Bab 32: Rear End Battleground
Zalthor and Lucien arrived at the rear part of the kingdom, the air around them tense and heavy with anticipation. The sun was setting, casting a deep orange glow across the sky, and the shadows of the kingdom stretched out like ominous fingers. Zalthor, ever the cautious one, kept his eyes scanning the horizon while Lucien took a moment to catch his breath.
"Do you think they're already fighting up front?" Lucien asked, breaking the silence as he adjusted the strap of his weapon across his back.
Zalthor frowned, his sharp gaze lingering on the distant plumes of smoke rising from the front of the kingdom. "It's possible. Commander Thorian wouldn't wait around. If he sees a threat, he'll handle it head-on. That smoke… it has to be from their battle. Either that, or things are worse than we thought."
Lucien nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah, but you know Thorian. He's probably giving those bastards a fight they won't forget. Still… something doesn't feel right. This much destruction already? What if—"
Suddenly, the sound of rapid movement cut through Lucien's words like a blade through the air. Both men immediately tensed, their instincts kicking in. Zalthor's hand went to the hilt of his weapon, and Lucien's Aether stirred at the edges of his fingertips. A gust of wind swept through the area, carrying a faint but distinct laugh.
Before they could fully react, a figure emerged from the shadows—swift and deadly. The enemy moved with lightning-fast precision, her silhouette slender yet filled with a terrifying aura of strength. She was a woman clad in dark armor, her long, black hair flowing like a river of ink behind her. Her eyes glinted with malice as she faced them, a wicked smile playing on her lips.
"You should have stayed with your precious commander," she sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "But now, you've wandered right into my trap."
Without another word, she launched herself at them, her twin blades flashing in the dying light. Zalthor barely had time to raise his weapon to block her first strike, the sheer force of it pushing him back a step. Lucien, reacting on instinct, unleashed a burst of Aether from his hand, aiming it directly at her. She dodged with a swift twist of her body, the energy blast barely missing her by inches.
"Damn, she's fast!" Lucien muttered under his breath, eyes wide.
Zalthor gritted his teeth, regaining his footing. "Stay sharp, Lucien. She's no ordinary opponent."
The woman moved like a shadow, her attacks relentless. She spun and slashed with graceful precision, her twin blades a blur as she danced between Zalthor and Lucien, forcing them to fight on the defensive. Zalthor parried another strike, the clash of steel against steel ringing out like a war cry.
Lucien leaped back, creating distance between them as he gathered more Aether into his hands. "Zalthor, cover me!" he shouted.
Zalthor nodded, stepping forward to engage their opponent directly. He swung his weapon in a wide arc, aiming for her midsection, but she ducked under his blade effortlessly, her smile never fading. She was toying with them, and that realization made Zalthor's blood boil.
"Is that all you've got?" she taunted, her voice laced with mockery. "I expected more from the likes of you."
Her arrogance lit a fire within Zalthor. He roared and summoned his Shadow Aether, creating multiple shadow clones of himself that surrounded her in an instant. The clones attacked in unison, slashing and striking from all directions, forcing her to defend herself from every angle. For a brief moment, it looked like Zalthor had gained the upper hand.
But then, with a sudden burst of dark energy, the woman shattered the shadow clones, scattering them like dust. She laughed—a cold, hollow sound that sent chills down their spines.
"You think your tricks will work on me? You're in over your head, boy."
Lucien, seizing the opportunity, unleashed a massive wave of Aether toward her while she was distracted. The energy rushed forward like a tidal wave, crashing down on her position. But just as the blast was about to connect, she vanished—disappearing in a blur of speed, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air.
"Where did she go?" Lucien muttered, eyes darting around frantically. His breath was heavy, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Stay calm," Zalthor said through gritted teeth, his voice low and controlled. He scanned their surroundings, his hand tightening around his weapon. "She's not done yet."
A sharp whistle echoed through the air, and before they could react, the woman reappeared above them, descending like a vengeful specter. Her blades were poised to strike, aimed directly at Zalthor's exposed back.
"Zalthor!" Lucien shouted in warning, thrusting his hands forward to send a burst of Aether toward her.
Zalthor whirled around just in time, blocking her twin blades with his weapon. The impact sent vibrations up his arms, but he held firm, glaring into her malevolent eyes as their weapons clashed. She grinned, clearly enjoying the fight.
"You can't keep this up," she hissed. "I will enjoy watching you both fall."
Zalthor's jaw clenched. "We'll see about that."
Just as Zalthor and Lucien prepared to counter, the ground beneath them trembled, and the sky above seemed to darken further. The air grew thick with an overwhelming sense of foreboding, and an eerie silence settled over the battlefield.
The woman's smile widened as she whispered ominously, "And now… it's time for the real fun."
*To be continued...*
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
AStarrr
AStarrr Sorry for the late release. I’m too busy these days so, I won’t be releasing that many chapters, but I’ll try to end this volume, and then I’ll go on a hiatus
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone