The Luminous Fangs Volume 2 Chapter 33

 

Chapter 33  Attack on the Kingdom

The Baalanians hail from distant lands of desert, heat, and fire, where they worship Baal fanatically as the one true god, believing all others to be false. Throughout their history, the Baalanians have used their religion as a justification for asserting dominance and expanding their territory. To them, all who do not worship Baal are infidels who must be converted, enslaved, or destroyed. The Baalanians are a formidable people, hardened by the harsh desert and enhanced by fire magic. Their ranks consist of fierce warriors, pyromancers, and powerful mages. Now, they have reached Elyria. They seek to spread their faith through fire, conquest, and subjugation, all while proclaiming their intentions to be peaceful.

The attack began without warning. A bell rang. Once. Twice. Then the entire kingdom erupted into chaos.

BOOOOOOOOOONG!

The enormous warning bell of Valerienne thundered across the city, its deep metallic voice echoing between towers, rooftops, and narrow streets. Soldiers rushed from their barracks. Blacksmiths abandoned their workshops. Merchants dragged their families indoors as guards hurriedly closed the city gates. Then came the explosions.

BOOOOOOM!

A fireball struck the western watchtower. Stone exploded outward. The upper portion of the tower collapsed in a shower of burning debris, sending soldiers tumbling from the battlements.

A second fireball streaked across the sky. Then a third. Flames erupted along the outer defenses. From the surrounding hills, dark figures emerged. Hundreds of them. The Baalanians had come. The Baalanian Assault They advanced beneath a forest of black banners bearing the burning symbol of Baal. Their appearance was unmistakable. These were not ordinary mercenaries or poorly equipped raiders. They were hardened warriors from the unforgiving deserts of Baalania, men and women whose bodies had been tempered by relentless heat, brutal training, and generations of warfare. Many wore dark desert robes wrapped tightly around their bodies, with black scarves covering their mouths and heads. Their clothing was reinforced with leather, bronze plates, chainmail, and hardened armor. Some were stocky, others  enormous, broad-shouldered warriors carrying heavy axes, curved swords, and massive shields. Others were lean and muscular, moving with the speed and precision of experienced assassins. Their bronzed skin was marked with scars, ritual markings, and glowing religious tattoos. Some had shaved heads. Others wore long dark hair braided beneath their head coverings. But they shared one unmistakable characteristic. Their eyes burned with fanatic devotion. Blue and orange flames flickered between their fingers. Fire crawled along their weapons. 

Magical runes glowed beneath their armor.They raised their weapons toward the kingdom.

"BAAL!"

The first cry came from the front ranks.

"BAAL!"

Thousands of voices answered.

"BAAAAAAAAAAL!"

The roar shook the surrounding hills. Their high priest raised a bronze staff. Its head contained a burning red gemstone.

"Children of the Eternal Flame!"

His voice carried across the battlefield.

"Before you stands a kingdom of infidels! A kingdom that rejects the truth and defies the will of our god!"

He pointed toward Valerienne.

"Burn their defenses! Break their walls! Bring their people to their knees!"

The warriors raised their weapons.

"FOR BAAL!"

A tremendous wave of fire erupted from the Baalanian formation. The sky turned orange. The kingdom's defenders barely had time to react.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The first barrage struck the outer walls. Stone cracked. Wooden defenses ignited. Several kingdom soldiers were thrown from their positions. The attack had begun. And it was unlike anything Valerienne had experienced since the battle of Garthuun.

Inside the city The Luminous Fangs Assemble, Celestine stood atop the central defensive platform. His silver armor gleamed beneath the morning sunlight. His long platinum-blond hair moved in the wind, while his blue cloak fluttered behind him. Lueur Sainte rested in his right hand. The legendary greatsword's silver runes began glowing. A kingdom captain rushed toward him.

"Sir Celestine! The western defenses are collapsing! We have multiple breaches along the outer wall!"

"How many attackers?"

"At least several hundred! More are approaching from the southern road!"

Celestine looked toward the horizon.

Smoke was already rising above the walls.

He could see the enemy formations. Their weapons. Their magical fire. And the enormous banners of Baalania.

"Send reinforcements to the western gate. Archers, take the rooftops. Keep the civilians away from the main streets."

The captain saluted.

"Yes, sir!"

Celestine turned toward his companions.

Snowy stood nearby in his flowing white robes, his long black hair falling past his waist. His moon-silver eyes were fixed on the sky. Tahir adjusted the dark scarf covering his face. His carved staff rested against his shoulder. Gor'Thrak tightened the straps around his enormous double-headed axe, Vorrak-Duum. Roan stood beside him, gripping his sword.

