Chapter 59: REFORGED


    <hr>


    I stared at the Shogun, my mind reeling from our shared visions. The truth about Hiro, Ryuunosuke, and his desperate efforts to protect the children left me shaken.


    I was wrong about the Shogun this entire time.


    "What am I supposed to do?" I asked, my voice quivering.


    The Shogun''s eyes, filled with urgency, looked upward. He pointed to the sky, where my star and his pulsed with new synchronicity.


    "I don''t understand," I said.


    His arm shifted, finger extending past me. Before I could turn, inky black tendrils burst through the arena floor. They wrapped around the Shogun''s legs, yanking him downward.


    I lunged forward, grabbing his outstretched hand. The tendrils pulled harder, their darkness spreading across the floor like spilled ink. My muscles strained as I tried to hold on, but his hand slipped through my fingers. He vanished into the obsidian pool in seconds, leaving only ripples in the solid ground.


    "No!" I slammed my fist against the floor where he''d disappeared.


    Taking a shaky breath, I turned to look where he''d pointed. Nothing but an empty arena stretched before me. I walked forward, my footsteps echoing in the vast space.


    The glossy black floor caught my attention. As I stared down, the reflection shifted, showing me a view beyond our island, out across the dark sea. A massive shape dotted the waters. Zooming in, it was a turtle shell with markings I recognized—Runelore. On its back, a lone figure sat cross-legged.


    * * *


    I found Cragmarr and Sora in the courtyard, their faces illuminated by the morning sun.


    "Kyra''s coming," I said.


    Cragmarr''s marble eyes swirled with concern.


    "You plan to meet her?"


    "Alone. I need to show her I''m not a threat."


    "That''s foolish," Sora crossed her arms. "Let me come with you."


    "No," I shook my head. "She''s by herself—I checked. If I bring backup, she''ll think it''s another trap."


    "Or she could be lying," Sora''s fingers tapped against her sword hilt. "Amazons are experts at deceptive negotiations."


    "I have to try." I turned to Cragmarr. "Stay with Jon."


    Cragmarr nodded slowly.


    "Be careful, Ember."


    "I don''t like this," Sora said.


    I headed down the winding path to the beach, my boots sinking into the soft sand. A cool breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean. I settled onto a large piece of driftwood, scanning the horizon.


    A familiar weight landed on my shoulders as Kitty draped herself around my neck like a scaly scarf. Her presence was comforting as I waited for Kyra on the waves.


    * * *


    A massive shape emerged from the seas—Runelore''s shell breaking the surface as it swam in the distance. I could make out Kyra''s silhouette perched on its back.


    I touched Kitty''s scales. "Time to go in, girl." She disappeared into the familiar ring with a soft chime.


    Although Sora had agreed to stay out of this, I didn''t put it past her to attack from the shadows somewhere if I let Kyra get to the beach. I blinked, materializing before Kyra on Runelore''s shell. Salt spray hit my face as the giant terragrym cut through the water.


    No longer having the title of princess in her status, she''d advanced several levels but not as much as I had.


    NAME: Kyra [Doctrine Dealer]


    Tier: II [Bronze] Rank 5


    Faction: Amazon [Daughter]


    "Hey, princess," I said, trying to keep my tone light.


    Kyra didn''t look up from her meditation. Her cornrows were shorter now, barely reaching her shoulders. Her once-vibrant blue armor had been replaced with stark white fabric, making her look more like a priestess.


    "I''m so sorry, Kyra. For everything that happened at Ironhaven."Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    She opened her eyes but remained rigid, staring ahead at the beach. The naive warmth and feisty spirit I''d known were gone, replaced by an unsettling stillness.


    "I know I messed up," I took a step. "But we can fix this. We can—"


    Kyra spun, her spear appearing from nowhere, whipping into her hands.


    AUTO DODGE: FAIL


    Card Discarded [1/3] 33%


    The blade sliced across my cheek. Blood trickled down my face.


    I didn''t move—didn''t raise a hand to defend myself. It was the same cut Sora had inflicted hundreds of times.


    "Tell me how to make this right," I said. "We could leave together, get away from the Amazons. I''ll help you start over somewhere new… your brother."


    The spear tip hovered near my throat. Kyra''s cold eyes glistened with silent rage. But she hesitated, the weapon trembling slightly in her grip.


    "He''s dead," she said.


    "Who? Your brother? Tavian?"


    "No," she spat. "You know I loved him."


    "Oh my god, the one you met on your trials.” I felt like an enormous asshole for dismissing her romance the last time I saw her. “Who did it? Your mother?"


    "Aric."


    "Your father? Why would—"


    "He''s not my father anymore."


    Kyra''s spear clattered against Runelore''s shell. She collapsed into my arms, her body shaking with sobs. I held her tight, feeling her tears soak through my Gi.


    "You left me there," she said, heaving as she cried. "You abandoned me."


    "I thought I was protecting you." I stroked her cornrows. "Your father—I mean, Aric—your mother, we''d be on the run. I couldn''t let that happen."


    Kyra''s fingers dug into my back.


    "You should have let me choose."


    "You''re right. I''m so sorry. I''ve been trying to find a way to make it up to you. That''s why I''m here now."


    She pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes.


    "And... we need your help," I continued. "Lance the Lightslayer is coming with an army. With your skills, we could—"


    Kyra shoved me away.


