The blood swords struck the golden barrier—but it held firm, deflecting every single one.
As the crimson blades vanished into mist, the palace knights surged forward, blades raised. In Ivan's hand, a red blade of blood magic shimmered into existence. He stepped into their charge with a sneer, swinging his weapon in wide, merciless arcs. Steel clashed, screams echoed, and one by one, the knights fell.
In moments, it was over.
Ivan stood amidst the fallen, his blade dripping with blood. He chuckled.
"Just a bunch of 2-Star knights charging to their deaths."
---
Mana Circles and Mana Stars
In this world, both mages and warriors harness mana—but they channel it in fundamentally different ways.
Mages use a system called Mana Circles, which governs their ability to cast spells. These Circles, ranked from the 1st to the 9th, reflect a mage's control, knowledge, and magical potential. The higher the Circle, the more powerful, intricate, and reality-warping their magic becomes.
Warriors, however, do not cast spells. They use Mana Stars, a system where mana is channeled inward. Through it, they enhance their physical strength, sharpen their senses, and empower their weapons and instincts in battle. Like Circles, Mana Stars range from 1-Star to 9-Star, each rank signifying a warrior's strength, control, and combat intuition.
While the scales are similar, the focus is not:
Mages shape mana externally, bending the world to their will.
Warriors wield mana internally, becoming living weapons.
---
A Knight's Vow
Licking his lips, Ivan taunted toward throne, voice mocking.
"If you really wish for my death, King Galewyn, then this won't do. No matter how many you send… death is the only outcome."
Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the silent hall. From behind the fallen knights, a presence emerged—heavy with mana and wrath.
Cedric stepped forward. A middle-aged man with white hair and piercing silver eyes, clad in a battle-worn cloak. A 7-Star Holy Knight, and personal guard to the King. Mana radiated from him in waves as he approached.
Behind him walked two others:
Briala, a blue-haired priestess of the 4 Circle, calm yet tense.
Thane, a 5-Star Palladium Knight, towering in full gleaming armor, silent but unmistakably dangerous.
Ivan turned toward them, amused. A slow smile crept onto his face.
"Heh… So someone interesting finally decided to show up. Took you long enough. I was starting to get bored," he said, flicking blood off his blade. "Honestly, I was just about to kill the King and everyone else—then walk out and be done with this farce."
But before he could take another step, Cedric vanished, appearing in a flash beside Theron, the King.
He dropped to one knee, head bowed low.
"Your Majesty," he said, voice gravelled with guilt, "I have no right to stand before you. I failed."
He clenched his fists.
"I wasn't there when the Queen needed me most. And because of that… she is gone."
Ivan tilted his head, watching with interest.
Cedric's hands trembled. "My life was sworn to protect you both. That vow meant nothing the moment I failed to keep her safe. If it is your will… I will give my life here and now."
He raised his head, silver eyes burning with restrained fury.
"But before that… I beg you, Your Majesty—allow me to shred this demon to pieces for daring to set foot in the royal palace… and for laying a hand on Her Majesty the Queen."