The underground chamber, once the stage for a dark ritual, now had became a battlefield. The tense silence that followed Rogan's arrival was broken by the sound of metal on metal, war cries, and the buzz of magic cutting through the air.
Rogan carefully laid Logan on the ground near the opening, out of the immediate reach of the fight, then turned to face Kael.
The Arcane Hunters, though shaken by the destructive force with which the king had breached the cave ceiling, quickly recomposed themselves. There were over a hundred of them, all armed with swords, daggers, and crossbows, and some with staves and wands, ready to cast spells.
"Hunters!" Kael shouted, his voice hoarse yet still imposing. "Kill them all"
Arthur Ironheart, without losing a second, charged toward the Hunters, drawing his sword. The blade gleamed in the dim torchlight, reflecting the determination on his face.
He was an experienced warrior, a master strategist, but even he felt disadvantaged in the confined space. His broad, powerful strikes were better suited to open battlefields, and the number of enemies was overwhelming.
"My King, attack from that side!" shouted Arthur, dodging an arrow and slitting a Hunter's throat with a swift, precise movement. "I'll hold these ones here!"
Rogan, feeling adrenaline and fury coursing through his veins, nodded, drawing his own sword. The blade, forged from a special metal of the Flaming Mountains, shone with intense golden light, and flames flickered along its surface as if the very essence of fire were contained within it.
The scabbard, made of black dragon scales, gleamed with a sinister luster, a constant reminder of the power and ferocity of the beasts inhabiting those lands.
"For Logan!" roared Rogan, and charged towards Kael with the fury of a thousand storms.
***
The battle intensified. Arthur, despite being outnumbered, fought like a whirlwind.
His sword was a silver blur, cutting through the air and finding its targets with deadly precision. He moved with surprising agility for a man of his size, dodging blows, parrying attacks, and counter-attacking with devastating force. But the Hunters were many, and the confined space of the cave limited his movements.
Rogan, on the other hand, was a force of nature unleashed. He wasn't limited to swordsmanship; his entire body was a weapon.
Fists wreathed in golden flames crushed bone and armor, powerful kicks sent enemies flying, and with every swing of his sword, a wave of fire swept through the cave, incinerating the Arcane Hunters who dared approach.
Kael, realizing he couldn't dodge forever, decided to face Rogan head-on. He conjured a dark energy barrier around himself, narrowly deflecting a flaming blow from the King's sword.
"You won't escape, Black!" Kael shouted, brandishing the bone dagger, which now glowed with an even more sinister light. "The boy's power will be mine!"
Rogan dodged Kael's clumsy attack and, in a swift motion, grabbed the Hunter's wrist, squeezing hard until he dropped the dagger.
"You chose the wrong enemy, Kael," Rogan said, his voice low and dangerous. "No one messes with my family and gets away with it."
Golden flames began to flare around Rogan, enveloping his body in an incandescent aura. The heat became intense, and the air around him trembled with the force of his power.
Kael, despite his arrogance, felt a shiver run down his spine. He knew he was facing an opponent far superior to him. Rogan wasn't just a king; he was an Evolved Human at the peak of his power, and now he was furious.
The fight between Rogan and Kael was intense. Kael, using his dark magic, conjured barriers and launched energy blasts against the King, but Rogan was too fast. He moved like golden lightning, dodging the attacks and counter-attacking with devastating blows.
His flame-wreathed fists struck like hammers, and with each hit, Kael was thrown backward, feeling his bones crackle and his energy drain.
Rogan's sword, now an extension of his own body, slashed through the air with a sharp hum, leaving trails of golden fire in its wake. Kael tried to defend himself with spells, but they dissipated on contact with the King's flames, unable to withstand the raw power of an Evolved Human.
***
Meanwhile, Arthur fought bravely against the horde of Hunters. He cut down one enemy after another, but they kept coming, relentless. A cut here, a thrust there, and soon the Army General was covered in blood—his own and his enemies. He could feel his muscles burning with exhaustion, and his breathing was becoming increasingly labored.
It was then, amidst the chaos of battle, that a familiar sound filled the cave: the sound of hooves striking the ground and the neighing of horses. Magnus, mounted on his faithful ice steed, Glacius, burst through the fissure in the ceiling, followed by a squadron of the Royal Guard, all mounted on winged steeds, their membranous wings cutting the air with a hissing sound.
"For the Queen! For Sky Reaper!" shouted Magnus, his voice magically amplified, echoing through the cave.
The arrival of reinforcements instantly turned the tide of battle. The Arcane Hunters, already struggling against Arthur, now found themselves completely surrounded and outnumbered. Panic spread among them, and many dropped their weapons and tried to flee, only to be cut down by the royal guards.