The young squire looked toward the distant explosions.

He swallowed.

"This is going to be bad, isn't it?"

Gor'Thrak grinned.

"Probably."

"That's reassuring."

"Good. You're learning."

Celestine turned toward them.

"This is no ordinary raid. Those warriors are enchanted, disciplined, and fanatically devoted to their god. We cannot allow them to reach the inner city."

Tahir examined the enemy formations.

"They have several fire mages supporting their infantry. Their magic appears to be concentrated through their weapons and armor. Some of them are also using enchanted explosives."

Snowy looked upward.

"There are archers moving along the hills. And something else."

Celestine glanced at him.

"What?"

"Several magical signals above the battlefield."

Snowy narrowed his eyes.

"They have aerial support."

Gor'Thrak lifted Vorrak-Duum.

"Then let's give them something else to worry about."

Celestine smiled faintly.

"Agreed."

He raised Lueur Sainte.

"To your positions!"

The five moved.

And the kingdom prepared for war.

The western gate shook. The First Breach

BOOOOOOOOM!

A massive explosion struck its wooden reinforcement. The gate buckled inward. Kingdom soldiers rushed to reinforce it, raising shields and planting their spears against the damaged structure.

"Hold the line!"

"SHIELDS UP!"

Another explosion followed.

KRAAAAAASH!

The gate burst open.

Baalanian warriors poured through the opening. The first wave consisted of heavily armored infantrymen carrying enormous curved swords and broad bronze shields. Their dark robes were reinforced with metal plates, and glowing red markings covered their exposed arms. Behind them came leaner warriors carrying paired blades. Some wielded spears surrounded by blue flames. Others carried heavy axes that burned with orange magical fire. Their movements were frighteningly coordinated. The armored warriors advanced behind their shields while the faster fighters slipped between them, striking at exposed kingdom soldiers.

A kingdom knight raised his sword.

The Baalanian opposite him grinned beneath his dark desert veil.

"Infidel."

His curved sword ignited.

The two weapons collided.

CLAAAAANG!

The kingdom knight's sword was immediately engulfed in flames. He recoiled. The Baalanian twisted his wrist and struck again. The flaming blade smashed against the knight's breastplate, sending him crashing into the soldiers behind him. Another Baalanian charged. Then another.

The kingdom's defensive formation began collapsing.

"THE GATE IS LOST!"

A soldier screamed.

"REINFORCEMENTS!"

A massive shadow suddenly crossed the battlefield.

Gor'Thrak. The enormous orc charged through the smoke, Vorrak-Duum raised above his shoulders.

"OUT OF THE WAY!"

He swung.

KRAAAAAAASH!

The double-headed axe smashed into the front rank of Baalanian warriors.

Shields shattered.

Armored soldiers were thrown off their feet.

The impact tore apart the formation, creating a gap several meters wide.

Gor'Thrak planted his feet.

"THAT'S HOW YOU BREAK A LINE!"

He turned toward the kingdom soldiers.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET IN THERE!"

The soldiers roared.

They surged forward behind him.

Gor'Thrak advanced like a living siege engine.

A Baalanian warrior lunged toward his side with a flaming spear. Gor'Thrak twisted. The spear scraped across his armor. He seized the shaft with one hand. The warrior's eyes widened. Gor'Thrak pulled him forward and struck him with his forehead.

CRACK!

The soldier collapsed. A second attacker swung an enormous axe. Gor'Thrak caught the weapon's handle between the twin blades of Vorrak-Duum. He twisted. The enemy's axe was ripped from his grasp. Gor'Thrak shoved him backward and swept his own weapon across the ground.

The soldier crashed into two companions.

"COME ON!" the orc roared.

"IS THAT THE BEST BAAL CAN SEND?"

The Baalanians answered with a volley of fire. Several warriors raised their hands. Flames gathered around their palms. A dozen fireballs shot toward Gor'Thrak.

"INCOMING!" a kingdom soldier shouted.

Gor'Thrak braced himself.

But before the fireballs reached him A wall of sand erupted from the street.

WHOOOOOOOSH!

The projectiles crashed against it. The entire structure glowed orange. Then the flames dispersed.

Tahir stood behind the barrier, his staff extended.

"Try not to die before I finish building the defenses."

Gor'Thrak looked over his shoulder.

"Wasn't planning on it!"

"Your planning has never been particularly convincing."

The orc laughed. Then charged again.

Tahir   Tahir stepped into the middle of the street. His staff struck the ground. The cobblestones trembled. Sand poured from cracks in the road, from beneath ruined buildings, and from the surrounding earth. It gathered around him. At first, it formed a swirling cloud. Then the cloud expanded. And expanded. Within seconds, an enormous storm of sand surrounded the mage. His black robes fluttered violently. Blue flames appeared around the charms hanging from his belts. The Baalanian fire mages noticed him. One raised his bronze staff.

