Chapter 4 March of the Warborn

Chapter 4 March of the Warborn

At dawn on the second day, the armies of Thalvethar and the Alliance set forth.

General Kunbaaf divided the forces into two massive divisions:

One under his own command—the main body of the army. The second under King Asad, charged with flanking maneuvers and support.

The battalions advanced in formation, banners raised, weapons gleaming. Drums echoed across the valleys.

Meanwhile, news reached Ramsi’s fortress. His scouts reported that an enormous army was advancing toward his territory.

Ramsi stood at the edge of his war balcony, watching the blood-red sky.

“So… they’ve finally come,” he whispered.

But he was not afraid.

Most of his forces were already battle-ready, having anticipated the conflict.

“Let them come,” Ramsi growled. “No one but me shall rule this world. If they unite against me, I shall break them all.”

He gave the order.

The Dark Armies of Ramsi emerged from their camps, clad in obsidian armor and wielding twisted, enchanted weapons. War horns shrieked across the plains as the tyrant himself rode at the front, cloaked in shadows, fire trailing his blade.

The greatest battle of the age was about to begin.

The Trap at Ila

The allied army finally arrived at Ila, a rugged battlefield of mountains and dense forests.

General Kunbaaf turned to Asad and said firmly,

“You must lure the enemy forces here. This is why I split the army into two. Engage them with your full strength, then slowly retreat and lead them back to this position.”

Asad nodded.

“Understood.”

Wasting no time, Asad mobilized his troops and departed. Already aware that Ramsi’s army was marching from their capital, he dispatched scouts down every possible route leading from the enemy’s territory.

Soon, one of his scouts returned with critical information: the exact path the enemy was taking.

After carefully analyzing the enemy’s movements, Asad led a surprise attack.

The two forces clashed.

Ramsi’s soldiers burst into mocking laughter when they saw the size of the army confronting them—far smaller than expected. Even Ramsi and his generals showed no concern. They believed the entirety of the allied forces had been revealed.

The battle erupted.

Asad’s men fought with all their might, pushing the enemy hard, until Ramsi himself nearly joined the frontlines. But just then, Asad ordered a strategic withdrawal, slowly and methodically falling back—exactly as planned.

The enemy, confident of their victory, chased after them, unaware they were being pulled into a trap.

As the enemy forces entered Ila, Asad’s troops halted at the designated spot.

Then—it happened.

From the surrounding cliffs and forests, waves of allied soldiers emerged in perfect formation, encircling Ramsi’s army.

Panic surged through the enemy ranks.

Realizing too late, Ramsi snapped into action.

“Retreat to a single point! We’ve walked into a trap!”

Ramsi and his top generals joined the fight, using brute force to carve a path through the encirclement and escape the ambush.

Though he lost a large portion of his army, Ramsi managed to regroup with the remaining troops. He ordered them to reorganize and follow—but then, in a bold and terrifying move, he charged ahead alone, seeking out the heart of the allied forces.

Any soldier who stood in his way was struck down without mercy.

The Sword Wielders Assemble

News reached the allied command center that Ramsi himself was engaging their forces alone.

The generals prepared their final card: the strike unit specially chosen to face Ramsi.

Kiyaa, the only one with the power to match Ramsi in wielding a Volcanic Sword Aru, the talented young swordsman Adam, the mystical knight Migo, a fearless war leader Gaabe, a veteran tactician and heavy striker

The five warriors marched forward. The moment they saw Ramsi, both sides locked eyes in a storm of tension.

Migo stepped forward and declared,

“Ramsi, your reign ends today. This is where you die.”

Ramsi smirked,

“Then come. If you believe you can kill me—try.”

He was fully armed and ready, more powerful than ever. He had mastered the second stage of the Earth Sword, allowing him to convert its power into overwhelming force.

Kiyaa responded with calm fury:

“Old man, you don’t build kingdoms through strength alone, and people are not ruled by the blade. If you think your conquest of the First Kingdom was victory, you’re deluded. Today marks the fall of your empire. Believe that.”

Ramsi laughed,

“You’re just a child. Respect must be earned from those older than you.”

Sensing the impending clash, Migo raised his voice:

“Clear the area! This battle will shake the ground!”

All nearby troops evacuated the battlefield, leaving behind only Ramsi and the strike unit.

Migo quickly gathered the group and divided them into three teams:

Kiyaa would fight constantly, the anchor of the formation. Migo and Gaabe would form one flanking team. Aru and Adam would form the other.

“We cannot all attack Ramsi at once,” Migo explained. “His power is too great. If we rush in together, we risk injuring each other—or worse. Kiyaa will maintain pressure, while the rest rotate in and out.”

