Chapter 37: Shadow Over the Battlefield
968 Words
The northern plains had become a land of chaos.
Smoke drifted across the battlefield as the clash between the Lycan army and Magnus’ rebels raged on. What had once been an organized battle was now a brutal struggle for survival.
The corrupted beasts Magnus had unleashed were tearing through the Lycan ranks like living nightmares.
One of the monstrous wolves leapt into a group of soldiers, its claws slicing through armor as if it were paper. Warriors were thrown across the field, their weapons scattering across the dirt.
Another beast roared and slammed its massive body into a defensive shield line, breaking the formation apart.
Panic began spreading through parts of the army.
“These things won’t die!” one soldier shouted.
But Kael refused to let fear take control of his warriors.
Standing at the center of the battlefield, his armor already scratched and stained with dust, Kael raised his sword high.
“Hold your ground!” he roared.
His powerful voice cut through the chaos like thunder.
The soldiers rallied around him.
A corrupted beast lunged directly toward Kael, its glowing red eyes burning with rage.
Kael moved quickly.
As the creature jumped, he stepped forward instead of back.
With perfect timing, his blade flashed upward.
The sword struck the beast’s throat.
The creature collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
Kael turned immediately to the surrounding soldiers.
“They can be killed!” he shouted.
“Strike for the throat or the heart!”
The warriors around him nodded and rushed back into the fight with renewed determination.
But the battle was far from over.
Across the battlefield, Magnus stood calmly on a raised ridge, watching the destruction unfold below.
His dark cloak whipped in the wind as he studied Kael’s movements carefully.
One of his lieutenants approached him.
“The corrupted wolves are breaking their lines.”
Magnus nodded slowly.
“Good.”
His eyes remained fixed on Kael.
“But the Lycan prince fights well.”
The lieutenant hesitated.
“Should we send more beasts?”
Magnus shook his head.
“No.”
He smiled faintly.
“Let them struggle.”
His gaze moved toward the distant mountains.
“They are waiting for the Moon-Bound to return.”
The lieutenant frowned.
“And if she does?”
Magnus’ smile grew colder.
“Then she will arrive just in time to watch her kingdom fall.”
Back on the battlefield…
The fight had grown even more intense.
Kael moved through the chaos like a warrior born for war.
His sword flashed again and again as he cut down both rebels and corrupted beasts.
A massive beast roared and charged toward a group of young Lycan soldiers.
They were barely able to raise their shields before the creature crashed into them.
Kael saw the attack.
Without hesitation, he sprinted across the battlefield.
Just as the beast raised its claws to strike—
Kael leaped forward.
His sword plunged straight through the creature’s heart.
The beast roared one final time before collapsing beside him.
The young soldiers stared at Kael in shock.
“My lord…”
Kael pulled his blade free.
“Stay focused.”
He turned back toward the battlefield.
More corrupted beasts were still pushing through the Lycan lines.
The battle was beginning to turn.
And Kael knew it.
A horn suddenly sounded from the rebel side of the battlefield.
Kael looked up.
Magnus had begun moving forward with his personal guard.
The rebel Alpha stepped onto the battlefield at last.
His presence alone seemed to energize the rebel army.
Wolves howled loudly as they surged forward again.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
“So he finally joins the fight.”
The two leaders began walking toward each other across the battlefield.
The chaos of war surrounded them, but neither one seemed distracted.
Magnus stopped a few steps away from Kael.
For a moment, the battle around them seemed to fade into the background.
Magnus tilted his head slightly.
“You’ve grown stronger since the last time I saw you.”
Kael held his sword firmly.
“You’ve grown more reckless.”
Magnus chuckled softly.
“Reckless?”
He gestured toward the battlefield behind him.
“My army is breaking yours.”
Kael’s voice remained calm.
“For now.”
Magnus’ eyes gleamed.
“You’re waiting for the Moon-Bound.”
Kael did not answer.
Magnus laughed.
“She won’t make it in time.”
Before Kael could respond—
A thunderous roar echoed across the sky.
Both leaders looked up.
A massive shadow moved through the clouds above the battlefield.
The soldiers on both sides stopped fighting for a moment as the sky darkened.
Dravoryx.
The Devourer of Kingdoms descended slowly from the storm clouds.
His enormous wings spread wide as he hovered above the battlefield.
Lightning flashed behind his monstrous form.
Magnus smiled.
“Perfect timing.”
Kael tightened his grip on his sword.
The Devourer had arrived.
Dravoryx’s golden eyes scanned the battlefield below.
Thousands of warriors.
Blood.
Chaos.
War.
The creature grinned with satisfaction.
“Yes…”
His deep voice rolled across the plains.
“This is exactly what I hoped to see.”
He lowered his head toward the battlefield.
“And now…”
Dark flames began gathering inside his jaws.
“…let us make this war unforgettable.”
Far away, racing across the mountain road, Aria suddenly felt a powerful surge of dark energy.
She pulled her horse to a stop.
Her eyes widened.
“He’s there.”
Rylan looked at her.
“Dravoryx?”
Aria nodded.
Her silver eyes began glowing faintly.
“And Kael is in danger.”
Without another word, she urged her horse forward again.
They rode faster than ever before.
Because the battle for the Lycan kingdom had just entered its most dangerous moment.
- Writer
