THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

David's breath hitched, his gaze locked on the figure descending from the void above. A chilling sense of recognition washed over him, freezing him in place. "It can't be," he muttered under his breath, his arms tightening around Elara's fragile form. The scene before him was ripped straight from the pages of 'Trials of Valor', the novel he once devoured.

His mind raced, recalling the ominous description of the First Disciple of Chaos, a harbinger of destruction.

Obsidian wings that blotted out the sky, a crown of raven and silver hair that spelled doom, and twin blades capable of shattering reality itself.

It was her. The ultimate antagonist. The woman who obliterated the Holy Nation of Sanctaria Principal, gathering its countless souls into the void.

"Why now?" David whispered, his pulse pounding in his ears. "Why is she showing up this early in the story?" He cursed under his breath, Number 3's cryptic words echoing in his memory. "The Archon wasn't our only target."

Before his spiraling thoughts consumed him, Luna's voice whispered into his mind. "I'm with you, David. Till the very end."

Her reassurance was like a lifeline, pulling him back from the abyss of panic as she noticed his unusual behaviour.

He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus. "It's not over," he muttered, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood. The metallic tang grounded him, a bitter reminder of what was at stake.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Mariana watched him with growing unease, her gaze flickering between David and her sister's pale form in his arms. She wanted to shout at him to stop whatever he was doing, but something about his intensity silenced her. David wasn't the kind of man to act recklessly—not without a reason.

Sir Richard, however, had no such reservations. His aura flared in outrage as he took a step forward still bound by Luna, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Unhand the Archon, Spross!" he commanded, his voice a thunderclap of authority.

"Stop," Mariana interrupted, her voice firm yet wavering. She couldn't explain it, but something told her this was necessary.

David ignored them both. His lips grazed Elara's, soft and warm, as he pressed the kiss deeper, forcing her to ingest his blood. His mind barely registered the system notification that flashed before his eyes:

[Blood of Salvation activated on the target: Elara va Ironblade.]

Elara's body convulsed violently as tendrils of black smoke began to pour out of her, twisting and writhing like living shadows. David held her firmly, even as she trembled under his grasp, his blood trickling into her mouth. He kissed her again, forcing more of his blood down her throat, each second feeling like an eternity.

But then it happened.

A deafening crash echoed through the air as something massive dropped from the sky, scattering debris and dust in every direction. A powerful gust of wind followed, sweeping through the battlefield and silencing everyone.

When the dust settled, all eyes turned toward the figure standing amidst the destruction. A single sword was thrust into the ground, and beside it stood the being they least expected to face so soon.

Number 1.

The air seemed to grow heavier as Number 1's piercing gaze swept over the group, her eyes lingering behind the silver metallic mask she wore. Her ethereal voice cut through the tension like a blade, smooth yet commanding.

"Finally," she said, her words dripping with an otherworldly calm, "we meet. The one who dares to interfere with chaos. I've been dying to meet with you."

David gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet despite the weight of the moment. His legs trembled beneath him, Elara's still form cradled in his arms. But before he could take a step, Luna moved between him and the looming figure of Number 1, her stance unwavering.

"You finish what you're doing," Luna said firmly, glancing over her shoulder at David. "I'll hold her off."

David's throat tightened, panic flashing in his eyes. "Luna, you can't—"

"Then hurry," she interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument. Her focus shifted back to the formidable foe before them, her dark aura beginning to swirl around her like a protective barrier.

Number 1 tilted her head, her lips curling into a faint, intrigued smile beneath her mask. "How curious," she murmured, almost to herself. Her obsidian wings shifted behind her, their edges glinting like sharpened knives.

"It seems... you know who I am." Her voice dipped into a whisper, laced with malice. "Wise of me to adjust the plans. I may need to interrogate you for answers later."

Sir Richard stepped up beside Luna, his sword drawn, its steel shimmering with resolve. "This is our fight," he declared, his tone as solid as his stance. Mariana moved next to him, her slender sword at the ready that she had picked up from a dead guard, their edges glowing faintly with enchantment.

"You're not alone," Mariana added, her voice calm but firm.

Luna nodded at them, gratitude flickering in her eyes. "Then let's make it count."

Yue and Litty joined the line, their weapons gleaming as they took their stances beside Luna. Though fear clung to them like a shadow, determination burned brighter in their eyes. They understood the stakes. To falter now meant death—for them, for David, and for Elara.

