The sky burned. The festival had turned into ruins. The Capital of Smiles wept in flames.

  Fire devoured the walls. Houses collapsed. Screams mingled with the stench of blood and soot. And even so… the people resisted.

  Lukas ran. His shoulder bled. His legs staggered. The trees seemed to close the paths, choking the light.

  “They’re everywhere…”

  He leapt over a thick root. A Brakan appeared — red eyes, fangs wide. Lukas raised his training sword. The impact threw him far, ribs screaming.

  — Aaah…!

  Two more Brakans circled. He could barely breathe.

  — LUKAS! — a voice he knew even in dreams.

  Adriele.

  She burst through the trunks, silver aura blazing, rapier in hand. The legacy of the Valkyries shone in her eyes.

  — Stay away from him! — she roared, firm.

  She struck. Three blows. Three bodies fell.

  A fourth monster leapt. Lukas forced himself up, collided, and deflected it with his own body — falling to his knees.

  — I told you to run! Adriele shouted. — I… wouldn’t leave you alone…

  More eyes opened in the dark. Ten. Twenty. Fifty.

  — Even if this is the end… Lukas whispered. — It isn’t yet. She stood at his side. — As long as we’re together… it’s not over.

  The black dragon dove over the Castle of the Seasons. Wings tore the sky. Fire rained like a curse.

  Kyros and Kotan Aspen stood at the wall. Sweating. Bleeding. But unyielding.

  — Kotan… Kyros panted. — Can you still fight? — As long as my eyes see, he answered, raising Soul of Frost.

  The dragon dived. Kotan lifted the blade. A wall of ice rose. But the beast’s tail smashed him against the stone.

  A sickening crack.

  — KOTAN! Kyros roared, charging forward.

  But before he could reach the dragon…

  Fabrísio Scadia emerged through the embers. Black hair. Hollow gaze. Blood-stained blade.

  — Too old for this game, he said. — Tonight… everything dies.

  The emperor was surrounded by six of Kyros’s captains. Wounded soldiers formed a desperate shield.

  Fabrísio advanced like a living blade. The captains braced. But his eyes were fixed only on the throne.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  And then— Catarina leapt in front.

  — NO!

  His sword pierced her chest.

  — N-No… whispered the emperor, clutching her shoulder. — I… said… I would protect you… She smiled, blood spilling. — To the… very end…

  She collapsed on the steps. Life fading.

  Fabrísio wrenched his blade free, raising it again. — I told you, today everything ends.

  Kyros descended from the wall like a thunderbolt. The ground split beneath his landing. His sword burst in golden aura. The clash with Fabrísio shook the pillars.

  Naira, the first, faced three ogres. Burns covered her arms. — I just… wanted to see the city smile… one last time… She drove her spear through a neck. A club crushed her body. She smiled as she fell.

  Lancelot, thunder’s shieldbearer, lifted his blue hammer. — YOU SHALL NOT PASS! He smashed one beast. But a spear pierced his back. — Forgive me, my lord… I wasn’t strong… enough…

  Gerald, the elder, fought like a wall. But his knees buckled. A troll lifted him. He closed his eyes, smiling. — A good death… for a good man…

  Draken, the ex-thief, roared with bloodied teeth. — I WON’T DIE FOR FREE! He killed an orc. A second impaled him. — Thank you… for believing in me…

  Elena, golden mage, summoned fire from the stars. — FOR LORD KYROS! Half a troop burned. A black arrow pierced her chest. — I wished… I’d heard music… one last time…

  They all fell. None without taking enemies with them.

  Langris Beika walked the rooftops. Eyepatch gleamed. Scar pulsed. Rubya appeared, claws ready.

  — Today you die. — Then come, he sneered. — Abandoned Tigress.

  The impact split roofs. She pierced his abdomen. He drove his sword between her ribs.

  — Death suits you, he said.

  Rubya fell.

  Kyros and Kotan still stood. But broken. Exhausted. Langris, bleeding, raised his arm atop the wall.

  The dragon spewed fire one last time. The walls collapsed. The castle groaned. The sky trembled.

  — Look well! Langris cried. — Today, the sun sets on this kingdom. Tomorrow, only ash and bone remain.

  The moon watched in silence.

  Families fled. Soldiers wept. Children screamed. The swallows of light in the forest flickered… and went out.

  But not all hope died. Lukas, bloodied, still stood. Kyros, eyes blazing, still fought.

  And on the horizon… A presence more terrible than any yet seen drew near.

  A Disaster.

  End of Chapter 10