The Imperial Palace war chamber was filled with a heavy silence. The war was turning in Aetherion’s favor, but Zephyros was far from defeated. At the head of the war table, Hana sat with a pensive expression, her fingers lightly tapping against the hilt of Kurohazan, the legendary sword resting beside her.

  Across from her, Hime gracefully flipped through war reports, her golden eyes calm but unreadable. Haruka paced impatiently, hands resting on her twin swords, the anticipation of battle evident in her restless energy.

  Lord Aldric Frostbane, his battle-worn features still carrying the weight of defending Vintergard, leaned forward, arms crossed. “Zephyros has suffered a heavy defeat in Iskandar Pass also on our north and south border, but they are far from broken.”

  Lady Seraphina Dawnlight nodded in agreement, her golden robes glowing softly under the dim candlelight. “We must move before they can regroup. If we allow them time to recover, they will retaliate with greater force.”

  Grand Magister Lucius of Eldoria adjusted his spectacles. “The question remains—where do we strike next?”

  Hana exhaled deeply, her voice steady. “We go straight for their stronghold.”

  A ripple of shock spread across the room. Even Haruka stopped pacing.

  Hime raised an eyebrow. “You mean their fortress at Skyhold?”

  Hana nodded. “Zephyros has lost its advantage. If we want to end this war, we must strike directly at their heart.”

  Aldric nodded in agreement, the tips of his lips curled slightly of amusement. “A bold plan, Empress.”

  Haruka grinned, her excitement barely contained, already cracking her knuckles. “Now this is the kind of strategy I like.”

  Hime, ever composed, met Hana’s gaze. “Then you’ll need to lead this attack personally.”

  The decision was made. There would be no more waiting behind walls, no more retreating to regroup. Aetherion would no longer fight defensively.

  They would bring the war to Zephyros—and crush them before they had a chance to recover.

  —

  The Skyhold Battle

  Within two weeks, the greatest army in Aetherion's history had formed. One hundred and fifty thousand soldiers gathered beneath a single banner. From the battle-scarred plains of Aikyo to the frostbitten peaks of Vintergard, from the divine sanctuaries of Solmaria to the arcane halls of Eldoria—they came. Warriors, mages, berserkers, and strategists—united by one goal: to bring Skyhold to its knees.

  At the head of this vast legion rode Hana Satō, Empress of Aetherion. Clad in obsidian armor lined with gold, her presence alone stilled the winds. At her sides, the twin forces of her soul. Kurohazan, black flame coiling at its edge, the blade pulsed with power, as if born from the abyss itself, and Uriel, radiant and steady, her divine staff glowing with sacred power. Hana no longer walked as a mere ruler. She strode forward as a force of nature.

  Beside her, Hime Satō, led the Imperial Strategists. Her mind was a blade sharper than steel, every troop movement, every supply line, every formation accounted for with unshakable precision.

  To the front marched Haruka Satō, her twin swords strapped to her back, her eyes burning with anticipation. She commanded the Aetherion Vanguard—the first to charge, the last to fall. Where she led, battle followed.

  Lord Aldric Frostbane stood at the northern flank, his fur-lined armor bristling with frost, his great sword gleamed under the morning sun. Behind him, the berserkers of Vintergard roared like wolves in waiting, axes raised, eager for blood.

  Seraphina Dawnlight, high priestess of Solmaria, moved like sunlight through shadow. Her divine mages followed her chant for chant, their hands already glowing with holy sigils meant to purge the darkness of Zephyros.

  And at the rear, cloaked in violet storm robes, Grand Magister Lucius Altharion marched silently with the elite battle mages of Eldoria. The forbidden arcane swirled around them like smoke, ready to turn enemy siege weapons into molten ruin.

  Above them all, the sky churned with tension.

  At Hana’s side, the world rumbled. Kurohazan, fully awakened, flew overhead with wings of burning shadow, its black fire trailing across the clouds like a brand carved into the sky. Below, Uriel prowled with divine grace, her silver fur reflecting golden light, her eyes locked on the distant horizon. The two divine beasts had not been summoned for a mere battle.

  They were here for war.