Number 1's hand rested on the hilt of her sword, her movements slow, deliberate. Her aura of menace seemed to ripple outward, distorting the air as she studied the group. "Courageous," she said softly, almost mockingly. "But futile."

David's hands trembled as he cradled Elara closer, his lips pressing against hers once more. The system's cold, detached voice echoed in his mind.

[Blood of Salvation: Healing Progress - 50%]

His resolve hardened. He kissed her again, desperation mingling with determination. His blood trickled into her mouth, each second feeling like a battle of its own.

Behind him, the battlefield felt poised on the edge of an explosion. The group facing Number 1 radiated defiance, their weapons raised and ready. But she stood, unmoved, a quiet storm of power that promised devastation.

David couldn't afford to look back. His only thought was to finish what he started before it was too late.

Sir Richard gritted his teeth and turned to Mariana, his voice sharp and commanding. "Follow my lead!"

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, his aura exploding outward in a fiery burst of energy. Mariana followed close behind, her mana and aura surging through her veins as it augmented her speed. Their coordinated assault was flawless—a result of countless hours of training together.

They closed in on Number 1, attacking from both sides. Sir Richard's blade arced in a powerful swing aimed at her side, while Mariana's sword moved with precision, targeting weak points in her armor. But Number 1 didn't flinch. The swords clashed against her skin and the sleek, dark plates of her armor with an ear-splitting clang, leaving no mark, no dent.

"Formation A!" Sir Richard barked, shifting instantly into a defensive position.

Mariana nodded, her body reacting on instinct as she recalled their countless drills. They moved as one, dashing in unison and lunging into the air, their combined energies coalescing into the form of a phoenix. Mana swirled around Mariana, intertwining with Sir Richard's aura, enhancing the fiery construct.

The blazing phoenix screamed as their weapons descended upon Number 1, its talons formed by their blades poised to strike true. But just as the attack was about to land, Number 1 tensed her muscles, her own aura erupting in a sudden, overwhelming wave.

The sheer force of her energy blew them backward, their phoenix dissipating into flickers of light. Sir Richard and Mariana were sent sprawling, crashing into the dirt as they struggled to regain their footing.

Before anyone could recover, a magic circle formed beneath Number 1, glowing with intricate runes. A bolt of lightning shot down from the heavens, striking her dead center with a deafening crack. Smoke rose around her, but as the dust settled, she stood completely unfazed.

Yue cursed under her breath. "Damn it... Nothing's working!"

Litty stepped forward, her weapon ready. "I'll—"

"No!" Luna's voice was firm as she held out a hand to stop her.

Darkness began to swirl around Luna covering her as her golden eyes glowed with a predatory light. Her teeth elongated, transforming into a wolf's maw, her aura wild and primal. Dropping to all fours, she sprinted forward with blinding speed, her movements fluid and feral.

Number 1 was caught off guard for the first time. Luna's kick struck her square in the face, forcing her to shift back inches from her previous stance. It wasn't much, but it was enough to show that Luna was no ordinary opponent.

Number 1 studied Luna with a piercing gaze, her voice sharp and commanding, layered with an ethereal echo that carried an air of menace. "You're not from this world," she said, tilting her head slightly as if analyzing every detail of her opponent. "And it seems you are not at your full power, just as I am

Her words sent a shiver through everyone present. The acknowledgment wasn't just a taunt; it was a declaration of her superiority even in a weakened state.

Luna's golden eyes flared brighter as she crouched low, her wolf-like maw baring sharp teeth. But before she could respond, Number 1 blurred in a burst of speed, closing the distance between them in an instant.

Her hand shot out, gripping Luna by the neck and hoisting her into the air as though she weighed nothing. "And yet," Number 1 continued, her tone cold and unyielding, "even in this state, I am still stronger."

With terrifying precision, she thrust her free hand forward, her arm piercing into Luna's chest. Blood sprayed out in an arc, and Luna coughed violently, the glow in her eyes dimming for a moment.

The others could only watch in horror as Number 1's aura flared brighter, a suffocating weight pressing down on them all. Despite the pain, Luna's hands clawed at Number 1's grip, her defiance burning in her eyes.

"You may think you're invincible," Luna choked out, her voice strained but fierce. "But... we'll see how long that lasts."

"Parade of a Thousand Wolves!"