Chapter 209
Dust spiraled in the wind as the sun dipped behind the stone walls of the crumbling stronghold. The air reeked of blood, smoke, and something older—something darker.
Within the collapsing ruins of the hideout, a single masked warrior stood with a black blade in hand, gleaming with a crimson aura that shimmered like heat waves.
Kael's breathing was sharp and fast, sweat streaming down his temples, yet his grip on the sword remained steady. Across from him stood four figures—Verno, Jax, Marn, and Garro—each exuding an ominous presence that seemed to make the very walls tremble.
Kael had charged first.
Jax, the one-armed brute with a rusted ship hook in place of his forearm, had just smashed into a stone pillar and was rising from the dust when Kael struck. With a roar, Kael closed the gap, sword raised for a lethal slash—but before the blade could fall, wind howled around him.
BOOOOOM!
A shockwave burst from Jax's position. Sword slashes infused with aura and glowing punches surged from both sides. Kael's eyes widened as he twisted mid-air, narrowly evading a crushing blow from Marn's giant fist and a precise blade arc from Verno.
The attacks collided in the air, exploding like thunder. The force sent Kael crashing backward through the wall. Rubble followed, and within seconds, the entire side of the stronghold collapsed in a thunderous quake, sending dust clouds across the nearby slums. Townsfolk screamed and scattered. Chickens flapped into the sky. Stalls crumbled as the tremor spread.
The Four Fangs stood together now.
"You alright, Jax?" Marn asked, his voice like rolling stones.
"Just a scratch," Jax coughed, grinning as blood trickled down his lip. "Didn't expect the brat to be this quick."
Verno's sharp eyes scanned the settling debris. "He's strong… but let's see how long that lasts."