Chapter 169: The King's Stand
The gates of the South Nation had become a battlefield, the air thick with the clashing sounds of steel and the crackling of mana. The Aquarians, their blue scales glistening in the sunlight, tore through the front lines with a viciousness that made even the bravest knights hesitate.
King Thalanor, fully armored and standing atop the castle wall, looked down at the chaos below. His emerald Armor shimmered with every flicker of his flame mana, the ancient scales of the legendary beast seeming to pulse with life. This was no ordinary armor – it was a symbol of his unmatched power, forged by the ancient dwarves of the West Nation, a gift he had bestowed upon Volkra for winning the recent tournament.
Inside the Castle Barracks...
Volkra tightened the straps of his Armor, the green scales fitting perfectly around his body. The armor felt almost alive, humming with ancient power. It was a gift from King Thalanor himself, a prize for his victory in the tournament, and he had never felt more ready for battle.
Milton, sharpening his blade nearby, noticed Volkra's wild grin.
Milton (smirking):"You look like you're about to lose your mind, Volkra."
Volkra (laughing as he slams his fists together):"Lose my mind? I'm about to show these fish who the real predator is!"
Kara finished wrapping her broken arm, her eyes cold and focused.
Kara:"Don't get too cocky, Volkra. You might have that fancy armor, but these things are different. Don't let your guard down."
Alexis, standing silently in the corner, adjusted the grip on her blade, her white eyes glowing faintly with divine mana. She muttered to herself, her voice barely a whisper.
Alexis:"This is our chance to prove ourselves... No mistakes."
The alarm bell rang out once more, the heavy clanging vibrating through their bones. The recruits looked at each other, a mixture of fear and determination flashing across their faces.
Volkra (grinning, his eyes wild with excitement):"Alright, rookies! Let's show them what the new generation of knights can do!"
Back on the Battlefield...
King Thalanor leapt down from the castle wall, landing in the center of the fray. His impact sent a shockwave through the ground, cracking the stone beneath his feet. His emerald armor shone like a beacon, inspiring his soldiers and striking fear into the hearts of the Aquarians.
The Aquarian general, Delrat, turned his head slowly, his gills flaring as he locked eyes with Thalanor. His hulking frame straightened, his webbed hands tightening around his trident.
Delrat (grinning with sharp, serrated teeth):"So... this is the king of the South Nation? I expected more."
Thalanor took a step forward, his presence alone pushing back the Aquarians around him. He tightened his grip on his massive blade, flames beginning to dance around its edges.
King Thalanor (his voice booming, filled with the authority of a thousand battles):"Who are you, and why do you dare invade my kingdom?"
Delrat's eyes flashed with sadistic amusement. He tilted his head, his purple eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Delrat:"We are Aquarians, the chosen evolution. We are here to cleanse this world and renew it under our Emperor Kuzan!"
Thalanor's eyes narrowed. He knew that name. Kuzan – the very name that had sent Commander Elara and the others on their long journey to Zisteria. If these creatures were here, it meant one thing – they had failed.
King Thalanor (growling, his flame aura flaring brighter):"And where is this emperor of yours? Why did he send his minions instead of coming himself?"
Delrat spat on the ground, his webbed feet digging into the stone as he prepared to charge.
Delrat:"He will come... once we have softened this kingdom up for him. But I'll make sure to send him your head as a welcome gift!"
With a roar that shook the very earth, Delrat charged, his trident crackling with dark, watery mana. Thalanor met his charge head-on, their weapons clashing with a thunderous boom that sent shockwaves across the battlefield. Sparks flew as the ancient dragon scales of Thalanor's armor clashed against the sharpened coral of Delrat's trident.
The knights around them watched in awe as their king, the legendary Thalanor, pushed back the monstrous Aquarian general with every swing of his blade. Fire and water clashed, steam rising from every strike as their mana auras crackled and exploded around them.
Back in the Front Lines...
Volkra, his armor glowing with green mana, cut down one Aquarian after another, his blade moving like a blur.
Volkra (laughing wildly as he parried an incoming spear):"Come on! Is this all you've got?! You're just oversized fish!"
Milton blasted an Aquarian away with his Mana Expansion technique, the explosion sending the creature flying into a nearby building.
Milton:"Don't get too cocky, Volkra! You'll bite off more than you can chew!"
Kara spun gracefully, her broken arm now wrapped in a thick layer of reinforced mana, using it to crush the skull of an Aquarian with a single strike.
Kara:"Focus, you idiots! They're not ordinary enemies!"
Alexis leapt into the fray, her divine mana flaring as she cut down three Aquarians in a single, fluid motion.
Alexis:"Stay together! Don't get separated!"
At the Center of the Battlefield...
Delrat roared, his trident clashing against Thalanor's flaming blade, the ground beneath them cracking from the sheer power of their strikes.
Delrat (spitting through gritted teeth):"You will fall, human! Your kingdom will drown in the blood of your own people!"
Thalanor's eyes burned with fury, his flames rising higher.
King Thalanor (growling as he pushed Delrat back):"Not today... not while I still breathe!"
The two titans clashed, their blows sending shockwaves across the battlefield, the fate of the South Nation hanging in the balance.