Before the battle could begin, Migo turned to Aru, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Aru, if I fall in this fight... I ask you to take responsibility for my children and my wife. Can you do that?”

Aru hesitated.

“What’s wrong? You’re not going to die.”

Migo’s voice grew quieter.

“Anything can happen. If I die... will you be ready?”

Aru’s face hardened.

“Yes. I will.”

Migo smiled.

“Good. Gaabe and I will strike first. Kiyaa—begin the fight.”

: The second activation of the Sword

The clash between Kiyaa and Ramsi ignited with a flash of steel.

Their swords collided at blinding speed, each strike sending shockwaves through the air. Sparks erupted with every parry, every slash—a deadly ballet of blades.

From the sidelines, Migo and the other generals watched with grim faces. They could tell—this was not just a battle. This was a war of exhaustion, a fight where one side would fall completely.

When the moment was right, Migo and Gaabe joined the fight. They fought with all their strength, but the toll of battle quickly wore on them. Their bodies began to tire.

They withdrew, and Aru and Adam stepped in. Their attacks were swift and fierce. Ramsi was relentless. Even as fatigue crept in, the battle continued—five hours of nonstop warfare.

Then, something terrifying happened.

Ramsi activated the second phase of his sword.

The Secrets of the Earth Sword or others

There were three stages to awakening the Earth Sword or others:

1. Feeding Phase – When not in battle, the sword must be fed the wielder’s energy, allowing it to store power for combat.

2. Manifestation Phase – The sword begins to generate its own power, separate from the user. This is the second stage Ramsi had reached.

3. Awakening Phase – The sword itself “awakens.” At this point, the wielder can channel natural elements through the blade—summoning fire, wind, and more.

Ramsi had not yet reached the final phase.

But he had entered the second—meaning he was now using both his own power and that of the sword’s self-generated energy.

The battlefield trembled.

The allied generals sensed a shift. Ramsi's movements grew faster, smoother, deadlier. Their swords now bounced off his strikes like paper.

With frightening precision, Ramsi launched an attack.

Gaabe was the first target.

He blocked the first two strikes—barely. The third strike pierced clean through him.

It happened in less than five seconds.

Gasps of horror echoed through the battlefield.

The generals, whether fighting or watching, rushed to Gaabe’s side—but they were too late.

Ramsi didn’t stop.

He turned and lunged at Adam, piercing him through the heart.

Just before Adam died, he stumbled past Aru. Aru saw it in slow motion—Adam trying to block, but Ramsi was already past him. By the time Aru raised his blade, Adam had already fallen.

Only three generals remained—Aru, Kiyaa, and Migo.

Shock rippled through them. They had underestimated Ramsi.

And he wasn’t done.

Ramsi released a new wave of power, darker and heavier than before. It pressed against them like gravity itself.

Migo screamed,

“If Ramsi defeats us—there’s no one left who can stop him! This ends now. We finish his life here!”

Aru and Kiyaa, still shaken, responded in unison,

“Yes!”

The three launched a coordinated attack, blades flashing with desperate power. In less than a minute, Ramsi plunged his sword into Migo’s chest.

Aru and Kiyaa stopped.

Silence.

Aru was stunned. How could they beat someone this strong?

Then... a thought struck him.

: The Last Hope

In the depths of despair, Aru's mind raced.

He remembered something—a moment in battle.

Adam had once knocked Ramsi's sword aside. Ramsi had struggled to defend himself without it.

Not even he could block without the Earth Sword.

Aru's thoughts burned with urgency.

If we can separate him from the sword… we can win.

But the question was—how?

Aru's eyes darted to Migo’s fallen body. Ramsi’s sword was still buried in his chest.

A bold, reckless idea surged into Aru’s mind.
A plan that could work—but only if one of them died.

He clenched his fists.

If one of us sacrifices everything… the other can take the shot.

He looked at Kiyaa.

The decision had to be made now.

: A Blade for a Life

As Aru sprinted toward Migo’s lifeless body, he suddenly changed direction and rushed to Kiyaa.

“Listen to me,” Aru said breathlessly. “Do exactly what I tell you. Whoever Ramsi kills first—cut off his arm and don’t let go.”

Kiyaa blinked in confusion. “What? What do you mean?”

Aru grabbed his shoulder and repeated firmly, “Just do it. Don’t ask why.”

Still uncertain, Kiyaa nodded. “Alright…”

At that very moment, Ramsi pulled his sword from Migo’s chest. Blood followed the blade like a dark stream.

He turned slowly toward Aru and Kiyaa.

In his mind, Ramsi calculated his next move. If he could eliminate Kiyaa first, finishing off Aru would be easier. Both were powerful—among the strongest of the five generals—but Kiyaa posed a special threat.

