Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

The noise of battle engulfed all senses. The world was reduced to the rumble of wheels, the smell of sweat, blood, and dust that burned the nostrils, and the metallic sound of clashing blades. Kael swung his sword, cutting down another opponent who had dared to leap from the enemy wagon. The blade flashed in a deadly arc, and the body was thrown backward, falling under the horses' hooves.

He had no time to breathe. Three more approached from the flank, and at a glance, Kael noticed something amiss in the coachman's posture. The man pulled hard on the reins, trying to keep the animals on the road. Sweat dripped from his forehead, running down into his thick beard.

It was then that the deadly whistle was heard.

An arrow sliced ​​through the air at high speed. There was no time for shouts of warning. The projectile tore through the side of the coachman's skull, entering through his left eye and exiting through the back.

His body immediately fell, limp.

The reins slipped from his hands.

"Damn it!" Kael roared from atop the carriage, his amber eyes wide.

The horses, now uncontrolled, went into a frenzy. They neighed loudly, foam pouring from their mouths, their hooves pounding the ground even harder. The carriage shook violently, nearly throwing Kael off.

"The coachman!" Sylphie screamed from inside, terror etched on her face.

"Hold on tight!" Irelia screamed, grabbing the princess by the shoulders and shoving her against the seat.

The carriage transformed into a runaway demon, hurtling forward. The horses ran as if fleeing from hell itself, the wood of the carriage trembling with every jolt. The wheels hit rocks, roots, each impact echoing like thunder.

Amelia ran around the side, trying to get closer, but stumbled at the sudden speed. She conjured a barrier of ice to force the horses to slow down, but the structure shattered instantly under the impact.

"They'll kill us before the enemy!" she screamed, limping on her injured leg.

Kael knew he had to take control, but there was no time. The reins swung loose, whipping through the air. He leaped from the roof, landing with a heavy thud on the bench where the dead coachman still hung. Blood dripped onto the wood, staining the worn leather red.

Kael gripped the reins tightly, pulling. But the horses were mad, blinded by panic. They ignored his command, continuing to charge.

The road narrowed. Huge trees lined the side, their roots exposed like sharp claws.

"Kael!" Sylphie screamed from inside, clawing at the window. "The tree!"

He looked ahead just in time to see.

The carriage was heading straight for a colossal trunk at the side of the road.

"Hold on!" Kael roared.

The impact was brutal. The side of the carriage slammed hard against the tree. The crack of the wood breaking mingled with the neighing of the horses. The carriage lost its balance completely and toppled to the side.

The world turned upside down.

The princess was grabbed by Sylphie and Irelia at the same time, both using their bodies to break the fall. Amelia erected a makeshift ice wall to break part of the impact, which shattered at the same moment the vehicle overturned.

Kael didn't have time to think. His body was thrown along with the bench, the coachman's corpse slamming against it before being thrown away. Pain exploded in his shoulders as he slammed into the side of the carriage and rolled amidst the wreckage.

The carriage rolled once. Twice. Three times.

With each turn, the world became a blur of screams, cracks, and blood. Until finally, the carriage came to a halt on its side, broken, the horses still kicking, tied to the reins.

The silence that followed was crushing.

Kael was the first to move. He coughed, spitting up blood and dust, and forced himself to his feet amid the wreckage. His left shoulder throbbed, but he ignored the pain. It took his vision a few seconds to adjust, but soon he saw.

The enemies were still coming.

Across the hills, armed men loomed like vultures, their silhouettes multiplying against the setting sun. They screamed, brandishing swords, axes, and bows. The accident had only benefited them.

"Get up!" Kael roared, his voice echoing like thunder.

From the shattered interior of the carriage, a hand emerged. Amelia, panting, pulled herself out. Her face was covered in scratches and blood, but her eyes still shone with determination.

Behind her, Sylphie was pushing the princess out, trembling. "Are you alright, Your Highness?" she asked desperately.

The princess, incredibly, didn't have a single scratch. Her posture was serene, almost cold, though her eyes betrayed the terror she kept bottled up.

Irelia came out last, sword in hand, blood dripping from her forehead. She immediately stood before the princess, like a human wall.

