Valerius's crimson blade slashed downward at blinding speed. Roland barely dodged as the blood runes flared, the strike detonating against the floor in an explosion.

He backed away in an instant to avoid the blast, then surged forward just as fast, spear aimed to pierce through the vampire's armor. Twilight energy coursed along the weapon, the tip glowing as he charged power into Eclipse Edge.

The spear flared with blinding radiance, and when Roland thrust upward, the clash burst in a storm of sparks and shadow. Valerius staggered back several steps, forced to give ground. Yet Roland realized he hadn't made solid contact, the vampire's speed was simply too great.

Even so, Valerius hissed as he glanced at his weapon, now showing hairline cracks. His shoulder plate bore scorched damage where the spear had grazed.

The vampire king only laughed, crimson eyes gleaming with hunger. "Yes… more! You are not as the demons described. You grow stronger with every battle!"

He blurred forward again, summoning chains of blood from the vaulted ceiling. Seizing them like whips, he lashed downward, each chain slamming with enough force to shatter stone. They coiled toward Roland like serpents, eager to bind him in place.

With no time to spare, Roland called on Eclipse Aegis. Twin barriers burst forth one radiant, one shadowed. The first shattered the chains on contact, while the second absorbed their cursed essence and hurled it back in a violent backlash that rattled the throne itself.

Valerius appeared at Roland's flank in the next instant, blade carving in from the side. Roland twisted, his cloak snapping outward to intercept the strike, then drove his spear into a counter-thrust still burning with the remnants of Eclipse Edge.

The floor split with a jagged crack as Valerius barely managed to deflect, sparks scattering like embers across the desecrated hall.

The duel locked into a deadly rhythm, strike and counter, crimson steel against twilight radiance, each exchange heavier than the last.

Behind Valerius, the gathered demons and vampires stirred, their master's hunger igniting their own. Some raised their weapons, throwing projectiles toward Roland, hoping to overwhelm the lone hero who stood unyielding before their prince.

Both the demons and vampires joined in to help their master, the lesser vampires and demons finally joining as they rushed to fight with Roland's army

Roland simply pivoted to avoid what was thrown, not wanting to use up mana to cast his shield.

As some demons closed it, he had his cloak pull them in to behead them or swat some away with ease.

The best part of his new weapon was its reach, long enough to cut down anyone who dared get close. Yet even with that advantage, Roland could not handle them all at once; he needed to keep his eyes fixed on the vampire royal, ensuring Valerius never reached his team.

Valerius only laughed, watching his thralls rush in, even if it meant breaking the rhythm of their duel. "It seems you don't want me to attack one of your own. I wonder, which of them is most precious to you well, besides your wife, of course."

Roland's jaw tightened as he braced, calling on Eclipse Aegis at the precise moment the horde of demons and vampires surged forward.

The radiant shield flared outward, absorbing a storm of projectiles and melee strikes in a wash of white light. Then it darkened, its shadow twin pulsing back in a violent shockwave that toppled a cluster of enemies as their own corrupted energy was hurled against them.

Still, more came, relentless as ants defending their anthill. Arrows and spells filled the air, forcing Roland to sweep his spear in deadly arcs to keep the tide from pressing against his army.

Valerius blurred forward again, seizing the opening. His crimson blade slashed down in a vicious arc, colliding with Roland's lowered spear. The impact rang like thunder, sparks of red and silver scattering across the desecrated hall.

Sparks of red and silver rained across the floor as Roland was driven back, his greaves grinding against cracked stone.

Behind him, soldiers rushed forth without care; they were the light blessed, chosen, the light spirits to aid Roland in this final battle for Elris.

Cries of pain and terror began to fill the chamber as demons and vampires were overwhelmed, but Roland knew his barrier could not hold forever to keep his army safe.

"Roland!" Stella's voice cut across the chaos.

She spread her arms wide, light coiling around her form, her mana formed radiant wings unfurling.

She raised to staff to cast a spell, a barrier, but not just any shield it turned into a dome that kept demons from entering as she called out Sanctuary Ward.

Roland drew in a steady breath as the warmth of Stella's ward wrapped around him, the bruises along his arms easing, the ache in his chest fading.

Valerius tilted his head, his grin returning despite the burns lacing his armor. "Recover all you like… you will need it for what's to come."

The cracks in the floor widened as crimson mist seeped upward, thicker and darker than before.

It pooled around Valerius, before spreading across the throne room causing any light magic to disperse.

