Chapter 15: The Fight
The battlefield was still burning.
Shen stood at the center of the ruins, breathing heavily as fragments of glowing energy faded from his fingertips. The last explosion had carved a deep scar across the ground.
Kenya rushed toward him.
"You're pushing too hard again!"
Shen wiped sweat from his face.
"I'm fine."
"You said that last time before collapsing."
Eliz scanned the horizon.
"We're missing someone."
Ruke adjusted his glasses, focusing on distant mana signals.
"The Captain's position… northwest of Perth."
Shen's expression sharpened.
"Then that's where we go."
Kenya frowned.
"We can't just leave this battlefield!"
Ruke stepped in.
"We don't have a choice. If the Captain is there alone, it's a death sentence."
Shen looked at all of them.
For a moment, the usual confidence faded.
Then he smiled slightly.
"We've survived worse."
Ruke blinked.
"We're not 'surviving,' we're just getting lucky."
Shen turned away.
"Call it what you want."
Kenya crossed her arms.
"You're impossible."
Shen started walking.
"Then keep up."
After a brief silence—
Ruke sighed.
"We're really doing this again, aren't we?"
Eliz nodded.
"Yes."
Kenya clenched her fists.
"…Fine. But if we die, I'm blaming all of you."
Ruke groaned.
"I hate teamwork."
Still, they followed.
---
Far away, beyond the shattered outskirts of Perth…
A massive throne stood in the middle of a ruined royal hall.
The Arcane General sat casually, one arm resting on the armrest, the other holding a faintly glowing crystal.
Before him, the king of Perth knelt on the ground, trembling.
"Please… spare my life…"
The king's voice cracked.
"I'll give you anything… the city, the army—everything!"
The General tilted his head slightly.
"You offer things that are already mine to take."
The king froze.
"I-I can help you rule it! I can serve you!"
The General stood slowly.
Dark energy rolled off his armor like smoke.
"I do not accept servants."
The king's eyes widened.
"W-wait—"
A flash of light.
A thin beam of crimson energy pierced through the king's chest.
Silence returned instantly.
The body fell without ceremony.
The Arcane Knights in the hall didn't react emotionally.
Only one stepped forward.
"General… the Arcane Drifters have entered Perth's perimeter."
For the first time, the General's expression changed.
A faint smile formed.
"So…"
"They finally arrived."
He stepped off the throne.
The entire hall trembled under his presence.
"Good."
"I was growing bored."
---
Back on the battlefield route…
Shen suddenly stopped walking.
Kenya noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Shen's eyes narrowed.
"…We're being watched."
Ruke looked around nervously.
"Don't say things like that!"
Eliz raised her staff.
"It's not observation…"
"It's pressure."
A heavy force pressed down on the entire area.
The air grew colder.
Shen tightened his grip.
"That feeling…"
He exhaled.
"He's close."
Kenya swallowed.
"The General?"
Shen nodded once.
"Yeah."
Ruke groaned.
"Great. So we're walking into a boss fight willingly."
Shen smirked slightly.
"We didn't come this far to turn back."
The ground ahead suddenly cracked.
A black wave of energy spread across the horizon.
From within the darkness—
A voice echoed.
"Arcane Drifters…"
The air trembled.
"…Welcome to Perth."
Shen stepped forward.
"Show yourself."
A shadow rose slowly above the ruined city.
Massive.
Unmoving.
Smiling.
The Arcane General had awakened his presence over the battlefield.
And the real battle was about to begin.
---