The Great Wizard raised his staff high above the castle walls, his ancient robes fluttering violently in the growing storm of dark energy surrounding the battlefield. The air itself trembled with the overwhelming presence of the approaching enemy.
Closing his eyes, the Wizard began chanting an ancient incantation.
Runes of glowing light appeared around him, spinning slowly as magical energy gathered at the tip of his staff. The spell grew brighter and brighter until the ground beneath him began to crack under the pressure.
Then suddenly—
A massive portal of swirling light tore open in the air near Art Ryder and his remaining soldiers.
Through the portal, the Great Wizard's voice echoed like thunder.
"RETREAT NOW!"
Art Ryder did not hesitate.
He grabbed the two nearest soldiers and forced them toward the portal while the last of his surviving men stumbled behind them.
Behind them, the battlefield had become a nightmare.
Hundreds of ghouls swarmed across the ground like a dark tide, their twisted bodies moving unnaturally fast as they chased the retreating soldiers.
Just as the ghouls lunged forward—
Art and his men vanished through the portal.
The gateway closed instantly.
They appeared moments later inside the city walls, collapsing to the ground, battered and exhausted.
But outside the city…
The army of ghouls continued advancing.
Nearly a thousand of them.
And at their center stood Kharous Raine.
Inside the city, alarms rang through every district.
Bells echoed across towers.
Messengers ran through the streets shouting warnings.
"DEFENSE POSITIONS!"
"THE ENEMY IS HERE!"
All defensive forces mobilized immediately.
Knights rushed to the city walls.
Archers filled the towers.
Heavy artillery crews loaded massive ballistae and cannons designed to hold back monstrous invasions.
The tension in the air was suffocating.
Because everyone could feel it.
That aura.
The terrifying presence of the Chainbound Lord.
Outside the walls, Kharous Raine slowly raised one hand.
Dark energy gathered around him like a storm.
The chains wrapped around his body rattled softly, almost as if they were alive.
His purple-black aura pulsed violently.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Advance."
At his command, the thousand ghouls roared and surged forward toward the city.
At the same moment, Kharous began casting a devastating attack. Energy gathered around his body, compressing into a massive sphere of destructive force.
Before the ghouls could reach the walls—
The Great Wizard struck first.
From the top of the castle, he thrust his staff forward and unleashed a devastating fire spell.
A gigantic wave of blazing flame erupted across the battlefield.
The explosion engulfed hundreds of ghouls instantly.
The firestorm burned across the ground like a tidal wave of destruction, reducing countless monsters to ash.
For a moment, it looked like the attack had stopped the invasion.
But then—
Kharous Raine slowly turned his head.
His eyes burned with cold fury.
Without even raising his voice, he casually lifted his hand.
Dark energy gathered instantly.
Then—
He fired.
A massive attack of shadow and chains blasted toward the city walls.
The impact was catastrophic.
The explosion shattered a large section of the city's defenses, sending stone and debris flying in every direction.
The protective barrier cracked apart.
And suddenly—
There was an opening.
The ghouls surged forward.
Eryndor stepped forward immediately.
His voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
"DEFENSE FORCES—HOLD THE LINE!"
Soldiers rushed into formation as he began issuing rapid commands.
"Knights! Protect the civilians!"
"Archers! Target the front ranks!"
"Do not let them breach the inner streets!"
The defenders responded instantly.
Across the battlefield, Rein and the Mage Alliance raised their staffs.
Dozens of mages began chanting simultaneously, weaving powerful spells together in coordinated formations.
Fire.
Lightning.
Ice.
Wind.
Water.
Magical blasts rained down upon the charging ghouls.
Meanwhile, the knights formed defensive walls with their shields, protecting the civilians who were still evacuating deeper into the city.
Behind them, the archers fired endless volleys of arrows.
Ballistae thundered from the towers.
Heavy artillery units launched explosive projectiles that tore through entire clusters of ghouls.
The battlefield erupted into chaos.
Inside the castle, King Henry and Queen Ella watched the battle unfold with heavy hearts.
They feared the worst.
They feared that Kharous Raine possessed the power to destroy the entire City of Lucindor.
But what they did not realize…
Was how much their son had grown.
On the battlefield—
Leo finally stepped forward.
Light gathered around his blade.
His eyes burned with determination.
"I won't let this city fall."
He rushed forward into the battlefield.