"Enemy sorcerer!"

Several others turned. Their hands began glowing.

Tahir slowly lifted his staff.

"How inconvenient."

He rotated his wrist.

The entire sandstorm changed direction.

WHOOOOOOOOOM!

A colossal wave of sand surged down the street. It swept across the battlefield like a desert avalanche. The Desert Unleashed

Baalanian soldiers disappeared beneath it.

Shields were torn from their hands. Weapons flew through the air. Several warriors were lifted from their feet and hurled against the surrounding buildings. The sand continued forward, splitting around the kingdom soldiers. Tahir's control was precise. He wasn't simply attacking. He was reshaping the battlefield. The sand rose into enormous walls, forming defensive barriers between the enemy and the civilians. One wall curved around a group of wounded soldiers. Another blocked the southern street. A third rose beside the western gate, preventing additional Baalanian reinforcements from flooding through the breach.

"ARCHERS!" Tahir shouted.

The kingdom soldiers looked toward him.

"BEHIND THE BARRIER!"

They immediately took cover.

Tahir rotated his staff.

The sand wall lowered in several places, creating narrow openings.

"NOW!"

The kingdom archers fired.

Hundreds of arrows flew through the gaps.

The Baalanians raised their shields.

But Tahir wasn't finished.

"Wind."

He swept his staff sideways. A powerful gust erupted behind the arrows. The projectiles accelerated. They slammed into the enemy formation with tremendous force. The Baalanians staggered. Some fell. Others were driven backward. A group of fire mages immediately retaliated. They raised their staffs together. A gigantic sphere of flame materialized above them. It grew until it resembled a miniature sun. The surrounding air shimmered.

The fire mages shouted their invocation.

"BY THE ETERNAL FLAME!"

They hurled the sphere toward Tahir.

It streaked through the air.

Tahir's eyes narrowed.

He planted his staff.

"Sand Bastion!"

The ground exploded upward.

An enormous fortress-like structure of compressed sand rose before him.

Its walls were thick and layered.

The fireball struck.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The explosion swallowed the entire street. Flames rolled over the defensive structure. Windows shattered. Nearby rooftops shook. For several seconds, the world disappeared beneath fire and dust. Then the sand fortress emerged. Its outer surface had hardened into glass. But it remained standing.

Tahir stepped forward.

Blue flames began dancing around his staff.

"Now."

The glass-covered wall split apart. Thousands of sand blades emerged from within. They shot toward the Baalanian fire mages. The warriors desperately raised magical shields. The sand blades struck from every direction. One shield cracked. Another shattered. The formation broke apart. Tahir closed his fist. The remaining sand blades transformed into enormous restraints. They wrapped around the fire mages' legs and arms, dragging them to the ground. The mage lowered his staff.

"Much better."

Above Valerienne, the battle was becoming just as fierce. Snowy stood on the highest tower overlooking the western district. His white robes fluttered in the wind. His moon-silver eyes reflected the burning battlefield. He watched the enemy formations. He watched the movement of their archers. And he watched the magical signals gathering above the city. Then he saw them. A group of Baalanian aerial sorcerers had climbed onto the surrounding rooftops. They were wearing dark robes reinforced with bronze shoulder plates. Each carried a long wooden staff topped with a glowing red crystal. They began chanting. Fire gathered around their bodies. Several enormous flaming projectiles formed above the rooftops.

Snowy's expression changed.

"They're targeting the inner city."

He raised both hands.

"My little owls."

Moonlight exploded around him. Three radiant white owls materialized. Their wings were broad and luminous, their feathers formed from shimmering celestial energy. They spread apart. One flew toward the northern rooftops. Another circled above the western gate. The third soared directly toward the Baalanian sorcerers. Snowy extended his fingers.

"Find them."

The owls immediately attacked.

The first dived toward an enemy archer. Its wings swept outward. A burst of white light exploded across the rooftop. The archer was thrown backward. The second owl intercepted a flaming projectile. It spread its wings. A radiant barrier appeared.

The fireball struck.

BOOM!

The barrier shattered, but the projectile was deflected into an empty street. The third owl dived toward the enemy sorcerers. They raised their staffs. A torrent of flame shot upward. The owl twisted through the attack. Its body flickered. Then it exploded. A massive burst of white light engulfed the rooftop. The sorcerers staggered. Snowy moved. His body transformed into a small white owl. He launched himself from the tower. He flew through the smoke, moving between falling debris and flaming projectiles. An arrow passed beneath his wing. Another struck his magical feathers. He barely reacted. His owl form darted between two buildings before emerging above the enemy sorcerers. He transformed in midair. His long black hair streamed behind him. Both hands extended. A concentrated silver-white beam erupted from his palms.

