Thank you for reading on ! We provide free access to all our stories, but maintaining this platform requires ongoing costs. To keep the site running and continue offering free content, we display advertisements. You can close the ads anytime, or upgrade to premium membership ($5/month) for an ad-free reading experience while supporting our mission. You can also earn premium for free by completing simple tasks. We truly appreciate your understanding and support!A powerful and imposing presence loomed over the battlefield. The dark army of the King stood still, as if they were statues, their stillness an attempt to intimidate those who faced them. For a long time, Alessandro felt the tension in the air, shared by everyone around him. Their bodies were rigid, poised for battle. Soon, the dark army parted, making way for their leader. The dark king emerged, tall and strong, clad in armor as black as the void itself. With each step he took, he commanded attention, his presence suffocating. He halted before his army, as if to flaunt his power.With a sudden ferocity, the dark king launched an attack against the shields that stood before him. Although the shields held firm, Sirius felt the magic within them twist in response to the dark king's assault. The shields, bolstered by the power of the magicians, remained unyielding, but no monsters advanced; they seemed to be waiting for a signal, a leader guiding them. This battle felt different from the others. These were not the mindless beasts that had ravaged everything in their path before.They appeared more cunning, as if they had returned with a purpose: to destroy the world and reduce it to ashes, annihilating all life. The dark king unleashed a second attack. The shields trembled, and some magicians fell, not many, but enough to signal the growing threat. This strike was more powerful than the first, shaking the very ground beneath them. "I had forgotten how tedious this part is," muttered Lorcan, one of the soldiers closest to Alessandro, casting a disdainful glance at the unfolding scene. "You should keep your thoughts to yourself, Captain," another soldier replied."I'm merely voicing what many are thinking. The tension is palpable, and with each attack, the enemy grows stronger," Lorcan shot back. "But I shouldn't voice my thoughts aloud; they could be misinterpreted," Alessandro interjected, his gaze hardening as he felt the dark king's strike against their barrier, sensing it was on the verge of breaking. Suddenly, Cassiel descended from the sky, his white wings shimmering with a faint light, illuminating the battlefield. Alessandro felt a moment of confusion, as did Abril, who stood beside him."I'm sorry for the delay, Father," Cassiel said, taking his place in the battle line. His gaze locked onto the dark king, the man who had once been his brother. But the angelic light that had once defined him was gone, replaced by darkness, hatred, and bitterness. "Are these your wings?" Alessandro asked, astonished. "It's my father's blessing. But I don't see the girl. Where is she?" Cassiel replied, his voice laced with concern. "I fear I won't be able to fight against this monster," Abril said, her voice steady despite the turmoil around them. "I understand how you feel, but we need you.We want to win. Don't worry about your daughter; she is strong and ready," Cassiel reassured her. "How can you be so certain?" Abril questioned, her resolve wavering. "I just know," he replied. Abril was about to respond when the dark king launched a second attack against the barrier. It held for now, but the pressure was mounting. If he unleashed a third strike, it would surely shatter. Her heart raced, sweat beading on her brow. She glanced at Alessandro, who was also perspiring, whether from the heat of the Xurt desert or the tension in the air, she could not tell."We cannot allow him to break our barrier. We won't wait any longer; we will be the first to attack," she declared. Cassiel nodded in agreement. "I believe that would be best." Alessandro issued the command for the magicians to lower the barrier. Sirius hesitated, sensing the madness of the plan, but he obeyed, trusting in Alessandro's confidence. Both armies finally surged into action. Alessandro unleashed a powerful attack that collided with the dark king's barrier, followed by Cassiel's second strike, and Abril delivered the final blow.noveldramaTheir combined magic crashed against the barrier, causing it to tremble. The first army, led by Cassiel, released a volley of arrows, propelled by the wind conjured by Alessandro, making them strike with greater force. Cassiel summoned giants from the arena, sending them charging toward the enemy. The first line of the dark king's forces crumbled, but the battle was far from over. The dark king, undeterred, issued new orders. The monsters surged forward, but these were not the same mindless creatures as before. They bore human forms, their bodies cloaked in darkness."You must be careful; these monsters can only be killed by severing their heads," Abril warned Alessandro, her voice steady despite the chaos. He relayed her words across the battlefield, preparing for the impending attack. The elven army and the last of the hadas moved swiftly, their strength and speed unmatched. The remaining troops launched their attacks from a distance. The battle raged fiercely as Abril maneuvered across the field, using the mountains of hadas to her advantage.When she decapitated one of the monsters, she consumed its remains in her crimson flames, igniting the front line with ferocity. Enzo joined her, and together they spread their flames like phoenixes reborn. As the dark king's first line fell, Alessandro ordered the magicians to raise a barrier before the dark king could launch a second attack. The soldiers regrouped, and Abril returned to Alessandro's side. "Why did you stop the attack?" she asked. "Something isn't right," he replied, his gaze fixed on the battlefield.Across the field, the dark king loomed like a shadow, observing them as if he were watching an entertaining spectacle. "The dark king is analyzing us," Cassiel explained. "That's why his attacks have been so measured. He wants to gauge your strength before unleashing his true assault." As if on cue, the dark king gestured, and a cloud of darkness lifted, revealing the vast army that had been concealed. Great monsters surged forth, dividing the battlefield. Alessandro was taken aback.Just as he was about to give a second order to prevent the retreat of the army that had sought refuge, Cassiel cautioned him. "Don't do it. That's exactly what he wants-to divide us so he can destroy us. We must stay united and focused when confronting the dark king. Welcome your brother and close the gates of Hades." "You want them to escape?!" Alessandro exclaimed. "I want you to concentrate on the battle ahead.I've fought my brother countless times, and if this is his favored strategy-divide and conquer-then heed my warning: do not let your heart waver." Alessandro watched as part of the army began to retreat, spreading out in all directions, as if they lacked a clear objective. Elisha felt her heart race at the sight of some monsters heading toward her kingdom. She longed to pursue them, to intercept their advance, but she knew she had to trust that her father would stop them before they reached the city. Taking a deep breath, she reassured herself, "Everything will be fine, Elisha.Daddy will take care of everything. He is prepared; this attack won't catch him off guard. I just need to focus on the battle and defeat the enemy before me." Even as the dark king's army divided, they continued to outnumber them, like ants pouring from a disturbed anthill, overwhelming and relentless. The real battle had only just begun, and much lay ahead. The question remained: did they truly have a chance to win, or was everything already decided?