Chapter 155 - 157: The End Of Ordeya Kingdom

As the battle rages on, the defenders' lines begin to falter. The monsters press their advantage, their relentless assault driving the defenders back. The air is thick with the scent of blood and smoke, the ground slick with the fallen. Seraphina's hand hovers over the communication crystal. She hesitates, torn between her duty to protect her people and the devastating consequences of using the artifact. "Your Majesty," an old mage calls out, urgency in his voice. "The eastern wall has been breached. We can't hold them much longer." Seraphina's eyes narrow, resolve hardening. She grips the crystal tightly, her voice steady. "Prepare the artifact," she commands. "But do not activate it until I give the order." The old mage nods, rushing to carry out her command. Seraphina turns back to the battlefield, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision before her. "May the gods forgive me," she whispers. The battlefield trembles beneath the fury of clashing titans. Medren, his armor scorched and battered, stands firm, his flaming sword gripped tightly. Across from him, Varkas—now fully transformed into his monstrous lycanthropic form—grins with savage delight. "Come, human! Show me your strongest. I'll take it head-on... and then I'll tear you apart!" Medren's eyes narrow, determination etched into every line of his face. He raises his sword high, the flames intensifying, swirling around him like a fiery tempest. "Very well," Medren replies, his voice steady. He channels his remaining energy, invoking his ultimate Tier 5 skill: Solar Ascension. A radiant aura envelops him, the flames around his sword transforming into a brilliant, golden light. The ground beneath him cracks, unable to withstand the sheer force of his power. Varkas's grin widens, his claws flexing in anticipation. With a roar, Medren charges, his sword blazing with solar energy. He strikes with precision and fury, each blow a testament to his unyielding spirit. Varkas meets him head-on, their clash sending shockwaves through the battlefield. The two warriors exchange blows, their movements a blur. Medren's Solar Ascension skill empowers him, his attacks searing through the air with intensity. Varkas counters with feral strength, his claws rending the earth as he fights with ferocity. As the battle reaches its climax, Varka's blood trickling from a wound. "Now, feel the true might of a lycanthrope," Varkas declares. He follows up with his Tier 5 skill, Moonlit Cataclysm, further enhancing his speed and strength. In a blur, he's upon Medren, launching a relentless barrage of attacks. Medren struggles to keep up, his armor absorbing the brunt of the blows. He grits his teeth, focusing his energy. But Varkas has another plan. He taps into another Tier 5 bloodline skill: Lunar Devastation. A silver aura envelops him, his form becoming a blur as he unleashes a devastating flurry of attacks. Medren tries to defend, but the onslaught is too much. Varkas's claws pierce through his armor, tearing into his flesh. With a final, savage blow, Varkas drives his claws into Medren's chest, ending the battle. Medren falls to the ground, his sword slipping from his grasp. Varkas stands over him, victorious. The battlefield falls silent, the defenders of Ordeya stunned by the loss of their marshal. Varkas lets out a triumphant roar, signaling the monsters' victory. From the command tower, Queen Seraphina watches in horror. She knows that the time has come to make a choice. She turns to the old mage. "Activate the artifact," she commands. Suddenly, a deafening hum fills the air. The clouds above the city swirl violently, parting to reveal a colossal being descending from the heavens. It has immense white wings that stretch across the sky, and in its hands, it holds a floating cube pulsating with energy. The soldiers and monsters alike pause, their gazes drawn upward in awe and terror. The old mage, standing beside Queen Seraphina, trembles as he recognizes the entity. "No," he whispers, his voice quivering. "I've read about this in the ancient texts. It's the ultimate trump card of the kingdom... Sorrow's End. But its power... it will annihilate the city." He turns to where Seraphina is located, desperation in his eyes. "Your Majesty, do you intend to destroy the city and us all just to eliminate the enemy?" Seraphina's eyes are fixed on the battlefield, where Medren's lifeless body lies. Her heart is heavy with grief, her mind clouded with rage. She clenches her fists, her voice cold and resolute. "Make the barrier cover only half of the city," she commands. The old mage hesitates, horror etched on his face. "Your Majesty, doing so will strengthen the barrier, yes, but all our soldiers outside its protection will be caught in the blast." Seraphina turns to him, her gaze unwavering. "I know. But as long as our citizens survive, we can rebuild. Even if it means sacrificing our soldiers, we must protect the future of Ordeya." She raises the communication