VSHHHHHHHH!

It struck the rooftop. The entire platform exploded in light. The Baalanian sorcerers were thrown backward. One lost his staff. Another was hurled through a wooden railing. A third raised a flaming barrier. Snowy's beam struck it. The two magical forces collided. Blue-orange fire clashed against brilliant moonlight. The rooftop trembled. Cracks spread across the tiles. Snowy narrowed his eyes. He rotated both hands. The beam split into three separate streams. One struck the barrier from the front. The second curved around the left side. The third struck from above. The fire barrier collapsed. The sorcerer was thrown against the chimney. Snowy landed lightly on the rooftop. His Light Whip appeared around his wrist. A Baalanian warrior rushed toward him with a curved sword. Snowy leaned backward. The blade passed inches from his face. He spun. The Light Whip snapped around the man's wrist. A sharp pull. The soldier's weapon flew away. Snowy stepped forward and struck his chest with a burst of moonlight. The warrior crashed to the ground. Another soldier attacked from behind. Snowy transformed into an owl. The blade passed through empty air. He reappeared above the soldier. A brilliant moonlight beam struck the ground.

BOOM!

The soldier was thrown backward. Snowy looked toward the city. His three Light Owls were still moving. One was protecting the kingdom archers. Another was attacking the enemy rooftops. The third was circling above the civilians. He extended his hand.

"Spread out."

The owls accelerated. The sky above Valerienne became a battlefield of silver light and burning fire.

The western district was holding. But the eastern streets were collapsing. Baalanian warriors had broken through another defensive position and were advancing toward the inner city. The Radiant Knight Celestine stood at the intersection of two main streets. Around him, kingdom soldiers were struggling to maintain their formation. The enemy was pushing forward behind a line of heavily armored warriors. Their shields were enormous, reinforced with bronze and enchanted with fire-resistant runes. Behind them stood several fire mages. Celestine understood their strategy immediately. The armored warriors would absorb the kingdom's attacks while the mages destroyed the defenders from behind.

"Captain!"

A kingdom officer rushed toward him.

"They're advancing! Our swords cannot penetrate their armor!"

Celestine raised Lueur Sainte.

"Then stop trying to break their armor."

He pointed toward the enemy formation.

"Attack their flanks! Separate their warriors from their mages!"

The captain nodded.

"Understood!"

Celestine stepped forward.

His greatsword began glowing.

Silver runes illuminated along its length.

The first Baalanian warrior charged.

He was enormous, with a bronze helmet, thick leather armor, and a massive curved sword.

His weapon burned with orange fire.

"INFIDEL!"

He swung.

Celestine stepped aside.

The flaming blade struck the street.

Stone exploded.

Celestine immediately counterattacked. Lueur Sainte swept horizontally.

CLAAAAANG!

The strike connected with the warrior's chest plate. The Baalanian staggered. But his armor held. He roared and attacked again. Celestine raised his sword. The weapons collided. Sparks erupted. The knight twisted his wrist, redirecting the blow. He stepped forward and struck the enemy's exposed shoulder. A flash of golden-white light erupted. The enchantment on the bronze armor flickered. Celestine struck again. This time, the armor cracked. The warrior dropped to one knee. Celestine spun his greatsword. The flat of Lueur Sainte struck the man's helmet. The Baalanian collapsed. A second warrior attacked immediately. Then a third. Celestine pivoted. His sword became a silver blur. He blocked the first strike.

Redirected the second. Then stepped inside the third attacker's reach. His elbow struck the man's jaw. Before the warrior could recover, Celestine drove Lueur Sainte into the ground. A circular wave of golden light exploded outward. The three Baalanians were thrown backward. Their weapons flew from their hands. The surrounding kingdom soldiers stared. 

Celestine raised his sword.

"ADVANCE!"

The defenders roared. They surged forward. But the enemy had prepared another attack. The Baalanian fire mages raised their staffs. A line of flames erupted across the street.

It raced toward the kingdom soldiers like a living wall.

"FIRE!"

Celestine stepped forward.

He raised Lueur Sainte with both hands.

"Radiant Protection!"

A massive golden barrier appeared.

It expanded across the entire street.

The flames struck.

WHOOOOOOOOOM!

The barrier flashed.

Its surface rippled violently. The soldiers behind Celestine felt the heat. But the flames could not penetrate. Celestine's boots scraped backward across the stone. He gritted his teeth. The magical pressure was enormous. The enemy mages continued pouring energy into the attack.

