Chapter 22: The Arrow of Destiny

The battlefield held its breath.

Lyra stood at the center of the ruined valley, her silver hair dancing in the wind as moonlight gathered around her.

The radiant Moon Bow glowed in her hands.

Its string shimmered with pure lunar energy, while the single silver arrow pulsed with immense power.

Everyone stared in disbelief.

Lucien slowly lowered his greatsword.

“It really exists…”

Arnold smiled despite the blood running down his face.

“The Royal Weapon of Lunaris.”

Karl couldn’t take his eyes off Lyra.

She no longer looked like the frightened servant girl who had stood before the Alpha’s throne weeks ago.

She looked…

Like a queen.

Above them, the Blood Gate trembled.

The enormous crimson eyes beyond it narrowed.

The ancient creature growled.

“She has awakened…”

Its voice shook the heavens.

“Destroy the heir before she seals the Gate!”

Malrik smiled confidently.

“You’re too late.”

He stretched both arms toward the Blood Gate.

Dark crimson energy poured into his body.

His muscles expanded.

Black armor grew over his skin like living scales.

A long crimson tail emerged behind him.

His once-human appearance was disappearing.

Victor stared in horror.

“My Lord…”

Malrik laughed.

“This is only the beginning.”

Without warning…

Malrik lunged toward Lyra.

He moved faster than ever before.

Karl shifted into his wolf and intercepted him.

BOOM!

Their collision sent both of them crashing through dozens of trees.

Arnold rushed to help.

Lucien followed.

The three warriors surrounded Malrik once more.

“You won’t reach her,” Karl growled.

Malrik looked at each of them and smiled.

“You still don’t understand.”

“My target isn’t the girl.”

He snapped his fingers.

Victor’s eyes widened with realization.

“Now!”

Hidden Blood Hunters emerged from the forest behind Lyra.

There weren’t dozens.

There weren’t hundreds.

Only three.

Each carried enormous black crossbows carved with ancient runes.

Lucien’s face turned pale.

“No…”

“Shadow Piercers.”

Arnold spun around.

“They’re aiming at Lyra!”

Everything seemed to slow.

The hunters fired.

Three black bolts shot through the air.

Karl tried to reach Lyra.

Too far.

Arnold sprinted with impossible speed.

Still too far.

Lucien threw his greatsword.

Not fast enough.

Lyra instinctively turned.

She saw the bolts racing toward her heart.

She closed her eyes.

“I trust you…”

She whispered to the Moon Goddess.

At that exact moment…

The silver arrow in her bow released itself.

She hadn’t fired it.

The bow had chosen.

The arrow exploded into thousands of silver feathers.

They formed a brilliant shield around Lyra.

BOOM!

The black bolts shattered against the barrier.

A blinding wave of moonlight swept across the battlefield.

The corrupted Blood Hunters screamed.

The Blood Puppets collapsed into lifeless dust.

Even the crimson eclipse flickered.

Malrik’s smile vanished.

“No…”

“My army!”

His voice echoed with disbelief.

Years of preparation…

Destroyed in seconds.

Lyra slowly opened her eyes.

The silver feathers circled around her like glowing birds before disappearing into the sky.

She looked down at the Moon Bow.

Only then did she realize…

The arrow was gone.

Forever.

Lucien slowly approached her.

“You’ve used the First Blessing.”

Lyra looked at him.

“The first?”

He nodded.

“The Moon Bow grants only three divine arrows.”

“Each can only be used once.”

Karl frowned.

“So she has…”

“Two left.”

Lucien’s expression remained serious.

“And each one demands a greater sacrifice than the last.”

Suddenly…

The Blood Gate began shaking violently.

Cracks spread across its surface.

Instead of opening wider…

It was beginning to close.

The enormous creature roared with fury.

“No!”

“The seal strengthens!”

Malrik looked upward in panic.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen!”

The ancient voice thundered again.

“Fool…”

“You promised my freedom.”

Malrik dropped to one knee.

“My Master!”

“Please!”

“I can still open the Gate!”

The creature’s glowing eyes burned brighter.

“Failure…”

”…has consequences.”

Dark crimson chains burst from the Blood Gate.

They wrapped around Malrik’s arms, chest, and neck.

He screamed as the chains tightened.

Victor fell to his knees.

“My Lord!”

“No!”

The chains began draining Malrik’s Blood Magic.

His monstrous armor cracked.

His horns shrank.

His power was being consumed.

Lucien stared in silence.

“The beast…”

“It devours its own servants.”

As the chains dragged Malrik toward the Blood Gate, he turned his furious gaze toward Lyra.

His voice was weak…

But filled with hatred.

“You think you’ve won?”

He laughed bitterly.

“You’ve only delayed…”

“Him.”

Lyra frowned.

“Him?”

Malrik smiled one last time.

“The true enemy…”

“…hasn’t even awakened yet.”

The chains yanked him into the Blood Gate.

His scream echoed across the heavens before vanishing.

Then…

The Gate slammed shut.

The crimson eclipse faded.

Golden sunlight poured over Moonhaven once again.

The battle was over.

Silence filled the valley.

One by one, exhausted warriors lowered their weapons.

Villagers embraced one another, crying with relief.

Karl looked at Lyra with admiration.

Arnold smiled proudly.

Lucien, however, remained staring at the sky.

His expression was troubled.

Lyra walked over to him.

“It’s over…”

she said softly.

Lucien slowly shook his head.

“No.”

He pointed toward the place where the Blood Gate had disappeared.

“The Gate closed…”

“But before it did…”

“I felt another presence.”

His blue eyes darkened.

“And it was far stronger than Malrik.”

Far away…

In the frozen mountains beyond the Northern Wastes…

A pair of ancient golden eyes slowly opened inside a palace buried beneath ice.

A deep voice echoed through the darkness.

“So…”

“The Princess lives.”

A faint smile appeared on unseen lips.

“Then let the final game begin.”