Chapter 117

Chapter 117
The night lay heavy over the fortress, and the wind whistled between the walls, carrying the metallic smell of blood and the heat of the battles still raging in the courtyard below. Castian reached the top of the walls, where Kaien waited for him like a predator ready to tear its prey apart. The general stood firm, his presence imposing and threatening. The black armor covering his body seemed to absorb the surrounding light, making him appear even darker. In his right hand, he held a colossal sword, its blade rippling with a purple glow, charged with a sinister energy.

Kaien's eyes were fixed on Castian, assessing him, studying every detail of his posture. He smiled, a smile full of scorn and arrogance.

"Do you think you can defeat me, boy?" his voice echoed like muffled thunder in the night. "You are just a child playing hero."

Castian did not respond. Words would not be enough to convince him. Instead, he raised his sword, feeling the warm vibration of the Celestial Pearl embedded in the hilt. The golden light pulsed softly, almost as if it understood the approaching challenge. He took a deep breath, planting his feet firmly on the cold stone of the wall and assuming his combat stance.

Kaien was the first to attack. With a roar, he charged with surprising speed for someone of his stature, his sword descending like a black lightning bolt. Castian raised his blade and blocked the blow, but the force of the impact made his arms tremble. Kaien was strong. Much stronger than he had expected.

The general gave him no time to breathe. In a fluid motion, he spun the blade and delivered another lateral strike. Castian jumped back at the last second, feeling the enemy's blade slice the air right in front of his face. He barely had time to steady his feet before Kaien advanced again, attacking furiously. Each blow was heavy and precise, forcing Castian to maintain his defense constantly.

"You're nothing but a child playing soldier!" snarled Kaien, his voice laden with disdain. "I've trained my whole life for this moment. You have no idea what you're facing!"

Castian gritted his teeth, dodging a cut that could have split him in two. He knew he couldn't defeat Kaien with brute force. The general was an experienced warrior, someone who had led armies and conquered territories. But Castian wasn't there just for himself. He fought for the rebels, for the people Kaien had oppressed, for the friends he had sworn to protect.

Waiting for the right moment, he studied the enemy's movements. Kaien was aggressive, moving with the confidence of someone who had never been defeated. But Castian noticed something: his fighting style was based on strength and intimidation. He relied on finishing his opponents quickly, overwhelming them with crushing blows. If Castian could withstand and exploit an opening, he might have a chance.

Kaien delivered another powerful blow, trying to break Castian's defense, but this time the young man sidestepped, allowing the general's blade to strike the stone floor. In the next instant, Castian spun his body and cut Kaien's shoulder with a precise strike. The general grunted and retreated, looking at the wound with surprise.

"You are strong…" admitted Kaien, his voice filled with surprise and something that seemed like respect. "But not strong enough."

Before Castian could react, Kaien raised his left hand and a whirlwind of dark energy began to form. In the blink of an eye, a wave of black power exploded from his palm, shooting directly at Castian.

The young warrior had no choice. Instinctively, he raised his sword, and the Celestial Pearl shone with an intense golden light. The energy of the jewel expanded around him, forming an ethereal shield that absorbed the impact of Kaien's attack. The shock was devastating, making the wall tremble, but Castian remained firm, feeling the Pearl's power flow through his body like a warm current of energy.

Kaien frowned, irritated.

"So this is your secret weapon? This ridiculous jewel?" he mocked, though his eyes showed a flicker of concern.

Castian felt the energy vibrating within him. He knew the Celestial Pearl was more than a simple amulet. It was awakening something inside him, something he didn't yet fully understand. But at that moment, he didn't need to understand. He only needed to fight.

He advanced.

Moving faster than before, Castian struck Kaien's side, who barely had time to raise his sword to block. The force of the impact pushed the general back. Castian gave him no time to breathe. He continued to press him with fast, precise strikes, his sword gleaming like a beam of golden light against the darkness of Kaien's blade.

Kaien roared in fury, trying to turn the tide of the battle, but now it was Castian who dictated the pace. He spun, slid, and dodged with an almost supernatural lightness, his blows becoming increasingly lethal. In one final move, he ducked to avoid a horizontal cut and, seizing the opening, delivered a deep blow to Kaien's flank.

The general staggered, his armor now stained with blood. His breathing was heavy, his gaze filled with disbelief and rage.

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

Castian raised his sword, pointing it at Kaien.

"Surrender. You've lost."

Kaien gritted his teeth. The hatred in his eyes was almost palpable.

"I will never surrender."

With a final roar, he raised his sword for one last attack. But Castian was already ready. The moment Kaien charged, Castian channeled the energy of the Celestial Pearl and delivered a decisive blow.

Castian's blade pierced Kaien's chest.

The general stopped mid-movement, his eyes wide in shock. The dark glow of his sword began to fade, and a tremor ran through his body. He tried to say something, but only blood trickled from his lips.

For a long moment, time seemed to freeze.

Then, Kaien fell to his knees.

Castian pulled out his blade, taking a step back. Kaien's body toppled onto the cold stones of the wall, his black armor finally silenced.

Silence hung over the fortress.

Castian stood there, looking at the body of the man who had been one of the greatest tyrants of the kingdom. The wind blew strongly, and below, in the courtyard, the sounds of battle began to cease. Kaien's soldiers, realizing their leader's death, lost the will to fight.

The fortress now belonged to the rebels.

The war was coming to an end.