Chapter-6 : The Sun's Wrath

Chapter 6: The Sun's Wrath

The battlefield was a chaotic whirl of qi and steel as Taiyo and Haruto clashed with unrelenting fury. Sparks flew from every collision of Haruto's black blade and Taiyo's arrows, each blow echoing like thunder across the plains. The ground beneath them cracked under the weight of their power, but Taiyo remained calm, his eyes sharp as he analyzed every movement of his former comrade.

The retreat of the Pillar Clans had left the Eclipse Clan's territory silent, save for the fierce duel unfolding at its center. The remaining soldiers from the World Clan watched in tense anticipation, waiting for their leader, Haruto, to gain the upper hand.

Haruto's blade lashed out in a sweeping arc, its qi-infused edge humming with lethal energy. Taiyo evaded effortlessly, his body moving like a shadow. Every step was precise, every dodge calculated. His arrows, glowing faintly with his qi, responded in kind, finding gaps in Haruto's seemingly impenetrable defense.

"Still relying on those tricks of yours," Haruto sneered, his face twisted with determination. "But you'll fall, Taiyo. You betrayed us, and now you'll pay for it."

Taiyo didn't respond. His silence only seemed to fuel Haruto's anger.

The soldiers of the World Clan tightened their grips on their weapons, ready to charge if Haruto gave the signal. They had faith in their general, but deep down, the unease was growing. They had heard of Taiyo's strength, seen his power from a distance, but witnessing him face Haruto, their most feared warrior, and still hold back was something else entirely.

Haruto's rage grew, his strikes faster and more aggressive, but Taiyo remained in control. He was reading every move, every shift in Haruto's stance. But this was more than just a battle of skill. Taiyo could feel the weight of their history pressing down on him—the memories of the battles they'd fought together, the camaraderie they had once shared. Now, it all seemed so distant.

"You've always been too emotional, Haruto," Taiyo finally said, his voice steady as he notched another arrow. "That's why you'll never surpass me."

Haruto's eyes burned with fury as he lunged forward, but Taiyo was ready. In a single fluid motion, he released the arrow. It streaked through the air like a comet, embedding itself in Haruto's blade, shattering it into pieces. The sheer force of the impact sent Haruto staggering backward, shock written across his face.

"How…?" Haruto breathed, staring down at the remnants of his weapon.

Taiyo straightened, his expression unchanged. "You've trained hard, Haruto. But you've always been blind to your own limits."

Haruto snarled, throwing the broken hilt of his blade to the ground. "I don't need a weapon to defeat you!"

But before he could charge again, Taiyo's aura shifted. The air around him grew dense, heavy with a rising intensity that sent shivers down the spines of everyone watching. His hand reached behind him, not for a regular arrow, but for something far more dangerous.

The soldiers of the World Clan stepped back instinctively as they felt the pressure building. A deep hum filled the air, and Taiyo's quiver began to glow with a fiery light. His fingers closed around the shaft of a single, radiant arrow—an arrow that seemed to burn with the heat of a thousand suns.

"This is the end, Haruto," Taiyo said, his voice low but filled with finality. "I didn't want it to come to this, but you've left me no choice."

Haruto's eyes widened, his qi flaring wildly as he prepared to defend himself. "Don't think you can intimidate me with your tricks! I'll—"

Before Haruto could finish, Taiyo raised his bow, drawing back the glowing arrow. The sheer force of the qi gathering around it was overwhelming. The sky above darkened as if the heavens themselves were retreating from the arrow's presence. The soldiers watching were frozen in place, unable to comprehend the immense power they were witnessing.

"This is my Sun Singularity Arrow," Taiyo said, his tone deadly serious. "It draws on the energy of the sun itself, focusing it into a single point. There's no escape."

Haruto's defiance faltered for the first time. His instincts screamed at him to retreat, to run, but his pride held him rooted to the spot. He raised his qi defenses, pouring everything he had into fortifying his body for the incoming attack.

Taiyo released the arrow.

The world seemed to hold its breath as the glowing projectile tore through the air. The sky above split open, a blinding beam of light following in its wake. The ground shook violently, and a deafening roar filled the battlefield as the arrow surged toward Haruto.

For a brief moment, Haruto's qi shield held, but it was futile. The arrow's energy was too great, too concentrated. His defenses shattered like glass under the onslaught, and in the blink of an eye, the Sun Singularity Arrow pierced through him, its light consuming his entire being.

Haruto didn't even have time to scream. The energy exploded outward in a radiant burst, blinding everyone watching. The soldiers of the World Clan staggered backward, shielding their eyes from the overwhelming brilliance. When the light finally faded, Haruto was gone. There was no trace of him, no body left to bury—only the scorched earth where he had once stood.

A stunned silence fell over the battlefield. The World Clan's soldiers stood frozen, their minds unable to process what had just occurred. Their general, the man they had revered for years, had been obliterated in an instant. The power Taiyo had unleashed was beyond anything they had ever seen, beyond anything they could comprehend.

Taiyo slowly lowered his bow, his expression unreadable. He had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but there was no room for mercy. Not anymore.

The soldiers of the World Clan, once so confident in their mission, now trembled with fear. Without Haruto, they were nothing more than lambs to the slaughter, and they knew it.

Taiyo's voice, calm but authoritative, broke the silence. "If any of you wish to live, leave now. I won't offer a second chance."

The remaining World Clan soldiers didn't need to be told twice. In a panicked scramble, they turned and fled, abandoning the battlefield in droves. The once-mighty force that had come to challenge Taiyo had been reduced to nothing in the face of his overwhelming power.

As the last of the soldiers disappeared into the horizon, Taiyo stood alone once again. The battlefield was quiet, save for the gentle breeze that rustled the grass. He took a deep breath, his gaze distant as he stared at the spot where Haruto had fallen. Despite the victory, there was no triumph in his eyes—only the weight of another battle won, and another piece of his past erased.

With the World Clan's forces scattered and broken, the Eclipse Clan's territory was safe—for now. But Taiyo knew this was only the beginning. The Pillar Clans would regroup, and others would come for him. The path he had chosen would be fraught with endless conflict.

And yet, he remained undeterred. His journey was far from over.

With a final glance at the scorched earth where Haruto once stood, Taiyo turned and walked back toward his territory, his mind already on the battles yet to come.

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