    "Of course. That''s what this is really about, isn''t it?" Her voice cracked. "You don''t care about me. You want another soldier for your war. You''re in this for power."


    "No, Kyra, that''s not—"


    "Fight me." She squared her shoulders. "A Jingozi match. Right now."


    "You know I can''t," I shook my head. "Your level—"


    "Scared I might win?"


    "We both know that''s not possible." I met her gaze. "But if that''s what you need... if it will help you... I''ll do it."


    Kyra''s hand tightened on her spear as she considered my words.


    "You''re right," she said. "But I must beat you to restore my title."


    "What the hell are you talking about?"


    "The reforging grounds… you have no idea what they do to sanctify us. The Jingozi… they ensure we are pure so we can win… so I can win."


    "You''re making no sense."


    "I can be a princess again—reforged—just like mother wanted. It would help if you died. I know I''m not strong enough. Not yet. But I don''t have to do it alone, Ember."


    She glared at me ominously as a knot formed in the pit of my stomach.


    "Kyra, what did you do?"


    AUTODODGE: SUCCESSFUL


    Card Discarded [5/5] 100%


    I spun away as Kyra released a shrill war cry, her dagger slashing through empty air. The blade glinted with an unnatural green sheen—poison, most likely.


    A flicker of motion at the edge of my vision drew my attention. An enormous warship materialized through the dawn''s haze, dwarfing the buccaneer vessels I typically encountered.


    The first cannon blast echoed across the water.


    I sprinted across the waves, my feet barely touching the surface as my water-walker ability kept me from sinking. Behind me, a deafening crack split the air. I glanced back to see Runelore''s shell exploding into fragments, the massive terragrym disappearing beneath a geyser of seawater.


    Kyra vanished in the chaos of foam and debris.


    "Krya!" I screamed.


    I considered doubling back, but the ocean surged upward, forming a towering figure of water and seaweed. Its liquid arms reached for me, each bigger than a house. I couldn''t blink away without a line of sight to follow, trapped between certain death and drowning.


    I fumbled with my familiar ring.


    "Kitty, get back to shore! Warn the others!"


    Kitty materialized in a flash of light, but instead of flying away, she dove toward me. Her tail wrapped around my wrist, and suddenly, we were skimming across the water''s surface at incredible speed. Spray flew up around us as Kitty pulled me like a water skier, carrying us both toward the distant beach.


    The water golem''s fist crashed down where I''d been standing moments before, sending a massive wave rolling out in all directions.


    A barrage of flaming cards streaked across the water, their trails burning bright against the morning sky. They slammed into the water golem''s chest, sending plumes of steam erupting from its liquid form. As I''d suspected, Sora stood on the beach, her arm extended from the throw.


    The massive water creature released a deep, resonant bellow that vibrated the ocean''s surface. Its watery mass collapsed into the sea, leaving only ripples where it had been moments before.


    I blinked to Sora''s position, materializing beside her on the sand. Kitty flew overhead. The sound of cannon fire continued to echo across the water behind us. She gave me that knowing look that screamed, "I told you so." Her jaw was tight, holding back a lecture.


    "Save it," I said as we ran toward the estate.


    * * *


    We sprinted up the steps to Katorro''s estate, our feet pounding against the weathered stone.


    "Cragmarr!" I shouted as we burst through the courtyard. "They''re here! Get Jon now!"


    Sora raced to gather our supplies while I yanked open the trap door leading to the tunnels. The hinges creaked in protest.


    "I got him," Cragmarr called from inside. He emerged carrying Jon''s limp form over his shoulder. "The tunnels are clear."


    "Ember!" Sora snapped, shoving a pack into my arms. "Come on. We need to move."


    "Wait!" I called as Cragmarr disappeared down the tunnel entrance with Jon. "Remember to use the crystals."


    "Got it," Cragmarr''s voice echoed back.


    I closed my eyes and blinked into the Jingozi arena. The familiar obsidian floor materialized beneath my feet as I expanded my senses outward, scanning the island from above.


    From my vantage point in the Jingozi arena, I stared at the massive metal cruiser slicing through the waves—no sails—just pure water golem power driving it forward. Three escort vessels flanked it in formation, their dark hulls bristling with cannons.


    The beach was peppered with explosions as another volley blasted from the ships, with plumes of sand peeking skyward. They were carpet bombing the island—all that firepower just to kill me.


    I swept my enhanced vision to the far side of the island. As Jon predicted, a smaller vessel had broken away from the main fleet. Landing crafts were already cutting through the surf toward shore, packed with what had to be at least a hundred Emperor soldiers ready for their flanking attack.


    My mind drifted back to Kyra, to that look of betrayal in her eyes before the first cannon blast. The Emperor faction didn''t give a rat''s ass if she was a casualty if they had a chance at me. Had she made it to safety?


    I shook my head. I couldn''t afford distractions now. Kyra had made her choice when she''d drawn that poisoned blade. She wasn''t the girl I''d tried to help anymore. She was an enemy.


    Still, as I counted the landing crafts approach through my omniscient view, I couldn''t shake the image of her falling backward as the explosions began.


    Focus, Ember, I commanded myself. The plan was solid. Sora and Kitty had the rear, and I would wait for my opportunity.


    But as I prepared to blink back to my body, I couldn''t help but scan the churning waters one last time, searching for any sign of Kyra.


    I found nothing.