At the same time, Ethan completely lost control of his restraint.
Seeing the thousands of ghouls ignited his hatred.
He began crashing out.
Teleporting wildly across the battlefield, Ethan slaughtered ghouls with his daggers. Every teleport placed him behind another enemy.
Slash.
Teleport.
Slash.
Teleport.
His blades moved so fast they became blurs of silver.
Meanwhile—
Leo unleashed something the soldiers had never seen before.
He swung his sword.
A wave of radiant light exploded outward.
The attack cut through dozens of ghouls instantly.
He swung again.
Another wave of light carved through the battlefield.
The soldiers stared in shock.
A normal human could never produce power like that.
Leo stood among them like a beacon.
At that moment, Helmond arrived.
Fully recovered.
He dashed into the battlefield like a lightning bolt.
Within seconds he reached Leo and Ethan.
The three of them began fighting side by side.
Leo destroyed enemies with overwhelming light power.
Ethan teleported constantly, assassinating ghouls before they could reach the defenders.
Helmond moved like a phantom, striking and dodging with incredible speed.
Together, they held the line.
Across the city, everyone could feel it.
The terrifying presence of the Chainbound King.
His aura crushed the battlefield.
Fear spread like wildfire.
Many soldiers began trembling.
Some nearly dropped their weapons.
The pressure alone threatened to break their will.
Then Eryndor stepped forward.
He walked directly toward Kharous Raine.
The battlefield seemed to quiet as the two approached each other.
But Eryndor noticed something.
Kharous was carrying someone.
Eryndor narrowed his eyes.
"Who is that?"
Kharous answered coldly.
"It's none of your business."
Eryndor smirked slightly.
"Enough talking."
He raised his sword.
"Let's make this 2–0."
Kharous dropped Sol onto the ground.
Then instantly charged forward.
The two warriors collided.
Their clash shook the battlefield.
Steel struck with explosive force as they fought toe to toe.
Neither allowed anyone to interfere.
It was a duel between the strongest.
Pure power vs pure mastery.
Meanwhile, Rein noticed Sol lying unconscious nearby.
She rushed toward him, trying to drag him to safety.
But Kharous noticed.
Without even turning—
He fired a devastating projectile toward her.
The blast tore through the air.
But before it could reach her—
Leo stepped in front of it.
The explosion slammed directly into him.
Leo tanked the full attack to protect Rein.
At that exact moment—
Kharous left himself open.
Eryndor moved instantly.
His sword pierced straight into Kharous' chest.
Helmond arrived seconds later.
He grabbed Rein and Sol and rushed them toward the hospital at incredible speed.
The Great Wizard sensed a powerful aura and realized that Sol was no ordinary being —he had been corrupted by pure, destructive energy.
Leo slowly stood back up after taking the blast.
He looked toward the duel between Eryndor and Kharous.
His eyes widened.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
A mere human fighting a Tyrant head-on.
Meanwhile, Ethan and the defense forces began gaining the upper hand against the ghouls.
But suddenly—
The battlefield went silent.
Five towering figures appeared.
Five Dark Lords.
They stepped forward to aid Kharous Raine.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Helmond and Rein returned from the hospital.
The Great Wizard refuse to heal him, which is why Sol wasn't taken to him. The Wizard needed to conserve his energy for the battle rather than using it on healing.
Ethan clenched his fists.
"Can we even hold our ground against five Dark Lords?"
Helmond's eyes sharpened.
"We'll do whatever it takes."
He dashed forward instantly, attacking before the Dark Lords could advance.
The mages unleashed their strongest spells.
Lightning storms.
Walls of fire.
Explosive magic rained down upon the Dark Lords.
Meanwhile, the knights charged strategically, striking together in coordinated formations to pressure them in close combat.
The battle escalated even further.
This was no longer just a defense against ghouls.
It had become a desperate stand against five tyrants.
High above the battlefield, the Great Wizard stood atop the castle tower.
He raised his staff once more.
Channeling every ounce of magic left within him—
He unleashed a devastating combination spell.
Two Dark Lords were struck directly by the explosion of magic.
Blinding light.
Infernal fire.
The explosion shook the entire battlefield.
When the smoke cleared—
Both Dark Lords were gone.
Completely eliminated.
For a brief moment…
Relief spread across the defenders.
They had hope again.
But it didn't last.