Celestine's barrier began to crack.

"Sir Celestine!"

A soldier shouted. The knight glanced behind him. A group of civilians was trapped inside a nearby building. The flames were spreading toward them. He could not abandon the barrier. But he could not let those people die. He tightened his grip around Lueur Sainte.

Golden light intensified.

His Unicorn Blessing began to awaken. A luminous aura surrounded his body. The silver armor became radiant.The flames nearest him bent away.

"Not today."

He drove his sword deeper into the ground. The barrier expanded. A second layer of golden light formed over the first. The flames were pushed backward.

Celestine turned his head.

"GET THOSE PEOPLE OUT!"

Two soldiers immediately rushed toward the building.

The barrier held. And the civilians escaped. For a brief moment, Celestine allowed himself to smile. Then the enemy attacked again. A massive Baalanian warrior emerged through the smoke. He carried a two-handed flaming hammer. His armor was covered in glowing runes. He swung the weapon. Celestine barely raised his sword in time.

KRAAAAAANG!

The impact sent him sliding several meters backward. His boots carved lines through the cobblestones. The warrior advanced.

"Your light will die beneath the flames of Baal!"

Celestine slowly raised Lueur Sainte.

His blue eyes remained calm.

"Then I suppose I'll have to shine brighter."

He charged. The hammer descended. Celestine ducked. The weapon smashed into the street. He stepped forward and drove his shoulder into the warrior's chest. The Baalanian barely moved. He laughed. Then seized Celestine's breastplate. He lifted the knight off his feet. But Celestine's sword was already glowing. Golden-white light erupted from Lueur Sainte. The warrior's enchanted armor flashed. The runes flickered. Celestine twisted his body and struck the man's chest. A brilliant explosion of sacred energy sent the Baalanian crashing backward. The knight landed on his feet. His cloak settled behind him. He raised his sword.

The kingdom soldiers cheered.

"FOR VALERIENNE!"

Celestine pointed Lueur Sainte toward the enemy.

"FOR THE KINGDOM!"

The inner district was burning. A section of the western street had collapsed, trapping several civilians beneath the remains of a building. Roan ran through the smoke. His red hair was covered in ash. His small sword was held tightly in his hand.

"HELP!"

A woman's voice came from beneath the rubble.

Roan turned. A young mother was trapped beside a broken wooden cart. Her child was crying. A large stone beam had fallen across the street, pinning her legs.

Roan rushed toward them.

"Don't move! I'll help you!"

He tried lifting the beam. It barely shifted. He pushed harder. Nothing. His muscles strained. The stone was too heavy. Behind him, a Baalanian fireball struck the street.

BOOOOM!

Roan was thrown against the ground. He looked up. A group of Baalanian warriors was approaching. Their dark robes fluttered around their armored bodies. Their weapons burned. One of them pointed toward the trapped civilians.

"Clear the street."

Another raised his hand. Flames gathered around his fingers. The mother pulled her child close. Roan's eyes widened.

"No!"

The fire mage released his spell. A blazing projectile shot toward them. Roan instinctively threw himself in front of the civilians. He raised his damaged shield.

The fireball struck.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Roan disappeared beneath the explosion. The street shook. The Baalanians laughed.

"Another infidel buried beneath the flames."

Then something moved. A dark red light appeared inside the smoke. The ground trembled. A strange pressure spread across the street. The Baalanians stopped laughing. A low metallic sound echoed.

CLANK.

Then another.

CLANK.

Roan's small body began glowing. Black energy erupted from the Black Ring. It crawled across his arm. Wrapped around his shoulder. Spread across his chest. The magical darkness expanded. Obsidian plates formed around his body. His legs became encased in enormous black greaves. His chest armor assembled. Massive shoulder plates emerged. A terrifying helmet formed around his head. Crimson light ignited within its visor. His body grew. His frame expanded into the towering shape of a seven-foot knight. A gigantic black sword materialized in his hand. The Obsidian Knight had awakened.

The Baalanians stared.

"What... is that?"

The towering knight slowly raised his head. A dark aura spread across the street. The fire mage instinctively stepped backward. The Obsidian Knight looked toward the civilians. Then toward the Baalanians. His crimson eyes burned.

One warrior shouted.

"DESTROY IT!"

Three Baalanians charged. The first raised a massive curved sword. The Obsidian Knight moved. Despite his enormous size, he crossed the distance with terrifying speed. His black sword swept sideways.

KRAAAAAAASH!

The first warrior was struck by the flat of the blade and hurled across the street. He crashed through a wooden stall. The second attacked from behind. The Obsidian Knight turned. His armored fist connected with the warrior's chest.