The chains that hung from the vaulted ceiling rattled violently, then tore free, before pulling anyone unfortunate nearby down with them towards the pit below.

It was then that Roland spotted twisted figures climbing up the chains.

Warped silhouettes of demon like beings except they looked dead, the term wight came to him.

Their empty eyes glowed with faint scarlet, and each carried a weapon dripping blood. Everything would have been fine if Roland had to face them along but Valerius and his remaining army did not seem like they were going to let things be easy.

The soldiers behind Roland stiffened. Even Renar faltered, his lips quivered slightly as he saw the new monsters move with an inhuman speed.

There were at least fifty of them rushing towards them, not enough for Roland to stop on his own.

Roland's readied his spear to kill of a few before fighting with Valerius again, he just hoped his army would be able to pull through this.

The hero steadied his stance firm as his cloak curled around him ready to strike. "Don't tell me this is all you had planned?"

Valerius spread his arms wide, crimson aura boiling around him. "It seems you don't understand what they are and what will happen to anyone who dies at their hand. Yes, they are abominations we created to spread fast during times of war. Let us see if you can continue to fight without looking through your shoulder when one of your own dies."

Roland did not look back he continued forward to face the only one causing all the problems right now, he channeled Eclipse Edge, its twin light flaring as he slashed down towards Valerius.

His thrust tore through the blood red blade, shattering it in a burst of smoke and sparks as he got serious.

Roland then spun to strike with the shaft of the spear to hit the vampire's chin to force him back.

Valerius staggered as the shaft cracked against his chin, his head snapping back with a hiss that rattled the air. For the first time, his grin faltered, crimson eyes flaring with fury instead of amusement.

Roland pressed forward, spear burning bright as Eclipse Edge rippled along its length. He struck again, this time in a vicious arc aimed for Valerius's chest. But the vampire's form blurred, dissolving into mist. The spear cleaved only empty air, the shockwave ripping across the throne dais and sending two of the wights tumbling into ash.

Roland's roar carried with the strike, the spear blazing with the full force of Eclipse Edge.

The line of twilight fire tore through Valerius's crimson aura, cleaving straight into his chest.

"Impressive," Valerius's voice whispered from the fog. "But do you see, hero? With every second you are busy dealing with me, your army is dying."

Roland risked a glance from the corner of his eye. The wights had crashed into the frontline, their blood-slick weapons reaping devastation. Even those blessed by the Light Spirit faltered, their courage bending under the unnatural speed and strength of the abominations.

Each time a soldier fell, a piece of their body was bitten as they slowly turned into that which they were fighting.

One of the fallen soldiers convulsed on the floor, scarlet light crawling into his eyes. His scream twisted into a guttural snarl as his body warped, limbs stiffening unnaturally. The soldiers nearby faltered, horror breaking their formation.

"Damn it," Roland muttered, forcing his gaze forward again. He could not let Valerius divide his attention.

"Roland!" Stella's voice carried through the clash, her wings blazing as she pressed her staff to the ground. The Sanctuary Ward flared brighter, expanding to shield the frontlines and slow the spread of corruption, but her face was pale, her mana was straining under the endless tide.

Roland's jaw tightened. He could not let this drag on. He tightened both hands around the spear, channeling power again into Eclipse Edge. The weapon blazed with twilight, light and shadow coiling around the tip like a star about to burst.

"Enough," he growled, eyes locking on Valerius. "This ends with you."

The vampire lord's eyes widened, his blade snapping under the pressure as sparks and blood erupted in the air. He stumbled back, the black steel of his armor splitting open, light hissing against his flesh.

"You… dare…" Valerius rasped, crimson gaze faltering as he dropped to one knee.

Roland did not hesitate. He surged forward, cloak snapping around the vampire's arms to bind him in place. With both hands on the spear, he drove the radiant tip straight through Valerius's heart.

The throne room shook as the vampire royal let out one final, guttural roar. His body convulsed, crimson mist exploding outward before dissolving into fading embers. The wights behind him froze mid-strike, their eyes flickering before the light died out. One by one, they collapsed into lifeless husks.

Silence fell.

Roland pulled the spear free, his chest heaving. Stella's Sanctuary Ward pulsed one last time, sealing the last traces of corruption from the air before her wings folded, her breath heavy with exhaustion.

The hero stood over the crumbling remains of Valerius Duskbane, his voice steady despite the weight of the battle.

"Elris is ours again."