The first beast reached Ira before he could take another breath. He twisted to the side as its claws swept past him, then drove his fist into its chest and sent it sliding across the ground.
Another creature immediately jumped over it, but Elara's light struck the beast in midair and knocked it away.
"Keep moving!" Elara shouted. Ira nodded and rushed forward, using the opening she created. More creatures surrounded them, forcing Ira to move quickly while Elara stayed close enough to protect his blind spots.
A wolf-like beast lunged from behind Ira. Before he could turn, Elara raised a glowing shield and blocked the attack. The force pushed her backward, and Ira caught her arm before she fell.
"Thanks," he said.
"Don't thank me yet," Elara replied.
"We still have a whole army to deal with."
Ira looked across the battlefield.
The creatures seemed endless, but something bothered him more than their numbers. General Kael was still standing in the distance, watching them without making a single move.
"He's waiting for something," Ira said.
Elara followed his gaze. "You're right. Why isn't he fighting?"
Before Ira could answer, Kael raised one hand.
Every creature suddenly stopped.
The silence was so sudden that Ira could hear his own breathing. The beasts slowly moved aside, creating a clear path between Ira and Kael.
Kael stepped forward with his huge axe resting against his shoulder. "You've shown enough strength to amuse me, but I haven't come here to waste time fighting children."
Ira's eyes narrowed. "Then why are you here?"
Kael pointed his axe toward the giant gate behind them. "Because what lies beyond that gate belongs to the Void Shade. You have entered its territory, and now you will either surrender your bond or die protecting it."
Elara stepped beside Ira. "He already gave you an answer."
Kael's eyes moved toward her. "And you must be the companion."
Elara's expression changed. "How do you know about me?"
Kael laughed quietly. "The Shade sees everything connected to the Bound Star. Your bond with him makes you useful, but it also makes you a weakness."
Ira's expression hardened. "Don't talk about her like she's some kind of tool."
The energy around him suddenly became stronger. Blue light spread across his arms, and the ground beneath his feet cracked slightly.
Kael finally looked interested.
"That anger..." he said. "Now I understand why the Shade fears you."
Ira froze.
"The Shade fears me?"
Kael smiled.
"You really know nothing, do you?"
Before Ira could question him, Kael slammed his axe into the ground. A wave of dark energy exploded across the battlefield, knocking both Ira and Elara backward.
Ira hit the ground and rolled several times before stopping. He quickly pushed himself up, but Elara had landed farther away.
"Elara!"
"I'm okay!" she shouted.
Kael was already moving.
He crossed the distance between them in seconds, his massive axe swinging toward Ira. Ira raised both arms and created a shield of energy just before the weapon struck.
The impact nearly drove him into the ground.
Ira gritted his teeth as his arms shook under the pressure. Kael was far stronger than every enemy he had fought before.
"You can't hold me back forever," Kael said.
Ira pushed against the axe. "I don't need forever."
A bright flash appeared behind Kael.
Elara.
She thrust both hands forward, releasing a powerful beam of light that struck Kael in the back. The general was forced away from Ira, sliding across the ground.
Ira immediately ran toward Elara.
"Good timing."
She breathed heavily.
"You owe me again."
"I'll keep count."
For a moment, they smiled at each other despite the danger surrounding them. Their bond pulsed warmly, and Ira suddenly felt something strange
inside his chest.
It wasn't just energy.
He could feel Elara's determination.
He could feel her trust.
And beneath it all, he could feel something deeper that he didn't know how to explain.
The mark on his hand suddenly changed.
A small silver line appeared around the blue symbol, forming a second circle.
Elara stared at her own hand. "Ira..."
"I see it."
Their bond released a powerful wave of energy.
The creatures surrounding them were pushed backward, while the blue flames around the ancient gate suddenly turned silver. Even Kael took a step back.
His smile disappeared.
"No..." he whispered.
Ira looked at him.
"What?"
Kael stared at the marks on their hands as if he had just witnessed something impossible.
"The second seal has awakened."
Elara frowned. "What does that mean?"
Kael's grip tightened around his axe.
"It means the Void Shade was wrong."
Ira's eyes narrowed. "About what?"
Kael looked directly at him.
"It believed you were only the heir of the Bound Star."
He paused.
"But you're something much worse."
The moment those words left his mouth, a terrible roar came from above.
Everyone looked toward the dark sky.
A massive shadow was descending through the clouds.
The creatures of the Shadow Legion immediately dropped to their knees.
Kael looked upward, and for the first time, fear appeared in his eyes.
Ira's heart began pounding.
Something enormous was coming.
Elara moved closer to him. "Ira, whatever that is..."
"I know."
The shadow broke through the clouds.
A gigantic black beast descended toward the floating kingdom, its wings covering the sky.
Its eyes burned with dark purple light, and the pressure from its presence alone made the ground tremble.
Kael lowered his head.
"Lord Veyron..."
Ira stared at the creature.
"That's not the Void Shade,
is it?"
Kael slowly shook his head.
"No."
The beast opened its mouth, and a deep voice echoed across the entire kingdom.
"Bearer of the Bound Star..."
Ira's blood ran cold.
"...you have finally returned."
The ancient gate behind them suddenly opened completely.
And somewhere deep inside Ira's mind, a forgotten voice whispered his name.