BOOM!

The man was thrown backward. The third raised both hands. A massive fireball appeared. He hurled it directly at the knight. The explosion swallowed the Obsidian Armor. But when the flames disappeared The knight was still standing. Black armor glowed with crimson lines. Not a single plate had broken. The Baalanian stared. The Obsidian Knight stepped forward. One step. Then another. The warrior tried to retreat. Too late. The black sword descended. The ground exploded. A massive crater formed beneath the Baalanian. The remaining soldiers scattered. The Obsidian Knight turned toward the trapped civilians. He approached the fallen stone beam. Then reached down. His enormous armored hand closed around it. With almost effortless strength, he lifted the massive stone structure. The mother stared in disbelief. The knight raised the beam above his head and threw it aside.

CRAAAAASH!

The stone shattered against the street. He then knelt. His enormous black hand gently lifted the mother and child from the rubble. Despite his terrifying appearance, his movements were surprisingly careful. He placed them beside a kingdom soldier. The soldier stared up at the towering figure.

"By the gods..."

The Obsidian Knight turned. Another explosion shook the street. A collapsing building began falling toward the civilians. The knight moved immediately. He rushed forward. The enormous black sword was driven into the ground. Both armored arms extended. The building crashed against him.

KRRRRRRRRRRAAAASH!

Stone and burning timber collapsed across his shoulders. The Obsidian Knight staggered. But he held. The entire structure rested against his armor. Crimson light burned brighter inside his helmet. He pushed. Muscles beneath the enchanted armor strained. The building shifted. Then the knight heaved upward. The remains of the structure were thrown sideways into the empty street. A thunderous impact followed. The civilians were safe.

But the dark aura surrounding Roan was growing stronger. His crimson eyes turned toward the fleeing Baalanians. The Black Ring wanted more. More violence. More destruction. The enemies were still standing. The ring urged him forward. The Obsidian Knight tightened his grip around the enormous sword.

Then

"Roan!"

A familiar voice. Celestine. The knight turned. Celestine stood at the end of the street, his golden-white aura illuminating the smoke.

"Roan! That's enough!"

The Obsidian Knight remained motionless. For a moment, the crimson light intensified.

Then Celestine approached.

"Look at me."

The towering figure lowered his head.

"You've protected them. You've done what you needed to do."

Celestine placed one hand against the black breastplate.

"Come back, Roan."

The dark aura flickered. The crimson light dimmed. The enormous sword dissolved into black particles. The Obsidian Armor began breaking apart. One plate after another disappeared. The towering knight shrank. The massive gauntlets dissolved. The helmet vanished. And beneath the fading darkness stood Roan. A small, exhausted boy. His red hair was dishevelled. His clothes were torn. His legs trembled.

He looked at his hands.

Then at Celestine.

"Did... did I hurt anyone?"

Celestine knelt beside him.

"No."

He placed a reassuring hand on Roan's shoulder.

"You saved them."

Roan looked toward the mother and her child. They were alive. The woman was crying with relief. The child waved at him. Roan managed a tired smile. 

Gor'Thrak approached. He looked at the destruction. Then at Roan.

"Hah!"

The orc grinned.

"Little pup has teeth after all."

Roan looked up.

"Please don't call me little pup."

"Then grow taller."

Celestine laughed.

But Tahir's expression was more serious.

He had seen the Black Ring's transformation. And he understood how dangerous that power could become. For now, however, Roan had returned. And the battle was still raging.

The Baalanian attack was beginning to lose momentum. But their commanders had not yet committed their strongest warriors. A horn sounded from beyond the western gate. Three long blasts. The surviving Baalanian soldiers immediately separated. A new formation emerged through the smoke. At its center marched several enormous warriors wearing bronze armor and dark desert cloaks. Their bodies were covered in glowing religious inscriptions. Each carried a different enchanted weapon. One wielded a massive two-handed sword. Another carried a pair of enormous curved axes. The third held a long spear surrounded by blue flames. Behind them marched several fire mages. Their leader raised his hand. The warriors stopped. He looked across the battlefield. At the broken gate. At the sand barriers. At the burning rooftops. Then his eyes settled on the five figures.

"The Luminous Fangs."

His voice carried through the battlefield.

"So the rumors were true."

Celestine stepped forward.

"You're welcome to surrender."

The Baalanian commander laughed.

"Surrender?"

He raised his weapon.

"We kneel only before Baal!"

The warriors behind him shouted.

"BAAL!"

Their bodies began glowing. Flames erupted around their weapons. The commander slammed his sword against the ground. A massive circle of fire spread across the street. The flames raced toward the Luminous Fangs.