  And so, the march began. The earth shook beneath their advance, a living storm of steel, flame, and fury. And beyond the final ridge, lit by the dying sun—Skyhold waited.

  Zephyros had seen Aetherion’s fury once.

  Now they would face it at full force.

  Over two hundred thousand Zephyrian warriors had been stationed at the fortress, reinforced by war machines, wyvern legions, and battle mages.

  At the center of their forces stood Emperor Cassius Valerius, the supreme ruler of Zephyros, clad in obsidian armor, wielding a cursed greatsword infused with dark magic. at his left stood General Varian, commander of the Skyborne Cavalry, leading the wyvern legions.

  And a few steps behind the Emperor stood a man in black robe, His features hidden behind his hood. High Inquisitor Mordecai, master of Zephyros’ forbidden magics. beside him stood a familiar figure of vengeance, The Last Warlord of Zankoku, a deadly assassin who had been waiting for Hana’s arrival.

  The moment the battle began, the sky was set ablaze. Wyverns clashed with Eldoria’s griffon riders, their battle cries echoing across the clouds. Solmaria’s divine mages unleashed holy fire, colliding mid-air with Zephyros’ dark sorcery in blinding arcs of light.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  On the ground, Haruka led the Aetherion Vanguard like a storm given form, her twin blades cutting a path through enemy ranks as they surged ahead of the main force. Behind her, the vanguard struck with ruthless precision—the first to charge, the last to fall.

  On the northern flank, Aldric and his berserkers broke through enemy lines, their axes cleaving through armor as they pushed toward the fortress gates, roaring with every strike.

  And at the heart of the battlefield—Hana charged forward.

  As Zephyros’ legions surrounded her, Hana tightened her grip on Kurohazan and Uriel.

  Her eyes burned golden as she whispered a single command. “Jigen Rekkai!” (Dimensional Rift Severance!) With a single slash, Kurohazan ripped through reality itself, creating a black rift that swallowed dozens of enemies in an instant.

  Then, she raised Uriel to the sky. “Tenbatsu!” (Heaven’s Punishment!)" A massive golden sigil formed above her, unleashing a divine explosion that incinerated Zephyros’ sorcerers, breaking through their barriers like glass.

  Hana moved like a force of nature. Every step, every swing of her blade warped the battlefield, her reality-warping powers bending time itself, forcing her enemies into a losing fight. And then—the Last Warlord of Zankoku appeared.

  A single figure emerged from the chaos, his twin blades dripping with cursed magic. Hana felt the killing intent immediately. The assassin vanished in an instant. And when he reappeared he was already behind her. Hana barely had time to react as the twin blades slashed toward her throat. At the last moment, Kurohazan flared, warping reality enough to slow time itself. She turned just in time.

  The two clashed, blades ringing like a death song. Sparks flew as Kurohazan met his cursed daggers, the battlefield around them distorting from the sheer force of their duel. Their blades a blur, every clash sending sparks across the stone, but neither showed signs of slowing

  Hana narrowed her eyes. “Enough.”

  With a single breath, she commanded “Rengoku!” Kurohazan ignited, erupting into a storm of dark flame. The air cracked as the purgatory fire coiled around her body, not consuming her, but becoming her. In that moment, she was no longer flesh and blood—

  she was judgment.

  And then, she moved. A flash. A blur. She was faster than any human eyes could track, she drove the blade straight through the warlord’s chest, the dark flame erupting from his back in a blaze of silence and fury.

  For the first time, his eyes widened in shock. Then, he fell. Zankoku’s last warlord was dead.

  The war was all but over. The banners of Aetherion now flew over the ruins of Skyhold, signaling the end of Zephyros’ reign over the East.

  But Emperor Cassius Valerius had not yet fallen. The war would not truly be over until the last embers of Zephyros' resistance were extinguished. And Cassius refused to surrender.

  —

  The Emperor’s Last Stand – The Duel That Shook the Battlefield

  The final remnants of Zephyros’ forces retreated, Cassius Valerius stood alone atop the ruined fortress walls. His obsidian armor was cracked, his cape tattered, but his golden eyes burned with unyielding fury. In his hands, his cursed greatsword pulsed with dark energy, its blade humming with forbidden magic.

