Chapter 48: Sovereign vs. Crown

At the edge of the battlefield, the Royal Commander snarled atop his blood-streaked horse.

"Enough of this farce."

He kicked his mount forward, drawing his crimson-forged blade — a weapon enchanted with royal blood rituals.

Kaelen stepped down from the fortress walls.

Sword raised.

Eyes burning.

No guards.

No escorts.

Just him.

And the Sovereign Will that no king could crush.

The Duel

The Royal Commander struck first —

a blur of crimson steel and wrath.

Kaelen parried effortlessly,

Astryn singing with Sovereign light.

Blow for blow, strike for strike,

they clashed across the broken stones.

The enemy unleashed royal magic,

twisting fire and steel together.

Kaelen answered with Sovereign Shackles,

binding and shattering the attacks with chains of light.

The Commander screamed in frustration.

"You are nothing!"

Kaelen smiled coldly.

"I am the future."

And with a single devastating strike,

he shattered the enemy's blade —

and drove Astryn through the man's chest.