crystal to her lips, her voice echoing across the battlefield. "All units, retreat immediately. Use your speed to escape the blast radius. This is not a request—it's an order." The soldiers, though shocked, obey without question. They begin to fall back. The old mage, tears streaming down his face, begins the incantation to adjust the barrier. As the barrier shifts, covering only half of the city, the colossal being in the sky raises the cube high above its head. The energy within it intensifies, casting a blinding light over the land. The final act of desperation is about to unfold, a sacrifice made to ensure the survival of a kingdom. As the radiant being in the sky prepares to unleash its devastating attack, Varkas senses the impending doom. The air thickens with tension, and a blinding light gathers around the cube held by the celestial entity. The ground trembles beneath the weight of the impending catastrophe. Varkas, standing amidst the chaos, feels a chill run down his spine. He gazes upward, eyes narrowing as he assesses the threat. "If that attack hits us," he mutters, voice low and grave, "there will be no one left to tell the tale." Reaching into a pouch at his side, Varkas retrieves a small, ornate shield—an item bestowed upon him by his sovereign. Its surface shimmers with ancient runes, pulsating with latent energy. With a swift motion, he tosses it into the air. The shield ascends, hovering above the city, expanding rapidly into a vast, translucent barrier. The celestial being releases the energy stored within the cube. A colossal beam of light descends, illuminating the battlefield with blinding intensity. The beam strikes the shield conjured by Varkas's item. A thunderous impact resonates, shaking the very foundations of the city. The shield holds, absorbing the brunt of the attack. Waves of energy ripple across its surface, distorting the air and sending shockwaves through the surroundings. The ground quakes, and debris is hurled into the air. Varkas braces himself, muscles tensed, as he endures the aftermath of the clash. Dust and smoke envelop the area, obscuring vision. As the light dissipates, the shield remains intact, though visibly strained, its glow flickering. The battlefield falls silent once more, the immediate threat neutralized. The radiant being in the sky begins to dissipate, its form unraveling into streams of light that fade into the heavens. The battlefield, moments ago engulfed in chaos, now lies in stunned silence. Human soldiers, their weapons still raised, stand frozen, eyes wide with disbelief. The monstrous figure of Varkas, stands tall amidst the remnants of the clash, his presence commanding attention. Varkas steps forward, his voice resonating across the field. "Humans, do you still wish to fight? After witnessing your queen's willingness to sacrifice you all?" The soldiers exchange glances, the weight of his words sinking in. One by one, weapons clatter to the ground, a chorus of surrender echoing through the air. Queen Seraphina, from her vantage point, watches the scene unfold. Her knees give way, and she collapses to the ground, the reality of her failed gambit crashing down upon her. "How... How could this happen?" A royal guard rushes to her side, concern etched on his face. "Your Majesty, are you alright?" Seraphina said. "I... I was prepared to sacrifice everything. And yet..." Varka's eyes scanning the horizon. With a powerful leap, he ascends into the air, he soars towards the command tower where Queen Seraphina resides. Inside the tower, Seraphina struggles to her feet, her body trembling from the aftermath of the failed assault. The royal guard, ever vigilant, positions himself between her and the approaching threat, his sword drawn and stance firm. Varkas lands with a thunderous impact, the stone floor cracking beneath his weight. Without hesitation, he swats the guard aside, sending him crashing into the far wall with a sickening crunch. Seraphina meets Varkas's gaze, her eyes burning with defiance. "What about we stop here now, queen Seraphina?" Varkas growls, his voice a deep rumble. Seraphina straightens, her chin held high. "Kill me if you must," she spits. "I would rather die than serve your filthy king." Varkas's eyes narrow, his expression darkening. "You dare insult my king?" he snarls. "You have sealed your fate." Seraphina, though trembling, meets his gaze with unwavering defiance. "Do it," she says, her voice steady. "I will not beg. I will not kneel." Varkas narrows his eyes, a growl rumbling from his throat. "Your pride is admirable." With a swift motion, he raises his clawed hand. Seraphina closes her eyes, a single tear escaping down her cheek. Smart History The claw descends. Moments later, Varkas emerges from the tower, holding Seraphina's severed head aloft. Blood drips from his claws, staining the stone beneath him. "Behold!" he roars, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "The reign of Ordeya ends today! Let this be a lesson to all who defy the might of our king!"