The sky was dark with smoke. The sound of battle shook the earth. Swords clashed. Magic exploded. People screamed. The war had truly begun.
Jin stood on top of the wall. His long coat moved in the wind. His sword was in his hand, glowing with powerful mana. He looked at the battlefield with calm eyes.
Far in the distance, huge siege towers were rolling toward the city. They were made of strong iron and covered in red glowing runes. These towers were not normal. They were full of powerful magic and carried many knights inside.
Jin's eyes narrowed. "If those towers reach the wall," he said, "they will bring disaster."
He jumped off the wall.
BOOM! He landed on the ground with a heavy sound, breaking the stone beneath his feet. Dust rose around him, but he didn't stop. He started running toward the enemy.
The knights saw him coming. "One man?!" they shouted. "He dares to face us alone?!"
Jin didn't speak.
He raised his sword.
Mana rushed through his body like a storm. The air around him changed. It felt heavy, powerful, dangerous.
The first siege tower moved closer. Knights were standing on it, ready to jump into the city.
Jin pointed his sword at the tower.
Then—
SWOOSH!
He moved like lightning. In one blink, he was already at the base of the tower. He swung his sword.
CRAAACK!
A huge cut appeared in the metal. The runes on the tower started to blink. Then—
BOOOOOM!
The entire siege tower exploded. Fire and metal flew into the sky. Knights inside screamed as the tower broke into pieces.
The battlefield stopped for a second. Everyone turned to look.
Jin walked out of the smoke.
Not a scratch on him.
One knight shouted, "He destroyed it with one attack?!"
Jin turned to the second siege tower.
This one was even bigger.
More knights rushed toward him to stop him. They held long spears and wore magic armor.
"Protect the tower!" one of them shouted.
Jin's eyes were cold. "You can try."
They attacked together.
CLANG! SLASH! BOOM!
Jin's sword cut through their weapons like paper. He moved fast—too fast to follow. Every time he swung his blade, a knight fell. One, two, three—ten knights fell in seconds.
When he reached the second tower, he jumped high into the air.
He raised his sword with both hands.
Mana covered the blade like a storm.
Then he swung.
SLAAAAAASH!
The sword cut the tower from top to bottom.
It did not just break. It was sliced completely in half. The top part slid to the side—and crashed to the ground.
BOOOOM!
Another huge explosion filled the battlefield. Fire rose into the sky. Smoke covered everything.
Jin landed softly in front of the burning metal.
His clothes were covered in ash, but his eyes were still sharp.
The soldiers watching from the wall started to cheer. "It's Lord Jin! He destroyed both towers!"
Their courage returned.
But Jin did not cheer.
He looked toward the forest.
More enemies were coming.
Stronger ones.
"Mira," he said through the magic link, "they're sending the royal knights now."
"I see them," she replied. "We'll hold the line. What about the civilians?"
Jin looked back at the city. "Get them underground. Now."
"Yes, my lord."
Jin took one last breath, then turned back to the battlefield.
This was only the beginning.
The real battle had just started.
---
Smoke filled the air. Fire lit up the sky. The two siege towers were gone—burned and broken by Jin's powerful attacks. But the battle was far from over.
From the edge of the forest, new enemies appeared.
They wore bright armor, shining with magic light. Their movements were fast and strong. Their eyes were cold like ice.
These were not normal soldiers.
They were Royal Knights—the strongest warriors from the enemy kingdom. Each one was trained in both sword and magic. Each one could fight a hundred men alone.
There were fifty of them.
They marched forward in perfect lines, glowing with power. Some had swords, others had spears or magic staffs. Their armor had golden lines, and many wore red capes.
One of them, a tall man with silver hair, shouted, "Split into groups! Destroy the city's core buildings! Burn everything!"
"Yes, Commander!" they all answered.
The Royal Knights moved fast.
Some jumped over the city wall using wind magic.
Others broke the gates open with earth spells.
They rushed into the city like a storm.
Inside the city, buildings shook as magic hit the ground. Walls broke. Flames spread. The people screamed and ran.
Jin saw them from afar.
He was still outside the wall, covered in blood and ash from his earlier battle. He gritted his teeth.
"They're inside already…" he whispered. "I was too slow."
He touched his ear crystal.
"Mira," he said, "they're in the city. Royal Knights. You have to stop them."
"We'll try," Lena answered. Her voice was calm, but there was worry in her tone. "They're strong."
"I'll join you soon."
Jin turned and ran back toward the city gate.
Inside the city, chaos ruled.
The Royal Knights spread out. Some headed toward the magic crystal tower—a tall spire that powered the city's barrier. Others went for the food storage, the medic tent, and the command post.
They were not just here to fight.
They were here to break the city.
One knight pointed at a library. "Books? Burn them. Don't let them keep knowledge."
Another shouted, "Break the mana pipes! Let the energy spill!"
They began destroying everything.
But the defenders were not weak.
Mira and her squad appeared from the left.
She wore silver armor with blue marks. Her long hair flowed behind her as she held her wan. Her eyes burned with determination.
"Don't let them move forward!" she yelled.
Her soldiers followed.
Clang! Slash! Boom!
Magic exploded. Swords met in the air. Fire and ice flew everywhere.
A Royal Knight raised his spear and aimed at Raku.
"You're just a lizard," he said with a sneer. "Step aside."
Lena smirked. "I'm not just a lizard. I'm the Shield of this city."
She rushed forward.
Their weapons met with a loud crash. Sparks flew.
The fight was even. The enemy was strong—but Raku was stronger.
She cut through his defense and kicked him back.
But more enemies came.
The battle grew hotter.
Elsewhere in the city, Jin's subordinates were doing their best to protect the people.
Orin, the quick-footed scout golem, ran through the streets. "This way!" he shouted. "Everyone, follow me!"
Behind him, dozens of civilians—children, parents, elderly—ran toward a secret tunnel hidden behind a bakery.
Jin had planned for this moment.
The tunnels went deep underground. They were safe and well-hidden.
Another warrior, a strong man named Muro the Buffalo, stood guard at the entrance. His arms were thick, and his axe was ready.
"Move fast!" he told the people. "Don't look back!"
Screams echoed behind them as magic blasts hit nearby buildings.
Elen the healer, looked back. "We need more time!" he shouted.
Muro nodded. "Then we buy it."
He turned and faced the street, ready to fight whoever came.
Two Royal Knights appeared at the corner.
Muro roared and charged.
The civilians made it into the tunnel.
Far to the right side of the city, a huge man with dark brown skin, long braided hair, and golden eyes stood in the middle of a burning street.
It was Korr, the village chief. He was not wearing fancy armor. Only leather and cloth. But his muscles were like stone.
He held a large iron club.
Across from him stood an enemy commander—a noble knight with a sharp black sword and silver armor.
"You are in my way," the knight said.
Korr didn't reply.
He stepped forward.
The knight raised his sword. "Very well. Die!"
He attacked.
Fast.
Deadly.
But Korr did not move.
He waited.
Then—
CRACK!
With one swing of his giant club, Korr smashed the sword aside and slammed the knight in the chest.
BOOM!
The street cracked.
The knight flew through the air and hit a wall.
He didn't get back up.
Korr exhaled. "Too loud," he muttered. "Next one."