Shouts of alarm echoed through the air as the city of Ur scrambled to react, but it was too late. The first line of defense crumbled under the relentless assault. Yacha's axes cleaved through their ranks with terrifying precision, sparks of fire and thunder exploding from each strike. Shino's punches, fueled by the force of gravity, sent soldiers crashing into the ground with bone-shattering force, their bodies cratering the earth upon impact…
as the city guards fell in droves, a deafening roar split the sky. The ground quaked as King Sargon advanced, his aura swelling, his magical presence warping the very air around him. He raised his hand, and the winds howled at his command. In an instant, beams of scorching light erupted from his palm, cutting through the thick stone walls of Ur as if they were made of parchment. The defenses, painstakingly built to protect the city for centuries, crumbled in seconds, reduced to nothing but molten rubble.
As the walls fell, the other generals launched their full assault. Tanks roared forward, iron beasts smashing through the broken gates. Behind them, rows upon rows of archers released their arrows, raining death upon the rebellion soldiers, who fought desperately to hold their ground.
Sargon's fury was far from sated. His eyes locked onto the rebel leader standing defiantly in the city's central square, surrounded by his remaining forces. Without a word, the king stretched out his hand, his magic flaring once more. A pillar of fire spiraled from the sky, engulfing the leader in a blaze so intense it lit up the night like dawn. The man's scream was swallowed by the crackling inferno as his body was reduced to ash, swept away by the winds Sargon controlled with the ease of a god.
The battle was swift and merciless. The city of Ur had been crushed under the weight of Akkadia's might. Yacha and Shino stood at the forefront, the fires of destruction still flickering around them, while King Sargon, untouched and calm, looked upon the ruins with a cold satisfaction.
"A rebellion," he muttered, his voice low but resonating with finality. "Reduced to dust."
At dawn, the fires of battle still smoldered behind them as Shino and Yacha made their way back to Akkad under the king's command. The weight of exhaustion pulled at their limbs, but as they approached the city gates, a different energy greeted them.
The streets were already alive with shouts of triumph and pride. Word had traveled swiftly. two soldiers had crushed the rebellion's forces, wiping out an entire line of defense alone. Crowds gathered, cheering their names, eager to catch a glimpse of the heroes who had fought alongside King Sargon himself. Yacha, though tired, felt the warmth of the people's admiration wash over him, and Shino walked beside him in quiet acceptance, her unreadable expression unchanged.
Inside their quarters, Ursang and Eline awaited them, wide-eyed and stunned.
"You two. what happened? Why weren't we called?" Ursang's tone carried a mix of disbelief and frustration, his brow furrowed as he looked between Yacha and Shino. Eline, standing beside him, crossed her arms, clearly sharing his confusion.
Speira, however, had no such questions. Her smile was bright, her eyes full of pride as she stood before Yacha. "You really did it," she said, her voice brimming with admiration. "The whole city's talking about it."
Yacha met her gaze, a quiet smile tugging at his lips.
"That was the king's order," Orcham stated firmly, his gaze steady as Ursang and Eline exchanged confused glances. Ursang, his frustration growing, couldn't hide his irritation, but before he could speak, Yacha stepped forward, cutting through the tension.
"He sends his regards, Orcham," Yacha said quietly.
The squadron commander's expression shifted immediately. He understood where those words came from. "Did he mention anyone else?" he asked, his voice tight.
"Valdir, sir," Yacha replied, his tone grave.
Hearing that name, Orcham froze, his face darkening for a moment. Without a word, he gestured for Yacha and Shino to follow him into his office, leaving the others in baffled silence. Ursang's fists clenched, his confusion simmering into frustration, and Eline's brow furrowed deeper. The secrecy of it all gnawed at them. since returning from Skara Brae, nothing had felt right.
Behind closed doors, Orcham sat heavily at his desk, his usual composure cracked. He stared at the surface for a moment before speaking. "There's something you don't know," he began, his voice weighed down by memory.
"A man once known as the Wolf of Seikens… A soldier who wielded thunder, like you two. He slaughtered thousands of enemies and beasts, unstoppable, feared by all. But one day, he vanished."
