The morning air was thick with tension. The scent of blood and steel from yesterday's battle still lingered, but the battlefield was quiet. Too quiet.
Kairos stood on the castle's outer wall, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the approaching column of riders. Their crimson banners, emblazoned with a golden dragon, rippled in the wind.
Draconian knights.
And leading them was her.
Long platinum hair, tied in a high braid, glistened under the sun like threads of moonlight. Even from this distance, Kairos could see the piercing golden eyes beneath her black visor, locked onto the castle with unshakable authority.
She radiated power.
Her black and crimson armor, forged with Draconian craftsmanship, fit her slender yet battle-hardened frame perfectly. At her hip rested a sheathed longsword—a weapon that, despite its ornate elegance, was undoubtedly one meant for war.
Lady Seraphina Drakos.
The Dragon Empire's youngest warlord.
Kairos let out a low whistle. That's some real protagonist energy.
Behind him, King Orpheus exhaled sharply. "This is bad."
Kairos smirked. "Depends on how you look at it."
Orpheus gave him a side-eye. "Kairos. That's Lady Seraphina Drakos. She's crushed entire rebellions, executed kings, and burned cities to the ground for lesser offenses than Lysvein's defiance."
"Yeah, I can see the boss aura," Kairos mused. "She's giving off serious 'first major rival' vibes."
Orpheus frowned. "What?"
Kairos ignored him, instead focusing on the notification blinking in his vision.
NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: DRAGON'S SHADOW!
A knight of the Draconian Empire has arrived. She sees Lysvein as nothing more than an ant to be crushed. Prove her wrong.
Objectives: Defeat Seraphina in battle OR Force her to acknowledge your power
Rewards: ???
Kairos cracked his neck. "Looks like we're about to have some fun."
The castle gates groaned open. A procession of Lysvein's knights, draped in their silver and blue, moved to meet the Draconians. Kairos walked ahead of them, striding out with the confidence of a man who had already won.
As they approached the enemy force, Seraphina raised a gloved hand, and her soldiers halted instantly. Their discipline was military perfection—not a single movement wasted.
She pulled back her helmet.
Golden eyes like molten fire locked onto Kairos.
"You."
Her voice was smooth—cold steel wrapped in silk.
Kairos grinned. "Me."
She studied him for a long moment, then turned to Orpheus. "King Orpheus of Lysvein. I had heard your kingdom was on the brink of collapse." Her eyes flickered to Kairos. "Yet, it still stands. Curious."
Orpheus stepped forward, his royal demeanor unwavering. "Lady Seraphina. What brings the Empire's Blade to our humble kingdom?"
Seraphina unsheathed her sword—not in a hostile motion, but as a statement. The polished black steel gleamed with draconic runes, pulsating faintly with magic.
"I came to deliver an offer. Surrender Lysvein to the Empire, and in return, you will be granted vassalship. Refuse, and…" Her eyes turned sharper. "Your lands will be reduced to ash."
The air turned heavy. The knights of Lysvein stiffened.
Kairos just laughed.
Seraphina's gaze snapped to him.
"Something amusing?"
"Yeah," Kairos said, still chuckling. "You rode all this way just to give a standard villain ultimatum? What's next? 'You have until sundown to decide'?"
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Watch your tongue, outsider."
"Or what?" Kairos tilted his head. "You'll cut me down where I stand?"
A flicker of something dangerous crossed Seraphina's face. The air itself seemed to tremble.
Kairos's grin widened. There it is. The battle instinct.
The knights on both sides reached for their weapons, sensing the shift in tension. But before anyone could react—
BOOM!
Seraphina moved.
A streak of black and red blurred towards Kairos, her sword already mid-swing.
Fast. Faster than anyone he had fought in this world so far.
But not fast enough.
Kairos stepped forward.
His hand caught her sword mid-strike.
A shockwave exploded outward, sending dust and debris flying as the force of her attack rippled through the ground.
Seraphina's golden eyes widened in shock.
Kairos held the blade between two fingers.
For the first time, the Empire's Blade looked… uncertain.
The silence was deafening. The Draconian knights gaped in disbelief.
Kairos smirked. "Not bad. You'd probably one-shot most people with that." He released the blade, flicking it back toward her. "But I'm not 'most people.'"
Seraphina stared at him. "What… are you?"
Kairos shrugged. "Just a guy who doesn't like being bossed around."
Then, he moved.
A fraction of a second later, he was behind her.
His fingers lightly tapped the back of her armored shoulder.
A gesture that meant 'if I wanted to, you'd be dead right now.'
Seraphina froze.
Kairos leaned in, voice barely above a whisper. "I'd rethink that surrender speech if I were you."
For the first time since arriving, Seraphina Drakos took a step back.
The Draconian forces stood paralyzed, waiting for her command.
Then, after a long silence—
She sheathed her sword.
"...I see," she murmured. "This kingdom is not as weak as I thought."
Kairos smiled. "Nope."
Seraphina exhaled, her sharp gaze never leaving him. "Very well. I will… reconsider my approach."
Then, with a flick of her cape, she turned.
"We ride."
The Draconian army retreated, disappearing over the horizon like a storm that had suddenly passed.
Orpheus let out a long breath. "That was—"
"Fun," Kairos said, stretching.
Orpheus gave him a long, exasperated look. "...You really don't fear anything, do you?"
Kairos grinned. "Fear? Never heard of it."
QUEST COMPLETE: DRAGON'S SHADOW!
Reward: ???
As the notification blinked away, Kairos watched the distant figure of Seraphina Drakos disappear into the distance.
Something told him this wasn't the last time they'd cross swords.
And he couldn't wait.