  Across from him, Hana Satō stepped forward. She did not raise her sword immediately. She simply stared at him, her expression unreadable. “You’ve lost, Cassius.”

  The emperor let out a bitter laugh. “I’ve lost this battle,” he admitted, his voice cold and sharp as steel.

  “But this war is far from over.”

  He raised his greatsword, pointing it toward Hana. “Come, Empress. If you mean to end this, then face me as a warrior.”

  Hana exhaled slowly. Then she lifted Kurohazan, its tip pointing to the emperor. The legendary blade erupted into dark flames, the air around it warping under the sheer power it radiated. Uriel floated beside her, pulsing with divine light, as if anticipating the battle to come.

  “No more words, then,” Hana murmured.

  And with that—they clashed.

  The fortress shook as sword met sword. Cassius' cursed blade clashed against Kurohazan, dark magic crackling like thunder upon impact. Hana moved like the wind, her flaming sword carving through the battlefield, forcing Cassius to match her speed. Cassius countered fiercely, his sword strikes creating shockwaves, tearing through the ground with unrelenting force.

  The fight was monumental. It was the Empress of Aetherion vs. the God-King of Zephyros. Cassius swung his greatsword, unleashing a wave of darkness. But Hana dodged, flipping over him in midair before striking with Jigen Rekkai (Dimensional Rift Severance)

  The attack nearly tore through Cassius, forcing him back, his armor splitting along the chestplate. For the first time, his confidence wavered But he did not fall. He roared, channeling his last reserves of strength. “Fallen King’s Wrath!” A massive surge of black energy erupted from his sword, threatening to consume the entire battlefield.

  Hana narrowed her eyes. And then she answered with her strongest attack.

  She raised Kurohazan and Uriel together, the two legendary weapons shining in unison. “Ten no Ikari! (Heaven’s Wrath!)” A massive tempest of divine and black flames coiled like a divine serpent outward, colliding with Cassius' attack.

  The entire fortress shook violently, the sky splitting apart as raw power clashed.

  For a moment—there was only blinding light.

  And then—silence.

  When the light faded… There was no cheering. Not yet. Only silence. The kind that follows a god’s judgment

  As the dust settled, Cassius Valerius knelt on the shattered ground. His greatsword lay beside him, shattered. Blood dripped from the corners of his mouth, his obsidian armor barely holding together. Hana stood over him, Kurohazan burning softly in her grasp.

  “It’s over,” she said, her voice steady.

  Cassius, breathing heavily, laughed. “Not yet.”

  Before Hana could react, a massive explosion erupted from the fortress ruins. From the depths of Skyhold, a hidden teleportation circle activated, enveloping Cassius in dark energy.

  Zephyros’ remaining forces had activated their escape route. Hana’s eyes widened as the emperor began to fade from sight.

  “Next time, Hana Satō,” Cassius said, his voice hauntingly calm.

  And then—he was gone. The God-King of Zephyros had escaped.

  As the last of the Zephyrian forces retreated, the soldiers of Aetherion let out a thunderous cheer.

  Skyhold had fallen.

  The war was over.

  The Empire of Aetherion had secured its place as the new dominant power of the Eastern Continent. Hana sheathed Kurohazan, feeling the weight of her decisions pressing upon her.

  She turned to her sisters—Hime watching with quiet approval, Haruka grinning with battle euphoria. And then, for the first time in weeks, Hana allowed herself to smile.

  They had won.

  But she knew deep down—this victory would not be the last war she would fight. For in the shadows, Cassius was already plotting his return. And the next time they met—it would not be as warriors, but as rulers of empires destined to clash once more.

  As Aetherion’s forces marched home, the entire continent recognized what had happened. A new empire had risen. And its Empress, Hana Satō, was now a legend.

  Hi Kryssa Here! if you enjoy the story or have any suggestion, question, theories, and favorite moments please let me know in the comment section!

  The update will be every tuesday, thursday and saturday. please follow if you wanted to know the latest update of Crimson Lotus!

  I Hope you enjoy the story!