THE LAST BLOOD SOVEREIGN

CHAPTER 19: THE SKY QUEEN'S GENERAL

 

Every eye turned toward the heavens.

The woman walked through the air as though invisible stairs supported each step.

Silver-white armor covered her body, engraved with countless glowing runes. A long sapphire cloak flowed behind her, and a slender sword rested at her waist.

She looked no older than twenty-eight.

Yet the pressure she radiated surpassed everyone on the battlefield.

Even Lucien unconsciously took a step backward.

"General..." he whispered.

The woman stopped above the city square.

Her icy blue eyes slowly swept across the battlefield.

Burning buildings.

Wounded civilians.

The corpses of Abyss creatures.

Finally...

Her gaze settled on Kael.

For a brief moment, surprise flashed across her face.

"So..."

"The prophecy was true."

Kael frowned.

"You know who I am?"

She nodded.

"I know what you are."

Then she looked at Lucien.

Her expression instantly turned cold.

"Lucien Voss."

"You have violated the Treaty of Seven Crowns."

Lucien smiled bitterly.

"That treaty died eighteen years ago."

"No."

"It dies only when the last kingdom abandons it."

She slowly unsheathed her sword.

The blade shone like liquid moonlight.

The sky darkened around it.

"My name is General Selene Ardent."

"Commander of the Celestial Crown."

"I will give you one opportunity."

She pointed her sword toward Lucien.

"Surrender."

The Eclipse Commander laughed.

"You came alone."

Selene smiled.

"I never said I came alone."

At that instant...

Hundreds of rays of light descended from the floating fortress.

One after another, armored knights landed across the city.

Each wore silver armor with blue capes.

Each carried weapons glowing with holy energy.

The citizens stared in amazement.

"The Celestial Knights..."

"They're real..."

The city guards erupted in cheers.

Lucien's smile disappeared.

He counted quickly.

One hundred...

Two hundred...

Nearly three hundred elite knights.

He had expected reinforcements.

Not an army.

Selene calmly spoke.

"Protect the civilians."

The knights moved instantly.

Perfect discipline.

Within moments, defensive lines surrounded every street.

Healers rushed toward the wounded.

Shield bearers formed walls around fleeing families.

Kael watched in silence.

They moved with remarkable precision.

No panic.

No wasted motion.

Lucien sighed.

"So be it."

He raised his black sword high.

"Eclipse Legion!"

"Retreat!"

The masked warriors immediately disengaged.

Dark portals opened behind them.

They began withdrawing in perfect order.

Kael instinctively stepped forward.

"We can't let them escape!"

Selene extended one arm, stopping him.

"No."

Kael looked at her.

"They murdered innocent people."

"They'll return."

Selene nodded.

"Yes."

"But chasing a cornered wolf into the forest..."

"...is how hunters become prey."

Kael clenched his jaw.

He hated admitting it.

But she was right.

Lucien stepped backward toward the portal.

Before disappearing, he looked directly at Kael.

"We'll meet again."

"The Emperor is waiting."

He vanished into darkness.

The remaining Eclipse soldiers disappeared with him.

The battle...

Was over.

A loud cheer erupted across the city.

People embraced one another.

Children laughed through tears.

Some knelt in gratitude.

Others simply looked toward Kael.

Many had seen him risk his life to protect them.

An elderly woman approached him slowly.

She bowed deeply.

"Thank you..."

"If not for you..."

"My grandchildren would be dead."

More people gathered.

One after another, they offered their thanks.

Golden lights rose into the air once again.

This time...

There were hundreds of them.

They flowed into Kael like a gentle river.

His crimson armor dissolved, but the strength remained within him.

Selene observed quietly.

"So the ancient records were accurate."

"The people's faith truly strengthens the Blood Sovereign."

Kael turned toward her.

"Why are you helping me?"

Selene was silent for several moments.

Then she reached into her cloak.

She removed an old silver pendant.

At its center was the emblem of a crimson dragon.

Kael's eyes widened.

He had seen it before.

It was carved into the walls of the Eternal Blood Shrine.

"This belonged to my father," Selene said softly.

"He was one of the knights who escorted your mother from the palace the night it fell."

Kael's heart raced.

"You... knew my parents?"

"I was only a child."

"But my father made me promise something before he left."

She closed her hand around the pendant.

"If the Blood Sovereign's heir ever returned..."

"...I was to protect him."

Before Kael could respond...

A Celestial Knight landed hurriedly beside Selene.

He knelt.

"General!"

She turned.

"What is it?"

The knight's face was pale.

"Our scouts have returned."

"They've confirmed movement from the Imperial Capital."

Selene frowned.

"How many?"

The knight swallowed.

"The Emperor isn't sending another legion..."

"He is marching himself."

Silence fell.

Even Caelan's confident smile disappeared.

Elara gripped her bow tightly.

Kael looked toward the distant horizon.

Far beyond the mountains...

Dark storm clouds gathered unnaturally.

A pressure unlike anything he had ever felt spread across the land.

Selene slowly drew her moonlit sword once more.

Her voice was calm.

But for the first time...

It carried unmistakable concern.

"Everyone..."

"Prepare for war."

Far away, seated upon a throne of black iron, Emperor Malachar slowly opened his crimson eyes.

"The heir has revealed himself."

He stood, lifting a jet-black crown from beside his throne.

At his feet knelt thousands of soldiers.

Behind him...

An endless army waited.

"The hunt..."

"...is over."