Volume 2 – Chapter 18
Steel met steel.
The first ghost knight swung a massive claymore toward Kael.
CLANG!
Kael blocked the strike with his shield, the impact forcing him back several steps.
“Strong…” he grunted.
“They don’t hold back!”
“They’re not supposed to!” Finn shouted as he ducked beneath a spear and slashed at another knight.
His daggers passed through the knight’s armor, leaving only a faint crack of light.
“…That’s unfair!”
“They’re spirits!” Mira replied, firing two arrows in quick succession.
The arrows shattered one knight into glowing fragments.
Another immediately took its place.
Raimer frowned.
“They’re endless…”
“No,” Alyra said, watching carefully.
“Look.”
The shattered knight slowly reformed.
“They’re testing us.”
More knights surrounded them.
There were too many.
Kael’s shield was covered in dents.
Finn’s breathing grew heavy.
Mira had already used most of her arrows.
Alyra’s mana was draining quickly.
Raimer looked around the battlefield.
There had to be an answer.
The First King wouldn’t create a trial that couldn’t be cleared.
His eyes fell upon the glowing throne at the center of the arena.
The light pulsed every few seconds.
Then he noticed something else.
Every time the squad drifted apart…
The knights became stronger.
Every time they fought side by side…
The knights slowed.
“It’s not a combat trial!” Raimer shouted.
“It’s a teamwork trial!”
The squad quickly regrouped.
“Back-to-back formation!” Raimer ordered.
Mira moved behind him.
Finn guarded the left.
Alyra the right.
Raimer stood at the center, directing everyone.
“Don’t chase them!”
“Protect each other!”
As soon as they did, something incredible happened.
The knights’ movements became sluggish.
Their attacks lost their precision.
Finn grinned.
“So they really hate teamwork.”
“Looks like it,” Kael replied.
Wave after wave crashed against them.
Whenever one of them stumbled, another stepped in.
When Mira’s quiver finally emptied, Finn tossed her one of his throwing knives.
“Try this!”
“I’ve never used a knife!”
“Today’s a good day to learn!”
She threw it anyway.
By pure luck, it struck a knight square in the forehead.
Finn blinked.
“…Remind me never to play darts against you.”
Even in the middle of battle, laughter echoed through the chamber.
Suddenly…
The glowing throne began to shine brilliantly.
All the ghost knights froze.
Then they lowered their weapons.
One by one, they knelt before Squad Seven.
A deep voice filled the arena.
“You have understood.”
The First King’s spirit appeared once more.
“Many warriors sought strength.”
“Many sought glory.”
“But only those who protect one another deserve to walk the path of kings.”
He extended his hand.
The ancient sword rose from the ground and floated before Raimer.
“I do not give you this blade.”
“I give your squad my blessing.”
The sword dissolved into five beams of golden light.
One entered each member of the squad.
A warm energy flowed through their bodies.
Kael’s shield gleamed as if newly forged.
Finn’s daggers shone with silver runes.
Alyra felt her mana recover.
Raimer’s sword emitted a faint golden aura.
“You have received the Mark of Unity,” the First King declared.
“So long as your hearts remain united, your strength will never truly falter.”
The light faded.
The five found themselves back inside the ancient throne room.
Everything was quiet again.
Finn looked at his daggers.
“…Did that actually happen?”
Kael punched his shoulder.
“You felt that too?”
“Ow!”
“So yes.”
Mira examined the glowing emblem that had appeared on the back of her hand.
“It wasn’t an illusion.”
Alyra smiled softly.
“We passed.”
As they prepared to leave the chamber, Raimer noticed a small stone pedestal hidden behind the throne.
On it rested an old leather-bound journal.
Its cover bore the royal crest.
When he opened the first page, his heart skipped a beat.
The handwriting…
Matched the letters from his grandfather’s dreams.
Before he could read another line—
The chamber shook violently.
A loud crack echoed through the ruins.
From somewhere deep below came a voice unlike anything they had ever heard.
Cold.
Ancient.
Filled with hatred.
“So…”
“…the heirs have returned.”
The torches extinguished all at once.
Darkness consumed the room.
And from the endless blackness ahead…
Two crimson eyes slowly opened.
End of Chapter 18