chapter 25
Underground Ambush _
John moved like a shadow through the underground passage.
Behind him, his squad followed in absolute silence—trained, disciplined, breathing controlled.
But silence never meant safety.
John's steps slowed.
His hand rose.
Instantly—
The entire squad stopped.
John's eyes narrowed, scanning the darkness ahead.
Something was wrong.
John (low):
"…We're not alone."
A faint sound echoed through the tunnel.
Steel.
Scraping stone.
Then—
Footsteps.
Measured.
Deliberate.
From the darkness ahead, armored figures emerged.
Stonehaven guards.
John's expression darkened.
John:
"So… we were seen."
A second sound echoed.
Behind them.
John didn't turn.
He didn't need to.
They were surrounded.
A captain stepped forward from the front line—armor refined, presence heavy, calm in a way that felt dangerous.
Captain (smiling faintly):
"You should feel honored."
A pause.
Captain:
"His Highness was kind enough to let you leave the palace alive."
His voice lowered.
Captain:
"Execution is always cleaner outside the walls."
The meaning landed like a blade.
One soldier cursed under his breath.
John's grip tightened.
John (cold):
"So Stonehaven hunts in silence now."
The captain chuckled.
Captain:
"We call it efficiency."
A guard moved.
Steel flashed.
John reacted instantly.
CLANG—
The attacker dropped before he could even finish his strike.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
John (sharp):
"Formation!"
His squad snapped into position.
The passage erupted into chaos.
---
Tunnel Battle
Steel collided violently in the narrow corridor.
Sparks burst against stone.
Every sound echoed ten times louder than reality.
John moved through it like something unnatural—controlled, precise, almost emotionless.
One guard lunged—
John stepped in, cut him down.
Another came from the side—
Blocked.
Countered.
Fell.
But more kept coming.
Too many.
Soldier:
"Sir—we're getting pushed back!"
John's eyes flicked across the battlefield.
They weren't losing immediately.
But they were bleeding slowly.
And that was worse.
John (thinking):
Marco… we're running out of time.
His jaw tightened.
John (low):
"Push forward. Don't break formation."
They advanced.
Step by step.
Through steel.
Through blood.
Through pressure.
John carved a path through the tunnel.
---
The Grand Hall — Ceremony Begins
The massive doors creaked open.
Silence swallowed the hall instantly.
Princess Enolgon stepped inside.
Her white gown flowed like liquid moonlight across marble floors. Every step was calm—but heavy, like each one cost something.
Every noble watched.
But she saw none of them.
Her eyes searched.
Then—
Guinevere.
A small nod.
Not yet.
Princess's fingers tightened slightly.
Princess (thinking):
Hurry… John…
---
The prince stood at the altar.
Watching her.
Smiling.
But something in his expression had changed.
Not admiration.
Possession.
Prince (thinking):
It's almost done.
The priest raised his voice.
Priest:
"We gather today—"
Prince (cutting in):
"Proceed to the vows."
A ripple of discomfort spread through the hall.
Too fast.
Too forced.
The priest hesitated.
Priest:
"Your Highness, tradition requires—"
Prince (cold):
"Skip it."
Guinevere stepped forward.
Clink.
Armor echoed softly.
Guinevere bowed—not submissive, but controlled.
Guinevere:
"Forgive me, Your Highness."
The prince frowned instantly.
Prince:
"…What now?"
Guinevere:
"There is a ritual."
Silence.
Prince:
"A ritual?"
Guinevere nodded calmly.
Guinevere:
"A Lumivales tradition. Before vows are spoken, balance must be confirmed."
A pause.
Then—
Guinevere (lightly):
"Unless His Highness wishes to begin his reign by disrespecting foreign customs?"
A trap.
Carefully placed.
The nobles shifted.
The prince's jaw tightened.
Prince:
"I was not informed."
Guinevere:
"Few outsiders are."
The king's eyes narrowed.
King:
"Explain."
Guinevere stepped forward.
Guinevere:
"The bride and groom must stand apart."
She gestured.
Guards moved them.
Three steps of distance.
Guinevere:
"No touching. No speaking names."
The prince scoffed.
Prince:
"This is nonsense."
Guinevere met his gaze.
Guinevere:
"It is restraint."
A pause.
Guinevere:
"And restraint is what separates rulers from tyrants."
Silence.
Heavy.
The prince's smile disappeared completely.
Prince (cold):
"You're testing me."
Guinevere:
"I'm protecting your image."
A beat.
Then softer:
Guinevere:
"Or would you prefer history to say you ignored sacred law… on the day you took a throne?"
That landed.
Hard.
The nobles watched closely now.
Judging.
Waiting.
The prince exhaled slowly.
Then smiled again.
Prince:
"…Very well."
Guinevere:
"Thank you."
She stepped back.
Princess (thinking):
She's stalling…
Her heart pounded harder.
Princess (thinking):
John… please…
---
Tunnel — Captain vs John
Steel collided again.
The captain pushed harder now—stronger, faster, cleaner.
Captain:
"This ends here."
John's eyes sharpened.
John:
"You talk too much."
CLANG—
Their blades locked.
Pressure surged.
The captain smirked.
Captain:
"You're skilled. But late."
He forced John back.
Step by step.
Behind John—
His soldiers were struggling.
The formation was breaking.
John realized it.
They were losing control.
John (thinking):
Not enough time…
The captain raised his blade.
Killing strike.
---
And then—
A blur.
Red.
Silence broke.
A figure appeared behind the captain in a single instant.
No sound.
No warning.
A blade moved once.
Clean.
Precise.
The captain froze.
His eyes widened.
A thin red line formed across his neck.
Then—
He collapsed.
Silence returned to the tunnel.
John stared.
For the first time—
He wasn't the one controlling the battlefield anymore.
...CHAPTER 25ENDS...