THE PRICE OF VICTORY

Chapter 45

The Price of Victory

The black sphere descended like the end of the world.

Its shadow swallowed the battlefield.

Mountains disappeared beneath it.

The air burned.

Every warrior stared upward in terror.

"We can't stop that!" someone cried.

General Kael raised his shield anyway.

"Protect the Queen!"

The soldiers formed ranks despite knowing it was hopeless.

Aria gripped the Moon Crown with trembling hands.

"If that attack reaches us..."

"There won't be a kingdom left."

---

The Grand Sage slammed the crystal staff into the ground.

A brilliant circle of ancient runes spread beneath everyone's feet.

"Stand inside the barrier!"

Silver pillars of light shot into the sky, forming a shimmering dome over the army.

A heartbeat later—

BOOM!

The sphere collided with the barrier.

The world exploded.

The valley vanished beneath blinding light.

The shockwave flattened forests for miles, shattered distant peaks, and split rivers from their banks.

Inside the barrier, everyone was thrown to the ground.

Cracks raced across the dome.

The Grand Sage gritted his teeth.

"Just... a little... longer..."

With one final roar, the barrier burst apart.

The black sphere dissolved into smoke.

The army had survived.

But barely.

The Grand Sage collapsed to one knee, coughing blood.

"I can only protect you once."

---

Varkor laughed, the sound echoing across the ruined valley.

"Impressive."

"It has been centuries since anyone survived that attack."

The monster's four crimson eyes narrowed.

"But your hope is fading."

---

The High Chancellor stepped forward.

"You promised to tell them."

"The price."

The Grand Sage closed his eyes.

"I know."

He turned to Ethan, Aria, and the First Prince.

"There is only one weapon capable of destroying Varkor."

He pointed toward the Fang of Kings.

"It is not your sword."

Everyone looked confused.

"The true weapon..."

"...is the bond between the Moon Queen and the Blood Heir."

Aria frowned.

"What does that mean?"

The old man sighed.

"Long ago, the Moon Goddess and the Wolf God forged a sacred power."

"It could only be awakened by two souls bound by genuine love."

Ethan instinctively reached for Aria's hand.

The Grand Sage nodded.

"You already possess the key."

"But awakening that power demands a sacrifice."

Silence filled the valley.

"What sacrifice?" Ethan asked.

The old man's voice became heavy.

"The ritual consumes the life force of one who performs it."

"It cannot be undone."

"If the ritual succeeds..."

"Varkor will die."

"But one of you..."

"...will disappear forever."

---

The words struck harder than any blade.

Aria slowly let go of Ethan's hand.

"So the prophecy..."

The Grand Sage nodded.

"It was misunderstood."

"It never demanded that one of you kill the other."

"It foretold that one heart would willingly give everything to save the world."

Queen Selene covered her mouth, tears filling her eyes.

"No..."

"There has to be another way."

"There isn't."

---

A painful silence settled over the battlefield.

Then...

"I'll do it."

Everyone turned.

It was Ethan.

He smiled gently at Aria.

"You still have a kingdom to protect."

"You'll make a wonderful queen."

Aria's eyes widened.

"No."

She grabbed his armor.

"No, Ethan!"

"I won't let you decide that alone!"

He cupped her face.

"I promised to protect you."

"And I always keep my promises."

Tears streamed down Aria's cheeks.

"I don't want a world without you."

Their foreheads touched as the battle around them seemed to disappear.

---

A slow clap echoed through the valley.

The High Chancellor smiled.

"How touching."

"But you're all too late."

He stretched both arms toward the Black Gate.

Dark energy poured from the earth into Varkor's body.

The monster began to grow even larger.

Its wounds vanished.

Its bone crown transformed into a crown of living black fire.

The Grand Sage's expression changed instantly.

"No..."

"He's completing the Void Ascension."

"If it finishes..."

"Not even the sacred ritual will be enough."

Suddenly, the First Prince stepped between Ethan and Varkor.

He lifted his cracked crimson sword.

"I spent twenty-three years trying to destroy my family."

He looked back at Ethan and managed a faint smile.

"Let me spend the next few minutes protecting it."

Before anyone could stop him, crimson flames erupted around his body.

His royal blood ignited, consuming his life force.

Queen Selene screamed.

"No!"

The Grand Sage stared in horror.

"He's using the Forbidden Blood Flame..."

"That power burns the user's life away."

The First Prince never looked back.

"If this is the price for my mistakes..."

"I'll pay it gladly."

With a roar that shook the heavens, he charged alone toward Varkor.

As he leaped into the air, his body became a blazing crimson comet.

Varkor looked up and, for the first time since awakening...

Its smile faded.