Published at 17th of September 2024 6:26 pm

Chapter 99 The Queen’s Path: 7 Shadows of Destruction

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The ground trembled beneath Sāra's feet as her group neared the southern outskirts. The faint glow of Mukade’s chakra loomed on the horizon, an ominous signal of the power he had regained. Dust swirled in the air, and the wind carried the acrid scent of destruction. The outpost where they had stationed their forces was already under attack, and even from this distance, Sāra could see fires blazing in the distance.

“Faster!” Ryū called out, urgency lacing his voice. His hand never left the hilt of his sword as they sprinted through the crumbling ruins of the outer city.

Sāra’s heart pounded in her chest, not just from the exertion but from the fear of what lay ahead. Mukade had returned, stronger than ever. She had expected this confrontation, but not so soon. Not before they had fully prepared.

Beside her, Hana moved swiftly, her face set in grim determination. The group had split up, some of them heading to secure the remaining seals around the Ryuumyaku while others, like Hana, were preparing to fight Mukade head-on. Despite the chaos swirling in the desert, their plan was clear: stop Mukade before he could get anywhere near the Ryuumyaku.

As they crested a ridge, the full scope of the battle came into view. The outpost was in shambles. Soldiers, many of them former residents of Rōran who had sworn to protect what remained of their home, were locked in fierce combat with Mukade’s forces. But the odds were clearly against them. Mukade’s army, composed of mechanical puppets powered by his twisted chakra, moved with terrifying precision and lethality, cutting through the defenders with ruthless efficiency.

Sāra’s eyes narrowed as she searched the battlefield for Mukade himself. It didn’t take long to spot him.

He stood atop a ruined structure, his silhouette sharp against the flickering light of the fires. His cloak billowed in the wind, and even from this distance, Sāra could feel the overwhelming aura of his chakra, dark and oppressive. His eyes gleamed with cruel satisfaction as he watched the chaos unfold below him.

“There he is,” Ryū muttered, his voice tight with anger.

Sāra clenched her fists, feeling the pendant around her neck grow heavy with the weight of the Ryuumyaku’s dormant power. “We have to stop him before he gets any closer to the city.”

Ryū nodded, his gaze hardening. “Hana, take your group and flank his forces. I’ll go for Mukade directly.”

Hana shot him a sharp look. “You’ll be outnumbered.”

“I’ll manage,” Ryū replied, his voice laced with quiet confidence. “Just keep those puppets off me.”

Sāra felt a surge of anxiety at the thought of Ryū going after Mukade alone. “I’m coming with you,” she said firmly.

Ryū looked at her, concern flickering across his face. “Sāra, you need to—”

“I’m not staying behind,” Sāra interrupted, her voice steady. “Mukade is my responsibility. I won’t let him destroy Rōran again.”

Ryū hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Let’s end this.”

Together, they descended into the chaos of battle. The air was thick with the sounds of clashing metal and cries of pain, but Sāra’s focus was singular—Mukade. She could feel his eyes on them as they approached, as if he had been expecting them all along.

As they neared the base of the structure where Mukade stood, his lips curled into a sinister smile. “Ah, Princess Sāra,” he called out, his voice cutting through the din of battle like a blade. “I was wondering when you’d show up. Come to witness the rebirth of your kingdom?”

Sāra glared up at him, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and fury. “This isn’t your kingdom, Mukade,” she spat. “Rōran will never belong to you.”

Mukade chuckled darkly. “Such defiance. But it’s too late, Sāra. The Ryuumyaku’s power is mine. Your feeble attempts to seal it away were meaningless. Soon, I’ll break the final barrier, and Rōran will rise again—under my control.”

Ryū stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the light of the fires. “We’re not letting that happen.”

Mukade’s eyes flicked toward Ryū, and his smile widened. “Ah, the loyal protector. You think you can stand against me? You’re nothing compared to the power I wield.”

Without another word, Mukade raised his hand, and the ground beneath them began to shake violently. Dark tendrils of chakra erupted from the earth, snaking toward them with terrifying speed. Ryū moved instantly, his sword flashing as he slashed through the tendrils, cutting them down before they could reach Sāra.

