Hidden Pathways

Shadow Reckoning - Chapter 101

Kazaks fixed his gaze upon Ybael's injured form, noting the bruises adorning his face and the sight of his right arm's broken bones.

"Remarkable. You continue to impress, don't you, Ybael, King of Drakonium," Kazaks remarked, his tone tinged with sarcasm.

"You wear your broken bones and bruises like badges of honor, Ybael, but they only serve to reveal your vulnerability," Kazaks remarked, his voice laced with a mix of admiration and disdain. "Yet, despite the odds stacked against you, you still stand. It's a testament to your determination, but even the mightiest kings can't protect everything they hold dear."

"Believe me, I've earned my title as King," Ybael asserted confidently, his voice tinged with defiance.

With a sudden shift, Ybael's eyes transformed once more, his sclera darkening, his iris and pupil turning white, and the appearance of his yang tattoo completing the manifestation of his power.

Despite the pain radiating through his body, Ybael stubbornly raised his broken arm, a testament to his resilience, though the effort proved futile as the agony overwhelmed him, causing his arm to fall back to his side with a grimace of pain.

"Cursed be you, Kazaks," Ybael muttered, his frustration evident in his tone.

Ybael's eyes returned to their usual state, and the yang tattoo vanished from his skin. Observing Ybael's struggle, Kazaks remained silent, a hint of respect mingling with his contempt.

For a brief moment, Kazaks paused, his senses alert to the distant approach of potential reinforcements.

"It seems your pawns are making their move," Kazaks remarked, his enhanced senses detecting the subtle signs of their presence.

"Your game ends here, Kazaks. We've got you outnumbered," Ybael declared with a smirk, a glimmer of triumph in his eyes.

Kazaks turned his gaze back to Ybael, who stood firm despite the challenges they faced.

"You'll need more than that, King Ybael. No matter how many pawns you rally against me, your defeat is inevitable," Kazaks taunted, his confidence unwavering.

"Your rebellion, your Renaissance, will crumble against the weight of destiny. Your people are devoid of aspirations," Ybael retorted, his words laden with determination.

"Devoid of dreams? That's rich," Kazaks scoffed, a memory flashing through his mind of his tender moments with Yzavynne, their dreams intertwined.

"We have dreams aplenty. You're just too blinded by your own ambitions to see beyond your narrow perspective," Kazaks countered, his tone laced with disdain for Ybael's naivety.

"Your arrogance blinds you, Ybael," Kazaks retorted, his voice dripping with disdain. "You cling to your crumbling kingdom, unable to see the truth before you. But remember my words, your delusions will be your downfall."

He paused, his gaze piercing through Ybael with unyielding intensity. "As for me, I have no need for your empty promises or hollow dreams. I walk my path with my comrades, driven by purpose and strength."

Ybael's gaze fixed upon Kazaks, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief at the words that had just escaped his adversary's lips.

A new figure, cloaked in the shadows of the battlefield, emerged wielding a lethal glaive. With deadly precision, the assassin lunged forward, aiming to strike Kazaks with a thrust of his weapon. Yet, Kazaks, ever vigilant, swiftly dodged the attack, his movements fluid and precise.

Seizing the opportunity, Kazaks countered with a powerful blow, sending the assassin crashing to the ground with bone-shattering force. The impact was so fierce that it rendered the assailant unconscious, sprawled helplessly upon the unforgiving earth.

"NOW!" cried out an archer commander, prompting a flurry of hundreds of arrows to be unleashed towards Kazaks.

"Hmm!" Kazaks grunted in response.

With remarkable speed and precision, Kazaks executed a swift 360-degree rotation with his war hammer, creating a powerful whirlwind effect that deflected the oncoming arrows, sending them scattering in all directions under the force of the wind generated by his weapon.

"Fools, wasting arrows like these," Kazaks exclaimed as he swiftly spots the archer commander that instructed the rest of the archers.

The archer commander then was in shocked and scared for a bit but then commanded his archers once again.

"ANOTHER ONE! FIRE!" shouted the archer commander, prompting his archers to release yet another barrage of arrows toward Kazaks.

Once again, Kazaks deftly employed his technique, swiveling his war hammer in a 360-degree rotation, creating a powerful wind that diverted the incoming arrows away from him.

"Impossible! This, Kazaks, is a true force to be reckoned with," remarked the archer commander in awe of Kazaks' prowess.

"What a monster, this guys, Kazaks, he is a definition of a monster," the archer commander said.

"Warriors, rally together! It's time to demonstrate our strength against this rebel!" exclaimed the leader of the warriors, his voice echoing with determination and resolve.

"Stand firm, no stepping back! Fight with all your might until victory is ours!" exclaimed one warrior, rallying the troops with fervor.

"Feel the bite of our blades! Charge forward and strike!" roared another warrior, urging his comrades into the fray.

"Think of your loved ones, of the homes we defend! Attack with everything you've got!" shouted a warrior, stirring up determination among the ranks.

"Together, as one, we shall overcome! Our unity will break their lines!" proclaimed another warrior, boosting morale with the power of solidarity.

"Justice is on our side! Let the righteous fury guide your blades! Onward, warriors of justice!" cried out a warrior, inspiring his fellow fighters with a sense of purpose.

Encouraged by their leader's words, the warriors rallied, determined to confront the rebel with all their might. With a collective battle cry, they charged towards Kazaks, ready to engage in combat.

Meanwhile, three assassins swiftly entered the battlefield, each seizing one of the kingdom's leaders—Ybael and Solarius along with Sentinel—removing them from the immediate danger of the conflict.

"Are you unharmed, King Ybael?" inquired one of the assassins as he gently lowered Ybael's body to the ground, cushioning it with a cloth.

"I'll survive, but my right arm is badly injured," Ybael responded, his breaths labored from the exertion of battle.

"Fetch the medics! Quickly!" the assassin commanded.

Rapidly responding to the call, the medics rushed to Ybael's aid, attending to his injured arm with urgency and care.

"Listen up," Ybael commanded the assassin, his voice urgent as he surveyed the impending battle.  

"Kazaks is no mere opponent; he's a monster," Ybael muttered, his voice heavy with the weight of their struggle. "But even monsters can be brought down. Prepare the cannons. It's time to show him the might of our unity and resilience."

He continued, "And reach out to the warriors stationed in the Kingdoms of Aetheria, Elysium, and Sun Ridge. We require their assistance. They're likely scattered across distant territories, so act swiftly to summon them."

"Yes, King Ybael," the assassin responded with determination, rising to his feet to carry out the order.

"What transpired was disappointing. I merely followed the script laid out before us. But it appears that script has been tampered with. The question remains: by whom, and for what purpose?" Ybael mused aloud, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and intrigue.