The night sky burned crimson, torn apart by streaks of unnatural lightning. The battlefield trembled with every roar that echoed through the ruined valley. Ash rained down like snow, covering the cracked ground in a blanket of gray.
The war had reached its turning point.
---
The Confrontation
A lone figure stood amidst the smoke. His blade shimmered faintly in the glow of dying flames, its edge cracked but refusing to break. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, each exhale releasing steam as if his very spirit was burning within.
It was [Protagonist's Name]—his eyes no longer just human, but gleaming with a faint golden light, the mark of the power he had sworn never to use.
Before him, his enemy emerged from the shadows. Cloaked in armor that seemed forged from the night itself, the Warlord raised his weapon, a massive halberd etched with glowing crimson veins. His laughter rumbled like thunder.
> "You swore to protect them," the Warlord's voice shook the ground, "yet every oath shatters the moment you grasp at power. Tell me, boy—how many more promises will you break before the end?"
[Protagonist's Name] tightened his grip on his sword. His knuckles turned white, but his stance did not falter.
> "I don't care about your words. I'll protect them… even if it tears my soul apart."
---
The First Clash
The Warlord charged, halberd slicing through the air with the force of a hurricane. The ground exploded beneath each step.
[Protagonist] raised his sword. The clash shook the valley, sparks igniting the air like fireflies. The sheer impact drove him back, boots dragging trenches into the dirt.
But he did not fall.
A surge of energy rippled through his body—an awakening he had resisted for too long. The golden aura around him flared brighter, wrapping his figure like living flame.
The Warlord grinned.
> "So, the seal is broken. Good. Show me your despair."
---
Unleashing the Hidden Power
With a roar, [Protagonist] lunged forward, his blade glowing with runes that pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat. Each strike was faster, sharper, louder than before. His sword tore arcs of light through the smoke, clashing against the halberd in a symphony of steel.
The battlefield became a storm of sparks and shockwaves. Rocks split apart, trees shattered into splinters, and the very air howled under their strikes.
For a moment—just a moment—[Protagonist] matched the Warlord blow for blow.
But then, the Warlord's strength surged higher, fueled by the dark sigils that spread across his skin like crawling fire. One brutal strike sent [Protagonist] flying, crashing into a broken pillar of stone.
Blood stained his lips. His vision blurred. His sword slipped from his hand.
---
The Breaking Point
He tried to rise, but his legs trembled. Memories flashed across his mind—the village he swore to protect, the friends who believed in him, the promise he made beneath the fading stars.
Was this where it ended?
The Warlord approached slowly, dragging his halberd against the ground. Sparks trailed behind it like a line of fire.
> "This is the fate of mortals who defy eternity. Die with your worthless resolve."
The weapon lifted high.
But before it could descend, a voice cut through the chaos.
> "Stand, [Protagonist]! We're not done yet!"
---
The Bonds That Hold
From the ruins, figures emerged—his companions, battered but alive. Their faces were bruised, their armor broken, but their eyes burned with the same unyielding fire.
One by one, they stood beside him.
The healer, her staff cracked but glowing faintly.
The rogue, blades dripping with shadow but hands steady.
The mage, chanting through broken breaths, weaving light into a fragile shield.
They raised their voices together.
> "We swore this path with you. If you fall, we fall. But if you rise—then so will we!"
Something inside [Protagonist] snapped—not in despair, but in defiance. His hand closed around his sword once more. The golden light erupted, brighter than ever, washing over the battlefield like dawn breaking the night.
---
The Reversal
He surged forward, aura blazing. Each step left cracks of light in the ground. His sword clashed with the Warlord's halberd again—but this time, it did not shatter.
With every strike, his companions lent him strength. The healer's chant mended his wounds mid-battle. The mage's shield deflected killing blows. The rogue's shadow strikes forced openings in the Warlord's defense.
Together, they pushed the Warlord back.
But still—the enemy laughed.
> "Futile! Do you think unity can overcome eternity?"
His body twisted, monstrous horns erupting from his skull as the crimson sigils consumed him fully. His halberd expanded, its blade now burning with unholy flame.
The battlefield itself groaned, the ground splitting apart as rivers of lava erupted.
This was no longer a man. This was a calamity given flesh.
---
The Final Gambit
[Protagonist] knew it. This was the final strike. If he failed now, everything would be lost.
He raised his sword to the sky. The golden aura condensed into the blade, its cracks fusing, reforging itself with divine brilliance.
The air stilled.
Even the Warlord paused.
And then—like thunder shattering silence—[Protagonist] roared:
> "This oath will never break!"
He charged, faster than sound, the world blurring around him. The Warlord swung his halberd, flames tearing reality apart—but the golden light cleaved through it, slicing the weapon in two.
The sword pierced forward.
Straight through the Warlord's chest.
---
The Silence After
Time froze.
The Warlord's eyes widened in disbelief. Crimson energy bled from his body, unraveling into the wind. Slowly, he laughed—a broken, echoing sound.
> "So… you did not shatter… after all…"
With that, his body collapsed into dust, scattering like ash into the night.
The battlefield fell silent.
[Protagonist] stood, sword trembling in his grip, the golden light fading from his eyes. His companions rushed to his side, catching him before he could fall.
For a moment, there was peace.
But then, from the distance, a shadow stirred. A deeper presence, far darker than the Warlord, awakened.
And the crimson sky cracked open once more.
---