Chapitre 11: Chapter-11 : The last line
Chapter 11: The Last Line
The silence after Hadius's declaration was suffocating. The leaders of the revolt—Kazuki, Takeda, and Kaede—stood in stunned disbelief. The demi-god of the West had made his intentions clear. He wanted Ron, not as an enemy, but as a disciple. The very idea of such a powerful figure aligning with Ron sent ripples of doubt through the rebellion's ranks.
Kazuki was the first to speak, his voice filled with frustration. "We didn't come all this way to let Ron walk away untouched. He's the reason for this revolt. We've already shed too much blood."
Takeda clenched his fists, the residual electricity from his earlier attacks crackling faintly in the air. "Hadius, you may want him, but he's the head of FOM. He's brought chaos to the East, and we can't let him continue."
Hadius remained calm, his gaze fixed on them with an unsettling intensity. "You misunderstand me, Takeda. Whether Ron stays the head of FOM or leaves it behind matters little. His potential is all that concerns me." His voice carried a weight that made even the most battle-hardened warriors feel small. "Your rebellion, your bloodshed—it's nothing but noise. Do not mistake it for something grand."
Kaede, her flames dimming but still flickering with defiance, stepped forward. "And if we refuse to let him go?"
For a moment, the air grew still. Then, without warning, a wave of pressure descended upon the battlefield. It wasn't qi—it was something far more primal, something ancient. The ground beneath their feet trembled as Hadius's eyes darkened, a barely contained power surging through him. The Pillar Clan leaders realized they were standing on the edge of a precipice, staring into an abyss they had no hope of surviving.
"You will not refuse," Hadius said, his voice as cold as ice. "Not if you value your lives."
Kazuki's hands tightened around his sword, and for a brief moment, it seemed like he might charge Hadius despite the overwhelming odds. But Takeda placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. The message was clear—they couldn't win this fight.
"What now, then?" Takeda asked, his voice bitter. "We've breached the gates of Stargazing Fortress. Geng has fallen. And now, you expect us to walk away without Ron?"
Hadius tilted his head slightly, considering. "Ron is not your immediate concern. Right now, your priority should be survival."
As if on cue, a loud rumble echoed from within the depths of the Stargazing Fortress. The ground shook, and the ominous creaking of ancient stone filled the air. The remaining defenders of FOM had begun to mobilize. Despite their initial losses, the core of the fortress's defenses still remained intact.
From the towering gates of the inner fortress, a new group of warriors emerged, clad in dark armor that shimmered with an ethereal glow. These were not ordinary soldiers—these were FOM's elite guard, warriors trained in techniques that made them nearly impervious to the qi-based attacks of the Pillar Clans.
Kazuki's eyes narrowed as he watched the imposing figures march forward. "They've still got fight in them."
Kaede exhaled slowly, her flames reigniting around her hands. "If we leave now, we're declaring this entire revolt a failure."
Takeda nodded grimly. "Then we push forward. Geng was their strongest, and we took him down. These guards may be tough, but we didn't come this far just to retreat."
Hadius, watching the determination in their eyes, gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Very well. Prove to me that your cause is not as futile as it seems."
Without another word, the leaders of the Pillar Clans surged forward, meeting the elite guard head-on. The battle that ensued was one of pure ferocity. The air crackled with energy as Kazuki's sword clashed with the enchanted armor of the FOM warriors. Sparks flew as his strikes reverberated against their shields, but the guard pushed back with an unyielding force.
Kaede unleashed torrents of flame, her jade-green qi roaring across the battlefield. The heat was so intense that the ground beneath her feet began to melt, turning the dirt into molten slag. Yet, even her flames struggled to breach the defenses of the elite guard, who moved in perfect synchronization, their shields forming an impenetrable wall.
Takeda, his body surrounded by arcs of lightning, darted between the guards with blinding speed. His strikes were precise, each one aiming for weak points in their armor. But no matter how many times his lightning-infused fists connected, the guards remained standing, their resilience almost unnatural.
The battle wore on, each side refusing to give ground. The earth shook with every clash, and the skies above seemed to darken as the energy of the fight grew more intense. But the Pillar Clan leaders knew they couldn't afford to drag this out. Geng had been their first true victory, but the elite guard represented a final barrier to Ron himself.
Kazuki growled under his breath, his frustration mounting as his sword was once again deflected by an armored shield. "This is taking too long."
Kaede, sweat dripping down her face from the heat of her flames, glanced at him. "We're wearing them down, but at this rate, we'll be exhausted before we reach Ron."
Takeda, his movements slowing as fatigue set in, nodded. "We need something more."
It was then that the unexpected happened. Just as the leaders of the revolt began to consider retreating, the ground beneath the elite guard trembled—not from any attack they had launched, but from something deeper within the fortress. A massive surge of qi erupted from the heart of the Stargazing Fortress, and the elite guard faltered, their synchronized movements breaking for the first time.
Kazuki, Takeda, and Kaede exchanged confused glances. "What's happening?" Kazuki asked, his voice tense.
Before they could react, the gates of the fortress burst open, and a familiar figure stepped out, flanked by two of FOM's remaining elders. It was Ron.
But Ron didn't appear as they had expected. His face was calm, his expression devoid of the arrogance they had come to associate with him. Instead, he looked… focused. His eyes locked onto Hadius, and then to the leaders of the revolt.
"You've fought hard," Ron said, his voice steady, "but this ends now."
Kazuki gritted his teeth. "We're not stopping until you're brought down, Ron."
But before Kazuki could make a move, Hadius stepped forward, placing himself between Ron and the leaders of the revolt. "You've proven your strength," Hadius said, his tone cold but not unkind. "But from here on out, Ron is under my protection."
Ron's eyes widened in surprise as Hadius continued. "I will take him as my disciple, and he will grow far beyond what you could ever hope to challenge. Leave now, while you still can."
The leaders of the revolt stood frozen. This was not the ending they had expected, but the power radiating from both Hadius and Ron was undeniable. They knew that to continue fighting would be suicide.
Kazuki lowered his sword, a bitter taste in his mouth. "This isn't over," he said quietly.
Hadius's gaze never wavered. "It is, for now."
And with that, the leaders of the revolt turned away, retreating from the Stargazing Fortress, their rebellion thwarted by an unexpected counter they had never anticipated.
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Right now i have exams and due to it , i will not be able to write the story fo about a week . Hope you guys are enjoying....
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone