Kai wiped the blood from his lips as he steadied himself. His body ached, his arms felt heavy, but he refused to fall. Across from him, General Veydris stood motionless, his dark armor gleaming under the dying light.
"You're still standing," Veydris remarked, tilting his head slightly. "Impressive. But it won't matter."
Kai exhaled sharply, tightening his grip on his sword. He couldn't win this fight through brute strength. Veydris was stronger, faster, and nearly untouchable. If he wanted to survive, he needed to outthink him.
Around them, the battle raged on. Kai's forces were still holding, but barely. The coalition's soldiers pressed forward, their numbers threatening to overwhelm the defenders. Lyra and Solis fought back-to-back, cutting down enemies as they tried to reach Kai.
He didn't have much time.
Veydris rushed forward, his massive greatsword cutting through the air like a falling star. Kai barely dodged, feeling the wind of the strike graze his cheek. The force of the blow shattered the stone behind him, sending debris flying.
Kai saw his opening.
Instead of retreating, he stepped in—too close for Veydris to swing his greatsword effectively. Using his smaller size to his advantage, Kai ducked under the commander's arm and slashed upward.
His blade struck true—cutting deep into the exposed joint between Veydris's shoulder and breastplate.
For the first time, the general grunted in pain.
Kai twisted the blade and kicked off the black knight's armor, flipping backward to regain distance. Blood dripped from Veydris's wounded arm, staining the ruined stone beneath them.
But the general simply smirked.
"Not bad," Veydris admitted, rolling his shoulder. "But still not enough."
Before Kai could react, Veydris lunged forward with unnatural speed. His armored fist slammed into Kai's ribs, sending him sprawling across the battlefield.
Pain exploded through his body. He gasped, struggling to get air back into his lungs.
Kai forced himself to his feet, but his vision swam. He knew he couldn't take much more.
Veydris approached slowly, like a predator savoring the hunt. "You've fought well. But this is the end."
Kai's mind raced. He needed a plan—something, anything to turn the tide. His eyes flicked toward the collapsed ruins around them. The battlefield itself could be his weapon.
Then, he saw it.
A massive stone archway, barely holding together from the earlier explosions, looming above them. A single strong impact could bring it down.
Kai gritted his teeth. It was risky. But it was his only chance.
Veydris raised his greatsword. "Die with honor, rebel."
Kai steadied himself. And as Veydris swung, he made his move.
Instead of dodging, Kai twisted his body, angling the attack just enough so the sword struck the ground beside him. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield—right into the unstable archway.
The stone trembled. Cracks spread like lightning.
Veydris's eyes flickered with realization—too late.
With a deafening roar, the archway collapsed.
Tons of stone came crashing down, engulfing the battlefield in a cloud of dust and rubble.
Kai barely managed to roll away before the impact. Coughing, he staggered to his feet, squinting through the haze.
And there, beneath the massive pile of fallen stone, Veydris lay buried.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
For the first time, the coalition soldiers hesitated. Their unstoppable general was gone.
Kai took a shaky breath, lifting his sword high.
"Forward!" he roared. "Drive them back!"
His soldiers let out a deafening battle cry and charged.
The tide of the war had turned.
But deep in Kai's mind, a single thought lingered.
Was Veydris truly dead?