MARKED BY THE LYCAN KING

Chapter 40: Light Against the Devourer

The battlefield fell into an eerie, expectant silence.

Thousands of warriors froze, eyes locked on the radiant figure at the center of the plains.

Alina.

The Moon-Bound.

Silver energy swirled around her like a living storm, rising into the clouds as beams of moonlight pierced the darkened sky. Even the wind seemed to pause, as if the world itself had taken a breath.

Above, Dravoryx hovered, wings spread wide, casting a monstrous shadow over the shattered ground.

“So this is the Moon-Bound,” he rumbled. Golden eyes gleamed. “Impressive… indeed.”

Alina said nothing. Her focus was absolute.

The energy coalescing around her hands grew brighter with each heartbeat.

Behind her, Lunaris and Thalor stood firm. Wounded from the earlier clash, their presence remained a pillar of power. They had bought her this moment—and now it was hers to command.

Dravoryx descended, massive claws digging into the earth, the ground cracking beneath his weight. “Come then,” he growled. “Show me what you’ve learned.”

Alina stepped forward, each footfall leaving glowing symbols etched into the battlefield.

“You’ve destroyed villages,” she said, voice steady. Another step. “You’ve slaughtered innocents.” Another. “You’ve brought war to this land.”

Her silver eyes locked on the Devourer’s burning gaze. “It ends here.”

The Devourer laughed, a rolling, thunderous sound. “You speak as if victory is certain.” He spread his wings wide. “Let me remind you who stands before you.”

The ground trembled as dark fire began gathering inside his jaws.

“Run while you still can,” Dravoryx warned.

Alina did not move. She raised both hands toward the stormy sky.

The silver energy around her exploded outward. A colossal beam of lunar light shot into the clouds above the battlefield. The darkened heavens parted, and moonlight poured down like a divine spotlight. The plains glowed silver, awe striking every warrior.

Even Magnus, high on his ridge, stared in disbelief. “What is she doing…?”

Lunaris stepped forward. The Moon answers her call.

Thalor’s deep voice rumbled across the battlefield. Balance awakens.

Alina lowered her hands, the silver energy now flowing around her like a glowing river. Then she pointed directly at Dravoryx. “Now.”

The Devourer unleashed his attack—a wave of black fire surging across the battlefield—but Alina did not retreat. She thrust her hands forward, lunar energy colliding with the dark flames.

For several tense seconds, neither force yielded. Darkness and moonlight clashed violently, shaking the plains with raw power.

Dravoryx roared, feeding the dark flames with all his strength. “Fall!”

But Alina stood firm. Her power grew with every heartbeat. The silver light began pushing back the fire, forcing it apart.

Dravoryx’s golden eyes widened. “Impossible.”

The lunar energy surged forward. The black fire shattered like glass, and before the Devourer could react, the silver beam struck him directly.

The impact sent Dravoryx crashing backward across the battlefield. Dust and debris filled the air. When the smoke cleared, the Devourer lay partially buried in shattered earth.

For the first time since the war began, the Devourer had been knocked down.

The Lycan army erupted in cheers. Kael stared in disbelief. “She… she did it…”

But Magnus did not celebrate. His eyes stayed fixed on the fallen terror, because he knew something the others did not—Dravoryx was far from defeated.

A low rumble shook the plains. The Devourer rose, wings unfolding once more. Cracks marred his scales from the lunar strike, yet his golden eyes burned with terrifying power.

And then he laughed—slowly, darkly, building into a roar.

“Magnificent… absolutely magnificent,” he growled, lifting his massive head to the moonlit sky.

Alina’s expression hardened. “You’re finished.”

Dravoryx’s grin returned, his voice dropping to a dark whisper. “Oh no… this was only the first round.”

Behind him, the sky began to twist with shadow. A swirling vortex opened above the battlefield.

Magnus stepped forward, a dark smile on his face. “It’s time.”

Alina frowned. “What is that?”

Dravoryx’s golden eyes gleamed. “Reinforcements.”

From the swirling darkness emerged massive, ancient creatures—terrifying beings like the Devourer himself. The real war had only just begun.