Out of the Forest

Chen Xi was the first to notice the sword. He raised a hand, signaling the group to stop.

His gaze carefully swept over the boulder and the sword, making a rapid examination and analysis of everything from the texture of the rock and the growth of the moss to the sword's design and the angle at which it had been embedded.

Then he turned to Lion El'Jonson and said evenly, "My lord, look at the sword in that stone. It seems... to be waiting for something."

His words carried a hint of suggestion, as though he recognized the sword's origins, or at least sensed that it was extraordinary.

Lion El'Jonson looked in the direction Chen Xi indicated.

His attention was immediately drawn to the Power Sword.

He knew the blade's design and decorative style all too well. It bore the unmistakable traits of the Dark Angels Legion—exquisite engravings and solemn construction, descended from the standard weapons he remembered, yet somehow older and more finely crafted.

An indescribable sense of familiarity and fondness rose within him.

The sword seemed like an extension of some hazy memory from his past, or perhaps a component of his power that had yet to be awakened.

He walked steadily to the boulder, extended a hand clad in Power Armour, and gripped the hilt.

It felt cold and solid, fitting his palm perfectly.

Without much hesitation, he exerted force. Accompanied by a faint crack of splitting stone, he easily pulled the blade free. The entire process went far more smoothly than imagined, as though the sword had always belonged to him and had merely been kept there for a time.

The Lion King held the longsword and swung it through the air several times, the blade slicing the wind with its distinctive hum.

He tested the