But more followed, surging up from the ground like living shadows. Ryū and Sāra moved together, dodging and parrying the attacks, but it was clear Mukade’s power had grown significantly. His control over the Ryuumyaku’s energy was stronger, more refined than before.

“We can’t keep this up forever!” Ryū shouted, cutting through another wave of chakra.

Sāra knew he was right. Mukade’s power was overwhelming, and they were already outnumbered. She had to find a way to stop him, to break his connection to the Ryuumyaku once and for all.

Then it hit her. The pendant.

Sāra’s hand instinctively went to the pendant around her neck. The ancient relic, passed down through generations of Rōran’s royal family, was the key to controlling the Ryuumyaku’s energy. It had allowed her to seal it before, but perhaps—just perhaps—it could also be used to sever Mukade’s connection to the power.

“Ryū!” she called out, her mind racing. “I have an idea, but I need time!”

Ryū glanced at her, his eyes narrowing as he realized what she was planning. “Do what you have to. I’ll keep him busy.”

With a swift nod, Sāra took a step back, retreating to a safer distance. She closed her eyes, focusing on the pendant and the energy swirling within it. She could feel the pulse of the Ryuumyaku, faint but powerful, waiting to be called upon.

She had done this before—sealed the energy, contained its destructive potential. But now she needed to do the opposite. She needed to redirect the flow of power, to cut Mukade off from the source before he could break through the final seals.

As Sāra concentrated, Mukade’s laughter echoed across the battlefield. “What’s this? Do you think you can stop me with that trinket, Princess? You’re a fool if you believe you can control the Ryuumyaku better than I!”

But Sāra ignored him, her focus unshaken. She could feel the energy building, the ancient power of the Ryuumyaku responding to her call. It was vast, chaotic, and overwhelming, but she had been connected to it her entire life. She knew its rhythms, its pulse.

Just a little more…

Ryū, meanwhile, was locked in combat with Mukade, their blades clashing in a furious exchange of strikes. Mukade’s chakra-infused attacks were relentless, but Ryū fought with every ounce of his strength, his determination unwavering. He knew what was at stake—Sāra needed time, and he would buy it for her, no matter the cost.

“Your efforts are in vain!” Mukade snarled as he unleashed a blast of dark energy, forcing Ryū back. “You can’t defeat me. The Ryuumyaku is mine!”

But Ryū didn’t falter. He gritted his teeth and charged forward again, his sword slashing through Mukade’s defenses. “You won’t win, Mukade. Not today.”

At that moment, Sāra felt the final piece of the puzzle click into place. The energy surged through her, and she opened her eyes, her hand glowing with the power of the pendant.

“Now!” she shouted, raising her hand toward Mukade.

A brilliant light shot from the pendant, a beam of pure energy aimed directly at Mukade. He barely had time to react before the beam struck him, engulfing him in a blinding light. His scream of rage echoed across the battlefield as the connection between him and the Ryuumyaku was severed.

For a brief, terrifying moment, the entire world seemed to hold its breath. The ground stopped shaking, and the dark tendrils of chakra vanished into thin air. The oppressive weight of Mukade’s power lifted, leaving only silence in its wake.

When the light faded, Mukade was on his knees, gasping for breath. His cloak was in tatters, his body trembling with the strain of the battle. But his eyes still burned with fury.

“This isn’t over,” he snarled, his voice filled with venom. “I will rise again, and when I do, I will—”

But before he could finish, Ryū was upon him. With one swift, decisive strike, Ryū’s blade cut through Mukade’s defenses, driving deep into his chest. Mukade’s eyes widened in shock, his breath catching as the final blow was delivered.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then Mukade crumpled to the ground, his body motionless.

Sāra let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, her heart still racing. It was over. Mukade was defeated.

But as she looked down at the pendant in her hand, still glowing faintly with the energy of the Ryuumyaku, she knew their fight wasn’t truly finished. The final seals still needed to be dealt with, and the Ryuumyaku’s power remained a threat.

The battle may have been won, but the war to protect Rōran’s future was far from over.

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