THE LAST BLOOD SOVEREIGN

CHAPTER 31: THE SIEGE OF SKYHAVEN

The giant's voice echoed across the floating kingdom.

"Deliver the Last Blood Sovereign..."

"...or Skyhaven falls."

Silence followed.

Then Marshal Orion stepped onto the highest battlement.

His white cloak billowed in the wind.

He looked down upon the invading army without the slightest hint of fear.

"The Celestial Kingdom has protected the innocent for over two thousand years."

He raised his staff toward the heavens.

"We do not bargain with monsters."

The giant slowly nodded.

"So be it."

He lifted both obsidian axes.

"Destroy everything."

A deafening horn sounded.

Thousands of Abyss creatures surged forward.

Winged demons crashed against the fortress walls while enormous flying beasts spat black flames into the city below.

The battle for Skyhaven had begun.

Selene drew her moonlit sword.

"All Celestial Knights!"

"Defensive formations!"

Like a single living organism, the knights moved into position.

Shield-bearers formed the front line.

Archers climbed the towers.

Mages spread throughout the city, weaving barriers around civilians.

Caelan twirled his golden spear and grinned.

"Looks like we're earning our dinner."

Elara rolled her shoulders, drawing three arrows at once.

"Try not to get yourself killed."

"No promises."

She smiled despite herself.

Kael looked across the battlefield.

There were too many enemies.

If they fought one by one...

Skyhaven would fall.

His crimson mark pulsed.

Arkan's final gift echoed within him.

Guardian's Dominion.

Kael stepped to the edge of the tower.

He closed his eyes.

"I hope I'm doing this right."

He raised both the Blood Sovereign Blade and Dawnbreaker.

Crimson light spread from beneath his feet.

The air trembled.

The clouds turned scarlet.

Then Kael spoke.

"Guardian's Dominion."

For one heartbeat...

Nothing happened.

Then—

A massive crimson barrier exploded outward from Kael.

It swept across every tower...

Every bridge...

Every home...

Until the entire floating kingdom was enclosed within a glowing crimson dome.

The first wave of Abyss fire struck it.

Instead of shattering...

The flames dissolved into harmless sparks.

The Celestial Knights stared in astonishment.

"He protected the whole city..."

"How is that possible?"

Selene smiled.

"Arkan..."

"Your legacy lives on."

Kael dropped to one knee.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

The barrier was enormous.

Maintaining it consumed his strength every second.

"I... can't hold it forever."

"You won't have to."

Prince Kaelor stepped beside him.

He placed a hand on Kael's shoulder.

Golden light flowed from his body into the barrier.

"I'll share the burden."

One by one...

Selene.

Caelan.

Elara.

Even dozens of Celestial mages joined them.

The barrier stabilised.

For the first time, Kael realised what true leadership meant.

His strength alone was never enough.

But united...

They could achieve miracles.

Outside the barrier, the Abyss giant frowned.

"So..."

"You inherited the Guardian's Dominion."

He slammed both axes into the clouds beneath his feet.

The skies cracked apart.

A colossal black portal opened behind him.

Something enormous stirred inside.

A claw.

Then another.

A dragon's head slowly emerged.

Its scales were black as midnight.

Its eyes burned like molten crimson.

Its wings stretched wider than Skyhaven itself.

Every knight on the walls froze.

Orion whispered,

"The Abyss Dragon..."

"I thought they were extinct."

The giant smiled.

"Our king has many gifts."

The dragon inhaled deeply.

Dark energy gathered inside its throat.

Kael's instincts screamed.

"If that attack hits the barrier..."

"It won't survive."

Without hesitation, he leapt into the sky.

"Kael!" Selene cried.

He ignored her.

The wind roared around him as crimson wings of energy unfolded behind his back.

The Blood Sovereign Blade and Dawnbreaker crossed before him.

The dragon released its breath.

A torrent of black fire rushed toward Skyhaven.

Kael met it head-on.

The collision lit the heavens.

For a moment, the world disappeared in light.

Then, through the blazing inferno, a calm voice echoed.

"You've grown stronger."

Kael looked up.

Standing on the dragon's head was a lone figure dressed in flowing white robes.

His face was hidden beneath a silver mask.

Yet his presence silenced both armies.

The Abyss giant immediately knelt.

"My Lord."

The masked man did not answer.

He looked only at Kael.

Then he spoke a single sentence.

"The Fourth Sovereign asked me to deliver a message."

Kael's eyes widened.

"The Fourth Sovereign?"

The masked stranger nodded.

"He says..."

"...you are already too late."

Far away...

Beyond endless dunes...

The Desert of Echoes shook violently.

An ancient crimson tower collapsed into the sand.

And deep beneath the ruins...

A pair of weary eyes slowly closed forever.

The Fourth Sovereign had waited for centuries.

But his time...

Had finally run out.