The Thunder of War
At dawn, the roar of war horns shattered the morning silence.
Leon stood at the head of his army, his black armor glistening under the rising sun. Behind him, tens of thousands of soldiers raised their weapons, their banners fluttering in the wind.
Before them lay Varantis, the mighty capital. Its towering walls, once symbols of power, now stood as the last obstacle to conquest.
Kael Varion rode up beside Leon, his blade resting against his shoulder.
"Your orders?"
Leon raised his hand.
"We strike in three waves. The siege weapons first—break the gates and the walls. The second wave will be our vanguard, drawing their defenders out. The final wave…" He smirked. "We crush them."
Darius chuckled. "Simple and brutal. I like it."
Elara, adjusting her bowstring, frowned.
"They won't surrender easily. King Roderic has nowhere left to run."
Leon's eyes darkened.
"Then we give him no choice."
He turned to the siege engineers.
"Begin."
---
Breaking the Gates
The first volley of catapult fire rained down on the city walls.
Massive boulders smashed into stone, sending shockwaves through the fortress.
The Varantis archers retaliated, unleashing a hail of arrows. But Leon's soldiers raised their shields, advancing like an unstoppable tide.
"Bring the battering ram!"
A group of warriors charged toward the gates, a massive iron-headed ram rolling forward.
BOOM!
The first impact sent cracks through the wood.
King Roderic watched from the palace balcony, his face pale.
"They're coming…" he muttered.
---
The Final Assault
Leon drew his sword as the gates shattered under the relentless assault.
"CHARGE!"
His soldiers poured through the breach, clashing with the desperate defenders.
Swords clashed, shields splintered, blood painted the streets.
Leon cut through enemy knights like a storm, his movements precise and ruthless.
Kael and Darius fought beside him, tearing through Varantis' ranks.
Atop the palace steps, King Roderic watched in horror as his army collapsed.
A royal guard captain turned to him.
"We must flee, Your Majesty!"
The King's hands trembled.
"No… I will not run."
He drew his sword.
"If Blackwood wants my throne… he'll have to take it over my dead body."
Leon locked eyes with the King from across the battlefield.
The final battle had begun.
---
The King's Last Stand
A Throne Drenched in Blood
The grand palace of Varantis loomed over the battlefield, its once-proud banners now tattered and burned. The streets ran red with blood, and the last remnants of the Varantis army fought in desperation.
Leon stood at the foot of the palace steps, his sword dripping with the blood of the fallen.
His army had broken through.
The capital had fallen.
And now, there was only one enemy left.
At the top of the marble staircase, King Roderic Varantis stood, his golden armor scratched and dented, his blade held firm.
"Leon Blackwood!" the King roared, his voice echoing through the ruined streets.
"You come to take my throne? Then come and face me like a man!"
Leon exhaled slowly, stepping forward.
"Your kingdom is gone, Roderic. Your people have surrendered. You don't have to die today."
The King's grip on his sword tightened.
"And live in shame? Never."
Elara and Kael moved to step forward, but Leon raised a hand.
"No. This is my fight."
The soldiers stepped back as the two rulers locked eyes.
And then, the final duel began.
---
King vs. Conqueror
Roderic charged first, his sword flashing in the light.
Leon parried effortlessly, stepping aside as the King swung wildly.
"You've already lost," Leon muttered, countering with a brutal strike.
The King staggered but refused to fall.
"I built this kingdom from nothing!" Roderic shouted, slashing furiously. "I won't let some upstart take it!"
Leon dodged the attack, his movements precise, controlled.
"That's where we differ, Roderic. You built a kingdom."
His blade flashed forward, slicing through the King's armor.
"I will build an empire."
Roderic gasped, blood spilling from the wound.
Still, he fought on, driven by sheer pride.
But Leon was faster.
With a final, decisive strike—his sword plunged through the King's heart.
Roderic staggered, coughing blood.
"Damn you… Blackwood…"
With one last breath, he fell to his knees.
His crown rolled from his head, clattering against the stone.
The King of Varantis was dead.
Leon reached down, picking up the blood-stained crown.
And as he placed it upon his own head, the soldiers knelt.
Varantis was his.
The first step toward his empire had been taken.
---
The Birth of a Tyrant
The Throne of Varantis
The grand hall of the palace was eerily silent. The once-opulent chamber, where King Roderic held court, now bore the marks of battle—shattered marble, bloodstained carpets, and broken banners.
Leon sat upon the throne, the crown of Varantis resting upon his head.
Before him knelt the nobles of the fallen kingdom, their faces pale with fear.
Darius stood at his right, his massive axe resting on his shoulder.
Elara was on his left, her sharp eyes scanning the room for signs of treachery.
Kael stood nearby, his blade still slick with blood.
The conquered lords awaited their fate.
Leon's voice cut through the silence.
"Varantis is mine. Your King is dead. Your armies are broken. You have two choices—"
He leaned forward, his gaze like steel.
"Swear loyalty to me… or share Roderic's fate."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
One noble, Lord Varell, hesitated before stepping forward.
"My… my lord," he stammered. "Varantis has always served the Empire. If they learn of this—"
Leon's smirk was cold.
"Then let them learn. I do not serve the Empire. I take what I desire."
Silence.
One by one, the nobles bent the knee.
The kingdom was his.
But not all knelt.
A lone noble, Duke Marcion, remained standing. His blue eyes burned with defiance.
"You are nothing but a warlord, Blackwood," he spat.
Leon stood slowly, descending the steps of the throne.
"And you," he said, drawing his sword, "are a fool."
Before the Duke could react—Leon's blade flashed.
A single stroke.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
Duke Marcion collapsed, lifeless.
Leon turned to the remaining lords.
"Any others?"
No one spoke.
"Then kneel."
And so, Varantis fell into the hands of its new king.
But outside the walls, the world was already stirring.
News of Leon's conquest had spread.
And far beyond the borders of Varantis… the Empire was watching.