The first light of dawn broke over Kragnir, the sun casting a golden hue across the mountain kingdom. The sky, once heavy with clouds, was now streaked with vibrant shades of pink and orange.
While a team of Garuda warriors patrolling the surrounding territories around the Kingdom of Kragnir scanned the horizon with their keen eyes, the serenity of the morning shattered as the Garudas warriors spotted a massive movement on the ground below.
Their heart raced as they realized what they were seeing—an army of Nagas, over ten thousand naga warriors, slithering with deadly intent towards Kragnir. At their head was Veridian, the Naga King, his golden armor gleaming in the early light, his crimson tail cutting through the earth with a menacing rhythm. In his hands, he held the Eye of Naga, glowing with a malevolent light that pulsed in sync with the army's advance.
Without hesitation, the Garuda warriors dove back toward the palace, their wings beating furiously through the cool morning air. Their urgency clear in every beat of their wings as the leader of the patrol went ahead.
As she descended from the skies, her heart pounding with urgency, her feet touched down on the observation platform, she folded her emerald wings swiftly, her usually steady breath now coming in quick gasps. The other guards stationed at the platform turned to her, sensing the alarm in her posture.
"What's wrong Nyraea?" one of the guards, a tall Garuda with a scar across his cheek, asked, stepping forward.
"There's no time," she panted, her eyes wide with the gravity of what she had seen. "The Nagas—an army—over ten thousand strong—they're coming."
The guards exchanged startled glances, their expressions shifting from confusion to alarm. "Are you certain?" another guard pressed, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword.
"Veridian himself leads them," she continued, her voice urgent. "And he's carrying the Eye of Naga. I have to inform the king—now!" Without waiting for a response, she rushed past them, her wings tucked tightly against her back as she made her way to the palace doors. The guards, now fully alert, immediately began relaying the message, the weight of the impending threat settling heavily over them.
Within moments, the leader of the patrol—Nyraea, burst into the council chamber, where King Eothis, Kael, Zym, Melinoe, Zola, and Mieza were deep in discussion.
"Sire!" the warrior gasped, her breath coming in sharp bursts. "The Nagas—they're coming. Thousands of them. Veridian is leading them, and he is using the Eye of Naga!"
The room fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in. King Eothis rose, his face a mask of calm determination, but there was no mistaking the tension in his eyes. "So it begins," he murmured, glancing at the others. "It seems Veridian has not heeded our message. He badly wants this war. Despite our efforts to prevent it, Instead...he chose to attack my Kingdom. It appears we will have a war after all."
Melinoe's eyes narrowed as she heard the Garuda warrior's report. The tension in the room thickened as she rose from her seat, her voice cold and controlled. "Veridian dares to bring war to Kragnir? And with my sacred Eye of Naga in his grasp?" Her eyes reflected the rage beneath her, betraying the anger she struggled to keep in check. "He's more foolish than I thought." She glanced at King Eothis, her expression hardening. "We must prepare, Your Majesty. Veridian has crossed a line. If he thinks he can wield the Eye and bend it to his will, he's sorely mistaken."
Kael stood, his expression stoic and calm as he processed the news and then he looked at King Eothis and spoke, his voice calm. "Your majesty, your army is prepared, but this battle must be avoided," he said, his voice low but firm. "I'll go out to meet them before they reach Kragnir. This is something I must do alone. I know you want to do your best to avoid having a war with the nagas and they keep testing your limits, but let me end this once and for all. I've fought gods and triumphed. I'll handle this."
Mieza's eyes widened with worry. "Kael, you can't—"
He turned to her, his gaze softening just slightly. "Mieza... trust me. I need you, Zym, and Zola to stay here and protect Kragnir—and especially Melinoe. If Veridian is bringing the Eye, he may have other plans besides attacking that we do not know about. You must be ready. If he's aware that Melinoe is alive, he will try to kill her."
Zola, though usually light-hearted, was solemn as she spoke. "Kael, we can fight together. You don't have to do this alone."
Zym clenched his fists, his calm demeanor giving way to a visible frustration. "We've come too far to let that madman undo everything," he growled, his voice edged with anger. "Kael was right about neutralizing their weaponry, but now this? We'll need to stop him, but Kael shouldn't face this alone."
He turned to Kael, his gaze intense. "We need to back you up. Veridian isn't just any foe. You can't fight an entire army of ten thousand soldiers on your own."
Kael shook his head. "This isn't just a battle. It's something more. There are things only I can deal with now. I'll meet them alone and try to end this without further bloodshed. I don't want to hear another word about this. My decision is final."
Mieza clenched her fists, her worry evident in the way she bit her lip, but she nodded, trusting him despite her fear. "Come back to me," she whispered, her voice laced with worry and concern.
Kael gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I will. As always."
With that, he turned and opened a swirling portal, its blue light reflecting in his determined eyes. Without another word, he stepped through, the portal closing behind him in a flash of light, leaving the others in the room to prepare for whatever came next.
Kael emerged on the other side of the portal, the ground beneath him rumbling with the approach of the Naga army. He stood tall, the wind whipping around him as his white hair danced in the wind, as he faced the advancing forces alone. In the distance, he could see Veridian, the Eye of Naga glowing ominously in his hands, the relic's power radiating through the air like a storm on the horizon. Kael's eyes narrowed. This was the moment of truth—the confrontation that would determine the fate of both kingdoms.