Celestine raised Lueur Sainte.

"Together!"

The five moved. Snowy rose into the air. Tahir planted his staff. Gor'Thrak charged. Roan drew his sword. Celestine stepped forward. For the first time during the battle, they weren't simply fighting separate engagements. They were fighting as one. Five Against the Flames 

Snowy's three Light Owls descended. Their wings spread across the battlefield. One circled above the enemy fire mages. Another flew toward the heavily armored warriors. The third remained beside the kingdom soldiers. Snowy raised both hands. Three brilliant beams erupted from the owls. The first struck the enemy's magical formation. The second smashed against the ground before the armored warriors. The third swept across the fire mages' position.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The Baalanians raised their shields.

But the beams were not intended to defeat them. They were intended to disrupt their formation. And they did.

Tahir immediately raised his staff.

"Now!"

The street beneath the enemy warriors erupted. Enormous sand pillars burst upward. One wrapped around a warrior's legs. Another rose behind the fire mages. A third formed beneath the commander's feet. The enemy formation was divided. The Baalanians attempted to retaliate.

But Tahir swept his staff sideways.

"Wind!"

A violent gust tore through the battlefield. The fire mages were pushed backward. Their magical flames scattered. Gor'Thrak charged through the opening. Vorrak-Duum rose above his shoulders.

"MAKE WAY!"

The enormous orc crashed into the first armored warrior.

KRAAAAAAASH!

The warrior's shield shattered. Gor'Thrak followed with a second strike. His axe smashed into the man's armor. The Baalanian was thrown backward. Another warrior attacked.Gor'Thrak blocked the curved blade with the haft of his axe. He twisted. The enemy's weapon flew away. Then the orc drove his shoulder into the warrior's chest. The man crashed into the sand barrier.

Gor'Thrak turned.

"ROAN!"

The young squire immediately understood. He rushed forward. A Baalanian attempted to intercept him. Roan ducked beneath the attack and struck the man's exposed knee. The warrior stumbled. Roan spun around and struck his wrist. The weapon fell. He stepped aside.

Gor'Thrak's axe swept through the space where the warrior had been standing.

The Baalanian was thrown aside.

Roan looked up.

"Thanks!"

Gor'Thrak grinned.

"Don't mention it!"

Above them, Snowy saw another warrior preparing to attack Celestine.

His Light Whip shot downward. It wrapped around the soldier's weapon. Snowy pulled. The blade was dragged sideways.

Celestine immediately counterattacked.

Lueur Sainte struck the enemy's chest.

A burst of golden light exploded.

The warrior flew backward.

Celestine looked upward.

Snowy gave him a small smile.

Celestine returned it.

"Excellent timing!"

"You're welcome!"

Tahir watched the exchange.

"Could you two concentrate?"

Celestine laughed.

"Of course!"

He turned toward the remaining enemies.

"Let's finish this!"

The Baalanian commander had finally reached the center of the battlefield.  His armor was burning. Blue flames surrounded his sword. He raised it toward Celestine.

"You have interfered with the will of Baal for the last time!"

Celestine stepped forward.

"Your god seems remarkably interested in other people's kingdoms."

The commander roared.

He charged.

His sword came down.

Celestine blocked.

CLAAAAANG!

The impact sent sparks across the street. The commander struck again. Celestine parried. Another strike. Another. The two exchanged a rapid series of attacks. The Baalanian possessed tremendous physical strength. His enchanted armor increased his power with every movement. Celestine was forced backward. His boots scraped against the cobblestones. The commander swung horizontally. Celestine ducked. The blade passed over his head. He countered with Lueur Sainte. The commander blocked. Both weapons collided. The surrounding air exploded with magical energy. Golden light clashed against blue fire. The commander smiled.

"Your light is fading!"

He forced Celestine backward.

Then suddenly A glowing white owl struck his shoulder. The commander staggered. Snowy had intervened.

Tahir immediately raised his staff.

"Sand Bind!"

The ground beneath the commander erupted.

His legs were trapped.

Gor'Thrak charged from the side.

Vorrak-Duum struck the commander's armor.

KRAAAAAANG!

The commander was thrown to one knee. Roan rushed forward. He kicked the man's fallen weapon away. The commander looked up. Five figures surrounded him. He roared. Flames erupted from his armor. But this time, the Luminous Fangs were ready. Snowy raised both hands. A moonlight barrier formed around the commander, containing the expanding flames. Tahir reinforced the barrier with enormous bands of compressed sand.

Gor'Thrak planted Vorrak-Duum into the ground.

The commander struggled.

His armor cracked. 

Celestine raised Lueur Sainte.

