SHK CH 603 (Patreon)

The sun slowly rose in the sky and everyone waited with a baited breath. The army of Wratharis had been pushed quite far and while the Capital was still not in sight,  it was only a question of time.


Many soldiers stood helpless and confused, not knowing what they should do and whether they should try fighting off the approaching Lustburg army or just wait and observe the incoming Lustburg army.


Should they fight? But then was it truly worth giving their life for the Tyrant Wolf? But then if they surrendered now and Lustburg lost or simply came to a agreement with Wratharis and retreated. Wouldn’t they be considered as traitor?


This was perhaps the hardest choice in their entire life, many soldier had to make and they knew that the choice they made now would decide their entire life. 


To say that this was nerve wracking would be an understatement.


The soldier of Lustburg who were marching had a different mindset. This was perhaps the most relaxing last battle they ever had to go through. They knew that even in the worst case, they would not have to fight. In fact, they had received express order to not even approach farther than a certain point and another order they received was to be ready for mass teleportation at any time and not even try to resist.


The soldiers understood what was happening. The battle that would happen soon was not a battle little soldier like them could participate in. This was a battle between ruler and only the highest power in Lustburg and Wratharis would join in. 


Expect for the recent battle where Lilith faced the necromancer who infiltrated Lustburg, and the world had not seen a fight at the King level for a decade now.


The latest fight being the coup d’etat orchestrated by Lupus against his brother. 


Still,  the soldiers knew that staying close would be suicide and they were more than happy to listen to those orders. 


***


The silence was oppressive and the two armies stood facing each other with a distance of approximately one kilometer separating them.


A distance that seemed large in appearance but could be crossed in but an instant by most soldiers. 


When the Sun finally reached a high point in the sky, a few people gulped as they looked up at the sky and were finally able to see him.


A young golden haired man with a tall stature,  wearing regal clothes entirely white and blue, with thread of gold depicting a Phoenix and a Snake.


He was sitting on a throne vastly different from the ice one they had witnessed seven day ago.


This throne seemed to have been molded and sculpted from rock. It was an intricate design full of majesty and elegance.


His eyes were close as if he was sleeping or simply had no interest in what was going on below him.


Even so, his mere presence was suffocating and all those who tried to look up directly at him for more than a few seconds would feel great discomfort, as if they were mere mortals trying to gaze at the sun for too long. 


The young man was not alone. Adding to his presence was a giant black Phoenix with feathers floating in the wind and looking like the incarnation of Death itself. 


A Phoenix had never been seen by any of the people here and its mere presence was more than enough for many of them to buckle under the combined pressure of those two monsters. 


They even wondered for an instant if they were not looking at the two kings but the aura those two showed was definitely that of a Duke rank.


This simple fact reminded them why the current prince of Lustburg was so frightening.


After all, under the regulations and war laws, since he was “only” a Duke. No particular limits were restricting him and he was free to cause as much chaos and destruction he wished on the battlefield. 


The numbers of monsters did not stop there.


Standing on the right of the prince on a throne made out of ice was none other than the second Blessed of Wratharis.  Setsuna Ira.


She was clad in the traditional armor of Wratharis and two sheathed swords could be seen on her laps. Her expression was quite melancholic as she caressed one of those swords but her bloodthirst was also palpable. 


All of them, even the youngest ones, knew the story of Setsuna Ira and they understood clearly that by the end of this day, Wratharis would most likely have one less Blessed.


On the left of the prince, was a purple haired young woman, Lilin Luxuria, the Sword Demons. Unlike Sol and Setsuna,  Lilin was not sitting on a throne. 


She was standing on a long and relatively thin sword. Her purple hair swaying and her body was covered by a thin skin-tight black suit and a red Qipio above.


She may be young but her prowess were undeniable and her power was frightening. 


Watching this small team of four, the only thought that graced everyone mind was that, as long as they didn't die, Lustburg would undoubtedly enter a new golden era.



***


As time passed more and more soldiers felt like hundreds of tons were weighing on their backs and that the only reason they did not outright kneel was more because of the Prince's leniency and his disinterest in humiliating them further. 


“It's time.”


All the pressure vanished and his soft voice covered immediately the distance and reached all their ears. 


Opening his eyes,  Sol Luxuria straightened up in his throne and looked at the horizon.


Immediately,  more than ten screens appeared all around them in the air. No one was surprised by this fact as this was not the first time this technology was used.


The soldiers on both side also stood straight and sported more serious expressions. 


“The Seven day ceasefire officially ended and we now enter the 8th day. I believe I have been extremely lenient and charitable. Don't you think so?”


No one answered and no one needed to answer for they knew that they were not the target of those words.


“I, Sol Dragona Luxuria, hereby declare on this auspicious day…. Surrender will be spared.  Resist will be exterminated. Make your choice very carefully. This will be the last mercy I give.”


It was hard to say to whom Sol was speaking but the answer soon became evident.


“I do not kneel! I do not beg!”


Awooooo!!!!


A long howl filled the sky, and dark cloud gathered alongside lightning sparkle and electricity. 


Light bloomed, lightning flashed,  Thunder grounded and he appeared. 


Clad in golden armor, holding one long spear in hand and entirely cloaked in lightning. 


Lupus Tiangou Ira. Tyrant, King, Usurper and Murderer. 


He was known by many monikers. One less flattering than the other.


But out of all those monikers, there was only one that he accepted readily. 


That of the Celestial Wolf who howl at the Heaven and devour the Sun.







(AN: Chapter was written on phone. I have no good place to sit with pc and write comfortably without killing my back. )