Leon's jaw clenched when he saw his sister raise her sword in his direction. All at once, the battlefield fell eerily silent. The clash of steel ceased, footsteps paused mid-stride, and every warrior, lion, leopard, and wolf alike—froze in place.
On Soren's side, snow leopard and wolf fighters exhaled in unison, visibly relieved. They recognised the banner at Ronan's back—soldiers they'd not expected. With new reinforcements, their dwindling numbers were no longer hopeless. The tide of war had turned in a heartbeat.
On Leon's side, uncertainty flooded through his ranks. They clustered, whispering among themselves, glancing at the reinforcements and, most importantly, at his sister, Catalina of the Aurum Sword. She stood with unwavering poise, sword pointed in testament, her every movement radiating the quiet assurance of a warrior queen.
