The battle raged through the streets of the capital like a storm unleashed. Li Wei's soldiers fought with the fury of men who had nothing left to lose, but the tide of war was a fickle thing. Despite their haste, despite the fury in their hearts, they were not the only ones who had prepared for this night.
"Faster!" Li Wei shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. His eyes were fixed on the palace in the distance, the towering fortress that had been his family's pride before it was stolen. Every step, every second was a race against time. If they could just reach the heart of the city, he knew they would have the upper hand.
But the city's defenders had rallied faster than expected. The first wave of soldiers had barely begun to clash with their forces when the reinforcements came—like a tidal wave, swelling over the streets, cutting off their retreat.
Li Wei's heart hammered in his chest as he slashed through the enemy lines. His movements were swift, ruthless, a dance of death as he carved a path through the soldiers who dared to stand in his way. Each strike was a promise, a vow to avenge his family and take back what was rightfully his.
Yet, for every soldier he felled, two more seemed to take their place. The pressure was mounting, the weight of the fight pressing down on his shoulders, but he couldn't afford to falter. Not now.
Hua Ling fought by his side, as deadly as ever. Her blade moved in a graceful, controlled arc, cutting down enemies without hesitation. But even she seemed to be feeling the pressure. There was a flicker of concern in her eyes as she glanced at Li Wei, a silent message that they were running out of time.
"We need to move now!" she yelled over the clamor of battle. "We can't hold this position forever!"
Li Wei nodded grimly, his eyes scanning the street ahead. They were surrounded, with only a narrow path leading toward the palace gates. But even that path was filled with the sounds of enemy forces rallying, a wall of soldiers ready to defend their fallen king.
"We push through," Li Wei said through gritted teeth, his gaze fixed on the palace that seemed so close, yet so far.
Without another word, they charged forward. The narrow path was crowded, but it was the only route to the palace. Li Wei's forces followed him like shadows, each man pushing through the fray with the same singular focus.
But as they neared the palace gates, disaster struck.
A large explosion rocked the streets ahead. Debris rained down as the sound of flames crackling filled the air. Li Wei barely had time to react before a wall of fire and smoke erupted before him, blocking their path.
"Ambush!" Hua Ling shouted. "They've trapped us!"
Li Wei's eyes narrowed in fury. His heart thudded in his chest as he realized the extent of the trap. The explosion had separated his forces, cutting off their escape. It was a deliberate attempt to isolate him and his soldiers.
In the chaos, Li Wei's thoughts flashed back to the moment he had learned of Xian Yue's treachery. The memory burned bright in his mind—his uncle's smirk as he betrayed everything Li Wei had ever known. Every step, every calculation had led him here, but now, it seemed the tides of fate were against him.
"This is it," Hua Ling said, her voice low, though her eyes were sharp. "We can't move forward like this. We need to regroup."
Li Wei's fists clenched, but his face remained an emotionless mask. The fire before them was intense, but it would not stop him. "We're going in," he said, voice steely with determination.
Hua Ling's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're not thinking clearly. If we charge headlong into that, we'll be slaughtered."
"We don't have a choice!" Li Wei snapped. "The throne is right there! We can't let this delay us now."
For a moment, the tension between them was palpable. Hua Ling's eyes searched his face, looking for any sign of hesitation, but she found none. She took a deep breath, and with a silent nod, she fell in line.
The decision had been made.
As they pushed forward through the smoke and flames, the heat was unbearable. Li Wei could feel the sweat dripping down his back, the smell of burning wood and flesh stinging the air. The sounds of battle seemed to intensify as they charged, the clash of swords, the screams of men, and the crackling of fire all blurring together.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of them, stepping through the smoke like a ghost. His tall frame and regal armor marked him as one of Xian Yue's most trusted commanders. His eyes gleamed with a cruel confidence as he raised his sword, blocking their path.
"Prince Li Wei," the commander said with a sneer. "Did you really think you could come here and take back what is mine?"
Li Wei's eyes burned with fury as he met the man's gaze. "You won't stop me."
Without another word, he lunged forward, his sword flashing in the dim light. The commander parried with a swift movement, and the two men clashed, the sound of their blades ringing through the air.
Li Wei could feel the heat of the battle, the weight of each strike, but his mind was consumed with one thought: This is not over.
The battle continued to rage around them as Li Wei and the commander fought fiercely, their swords clashing again and again in a deadly dance. But the fire and smoke began to take its toll on both sides. The street ahead was becoming more treacherous, with falling debris and the shrieks of dying men filling the air.
The commander was skilled, no doubt, but Li Wei's rage was a greater weapon. His movements were fast, precise, and filled with a fury that seemed to come from the depths of his soul. Every swing, every thrust, was a strike at the heart of the kingdom that had once been his.
Finally, with one final, swift move, Li Wei disarmed the commander, sending his sword flying. The man staggered back, his eyes wide with shock, but Li Wei was already upon him.
"Tell your master I'm coming for him," Li Wei spat, his voice cold as ice.
With a swift motion, he ended the man's life, the body crumpling to the ground.
Li Wei stood over him, his chest heaving with exertion, his sword still dripping with blood. But there was no time for victory. The fight was far from over.
He turned to Hua Ling, who was watching him silently. "Let's finish this."
Hua Ling nodded, and together, they moved forward, deeper into the heart of the capital.
The throne awaited, and nothing—not fire, not men, not even fate itself—would stand in his way.