Chapter 8: The Battle for the Crown
The sky above the Aurelius Palace turned gold. Clouds shimmered like melted sunlight as power surged through the air. The people of the capital watched in silence, sensing the storm that was about to begin.
Inside the throne room, father and son stood facing each other. The old king's cloak fluttered in the golden wind. The young prince's armor blazed like a living sun. Between them, the air rippled with divine and demonic energy.
"Leon," the king said, his voice low but filled with anger. "I raised you to lead with wisdom, not greed. This kingdom was built on honor, not gold."
Leon's crimson eyes gleamed. "Honor doesn't feed the people. Honor doesn't build empires. Only power does. And power is bought with gold."
The king drew his sword. It glowed with holy light, an ancient relic passed down from generations of kings. "Then I'll strip that greed from your heart myself."
Leon smirked. "Try."
He snapped his fingers. The golden throne behind him burst apart into hundreds of floating shards, each one spinning like a blade.
[Skill Activated: Golden Dominion - Blade Storm]
The shards flew forward in a blazing storm. The king raised his sword and shouted a command word. A wall of radiant light erupted before him, blocking the first wave. The clash of light and gold shook the palace to its foundations.
Elira and Avaris stood at the edge of the room, watching the battle unfold. The sheer pressure of the two powers made the marble floor crack.
The king slashed through the air, sending a wave of holy light at Leon. Leon raised his hand and caught it, the light bending into molten gold. He crushed it in his palm and smiled.
"Your holiness is worth less than a coin to me."
The king roared and charged forward, his blade meeting Leon's golden armor. Sparks exploded as divine steel met alchemical gold. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, shattering windows and ripping banners from the walls.
Leon pushed forward, his strength unnatural, his voice calm. "You can't win, Father. Even your blade bends to my wealth."
The king's eyes burned with grief and fury. "Then I'll die standing before I kneel to a corrupted son."
Leon's expression softened for a moment, then hardened again. "So be it."
He released his full power. The floor turned to liquid gold, swirling like a storm beneath his feet. Avaris raised his wings, and the fusion of god and demon roared, channeling Leon's energy into one final strike.
[Skill Unlocked: Golden Judgment]
Effect: Unleash total control of all gold within sight.
The entire throne room glowed. The king's sword shattered under the weight of divine and infernal power. Light filled the air, and when it faded, only silence remained.
Leon stood at the center of the ruined throne room, the crown lying at his feet. He picked it up slowly, his reflection shining in the melted gold around him.
"My reign begins now," he said quietly.
Outside, the citizens looked up as golden light spread across the horizon. The old kingdom had fallen. The age of the Golden Prince had begun.