault."

Kaelion clenched his fists. His Earthstone hummed faintly, as though it too could sense the storm to come. "Then we meet it head-on."

Behind them, Raik teleported in, his breath ragged. "The flanks are setting traps, but we've got maybe minutes before they charge."

Kaelion nodded. "We hold this ridge. We fight together."

Moments Later – The Battle Begins

With a terrible, ghostly howl, the first wave of Soul Archers took position. Their arrows, tipped with soul-bound energy, streaked through the sky like falling stars. Kaelion raised a wall of stone just in time, shielding the front lines.

"Raik, blink behind their archers and scatter them!" Kaelion commanded.

Raik vanished with a flash, reappearing among the archers and flinging them back with a burst of short-range teleport blasts. Sylene soared overhead on a wind current, striking with bolts of lightning that shattered armor and scattered the formation.

But then came the foot soldiers—the Soul Knights, silent and terrifying. They moved in perfect formation, eyes glowing green, weapons dripping with spectral energy. One by one, they engaged Kaelion's allies, blades clashing in a deadly rhythm.

Kaelion was met by a towering Soul Knight wielding twin scythes, its form shrouded in blackened mist.

"You will not pass," the knight growled in a voice that sounded like it came from the bottom of a grave.

Kaelion didn't wait. He stomped the earth, sending pillars of stone erupting beneath the knight's feet. The knight sliced through them with impossible speed and countered with a sweep of its blade.

Kaelion ducked, rolled, and drove his fist into the ground. Spikes of rock surged upward, but the knight deflected them all.

He's faster than the others… I'll have to get stronger.

Sylene vs. the Mage Corps

While Kaelion fought below, Sylene faced a trio of enemy mages in the sky. One hurled flaming orbs, another cast icy shards, and the third sent healing spells to fallen Soul Knights.

She raised her hands, storm clouds swirling violently above. "You picked the wrong mage to challenge."

Lightning cracked the sky. With a scream, Sylene channeled the full fury of her Tempeststone. A bolt slammed down, obliterating one mage instantly. But the others kept casting, forcing her to dodge and retaliate in mid-air.

Raik was teleporting in and out of combat, saving allies, scattering enemies. But his breath was growing shallow. "I… can't keep this up…" he muttered.

A Soul Archer took aim at his back.

Thunk!

An arrow flew—just before it landed, Kaelion hurled a stone wall in its path, saving Raik's life.

"I've got you," Kaelion said. "But you've got to rest."

Raik nodded, clutching his ribs. "Then end this quick…"

Just as Kaelion turned back to the front, the battlefield went silent for a moment. Then the ground quaked.

From the Soul King's side of the army, a massive Soul Knight stepped forward—eight feet tall, wielding a black war axe that pulsed with deathly energy. The air froze around him. Soul energy poured from his body like a leaking volcano.

Sylene landed beside Kaelion. "That's not just any knight… that's their commander."

Kaelion narrowed his eyes. "Then let's see how strong their best really is."