Chapter 135: The Lion Falls
Scene: The aftermath of the intense battle against the Kurai Pirate generals leaves the group momentarily catching their breath. Eren, still feeling the adrenaline coursing through his body, kneels beside Rylan, who's lying on the ground, recovering from his earlier injuries. As the dust settles, Commander Elara stands over the group, her sharp gaze scanning the battlefield.
Narrator: With the fight against the two generals behind them, the heroes of the South Nation pause to recover. The power of their elemental abilities has been tested, and their strength has been proven. But as the momentary calm settles over the battlefield, a dark, ominous aura begins to creep in—heralding the arrival of their greatest challenge yet.
Eren shakes Rylan gently, trying to wake him up.
Eren: (softly) Rylan, wake up. The fight's not over yet.
Rylan groans, his eyes fluttering open. He pushes himself up with a frustrated growl, rubbing his head.
Rylan: (angrily) Ugh, I can't believe I got knocked out so fast. This isn't over—I'm going to make them pay.
Commander Elara gathers the group, her voice firm but calm.
Commander Elara: (seriously) We don't have much time to rest. Gather your strength quickly—this fight is far from over.
Kirito and Ryu, standing off to the side, still seem a bit shell-shocked by the sheer power of the South Nation heroes. Kirito exchanges a look with Ryu, clearly impressed.
Kirito: (whispering to Ryu) I can't believe how strong they are. If they can handle the generals like that, we might actually stand a chance against Captain Moro.
Ryu grins, always one to crack a joke, even in dire situations.
Ryu: (grinning) At this rate, we'll make it to Zisteria faster than I thought.
But as they're talking, a sinister, ominous aura sweeps over the battlefield, sending a shiver down the spines of the heroes. The air grows thick with a dark presence, and the group turns their attention to the shore. Standing there is a massive, muscular figure with long white hair and a black cape billowing in the wind. Beside him are the two defeated generals, their expressions grim.
Narrator: The dark figure on the shore radiates power, his presence alone enough to send waves of dread through the air. He is none other than Captain Moro, the leader of the Kurai Pirates—an unstoppable force who has terrorized the seas for years. His arrival signals the beginning of the final battle.
Aria, always curious and sharp, turns to Kirito, her voice low.
Aria: (curiously) Who are these generals, anyway? What are their names?
Kirito answers quickly, his eyes never leaving the figures on the shore.
Kirito: (seriously) The woman is Ishara, and the man is Balen. They're Captain Moro's right hand—they've never been defeated… until now.
Captain Moro steps forward, his voice a deep, rumbling growl as his eyes narrow on the group.
Captain Moro: (calmly) So, you're the ones who defeated my men?
Commander Elara, never one to back down from a fight, steps forward, her eyes flashing with determination. She crosses her arms and gives Captain Moro a smirk.
Commander Elara: (mockingly) I was expecting more from the infamous Captain Moro. I'm disappointed.
Moro's eyes flash with anger, his dark aura intensifying. Without warning, he rushes forward with incredible speed, aiming a powerful punch at Commander Elara. She dodges at the last second, her body twisting as she evades the strike.
Captain Moro: (angrily) You dare mock me?
As Captain Moro engages Commander Elara in battle, Eren, Rylan, and Zarek turn their attention to the generals—Ishara and Balen—once again. The battle reignites in an instant, with the two sides charging toward each other with renewed intensity.
Narrator: The fight resumes with a fiery intensity. Captain Moro, fueled by his fury, battles Commander Elara in a violent clash of Earth and Flame. Meanwhile, Eren, Rylan, and Zarek take on the defeated generals, their elemental powers once again pushed to the limit.
Rylan, fueled by his earlier frustration, taps into his Mystic Elf Form without hesitation. His eyes glow with a fierce energy as he unleashes a flurry of strikes, charging straight at Balen. With a single powerful punch, Rylan knocks Balen to the ground, his form shimmering with strength.
Rylan: (furiously) I'm not holding back this time.
Zarek, ever the wild fighter, takes on Ishara with his full power. He summons his White Flame Phoenix Rush, creating a massive flaming white bird that sweeps across the battlefield. The flames engulf Ishara, burning her clothes away and forcing her to the ground in defeat.
Zarek: (smirking) Looks like that's the end of you.
With the generals incapacitated, the focus shifts to the main battle—Commander Elara vs. Captain Moro. Their fight rages on, the air thick with the clashing of elemental mana. Captain Moro, tapping into his Earth Elemental Mana, summons massive stone pillars and hurls them at Commander Elara.
But Commander Elara dodges each attack with grace and precision, her eyes never leaving her opponent.
Commander Elara: (seriously) I've heard you've been keeping prisoners. Release them at once.
Captain Moro only sneers, his deep voice dripping with disdain.
Captain Moro: (mocking) You're in no position to make demands. You're all going to die here.
He raises his hands, summoning an enormous Mana Boulder, its size dwarfing the battlefield. The glowing rock hovers above him as he prepares to unleash his most powerful attack.
Captain Moro: (shouting) Luna Crush!
The giant boulder hurtles toward Commander Elara, its massive size threatening to crush everything in its path. But Elara, calm and focused, taps into her Beast Mana. Her body surges with power as she summons her ultimate technique—her Tiger Claw, which glows with the fiery energy of her flames.
Commander Elara: (shouting) Tiger Claw!
With a single, powerful strike, she shatters the massive boulder, the pieces crumbling to dust around her. Captain Moro, stunned by her strength, steps back in disbelief.
Captain Moro: (shocked) What… what kind of strength is this?
Commander Elara's eyes narrow as she prepares for her final move. She takes a deep breath, remembering the last technique King Alden taught her before his death. Her flames surge higher, her Beast and Flame mana combining in a powerful rush of energy.
Commander Elara: (softly) This ends now.
She raises her hand and summons her ultimate technique, Hono no Kemono, a massive beast of fire that roars to life behind her. The fiery creature rushes forward, its immense power swallowing Captain Moro in a sea of flames.
Commander Elara: (shouting) Hono no Kemono!
The flaming beast crashes into Captain Moro, engulfing him in a torrent of fire. His screams of pain echo across the battlefield as his skin burns under the intense heat. The flames consume him completely, leaving him defeated, his body scorched and broken.
Narrator: With one final, devastating blow, Commander Elara stands victorious. The mighty Captain Moro, feared across the seas, has fallen. His reign of terror ends here, at the hands of the heroes from the South Nation.
As the flames die down, Commander Elara stands tall, her eyes locked on the smoldering remains of Captain Moro. The rest of the group regroups around her, their expressions filled with awe and respect.
Eren, Rylan, Zarek (in unison): (shouting) We're from the South Nation, and we won't lose to anyone!
Captain Moro, lying on the ground, manages to let out a weak, bitter laugh.
Captain Moro: (whispering) South Nation… so that's where you're from. You're stronger than I imagined.
With his final words, Captain Moro's aura fades completely, and the battlefield falls silent. The heroes of the South Nation stand victorious, but they know their journey is far from over.
Narrator: The battle is won, but the path to Zisteria remains long and treacherous. With Captain Moro defeated, the heroes prepare to continue their journey, knowing that even greater challenges await them on the horizon.
The chapter ends with Commander Elara standing victorious over Captain Moro, the flames of her victory still flickering in the air. The group regroups, ready to continue their mission to Zisteria—but with the knowledge that the worst is yet to come.