Chapter 116

Chapter 116
The night enveloped the fortress like a cloak of shadows, making it even more intimidating under the flickering torchlight. The silence before the attack was almost deafening. The rebels moved like stalking predators, slipping between the shadows, their weapons ready. The wind carried the smell of damp earth and burnt oil, mingling with the tension hanging in the air.

Castian led the main group, his sword held firmly, muscles tense in anticipation. The Celestial Pearl at his belt emitted a faint but comforting light, as if understanding the critical moment approaching. Each step he took brought him closer to the inevitable confrontation with Kaien.

The first group of infiltrators had already spread across the walls, silently eliminating the sentinels patrolling the towers. The guards' bodies fell without a sound, their throats slit before they could raise the alarm. However, even with all their caution, a mistake was inevitable. An archer, turning a corner, came face to face with a rebel and let out a piercing scream before being cut down. The alarm had been raised.

The fortress bell rang out like thunder in the night. The sound echoed through the stone corridors and over the rooftops, shaking the sleeping soldiers and alerting Kaien's warriors to the imminent invasion. Within seconds, the inner courtyard was flooded with a wave of enemy soldiers emerging from the stone doorways, weapons in hand, ready to defend their leader's last bastion.

"There's no turning back now!" shouted Castian, raising his sword. "Let's end this once and for all!"

Chaos erupted in the fortress courtyard. The rebels, outnumbered, fought with ferocity, their blades glinting under the torchlight. The sound of metal clashing against metal filled the air, mixed with war cries and screams of pain.

Mei moved among the enemies with lethal agility, her spear dancing like a silver thunderbolt. Every strike she made felled an enemy, but they kept coming, relentless, like a tide of darkness. Xia Lin, on the other hand, fought like a hurricane. Her sword cut through opponents with surgical precision, her eyes burning with the hatred accumulated over the years.

High on the walls, a silhouette emerged from the shadows. The torchlight revealed the imposing figure of Kaien. He watched the battle below with a cruel smile, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he saw blood staining the fortress stones.

"So you've finally come," his voice echoed, laden with disdain. "I knew you couldn't resist."

Castian raised his head, meeting Kaien's gaze. The general was clad in black armor ornamented with ancient runes, and in his hand rested a broad, cruel blade. He looked like a warlord risen from the depths of hell itself.

"I didn't come for you, Kaien," replied Castian, his voice firm. "I came for the people you enslaved. For the suffering you caused. And to end this once and for all."

Kaien laughed, a cold sound devoid of any humanity.

"Noble speeches don't save lives, boy. Only blood can decide the future."

He raised his sword, and immediately the soldiers around him advanced with renewed fury, invigorated by their leader's presence. Castian did not hesitate. He threw himself back into the battle, cutting and parrying blows, his mind focused on the one goal that mattered: reaching Kaien.

The Celestial Pearl began to pulse more intensely. Castian felt its energy vibrating on his skin, as if the jewel itself was reacting to the bloodshed. His every movement seemed faster, his reflexes sharper. He didn't know if it was just the adrenaline of battle or if the pearl was indeed granting him something beyond human strength.

"Xia, Mei!" he shouted as he carved a path through the soldiers. "I'm going after Kaien!"

Mei blocked a sword strike and kicked her opponent back before nodding.

"Go! We'll hold the rest!"

Xia Lin hesitated for a moment, her gaze shifting between Castian and Kaien. Then, clenching her fists, she nodded.

"Kill that bastard."

Castian ran across the battlefield, dodging the fights around him. An enemy soldier appeared before him, but before he could raise his sword, Castian spun his body and drove his blade into the soldier's chest, moving on without looking back.

He reached the staircase leading to the top of the walls and took the steps two at a time. Up there, Kaien awaited him, standing in the midst of the cold night wind, his sword gleaming with a deadly shine.

"I was waiting for you to come up," said Kaien, spinning the blade in his hand. "Let's see if all your bravery is actually worth anything."

Castian didn't reply. He simply raised his sword, assuming a combat stance.

Kaien was the first to attack. He charged with surprising speed for someone of his stature, his blade descending like a silver lightning bolt. Castian barely had time to block the blow, and the force of the impact made his arms tremble. Kaien was strong. Very strong.

They exchanged blows at a frantic pace, their swords singing in the air as they clashed. Castian tried to stay focused, but Kaien was an experienced, calculating adversary who left no room for error. His every move was precise, meant to kill.

Castian dodged a blow that would have gutted him and spun to counter-attack, but Kaien anticipated his movement and delivered a powerful kick, throwing him against the stone wall of the rampart. The impact made his vision darken for a second, and he tasted the metallic tang of blood in his mouth.

Kaien smiled, approaching slowly.

"You fight well, boy. But not well enough."

He raised his sword to finish Castian, but before he could strike, the Celestial Pearl shone intensely. A wave of energy coursed through Castian's body, renewing his strength. Something within him awakened.

With a quick movement, he rose and spun his sword, blocking Kaien's attack at the last instant. His eyes shone with a bluish light for a brief second, and when he advanced, he felt his body respond with superhuman precision.

Kaien tried to retreat, surprised by the sudden change, but it was too late. Castian pressed him with a sequence of relentless blows, breaking his defense. In a final move, he deflected the enemy's blade and delivered a deep cut to Kaien's flank.

The general grunted in pain, staggering backward, blood flowing from his wound. His gaze was a mix of disbelief and hatred.

"This… can't be happening," he murmured.

Castian pointed his sword at him, his breathing heavy.

"You've lost, Kaien. Surrender."

Kaien gritted his teeth, his hand clutching the wound as blood dripped onto the stone floor.

"I will never surrender."

And with a cry of fury, he launched himself into one last attack.

But Castian was already ready.