Chapter 144: The Lion King
The control room hummed with quiet power, its walls lit by shifting blue screens. The Sanctum drifted steadily through the sky, the map of the world glowing faint on the center panel. Lucian stood by the console, Lucy beside him, Infernal Eclipse still burning faintly in her hand.
The doors hissed open.
Karl stepped in, his steps heavier than before, though his chains were gone now. There was something new in the way he carried himself—his frame tense with energy, his movements sharper. Kaelis perched on Lucian’s shoulder, shrunken down to his small form again, tail curling lazily, molten eyes watchful.
Lucy’s gaze landed on Karl immediately. Her eyes narrowed faintly, then she turned her head toward Lucian. "So... is he a free man now?"
Lucian didn’t hesitate. "He is. And it’s for a good cause."
Lucy exhaled through her nose, lips pressing thin. She didn’t argue, though. She only lifted the new blade slightly, its edge humming against the control room’s light.
Karl smirked, leaning back against the railing. "Common enemy, right? I don’t see a problem."
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Of course you’d say that."
Kaelis huffed from Lucian’s shoulder. "He’s not wrong. For now, you walk the same path."
Karl’s grin widened. "See? Even the god of gods agrees with me."
"Brat," Kaelis grumbled, tail flicking.
Lucian ignored them, his gaze fixed on the console. "Alfred."
Before Alfred could answer, Karl pushed forward, tapping his knuckles against the railing. "Alfred. Pull up the map of the Lion King’s nation. Full layout."
The screens stayed blank for a moment. Alfred’s voice came calm as always. [Command not recognized. Access restricted.]
Lucian raised a brow at Karl, unimpressed. "Since when do you think you can control Alfred?"
Karl smirked, unfazed. "Thought I’d give it a try. Worth a shot, wasn’t it?"
Lucian shook his head. "Alfred. Bring out the layout of the Lion King nation."
[Confirmed, Captain.]
The map flared alive across the main screen. A sprawling valley appeared, walled in by jagged cliffs, rivers running in harsh lines through the terrain. Red markers lit up, showing concentrations of signatures—dense clusters of troops, fortified watchtowers, and heavy bastions.
Lucian’s eyes scanned the screen, cold and precise. "Detailed view."
The map split into layers. Settlements. Patrol paths. Barracks. Energy wards drawn into the cliffs like glowing veins. At the center, a sprawling citadel, carved from black stone.
Karl stepped closer now, his grin fading into something sharper, colder. "That’s it. The Lion King’s den."
Lucy tilted her head, studying the map. "You’ve been here before."
Karl’s smirk returned, though thinner this time. "Once. My father dragged me along when I was younger, for a council. I wasn’t important enough to sit at the table, so I listened in the shadows. But I learned things." He tapped a finger against one of the glowing red clusters. "That’s their forward guard. Gamma ranks. Three of them, all sworn to the Lion King. They act as his claws—never far from his side. If he moves, they move. If he sleeps, they keep watch."
Lucian’s brow shifted faintly. "Guardians."
Karl nodded. "And not just bodyguards. They lead his armies when he stays behind. Each one commands a division of beastkin soldiers—wolf packs, scaled hunters, and vultures bred for war. Ruthless. Efficient. They don’t need orders. They’ve been trained to move as one."
Lucy frowned. "And the Lion King himself?"
Karl’s smirk faltered, just for a second. "Delta rank. Don’t let that number fool you. He was already a legend when I was a boy. His roars can split mountains. His claws... I’ve seen him rip a Titan in half. He doesn’t just fight—he hunts. Every move is meant to corner you, break you, like prey. My father respected him. That should tell you enough."
Kaelis rumbled low on Lucian’s shoulder, the heat from his scales thickening the air. "Overgrown beast. Strong, yes. But not beyond reach."
Karl tilted his head, glancing at the dragon. "You’ve never seen him in the pit."
Kaelis’s molten gaze burned brighter. "And he’s never seen me."
The tension between them thickened for a breath before Lucian cut it with his voice. "Continue."
Karl nodded once, turning back to the map. "The citadel here," he said, pointing at the massive black fortress in the center. "That’s where he sleeps. Where he rules. Built into the mountain, lined with stone so thick even dragonfire has a hard time cracking it. Or so they say."
Lucy raised a brow. "And yet you think we can?"
Karl shrugged, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "You’re carrying a Mythic blade. He doesn’t know what’s coming."
Lucian’s gaze stayed sharp on the map. "What about weaknesses?"
Karl’s expression tightened. "The citadel feeds from the rivers. Those rivers are their lifeline. Poison them, and the beasts weaken. But you’ll never get close without being seen—hundreds of scouts on the cliffs. Every step is watched."
Lucian’s jaw shifted faintly. "Then we cut through the watchers first."
Lucy smirked, lifting Infernal Eclipse. "That won’t take long."
Kaelis growled approvingly. "Burn them from the sky. Sweep the cliffs first. The Sanctum can level their guard before they know what’s happening."
Karl’s smirk widened. "Now you’re speaking my language." He stepped back, arms folding. "But don’t think this will be easy. The Lion King doesn’t rule because of his strength alone. He rules because no one ever reaches him. If you want his head, you’ll have to walk through his army first."
Lucian’s eyes narrowed faintly, his voice low. "Then we’ll make them move."
The screens hummed softly as Alfred traced red lines across the map, marking enemy positions and calculating firing ranges.
Lucy’s flames flickered brighter as she rested the new sword against her shoulder. "Finally, a real fight."
Karl’s grin sharpened. "A massacre, more like."
Kaelis’s tail flicked against Lucian’s collar. "Let’s see if your lapdog legs can keep up, brat."
Karl barked a short laugh. "Just try not to trip me with your tail, lizard."
Kaelis’s molten eyes narrowed. "Say that again."
"Enough," Lucian cut in, his voice sharp enough to silence both. His gaze stayed locked on the citadel glowing in the map’s center. "We move soon."
The room quieted, though the heat of their combined auras lingered.
The Lion King’s den burned on the screens before them, waiting.
And for the first time, Lucian felt all the pieces aligning. His sister’s new blade, Karl’s knowledge, Kaelis’s fire.
The storm was coming.
And the Lion King’s roar would soon be silenced.