Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 226: The Duke and the King

Chapter 226: The Duke and the King

The battlefield around the capital was a cacophony of clashing swords and battle cries. Tillian, Stanis, Kassian, and Yanad led their troops with unwavering determination, their blades gleaming under the morning sky as they pressed forward against King Euris’s forces. It seemed like victory was within their grasp, their combined might slowly but surely overpowering the enemy.

Tillian’s eyes locked onto King Euris, who stood at the heart of his faltering army. With a nod to his soldiers, he advanced, his massive black sword held high, ready to clash one-on-one with the king. The two leaders faced each other, the tension between them ready to ignite.

King Euris’s lips curled into a sneer as he lifted his sword, matching Tillian’s stance. "Even if you defeat me here, Duke Valentine, you will still lose this war."

Tillian’s eyes narrowed. "And why is that?"

Euris’s sneer deepened. "There is no way Aideen has defeated Queen Fleur. Once she returns, your victory will be meaningless. The queen will destroy you all."

A surge of anger flared within the duke, but he kept his voice steady.

"Your arrogance and reliance on others make you pathetic, Your Majesty. Without the queen, you are nothing. You’ve let yourself be bewitched, and now you resort to pathetic attempts to save yourself by hiding behind her power. You were never a good king. Once you are gone, people will finally be free. Regardless of the outcome, I will fight you. I have to."

Their swords clashed with a resounding clang, each strike filled with the fury of their convictions. The duel was fierce, their mighty swords creating sparks as they collided. The ground beneath them trembled with each powerful blow, the soldiers around them momentarily pausing to witness the epic confrontation.

Suddenly, the ground started shaking violently. Tillian paused, his sword raised mid-strike, as he felt the air grow cold. Snowflakes began to fall, swirling in the chilling breeze. Confusion spread across the battlefield, and then someone screamed, "Dragons!"

Tillian’s heart skipped a beat.

"Dragons?"

He raised his head and saw a sight that filled him with awe and admiration. At least a dozen giant blue dragons, glowing with a luminous blue light, appeared in the sky. Their forms were majestic, their scales shimmering with an ethereal glow. Each dragon exuded an aura of power and grace, their wings spreading wide as they soared through the air.

"Are they real?!" Stanis fixed his brown eyes on the marvel above him. Prince Kassian, too, watched as the magic creatures covered the sky with their massive bodies and shook his head, "They are made of mana... God, how powerful is the magic that brought them all here?"

Among the snow dragons, Tillian saw a figure riding a dragon at the forefront. His breath caught in his throat as he recognized Aideen, though her long hair changed its color and her eyes gleamed with a new glow, it was still her. She won.

The princess rode Taru, who had transformed into his complete grown form. The dragon’s scales were a dazzling mix of icy blue and silver, his eyes blazing with an inner fire similar to that of his master. His wings were vast, casting shadows over the battlefield as he descended to the ground.

Aideen’s hair flowed around her, now a stunning blue with silver highlights, and her eyes glowed with a fierce determination. She embodied the power of the true snow dragon, her entire being radiating with the combined strength of her ancestors.

King Euris’s face contorted with shock and fear as he beheld the spectacle. "No... This is absurd... this can’t be!"

Aideen shifted her glare to the king, voice rang out, clear and strong, cutting through the chaos. "King Euris, your reign ends today. You sought to abuse the weak and control the strong while having no qualities fit for a ruler. Surrender now. Do not lead more people to the downfall fated solely for you."

The dragons, made of Aideen’s powerful mana, circled above the battlefield, their presence alone striking terror into the hearts of Euris’s soldiers. They began to falter, their resolve crumbling as they faced the overwhelming might of the dragon army.

Tillian felt a surge of pride and love as he watched his wife command the dragons with such grace and power. She had become the snow dragon she was always meant to be, fulfilling her destiny with a strength that left him in awe. Just when he thought he could not admire her more, she succeeded in surprising him again.

Euris, desperate and enraged, lunged at Tillian with renewed ferocity, hoping that his attack would catch him off guard. But Tillian met his attacks with an unmatched skill, his confidence bolstered by the sight of Aideen and the dragons. The duel continued, their swords clashing with a fury that matched the snowstorm brewing around them.

Taru released a loud shriek, directing the dragons to unleash their icy breath upon the enemy forces. Blue flames erupted, freezing anything in their path, turning the battlefield into a frigid wasteland. Euris’s soldiers were thrown into disarray, their ranks breaking as they tried to escape the onslaught only to be captured by the armies of Lafad and Davoor.

As Tillian and Euris fought, the ground beneath them trembled once more. Exhausted and already wounded, the king’s eyes widened in terror as he realized his defeat was imminent.

"I can’t lose to someone like you! Your father was not worthy of the throne and neither are you!"

Duke Valentine frowned, the mention of his father made his blood boil. Seizing the moment, he disarmed Euris with one swift strike, sending the king’s sword flying. He pointed his blade at his opponent’s throat, his voice cold but steady,

"No, it was you who was not worthy of the throne, that’s why resorted to rumors and speculations while stabbing my father from behind while your blind puppets were losing their lives in the rebellion."

Grabbing the king by his hair, Tillian bent his neck backward, his blade pressing harder onto his skin, "A head for a head, Your Majesty. It is time you answered for your tyranny."