The battlefield lay still, with the occasional groan of a wounded soldier breaking the silence. Lukas stood at the edge of the valley, his heart pounding from the rush of combat. His body felt the weight of his newfound power coursing through him, but his mind was elsewhere—focused on the growing darkness looming over the eastern frontier. The Dark Commander's absence from the skirmish had not gone unnoticed.
Lukas wiped the sweat from his brow, his hand resting on the hilt of Stormbreaker. The saber, infused with both Wind and Lightning elements, had served him well in the battle. But as the echoes of victory faded, an unsettling feeling crept into his bones. This was only a prelude to what lay ahead.
Marcus approached, his greatsword Earthshaker slung across his back, the earth beneath his feet slightly trembling with each step. His expression was grim. "This battle was too easy," he said quietly. "The Dark Commander is planning something."
"I know," Lukas replied, his voice heavy with the weight of what was to come. "He's lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike."
As Lukas walked through the battlefield, surveying the fallen and tending to the wounded, he felt a deep responsibility for the lives lost. His soldiers had fought bravely, but they couldn't afford to become complacent. The next battle would be far worse, and the Dark Commander was an enemy unlike any they had faced before.
His thoughts were interrupted by Zane, who approached with a quiet but urgent look. "There are whispers in the camp," Zane said. "The soldiers are uneasy. They know the Dark Commander's forces are gathering strength, and they fear what comes next."
Lukas nodded, feeling the same anxiety in the air. "Let them rest tonight," he said. "Tomorrow, we begin preparations. We can't wait for the Dark Commander to strike first—we need to act."
---
That night, Lukas gathered his core team—Marcus, Zane, Ikar, Darian, and Vespera—in the command tent. The map of the eastern frontier lay spread before them, marking the Drevyn army's positions and the possible strongholds where the Dark Commander might be hiding.
"We can't keep reacting to their moves," Lukas began, his eyes scanning the map. "We need to take the fight to them."
"But where?" Ikar asked, his tone serious. "The Dark Commander isn't just sitting in some camp waiting for us to attack."
"I have a theory," Lukas said, tapping his finger on a spot deep within the mountains that bordered the eastern frontier. "The Drevyn forces have been steadily pulling back toward this region. It's isolated, difficult to reach… the perfect place for the Dark Commander to hide and consolidate his power."
Marcus studied the map, nodding slowly. "It makes sense. If he's using dark arts, he would need a place away from prying eyes. A place where he can perform his rituals."
Zane leaned in, his eyes narrowing. "But what if he's leading us into a trap? If we go after him, we're walking right into enemy territory."
Lukas considered Zane's words carefully. "It's a risk we'll have to take. But we'll be ready for whatever comes. The Dark Commander won't catch us off guard."
The next day, Lukas began preparing for the inevitable clash with the Dark Commander. His men needed to be at their best, and so did he. The system's voice echoed in his mind, guiding him through a series of elemental exercises.
[System Notification: Begin Elemental Mastery Training. Focus on Lightning and Wind elements to enhance your combat skills.]
Lukas felt the surge of Ether through his veins as he trained in a secluded part of the camp. With each swing of Stormbreaker, he could feel the elements responding to his will. The Wind element allowed him to move faster, his strikes more fluid and precise. The Lightning element crackled along the blade, adding a sharp edge to each strike.
As he practiced, Lukas felt the system offering subtle adjustments, guiding his movements and improving his technique. He could feel his mastery growing, and with it, his confidence. He was no longer the same man who had struggled against the Dark Commander. He was stronger, faster, and more attuned to his powers.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the camp, Lukas felt a chill run down his spine. The air seemed to grow heavier, and for a moment, he could swear he saw a dark figure standing at the edge of the forest, watching him.
He narrowed his eyes, reaching for Stormbreaker, but the figure vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Zane, who had been standing nearby, noticed the tension in Lukas's stance. "What is it?"
Lukas shook his head, though his instincts told him otherwise. "Nothing," he muttered, though his thoughts lingered on the shadow. "Just keep your eyes open. Something doesn't feel right."
---
Back in the capital, while Lukas was preparing for the next stage of the battle, Aurelia continued to fight to preserve his name. The rumors had spread like wildfire—whispers that Lukas had run away from the battlefield, abandoning his men after suffering defeat.
Aurelia had fiercely defended him in court, though many nobles remained unconvinced. But Aurelia knew Lukas better than most, and the thought of him retreating from battle seemed absurd. Still, the rumors were taking root, and the prime minister and the king's new advisor were quick to stoke the fires of doubt.
She would not stand idly by while Lukas's reputation was tarnished. The court might be swayed by whispers, but she would fight with truth. The war for Lukas's name was just beginning, and she would not lose.