Chapter 14 - The Citadel of Blood
Deep within the jagged mountains of the Eastern Wastes rose the Citadel of Ironclad—a towering fortress constructed of black volcanic stone, wrapped in thick crimson fog.
Kaelen and Rowena stood on a high cliff overlooking the fortress, flanked by Vance and fifty elite shadow-guards. The crimson fog below pulsed with dark magic, emitting a low, vibrating frequency that made the ground beneath their feet hum.
"The fog is a barrier," Vance noted, pointing toward the iron gates. "Any shifter who breathes it in will have their wolf spirit suppressed instantly."
"Then I will clear a path," Rowena said, stepping toward the ledge.
Kaelen caught her wrist gently, pulling her back against his chest. "Not alone this time," he said, his silver eyes flashing with divine power. "We combine our strength."
Kaelen extended his hand, linking his fingers with Rowena’s. He channeled his massive Alpha energy—a surging torrent of silver celestial light—directly into her soul. Rowena gasped as the immense power flooded through her, amplifying her lunar magic tenfold.
Together, they raised their joined hands toward the crimson sky.
A blinding beam of pure, radiant light shot into the clouds, causing the heavens to part. A column of intense lunar energy descended from the sky, slamming into the black citadel. The dark crimson fog shattered like glass, dissolving into non-existence under the divine weight of their combined magic.
"Charge!" General Vance roared, drawing his weapon.
The shadow-guards surged down the cliff path, smashing through the iron gates of the citadel before the enemy warlords could react.
Inside the grand courtyard of black stone, a man clad in ancient blood-red armor stood waiting on a high dais. He held a massive black staff topped with a glowing, pulsing heart of dark crystal. His face was scarred, his eyes burning with pure black darkness—Warlord Malakor.
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"So, the beast king and his divine peasant have finally arrived," Malakor rasped, his voice sounding like grinding stones. "You are too late, Kaelen! The blood altar is complete!"
Malakor slammed his staff against the stone dais. The ground split open, revealing a terrifying pit of liquid shadow-blood that began to overflow into the courtyard.
