Chapter 118: 118:Finish Up

The battlefield was a chaotic blend of flashing steel, monstrous roars, and the crackling energy of magic. Snowflakes drifted through the air, an eerie contrast to the carnage below.

The ground, once covered in pristine white, was now a mix of trampled slush and crimson stains. Amid the chaos, Kael stood firm, his breath misting in the cold air as he locked eyes with the monstrous Byk.

The beast let out a guttural roar, steam billowing from its nostrils as it scraped the ground with its claws. It was massive, its dark, armored hide absorbing the moonlight, giving it an almost spectral presence. Its yellow eyes burned with madness, a product of the corruption tainting the air.

Kael could feel it—the twisted mana lingering in the atmosphere, poisoning the creatures of the land.

Beyond him, his knights battled against smaller, frenzied monsters—grotesque creatures that had once been majestic wolves and bears but were now disfigured with protruding bones and bloodshot eyes.

The knights fought valiantly, their armor reflecting the flickering light of torches planted in the snow. Swords clashed, magic flared, and battle cries echoed across the frozen landscape.

Handle took a greatsword almost as tall as he was, and cleaved through a monstrous wolf, sending its corrupted blood spraying across the snow.

Beside him, Vic danced between foes, using a twin daggers gleaming as they sliced through another beast’s throat. Magic users at the back conjured barriers and rained down firebolts to keep the advancing creatures at bay.

But none of them dared to approach Kael’s fight as ordered.

The Byk lunged, swinging one massive claw at Kael. To the ordinary eye, it would seem like a blur of darkness, but to Kael, it was sluggish—telegraphed. Releasing his grip on the beast’s other claw, he propelled himself into the air. He twisted mid-flight, landing hands-first on the Byk’s attacking limb, using it as a springboard.

With a grin, he launched himself toward the creature’s face.

BANG!

The impact rattled the ground as the Byk staggered back, its lower jaw cracking from the force of the blow. Kael didn’t let up. Grabbing onto one of its colossal horns, he swung himself over its head, landing on its broad shoulders.

"Is that all you’ve got, you overgrown bear?" he taunted, before driving his fist into the creature’s skull.

BAANG!

The beast roared, thrashing violently in an attempt to throw him off.

But Kael was relentless, raining blows upon its armored hide. In the distance, he heard the knights’ shouts as they struggled against the relentless horde of monsters.

A chilling wind swept through the battlefield, carrying the scent of blood and steel, yet the snow continued to fall, its soft descent a cruel contrast to the brutality below.

The Byk, enraged, unleashed a torrent of black fire from its maw. Kael scoffed, his eyes glowing with a predatory light. With a swift flicker, he disappeared—reappearing a short distance away as the fireball obliterated the spot he had just occupied.

Handel and Vjc barely had time to react before another corrupted beast lunged at them.

Handel brought his greatsword down in a mighty arc, splitting the creature in half.

Vic moving with the blur of a shadow, dodged between two attackers before plunging his daggers into their exposed throats.

A knight near them let out a strangled cry as a mutated bear tore into him.

"TskkkNx

Without hesitation, Vic licked a throwing dagger at the creature’s eye, blinding it momentarily. Gregor seized the opening, driving his sword deep into the beast’s heart. It howled before collapsing, steam rising from its corpse.

But the Byk was far from done. Gathering a surge of dark mana, it let out a roar that shook the air, sending a shockwave rippling across the battlefield. The knights stumbled as the force slammed into them.

Kael, however, stood firm. His eyes narrowed.

"Enough of this."

He reached out, his fingers tracing the air as he grabbed a boulder from the ground.

The ground beneath the Byk trembled before a massive boulder erupted from below, slamming into the creature’s chest and forcing it onto its knees.

Dark energy seeped from its form, tendrils of corruption lashing at the air like living shadows. It wasn’t just a beast anymore. It was a manifestation of madness, an avatar of destruction. The snow around it melted instantly, creating a blackened crater where it knelt.

Kael could feel it,the beast’s anguish, its suffering. It wanted a release.

A voice rang out through the chaos.

"Your Highness, we have found your sword!"

Chris sprinted toward him, the gleaming weapon in his hands. He tossed it, and Kael caught it effortlessly. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a crimson aura pulsed from the blade, sending a wave of heat through the frozen air.

The Byk, sensing its end, unleashed one final, desperate attack. A blinding beam of dark energy shot toward Kael, warping the very air around it.

But Kael was already in motion.

His blade sang through the air, carving through the corrupted magic like a knife through silk. The attack split in two, dispersing into nothingness. The Byk’s eyes widened in what could only be described as fear.

Kael smirked.

"Rest easy, beast. Maybe your next life will be less pathetic."

With a final burst of speed, he drove his sword into the creature’s heart.

BOOOOOOOM!

The explosion of energy sent a shockwave across the battlefield, forcing the remaining corrupted beasts to retreat. When the dust settled, the Byk stood still with the upper half missing.

A stunned silence fell over the field. The remaining knights, bloodied and exhausted, stared at their prince. Snowflakes drifted down once more, settling on Kael’s shoulders as he stood in the crater where the monster had fallen.

Then, cheers erupted.

"We won! Hail to His Highness!"

But Kael didn’t acknowledge the celebration. His gaze turned toward the air above them, where a dark mist still lingered.

"The air is still tainted," he muttered and looked at mages with tired gaze.

"Clear it."

"Yes Sir!"

They moved toward an open area, raising their hands. "Storm Caller."

A powerful gust of wind erupted around him, forming a massive tornado that began drawing in the corrupted gas. The wind howled as the poison was siphoned into a concentrated mass.

Meanwhile Kael’s vision blurred from the mana drain, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward. Raising a single hand, he whispered,"Devour!"

Kael exhaled, his body swaying. His vision darkened, and the last thing he heard was Chris shouting his name before everything faded.