Chapter 20 – The Siege Begins
The morning sun broke over Eldric's stronghold, its stone walls towering like a fortress of shadows. Leon Jian, Mei Lin, and Kael crouched atop a rocky outcrop, observing the sprawling compound. Smoke drifted from watchtowers, and patrols moved in precise patterns—an intimidating display of discipline and deadly skill.
Leon's golden eyes narrowed, the Celestial Jade pulsing in harmony with the dark orb in his hands. "This is it," he said, voice steady. "Every step, every strike… we cannot fail."
Mei Lin tightened her grip on her sword. "The defenses are stronger than anything we've faced. One mistake, and we're trapped."
Kael scanned the walls. "There's a narrow eastern passage along the cliffside. Lightly guarded, but dangerous. It's our best chance to infiltrate undetected."
Leon's lips pressed into a firm line. "Then we move at dawn. Mei Lin, lead. Kael, cover us. I'll handle the orb and jade—we strike fast, precise, and deadly."
Night fell. Shadows stretched long across the cliffs as the trio approached the eastern passage. Every footstep was careful, every breath measured. Two sentries appeared ahead. Leon's hands glowed—gold and crimson energies intertwined to form a shimmering cloak of invisibility. The sentries passed, oblivious to the trio moving like ghosts.
Inside the fortress, the air was heavy with tension. Stone corridors twisted like a labyrinth, and the faint hum of magical wards warned of traps ahead. The Celestial Jade flared, and the orb pulsed violently—Leon could feel the fortress itself reacting to their intrusion.
Kael whispered, "Patrols up ahead… a dozen or more. We can't fight all of them at once."
Leon grinned faintly. "We don't have to." He extended his hands, golden light bursting from the jade, crimson tendrils weaving from the orb. Shadows of the guards distorted and scattered under the combined power, leaving a path forward.
The trio moved through the inner courtyard. Guard towers erupted with alert signals, but Leon's synchronized energies of jade and orb carved through reinforcements like a storm. Mei Lin's blade flashed with deadly precision, and Kael's arrows flew with pinpoint accuracy, each strike disrupting the enemy's formation.
The fortress trembled as golden and crimson light surged, illuminating the night. Windows shattered, alarm bells rang, and yet the trio pressed forward, moving toward the central keep—the heart of Eldric's power.
Leon paused at the threshold, holding the orb and jade tightly. "The heart of the stronghold is just ahead. What awaits us… will test everything we've learned. No hesitation, no mercy. We strike together."
Mei Lin and Kael flanked him, their expressions resolute. "For the vault… for vengeance… for the reborn," Mei Lin said.
Leon nodded. "Then let's finish this… step by step."
The first wave of elite guards noticed their presence and charged, but the Celestial Jade and dark orb flared brighter than ever. Waves of golden and crimson energy swept through the courtyard, scattering the guards and clearing the way forward.
The siege had begun in earnest. The stronghold's towers trembled, its defenses tested like never before. Leon Jian was no longer merely a survivor—he was the storm descending upon Eldric's fortress, and the war for the Azure Cloud Sect had officially entered its decisive phase.