"They're coming," she murmured, her blue eyes flashing. "Let them come, then."

Kael walked toward them, limping. His left arm was useless, but his sword still gleamed firmly in his right hand. He looked around.

"Form a circle. Protect the princess at all costs." His voice was a command, unmistakable.

"And you?" Amelia asked, leaning sideways, blood staining her leg.

Kael raised his sword and took a step forward.

"I'll handle the rest."

The enemies descended from the hills like a wave of shadows. Arrows began to whistle through the air. Sylphie raised a shield of light, protecting the princess, but the impact caused her magic to tremble, nearly shattering.

Amelia stretched out her arms, conjuring new ice spikes that rose from the ground and impaled the first to arrive. Screams echoed, but the tide of enemies seemed endless.

Kael advanced.

He ran straight at the first three men coming from the front. His sword swung in a perfect arc, cutting the first from shoulder to hip. The second raised an axe, but Kael ducked and plunged the blade into his stomach, pushing him aside. The third retreated, but not quickly enough—Kael kicked his knee, shattering it, and finished with a blow to the neck.

Blood spurted onto the grass.

"He alone is worth an army..." Irelia murmured, her eyes never leaving the fight.

"But even he has his limit," Sylphie replied, sweating, keeping her shield raised.

More men surrounded Kael. He spun, dodged, and struck. Every move was precise, without waste. But with each enemy felled, three more appeared to replace him.

Amelia screamed, raising another wall of ice to stop a group trying to approach from the rear. But her magic was already showing signs of exhaustion. The ice cracked, her hands trembled.

An arrow grazed the princess's ear, tearing out a strand of golden hair.

Sylphie nearly lost her balance as she reinforced her shield.

"I can't hold out much longer!" she screamed, the veins pulsing in her neck.

Kael heard, but he couldn't back down. He cut down another enemy, his blade already slick with blood. The body fell, and two more took its place.

He knew: he was at his limit.

The setting sun dyed the field red. The dead horses still writhed, the smell of blood permeated the air, and the wrecked carriage served as a makeshift barricade.

They were surrounded.

Kael took a deep breath, his amber eyes burning like fire. Then he raised his sword, muscles tensing, and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Come!"

The enemy roared in response, rushing toward him.

The first to reach Kael raised his sword in a wild arc, screaming like a beast.

Kael merely dodged his head, letting the blade graze his face. Before the enemy even realized his mistake, Kael's blade was buried in his throat. A jet of blood exploded into the air, staining the eyes of the next man behind.

The second stumbled, blind, and Kael took advantage. He kicked him in the chest so hard the crack of his ribs echoed, throwing the man against two others.

"Next!" Kael roared, his amber eyes glowing like living fire.

Three attacked in unison. Blades streaked through the air, seeking his neck, chest, and legs. But Kael moved as if dancing. He pivoted on his heel, raised his sword to block two slashes at once, and with a fluid movement, stepped back just enough to let the third blade slice through empty air.

Then he responded.

A sideways thrust slashed open the first's flank. A swift thrust pierced the second's heart. And before the third could flee, Kael grabbed him by the hair and shoved him against his own blade, cutting through him like butter.

The corpse fell lifeless at the feet of the others.

"Who else?" Kael bellowed, his voice echoing like thunder.

Beside the wrecked carriage, the bandits attempted to flank her. Amelia, exhausted, raised her hands one last time. The ground shook, and icy spikes rose like sharp walls, piercing four men at once. They were trapped, writhing, screaming, before the cold consumed their lungs.

"This should... hold for a moment," she gasped, nearly falling.

Irelia braced her feet before the princess. When two bandits dared to approach, she swung her blade with speed and precision, cutting one in half and ripping off the other's arm. The man fell screaming, clutching the bloody stump.

Sylphie, gasping, raised her shield of light again. A hail of arrows descended upon them, but they all ricocheted off the glowing barrier, scattering golden sparks through the air.

"I'm still here!" she shouted, her eyes shining with fervor.

The bandits hesitated. Only for a moment.

And that was all it took.

Kael charged at them like a storm.