Like Ramsi, Kiyaa wielded a nature-forged sword, a blade tied to elemental power. Ramsi saw in him a reflection of himself—and a potential equal.

Ramsi made his decision.

The Last Duel Begins

With frightening speed, Ramsi charged at Kiyaa.

Kiyaa hadn’t expected to withstand the attack, but something inside him stirred—a strange, new strength.

He didn’t know where it came from.

Their swords clashed again and again. Kiyaa deflected several blows. Ramsi’s strikes were overwhelming—but Kiyaa held his ground longer than he believed possible.

Aru tried several times to support him, darting in with quick strikes, but Ramsi easily brushed them aside. His power was simply too much for either of them.

Then—Ramsi struck Kiyaa through the chest.

The blade pierced straight through him.

Kiyaa gasped as blood welled up in his mouth. In that moment, he understood Aru’s plan.

One of us had to die. And before he die he had to take the ramsi’s arm.

His body trembled.

Tears spilled from his eyes—not from fear, but from memory.

: The Boy From Thalvethar

As life began to slip away from him, Kiyaa thought of home.

He came from a poor family, deep within the Thalvethar Kingdom—a land known more for its suffering than strength. His parents had little to offer their children but love.

He was the eldest of three—himself and two younger sisters.

Some days, they had no food. His mother and father often went without eating so their children could have something—anything.

Thalvethar was a kingdom of hardship.

By the age of 14, Kiyaa could no longer bear to see his family suffer. He left school and made a decision that changed everything:

I’ll go to the capital… I’ll find work.

For days, he wandered the city looking for a job—but found none.

Then, sitting near a quiet alley, he was approached by an old man—someone who had once known his father.

“What are you doing out here, boy?” the man asked.

“I’m looking for work, Uncle.” Kiyaa respond

“Have you found anything?” the man ask again

Kiyaa shook his head. “Not yet.”

“Come with me.”

The man took him to a military outpost where workers were needed—not as soldiers, but as servants. Waiters, earning small wages.

Kiyaa accepted the job.

When he sent home his first few coins, his parents cried tears of joy. They hadn’t expected their son to be their provider at such a young age.

Eventually, Kiyaa joined the army. Through grit and heart, he rose through the ranks.

Just six months before the war, he had become a junior general.

And now…

He stood at death’s edge, Ramsi’s sword in his heart, thinking only of his sisters and parents.

If I die here… who will protect them? Or profide them abill

The tears fell freely.

But he didn’t let go of Ramsi.

: The Fall of Ramsi

With all his remaining strength, Kiyaa lifted his sword and with one swift strike—severed Ramsi’s arm. Blood sprayed into the air. Before Ramsi could react, Kiyaa threw himself onto him, clinging tightly to his body.

“Now, Aru!” he shouted, his voice filled with pain and desperation. “This is your chance! End it now!”

Aru knew this opportunity would never come again.

Without hesitation, he charged forward, gripping his sword tightly.

With precision and fury, he drove his blade through Ramsi’s back—straight into his heart and out through his chest. The steel pierced not only Ramsi—but also Kiyaa, who held him down.

Ramsi let out a final breath—a gasp of disbelief and defeat—as the blade claimed his life.

And so, in that one deadly stroke, the strongest warrior the realms had ever known—Ramsi the Dark Flame—and all his ambitions came to a crashing end.

: Victory and Mourning

The news of Ramsi’s death spread rapidly through his army. Shocked and disheartened, his soldiers began to retreat.

Though they were not crushed completely, they had been shaken—their strongest pillar destroyed.

When the word reached General Kunbaaf, the supreme commander of the Allied Forces, he was overwhelmed with joy. He immediately wrote a detailed report confirming that the Alliance had won the war and sent it to the King of Thalvethar.

In turn, the king shared the glorious news with the other two kingdoms in the alliance.

Soon, the Allied Forces returned to their base in Thalvethar. There, they were greeted as heroes.

The entire kingdom celebrated.

Special honors were given to the three surviving generals, and the fallen warriors were laid to rest with dignity—each sent home to their respective kingdoms with royal tribute.

Chapter 22: A Month of Joy

The Kingdom of Thalvethar celebrated for an entire month.

The king himself insisted that the surviving warriors and generals remain in the capital and join in the celebrations. It was a time of relief, pride, and reflection.

During that time, Aru grew closer to Lila, the young advisor who had always supported him. They began to understand one another deeply.

One evening, as the sun dipped behind the golden palace walls, Lila whispered:

“I love you, Aru. And if… things ever fall apart between you and the girl you love… I’ll be here. Always.”

Her words lingered in Aru’s heart.

