The deep, resonating sound that had echoed through the castle was the toll of a bell, not of stone and metal, but of corrupted magic. It was the signal that Lord Valerius's ultimatum had expired. From the highest towers of the city, King Ottachi, Arthur, and Elias watched as a dark cloud, unlike any storm, appeared on the horizon. It was a shroud of black magic, and within it, an army of soldiers marched toward the city, their armor and weapons glinting with a malevolent light.
"He's here," the king said, his voice grim. The army was not made of men, but of shadows and stone, corrupted by the dark magic. Their eyes glowed with a crimson fire, and their movements were unnaturally swift and silent. This was the storm Valerius had promised.
With no time to spare, Arthur and Elias raced to the highest parapet of the city walls. They carried the flask containing the Elixir of Starlight, which now pulsed with a rhythmic, golden glow. Below, the city's defenders stood ready, their swords and shields a final, desperate line of defense. But Arthur knew they were no match for what was coming.
"This is it," Arthur said, his hand trembling slightly as he held the flask. "Elias, I'll need your help."
Elias, without a word, opened the ancient book of magic to the page with the spell for the Shield of the Ancients. As Arthur began to chant the ancient runes, Elias began a counter-chant, a rhythm that resonated with the magic in the air, stabilizing the power and guiding it. Arthur poured the Elixir of Starlight onto the battlements, and as the liquid touched the stone, it flared with a brilliant, blinding light. The light didn't just shine; it formed a solid, shimmering dome of pure magic that began to envelop the city.
The shield grew, a translucent dome of golden light that shimmered like a star, rising from the very foundations of the city and expanding to cover every street and home within the walls. As it met the dark cloud of Valerius's army, the two forces clashed. There was no explosion, but a deafening silence. The dark magic of the army tried to push against the shield, but the purity of the light held firm, repelling the shadowy forces and causing them to recoil.
On the other side of the magical barrier, Lord Valerius, a figure cloaked in black armor, watched from atop his dark steed. A cold sneer curled on his face as he saw the shield. He raised a hand, and with a terrible roar, his entire army began to attack the shield at once. The magical barrier shimmered, its light flickering under the immense strain, but it held. Aethelgard was safe for now.
But as the battle raged outside the walls, Arthur and Elias looked at the shield, and then at each other, their faces pale. The shield was strong, but it was not unbreakable. It was an umbrella against a hurricane, and the real storm was still coming. The first challenge had been met, but the war was only just beginning.