Kai's heart pounded as he surged forward, sword raised. The world seemed to narrow, the only thing in his mind was the black knight before him. Veydris had already proven himself to be an unstoppable force, but this time, Kai would end it—one way or another.
The greatsword swung in a wide arc, its massive blade cutting through the air with a deafening whistle. Kai barely managed to leap backward in time, the edge grazing his side. Blood soaked through his armor, but he didn't flinch.
His feet landed heavily on the cracked stone, and he shifted into a defensive stance. He had to get close—too close for Veydris to swing his weapon.
The black knight stepped forward with chilling precision. "You are persistent," he muttered. "But that won't save you."
Kai's eyes narrowed. This time, he was ready. He feigned a low strike, drawing Veydris into a downward swing. At the last second, Kai twisted his body, dodging the blow and closing the gap.
He slashed at Veydris's exposed side—
But the black knight moved faster.
With a roar, Veydris parried the strike with his armored forearm, knocking Kai's sword aside. In the same motion, he swung his greatsword in a brutal arc.
Kai blocked with all his strength, but the impact was overwhelming. His knees buckled under the force, and he staggered backward, almost losing his footing.
Veydris sneered. "Is that all you have?"
But Kai wasn't finished.
Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, Kai dashed forward, using the momentum of his last failed attack to roll beneath Veydris's next strike. He was on his feet in an instant, coming up from behind the black knight.
The battlefield seemed to hold its breath.
With a roar, Kai drove his sword forward—straight into the gap between Veydris's armor. The blade slid through the weak spot, finding flesh beneath the metal.
For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of Kai's labored breathing and the pounding of his heart. Then, slowly, Veydris's body went still.
Kai's sword was lodged deep in the general's side, and for the first time, the obsidian knight's gaze flickered—just the briefest moment of surprise, as if he hadn't believed anyone could actually wound him.
Veydris coughed, blood trickling from his mouth. His expression twisted, but there was no pain in his eyes. Only… respect.
"You… you fought well, Kai."
Kai grit his teeth, twisting the sword deeper into the wound. "I'm not done yet."
Veydris staggered back, his hand clutching the hilt of the sword, but Kai pushed harder.
And then, with one final, brutal motion, Kai ripped the blade free.
The black knight fell to his knees, his body shuddering as the life drained from him.
Kai stood over him, chest heaving, blood dripping from his own wounds. His sword was heavy in his hands, but he couldn't look away from the man who had almost ended him.
"Why?" Kai asked, his voice strained. "Why keep fighting if you knew you would fall?"
Veydris chuckled, though the sound was weak, broken. "Because… some wars… never end."
With that, the great warrior slumped forward, dead at last.
The battlefield was silent.
And in that silence, the weight of the victory hit Kai all at once. He had won—but at what cost?
His soldiers gathered around him, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief. Elira, her bow lowered, was the first to speak. "It's over."
Solis grinned, though his smile was strained. "We really did it, didn't we?"
Lyra nodded. "The Black Knight is no more."
But Kai didn't answer. His gaze was distant, lost in the aftermath.
For as much as he had fought to protect his people, he knew this battle was only the beginning. The war was far from over.
And with General Veydris gone, another shadow would rise to take his place.
But Kai, battered and bloodied, knew one thing for certain:
He would not stop fighting.