*Valtara had not opened its gates in three days.*
Hundreds of Abyss Wolves surrounded the city, red eyes glowing through the dark.
Inside the Thunder Barrier, warriors could only watch.
Outside, one boy stood alone.
Ryuzen.
Clothes torn, blood on his arms, breathing like fire — but still standing.
The Alpha stepped forward and howled.
“AWOOOOOO!”
The pack answered and charged.
“Come,” Ryuzen whispered.
*BOOM!*
He shot into the sky.
Thunder exploded under his feet, becoming his wings.
The first wolf leapt.
Ryuzen twisted — its claws missed by inches.
Another came from above.
“Above you!” Kaelion screamed from behind the barrier.
Ryuzen didn’t look.
He flicked his whip — WHAP!
— wrapped its leg and pulled himself onto its back, then kicked off.
He was not fighting on the ground anymore.
On the ground they would surround him.
In the air, he was untouchable.
His whip changed direction.
His sword cut.
His thunder moved him.
Inside Valtara, a general muttered, “He isn’t wasting movement. He’s using their size against them.”
Kaelion couldn’t stop shouting.
“LEFT! BEHIND! DUCK!”
Ryuzen listened.
He had to.
By nightfall, blue flashes were the only light.
A wolf finally landed a hit — BOOM!
— Ryuzen crashed into the dirt and didn’t move.
Lyra ran to the barrier.
“Ryuzen…”
Then the Life Contract sword glowed. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
SHING!
Blue light sealed his wounds.
Energy rushed back.
Ryuzen stood, grinning at his sword.
“You really don’t let me rest.”
He raised his whip.
“Let’s continue.”
*DAY TWO.*
Warriors were exhausted just watching.
Some slept against the walls.
Ryuzen hadn’t slept.
The wolves learned.
They attacked from four sides at once, trying to trap him.
Ryuzen saw it.
He shot his whip into a tree, WHAP!
— yanked himself behind them and smashed his fist into one skull.
Kaelion laughed, “Nice!”
Jarek held his shield, “Don’t get distracted.”
Lyra hadn’t looked away once.
Her hands were clenched.
Tears already in her eyes.
*DAY THREE.*
The city was silent.
Even the generals couldn’t stand.
Ryuzen stood in the middle of the pack, clothes almost gone, body covered in wounds.
But his eyes were still sharp.
He raised his sword and slammed it into the ground.
“Thunder Wave!”
BOOOOOOM!
Blue thunder spread and knocked back seven wolves at once.
Far away, in the deep forest, Eldran had found him.
A man covered in dark energy smiled.
“So the old wizard found me.”
Eldran raised his staff.
“I only need to stop you from controlling them.”
Light exploded between them.
Back in Valtara —
The wolves froze.
One by one, the red in their eyes faded.
The Alpha looked to the forest, then turned and ran.
The entire pack followed.
Ryuzen lowered his sword, confused.
“What…”
Then he felt him.
Eldran walking from the trees, robe torn.
“Did you find him?” Ryuzen asked.
“I stopped him,” Eldran said.
Ryuzen nodded and raised his hand.
The Thunder Barrier that had protected Valtara for three days cracked — KRAK!
KRAK!
— and vanished.
The gates were open.
“RYUZEN!”
Lyra ran.
Faster than any warrior.
She threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest, tears rolling.
“You idiot… you scared me so much.”
Ryuzen froze, then slowly hugged her back.
“I’m okay.”
Behind them, Kaelion stared with his mouth open.
“What a lucky guy.”
Jarek lifted his iron shield — THUD!
— and covered Kaelion’s face.
“Don’t watch. You’re jealous.”
“I’M THE PRINCE OF VALTARA!”
“And right now you’re the prince who needs to stop staring.”
Ryuzen heard them and laughed.
For the first time in three days, there was peace.