The bells of Asteria rang across the capital.
Once.
Twice.
Then without stopping.
Every citizen recognised the sound.
The Royal Palace was under attack.
Lyra burst from the Royal Beast Sanctuary with Umbra at her side.
Captain Rowan rode toward her on horseback.
"The palace!"
"The King's Guard is losing ground!"
Pyron and Nereus exchanged grave looks.
"So Malakar was only a distraction."
The Codex opened.
Emergency Mission
Primary Objective:
Protect King Aldric of Asteria.
Enemy:
Lord Kael
Success Reward:
Unknown.
Failure:
Collapse of Asteria.
Without another word, the group raced through the capital.
Citizens hurried into shelters.
Royal Guards fought masked cultists in the streets.
Flames spread from rooftop to rooftop.
Yet something felt... wrong.
The cultists ignored civilians.
Their only destination was the palace.
"They don't want conquest," Lyra realised.
"They want something inside."
At the palace gates, dozens of elite guards lay unconscious.
Standing before the shattered entrance was a lone warrior clad in black armour trimmed with crimson.
A long scar crossed his face.
His crimson sword rested on his shoulder.
He looked at Lyra calmly.
"So."
"The Beast Sovereign has arrived."
The Codex glowed intensely.
Enemy Analysis
Lord Kael
Title:
Crimson Blade
Former Title:
Royal Beast Knight
Status:
Leader of the Cult of the Empty Heart
Threat Level:
Extreme
Captain Rowan's face turned pale.
"It can't be..."
"You died fifteen years ago."
Kael smiled faintly.
"No."
"I was abandoned."
Before anyone could react, Kael disappeared.
A crimson flash streaked through the battlefield.
CLANG!
Umbra barely intercepted the strike.
The impact hurled the great Shadow Wolf backwards across the palace courtyard.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"So fast..."
Pyron stepped forward, flames erupting around him.
"I'll handle Kael."
Kael simply shook his head.
"No."
"My opponent..."
He pointed his sword at Lyra.
"...is her."
The Guardian of Flame frowned.
"He wants to test you."
Nereus whispered,
"Or break her."
Kael slowly lowered his sword.
"I was once like you."
"I believed beasts and humans could stand together."
His expression darkened.
"Until the kingdom sacrificed my companions to awaken an ancient relic."
For the first time...
The Codex hesitated.
Its pages turned by themselves.
Historical Record
Searching...
Searching...
Record Found.
Project:
Crimson Fang
Status:
Classified.
Lyra looked at Captain Rowan.
His face was filled with guilt.
"It's true..."
"The previous king ordered it."
"Hundreds of royal beasts..."
"...were sacrificed."
Silence fell across the courtyard.
Kael closed his eyes.
"I begged them to stop."
"They called it necessary."
"When my partner died protecting me..."
"So did my faith."
Lyra slowly lowered her whistle.
"You have every reason to hate what happened."
Kael opened his eyes.
"But hatred built this kingdom."
"And now it will destroy it."
He raised his crimson sword.
"Show me."
"Can your compassion save those who no longer deserve it?"
The palace doors burst open behind him.
A terrified young boy stumbled into the courtyard.
The crown prince.
Behind him emerged three elite cult assassins.
Kael did not move.
Instead, he watched Lyra.
One path led toward him.
The other led toward the prince.
She had only moments to choose.
The Codex flashed urgently.
Decision
Face the Crimson Blade...
Or save the future king.
The fate of Asteria would be decided by Lyra's next choice.