The corpse-knight's blade came down like a falling star. The ground split, shards of stone flying into the air. Kael moved just before impact, his form a blur as his crimson aura flared.
The nobles gasped, leaning forward from the shadows above.
Kael's sword arced upward, black lightning tearing through the cavern's air. Sparks screamed as his strike clashed against the construct's blade, the shockwave rattling chains loose from the ceiling.
The monster pressed down, strength unnatural, chains coiling tighter around its limbs with every movement. Its pale fire eyes blazed with a hunger not its own.
Kael gritted his teeth, pushing back. His aura bled into the stone, veins of crimson cracking outward from his feet. Then he shifted, twisting his blade aside and letting the monster's weight collapse forward.
In a flash, he was on its flank. His sword glowed with searing energy, words forming on his lips.
"Severing Fang."
The strike cut deep into its side. Shadow-bone split apart, and a shriek—not metal, not flesh, but something far older—ripped through the cavern.
The nobles murmured above.
Kael didn't pause. He struck again. And again. Each swing faster, sharper, black lightning whipping through the darkness. Chains shattered beneath his cuts, scattering sparks as the knight stumbled.
But the construct did not fall. Its burning sockets fixed on Kael, and with a roar it slammed its chained fist into the ground. Veins of shadow shot outward, seeking Kael's legs like vipers.
Kael leapt clear, landing on the cracked stone circle. His chest heaved, crimson light wrapping tighter around him. He lifted his blade, pointing it at the construct.
"Your Court hides behind monsters built from corpses." His voice thundered loud enough to echo through the balconies. "I need no army of dead. My blade alone is enough."
The corpse-knight screeched, dragging its titanic blade upward for a final, crushing strike.
Kael's crimson eyes narrowed. His aura roared to life, black lightning coiling like serpents around his body.
"Crimson Sever."
He moved faster than breath. One clean, decisive arc of his sword.
The cavern went silent.
The construct froze, fire guttering in its sockets. Then, with a sound like a collapsing cathedral, its body split in two. Bone and shadow scattered across the stone, chains snapping one by one before dissolving into ash.
Kael lowered his sword, the aura around him dimming but not gone. His breath was steady.
Above, silence reigned. No noble dared speak. No Regent dared move.
Kael lifted his gaze to them, blood-red eyes burning.
"Do you understand now?" His voice was calm, but it cut sharper than steel. "You sit on thrones of lies, while I carve truth with my blade."
The cavern quaked with those words.