Golden-white light began gathering around the blade.

Roan stood beside him. The young squire raised his sword. He was exhausted. His body still trembled from the Black Ring's transformation. But he remained standing. Celestine looked at him.

Roan nodded.

The knight smiled.

Then he turned toward the commander.

"Your attack ends here."

Lueur Sainte ignited. A radiant wave of light erupted across the battlefield. The remaining Baalanian soldiers were thrown backward. Their magical flames disappeared beneath the brilliant golden radiance.

When the light finally faded, the commander was on his knees.

His armor was shattered. His weapon lay broken. The surrounding Baalanians stared. Their formation had collapsed. Their advance had stopped. And the kingdom's defenders were still fighting. The commander looked toward the five figures. For the first time, his expression revealed uncertainty.

Celestine lowered his sword.

"Enough."

The commander finally looked away.

The battle continued for several minutes. But the Baalanian attack had lost its momentum. The kingdom soldiers began pushing forward.

Gor'Thrak rallied the remaining defenders.

"KEEP MOVING!"

He raised Vorrak-Duum.

"THEY'RE BREAKING!"

Kingdom knights surged through the western district. Archers fired from the rooftops.

 Tahir maintained his enormous sand barriers, preventing enemy reinforcements from reaching the inner city. Snowy's Light Owls continued intercepting projectiles and attacking isolated groups of Baalanians. Celestine moved between the fighting soldiers, using Lueur Sainte to break enemy defenses and protect the wounded. Roan remained close to the others. He was exhausted, but he continued helping wherever he could. He dragged injured soldiers away from burning buildings. He helped kingdom knights disarm captured Baalanians. He even managed to knock down one enemy warrior who had attempted to attack a wounded soldier. Eventually, the remaining Baalanian fighters began retreating. Some threw down their weapons. Others were captured. A few continued fighting until they were overwhelmed. The enormous black banners of Baalania fell from the walls. One after another. The last enemy formation disappeared into the smoke. The warning bell finally stopped ringing. Silence slowly returned to Valerienne. Not complete silence. There were still fires burning. The wounded were still crying out. Soldiers were still searching the rubble. But the thunder of battle had ended.

The kingdom had survived.

 The Luminous Fangs gathered in the central street. Their armor and clothing were covered in dust. Celestine's silver armor was scratched and blackened. Snowy's white robes were torn at the sleeves. Tahir's black clothing was covered in sand. Gor'Thrak had several new scratches across his armor. Roan looked completely exhausted. He sat on a broken stone block, examining his damaged sword.

Gor'Thrak approached.

"Still alive, pup?"

Roan looked up.

"Yes."

"Good."

The orc laughed.

"Thought you might have been flattened."

Roan frowned.

"That's encouraging."

Snowy approached and knelt beside him.

"Are you hurt?"

Roan shook his head.

"Just tired."

Snowy gently examined his hands.

"You should rest. The Black Ring must have taken a great deal out of you."

Roan looked down at his finger.

The Black Ring was quiet again.

For now.

"I didn't want those people to die."

Snowy smiled softly.

"I know."

Celestine approached.

He looked at the four companions. For a moment, he simply watched them. They had fought through an entire army. They had protected the kingdom. They had trusted one another without hesitation. And they had done something he had once believed would take much longer. They had become a true fighting unit.

Celestine rested Lueur Sainte against his shoulder.

"Well..."

He smiled.

"I believe that was quite an introduction."

Tahir looked at him.

"An introduction?"

"To the kingdom."

Gor'Thrak laughed.

"Next time, let's introduce ourselves somewhere without so many explosions."

Snowy chuckled. Roan finally smiled. Celestine looked toward the damaged city. There would be much to repair. Many wounded to treat. Many questions to answer. And the Baalanians would undoubtedly return. But something had changed. The Luminous Fangs had faced their greatest battle since Garthuun. They had fought beside the kingdom's soldiers, protected its civilians, and stood against an army that believed its faith gave it the right to conquer others. They had not fought as five individuals. They had fought as one. Celestine extended his hand. Gor'Thrak placed his enormous hand over it. Tahir reluctantly added his. Snowy followed.  Roan placed his hand on top. Five hands. Five Fangs. One pack.

Celestine smiled.

"Whatever comes next, we face it together."

Gor'Thrak nodded.

"Together."

Snowy smiled.

"Together."

Tahir gave a small nod.

Roan looked at them all.

"Together."

Above Valerienne, the smoke slowly began to clear.

The sun emerged through the clouds, illuminating the kingdom's battered walls. The attack had been repelled. But the war against Baalania was only beginning. And the Luminous Fangs had just shown the world what they were capable of.