In the previous chapter, the battlefield had turned into a maelstrom of chaos as the Blackrock Alliance's rear lines fell into disarray. The allied forces, seizing this golden opportunity like a tiger scenting prey, launched an all-out counterattack without hesitation.
"Warriors, the time for vengeance is now! Charge!" bellowed an allied commander, his voice hoarse with intensity. His eyes blazed with the fire of righteous fury, and the soldiers around him responded with a unified roar.
With a battle cry that shook the heavens, the allied forces surged forward like a tidal wave. At the forefront were the knights of the Victoria family, their gleaming armour and gallant steeds making them look like gods of war descending to the battlefield.
"For the honour of House Victoria—kill!" their captain roared, his lance striking with the precision of a serpent's fang, unseating Blackrock soldiers one after another.
Not to be outdone, the mages of the Temple of Light took up their positions at the rear. With their staffs raised high and voices echoing with incantations, they called forth the holy power of light.
"By the power of light, cleanse this darkness!" cried a young mage, his voice filled with conviction. Beams of radiant light erupted from the mages' ranks, piercing through the oppressive veil of Blackrock's dark magic and illuminating the battlefield with dazzling brilliance.
Under the relentless onslaught of the allied counterattack, the Blackrock forces began to waver, retreating step by step. From his vantage point, Karl watched the tide of battle shift, his expression darkening like an impending storm. He knew that if he didn't take action himself, the situation would spiral completely out of control.
"These fools dare to challenge me? I'll make them pay for their arrogance!" Karl growled. Mounting his imposing black warhorse and gripping his massive, dark energy-infused greatsword, he charged into the fray like a demon incarnate.
It wasn't long before Karl and Solomon met on the battlefield. Their gazes locked, and the sheer intensity between them was almost tangible, as if sparks of raw power ignited in the air.
"Solomon, this will be your final day!" Karl roared, his voice filled with fury as dark energy swirled around him. With a powerful swing of his greatsword, he unleashed a wave of black energy that surged forward like a tidal wave, tearing through the ground and leaving jagged scars in its wake.
Unfazed, Solomon raised his Stellar Blade, his eyes unwavering. "Karl, your ambitions will end here!" he declared calmly, his voice carrying a quiet resolve. Chanting softly under his breath, he activated his ultimate technique: Heaven's Breaker. A radiant energy wave burst forth from his blade, glowing as brilliantly as the sun. The two forces collided in a spectacular explosion of light and darkness, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
The sheer force of their clash was overwhelming. Soldiers on both sides were thrown to the ground, their cries of pain drowned out by the deafening roar of the energy blast.
"Such power… it's terrifying!" a Blackrock soldier exclaimed, his body trembling as fear overtook him.
"Hold your ground! We mustn't falter!" shouted an allied soldier, gripping his weapon tightly despite the unsteady footing.
The duel between Karl and Solomon grew ever fiercer, their exchanges swift and brutal. Karl's dark magic was unpredictable and devastating, his attacks relentless as he sought to break through Solomon's defences.
"Taste the wrath of my Dark Rift Slash!" Karl bellowed, swinging his greatsword to unleash a streak of black energy that crackled like lightning as it flew towards Solomon.
But Solomon was ready. With a deft sidestep, he dodged the attack and countered immediately. "Witness the power of my Celestial Shadow Strike!" he cried as the Stellar Blade traced a shimmering arc through the air, its gleaming edge aimed directly at Karl.
The sound of their weapons clashing reverberated across the battlefield like thunder. Solomon's calm and sharp focus never wavered. Amidst the ferocity of the fight, he noticed a subtle flaw in Karl's technique: after each powerful strike, Karl's movements faltered ever so slightly.
"This is my chance!" Solomon thought, determination lighting up his gaze. Patiently, he bided his time, waiting for the perfect moment.
Finally, after another devastating attack, Karl's brief hesitation revealed the opening Solomon had been seeking. Wasting no time, Solomon poured all his remaining energy into the Stellar Blade, infusing it with divine combat energy.
"This ends now, Karl!" Solomon roared, lunging forward with everything he had. The Stellar Blade blazed with a radiant light as it pierced through the darkness, striking Karl square in the chest.
"Argh!" Karl let out a pained scream as the impact sent him flying backwards. His massive frame crashed to the ground with a resounding thud, leaving a trail of dust and debris in his wake.
"Commander!" The sight of Karl's defeat struck a devastating blow to the Blackrock soldiers' morale. Their once-coordinated assault fell into disarray, their defence crumbling like a house of cards.
"Push forward! Crush them!" the allied forces cried, capitalising on the moment. They launched an even more ferocious assault, driving the Blackrock soldiers into full retreat. Chaos descended upon the Blackrock ranks as soldiers fled in every direction, abandoning the fight.
But just as victory seemed within reach for the allied forces, a massive cloud of dust rose on the horizon. The sound of distant hoofbeats rumbled like thunder, growing louder with each passing second. A new force was rapidly approaching the battlefield.
Was this the Blackrock Alliance's reinforcements, or was another party entering the fray? What impact would this mysterious arrival have on the battle that had already reached its boiling point?
The battlefield grew eerily tense as both sides braced for the unknown, the outcome hanging precariously in the balance. The tide of war remained as unpredictable as ever, shrouded in mystery and anticipation…