Magnus leaped from his steed and ran to Arthur, who was surrounded by three Hunters, his body covered in wounds.
"Hold on, old friend!" shouted Magnus, unleashing a blast of ice that instantly froze one of the Hunters.
With a nod, Arthur gathered his remaining strength and, together with Magnus, began to carve a path through the enemies. Magnus, with his ice magic, froze enemies and created protective barriers, while Arthur, with his sword, cleared the way towards where Rogan and Kael fought.
Magnus, getting close enough, realized the fight between the King and the hunter leader was nearing its end. Kael, now disarmed and gravely wounded, tried to stay on his feet, but it was useless. He was no match for the King's power and fury.
"It's over, Kael," said Rogan, his voice calm but laden with implied threat. "You lost."
Kael spat blood onto the floor and gave a weak, hoarse laugh. "You can kill me, Black," he said with difficulty. "But you can't stop what's coming. Fenrir's awakening is just the beginning. The age of the Arcane Beasts is about to return."
Rogan said nothing. He simply raised his hand, and the golden flames around him intensified, forming an incandescent sphere of energy the size of a fist.
"Goodbye, Kael," Rogan said. He launched the energy sphere towards Kael, who closed his eyes, awaiting the end. The sphere struck him squarely in the chest, and an explosion of golden light illuminated the entire cave. When the light dissipated, Kael had vanished, leaving only a smoking crater in the floor where he had stood.
Rogan, exhausted but victorious, turned and walked to where Arthur and Magnus awaited him, with the defeated Arcane Hunters scattered around them.
Magnus, seeing the King approach, ran towards the fissure in the ceiling, his gaze fixed on the spot near the opening. He found Logan where the King had left him, still unconscious, but breathing.
"He's alive," said Magnus, relieved. "But he needs care."
"Take him back to the castle, Magnus. And find Blake too. Make sure they both receive the best possible care," ordered Rogan, his voice thick with emotion and battle fatigue.
Magnus carefully took Logan into his arms. Before leaving, he looked at Rogan and Arthur. "You'll need help here," he said, referring to cleaning up the cave and capturing any Hunters who might still be hiding.
"We'll take care of it, Magnus," Arthur replied. "Go. The Prince's and Blake's safety is the priority now."
Magnus nodded and, with a final look at Rogan, mounted his ice steed, ready to take flight. With a swift movement, he gained momentum and soared into the air, carrying Logan with him and disappearing through the fissure in the ceiling. Upon reaching the outside, Magnus found Blake safe and sound, near the carriage pegasi, which were grazing peacefully, oblivious to the battle that had just occurred. Apparently, the royal guard soldiers who had stayed behind had taken care of the youth.
"Blake!" Magnus called, landing softly beside the boy. "Are you alright?"
"Dad!" Blake exclaimed, running to hug Magnus. "I was so worried! Where's Logan?"
"He's injured, but he'll be alright," Magnus replied, showing Logan, still unconscious, in his arms. "We need to get him back to the castle immediately." Blake nodded, his eyes teary but relieved to see his friend was alive.
Magnus, with the help of one of the guards, carefully settled Logan onto one of the winged steeds, and Blake mounted another. With a final command to the soldiers, Magnus and Blake, accompanied by an escort, took flight, carrying Logan and themselves safely back to the castle, leaving behind the destroyed cave and the battlefield where a king's wrath had been spilled.
***
Rogan looked to the sky, following Magnus's flight path until he disappeared from view. He could feel the energy emanating from his son, even at that distance. Logan's awakening had changed everything. The world would never be the same.
"Prepare the army, Arthur," Rogan said, his voice heavy with a new urgency. "We have a war to win."
He clenched his fists, and the golden flames danced around him again, more intense than ever. Then, with a swift movement, he concentrated all the energy into his hands, creating a gigantic sphere of golden fire, the size of a grown man. He raised the sphere above his head, and it shone like a second sun, illuminating the entire cave and projecting a beam of golden light that cut through Sky Reaper's night sky, visible from every corner of the floating city. It was a signal, a warning, a promise.
"Let everyone know," said Rogan, his voice echoing through the cave and spreading across the sky, amplified by magic. "That the King's patience has ended. That a father's fury has been awakened. And that vengeance, will fall upon those who dared touch his family."
The King launched the golden fire sphere into the sky, and it rose like a cometa, crossing the floating city and disappearing over the horizon.
The message was sent. The war had begun. And the world would soon know the true wrath of Rogan Black.