Yacha and Shino stood in silence, listening intently as Orcham's voice wavered.
"He was sent on a mission to kill someone.
a target that should've been easy for him. Or so we thought, But the mission failed, and the Wolf never returned. Disappeared, like smoke." Orcham's fist slammed down onto the desk, his knuckles white.
"If Sigurd had asked me to leave the army with him, I would've done it without a second thought. But he didn't. He just… disappeared."
The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of the story pressing down on them. Orcham's pain was raw, the loss of someone he had clearly admired and trusted still fresh despite the years. Yacha opened his mouth to speak, to say something—anything—but Shino gave a firm shake of her head. It wasn't the time.
They stood there, the unsaid words hanging in the air, as Orcham stared past them, lost in the ghost of a man who once was.
Orcham dismissed them with a wave, and Yacha followed Shino into the depths of the cedar forest, as instructed. The air felt thick with tension, and Shino, suppressing her aura, moved like a shadow, leaving no trace behind. Yacha mirrored her movements, his heart racing with anxiety. The towering cedar trees loomed ominously, but to his surprise, they remained still, their golem guardians merely observing, not attacking.
After a lengthy, silent trek, they arrived at a rounded ruin, where a statue of a faceless, winged figure stood in a prayer pose. Shino withdrew a crystal from her pocket and placed it reverently in the statue's hands. In an instant, the world around them dissolved into an endless white.
"Now we can talk freely," Shino said, her tone shifting to something grave.
Yacha felt a chill as Shino continued, "The orihalcon meral, it's the only known material capable of slaying deity races. Be cautious about revealing such a weapon, Yacha."
Understanding the weight of the gift he carried, a gift from Sigurd, Yacha replied, "It was given to me by Sigurd."
Shino's expression hardened. "Hmm? Sigurd, that bastard. He must have caught a glimpse of Akkad's dark side."
As they settled, Shino's demeanor turned serious. "Listen carefully," she urged.
"The truth about the gods is far from what you've been led to believe. They are not saviors but remnants of a brutal selection process. For millennia, they fought among themselves, each battle whittling down the strong until only a few remained—the pinnacle of the divine race."
Yacha's breath quickened as Shino's words painted a grim picture. "There exists a group called the Smofyious Order, named after a forgotten race that dared to challenge the gods during the First Holy War. They are hidden in the depths of this very forest, seeking to thwart the gods' ultimate plan to seize control not just of Terra, but the entire realm."
Yacha's mind raced with possibilities and dangers yet to come. The fate of their world rested on the edge of a blade, and he realized that the true fight was just beginning.
Yacha turned to Shino, a mix of confusion and curiosity swirling in his mind. "Why tell me all this?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Shino's gaze was steady. "I felt I could trust you," she replied, though she couldn't quite understand why. The unexplainable bond between them had formed in the shadows of the cedar forest, a connection forged in secrecy.
"Keep this to yourself," Shino instructed, her tone grave. "You're the only one who has broken the curse. Never trust anyone in the Seiken army or the Orionis. Not a single soul." The weight of her words settled heavily between them, an unbreakable pact sealed in silence.
Yacha nodded, the gravity of the moment etched into his mind. They both understood the stakes. "I'll keep it hidden," he promised.
Before they left, Shino added, "By the way, the cedar trees are guardians. They mimic the aura of their opponents and attack accordingly. Suppressing your mana allows you to blend in with the forest, making you appear non-threatening."
Suddenly, Yacha jolted awake, disoriented. Shino stood beside him, the crystal now tucked back into her pocket. "You were in a small dimension inside my own mind," she explained, her expression softening.
As Yacha processed the revelation, a sense of urgency ignited within him. What else lay hidden in the shadows? What secrets still awaited discovery? The mysteries of the forest and the truths about the gods loomed before him.
Shino's voice dropped to a low murmur as she locked eyes with Yacha. "You're not the only one with untapped potential," she began, her gaze intense. "I carry two cores within me…