: The Return and the Twist

After the month-long celebration, Aru left Thalvethar with his troops, heading back to his homeland.

As they traveled through one of the towns in his kingdom, a man stepped into the road and called out:

“Aru! The girl you loved… she’s married.”

The words hit him like a sword through the chest.

Aru’s eyes widened. His breath caught.

He turned to his junior generals. “Continue to lead the army. Head straight to the capital. I will go ahead of you.”

Without another word, Aru galloped forward—alone, his heart filled with pain, confusion, and a thousand questions.

: The Betrayal

Aru spurred his horse forward, racing toward the capital with urgency burning in his chest.

His heart pounded not from exhaustion—but from fear, confusion, and heartbreak.

He made his way straight to the district where Maria—the woman he had loved—used to live. As he turned the familiar corner, a man stepped into his path, stopping him.

“Are you looking for your friend Maria? The one who just got married?”

Aru’s eyes widened, his throat tightened.

“Yes,” he answered softly, his voice full of pain and disbelief.

The man stared at him for a moment, then nodded. “She no longer lives where you remember. But I’ll take you to the house she stays in now. Come with me.”

Aru followed without a word.

Along the way, the man slipped something small and glowing into Aru’s pocket. It looked like a radiant stone—but in truth, it was a dangerous charm.

The object had a sinister power—clouding the judgment of anyone who carried it. Twisting emotions. Blurring reason. It was meant to destabilize.

The man smiled quietly, as if his mission was complete.

Moments later, they reached the house. The man pointed. “That’s where she is. Your beloved Maria.”

Aru didn’t hesitate.

He rushed to the door, his chest heaving with emotion. His knuckles trembled as he gently knocked on the wooden frame.

The door creaked open.

And there she was—Maria. The woman he had dreamed of during long, painful nights of war. The girl who had promised to wait.

She froze the moment she saw him.

“Aru…” she whispered, her face pale, her breath caught. “Welcome…”

Aru’s lips trembled.

“Is it true?” he asked quietly.

She blinked. “What do you mean?”

His voice sharpened, his words more urgent. “Is it true what I’ve heard?”

Maria lowered her gaze. For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air.

Then she whispered, almost brokenly: “Yes… It’s true.”

Aru stood frozen.

A moment passed.

Then he stepped forward, his eyes glassy with tears. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders.

“What happened to our love, Maria?”
“What happened to everything we built?”
“The promises we made as children… the future we dreamed of together… Where did it all go?”

Tears welled in his eyes. His voice cracked.

“You betrayed me.
You left our vow behind like it meant nothing.
You betrayed me, Maria…”

He clutched her shoulders tighter, trying to stop himself from breaking, but tears streamed down his face.

His heart was torn—not just by her choice, but by the cruel timing. After everything he had survived… after everything he had fought for…

She was the one thing he thought would never change.

The Fall of Aru

Her husband arrived at the doorstep.

He saw them—Aru holding Maria, both of them overwhelmed by emotion. In his eyes, it looked like Aru was trying to hurt or take her away.

“Hey! Let her go!” the husband shouted.

He rushed between them and pulled Maria away.

“Step back!” he warned Aru.

But Aru, shaking with emotion, snapped.

“You’re the reason for all this! You tore apart two people who loved each other!”

Maria’s husband stepped forward.

“Move on. She's mine now.”

He turned to close the door, but Aru blocked it with his foot.

Infuriated, Maria’s husband pushed him hard.

Aru stumbled back.

And then—the cursed stone pulsed in his pocket. His rage flared. His vision blurred.

He drew his sword.

With one scream, he struck Maria’s husband through the chest.

The man collapsed.

Maria screamed as she cradled her dying husband.

“No!! What have you done?!”

Aru stood still. The sword fell from his hand.

He realized what he had done… but it was too late.

Then—the Royal Minister arrived, accompanied by three figures:

The old man that once met Aru before he became a general . The unknown man who told him Maria was married. The man who led him to Maria’s home.

They had set everything up.

“You’ve committed murder,” the Minister declared.
“The law must be fulfilled.”

He gave a signal.

The old man stepped forward—revealing himself as a powerful sorcerer.

He whispered a spell.

A dark aura surrounded Aru.

His chest tightened. His limbs froze.
And then—

He turned to stone.
A statue of a fallen hero. A monument to love lost, and choices that can never be undone.

Maria wept beside her husband’s lifeless body.

The kingdom mourned not just a man—but a legend shattered by pain, betrayal, and destiny.

Epilogue

This was the end of Aru, the Sword Bearer.

Or… was it?

This story has a Part Two.
And in it—fate may yet turn again.

Thank you for reading my story.
It brings me great joy to share this world with you.

—THE END.