🔥 Chapter 4 — Unveiling Power
The northern highlands trembled beneath the intensity of the duel. Kael's Ember blazed in spirals, arcs of fire colliding with the green energy whips of the King's first new general. Every strike carved grooves into the frozen earth, sending shards of ice and stone flying like deadly projectiles.
Rhyne ducked beneath a whipping strike, his blade glinting in the glow of fire and shadow. "Kael! He's adapting faster than any general before. You'll need to push harder!"
Kael gritted his teeth, feeling the Ember's pulse intensify. "I know… I can feel its rhythm. I just need to anticipate beyond it."
The general's green eyes narrowed, his form glowing with latent energy. With a sudden movement, the whips converged, forming a barrier that pulsed with emerald light. Kael lunged forward, Ember blades striking, only to be partially absorbed by the force field. The impact threw him back, flaming dust scattering across the battlefield.
Rhyne shouted, "He's not just defending—he's reading your attacks! You need to be unpredictable!"
Kael steadied himself, letting the Ember flow freely, not forcing it but merging with its instincts. Fire rippled over him, shaping into swirling arcs, blades, and shields simultaneously. The Ember guided his movements, extending his strikes and redirecting energy before the general could react.
Kael's eyes glowed with a brilliant blue-white light. "Now… we escalate."
He unleashed a series of spiraling Emberfire strikes, striking the general from multiple angles in rapid succession. The green barrier flickered under the pressure, energy surging and dissipating as the general staggered. Kael realized something critical—this wasn't just brute strength or skill. The general's power came from control, from dictating the battlefield's flow. And Kael could match it if he stayed in perfect harmony with the Ember.
The general hissed, stepping back, but his expression betrayed a flicker of surprise. Kael grinned through sweat and soot. "You're strong—but the Ember has awakened. And I'm only getting started."
Rhyne landed beside him, eyes sharp. "Kael… whatever comes next, we need to finish this fight before reinforcements arrive."
Kael's flames surged brighter. "Then we end it now—or the highlands burn."
The battlefield erupted in fire and green energy as the duel escalated, testing both Kael's mastery of the Ember and the cunning of the King's new general.