Chapter 9 - The Siege of Solaria

Dawn broke over the Grand Colosseum of Solaria, the same arena where Leo had faced the beasts days before. Tens of thousands of confused and terrified citizens filled the stands.
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In the center of the pit, King Aurelius stood bound in heavy iron chains, his head resting on an executioner's block. Grand Vizier Malakor stood above him on the royal balcony, clad in stolen regent robes.
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"People of Solaria!" Malakor shouted, his voice amplified by magic. "Your King has fallen to madness! Today, we cleanse the realm!"
The executioner raised his heavy iron axe. Aurelius closed his eyes, praying silently for his son’s safety. "Live on, Leo..." he whispered.
BOOM!
A deafening crack of thunder shook the entire colosseum. Dark storm clouds gathered instantly above the open arena, blotting out the morning sun.
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A single bolt of golden lightning struck the center of the arena floor, blowing the executioner fifty feet away and shattering Aurelius’s iron chains into molten dust.
When the blinding light faded, Prince Leo stood on the sands, dressed in sleek golden dragon-scale armor, flanked by Silas and a hundred loyalist warriors who had breached the arena gates.
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"Malakor!" Leo’s voice echoed like a rolling thunderclap through the stadium. "Your reign ends today!"
The crowd broke into wild cheers. Malakor panicked, screaming to his guards, "Kill him! Kill the boy!"