Silence filled the Federation as everyone awaited the result. Gasps echoed across the hall, followed by nervous gulps yet no one dared to speak. Every eye was fixed on the sky, waiting for an answer.
Finally, the blinding white screen stabilized. As the smoke cleared, the aftermath of the battle was revealed.
There, at the center of the explosion, two beings floated in the vastness of space.
"An equal…" Darius murmured, his voice trembling in disbelief before his body gave out. His wounds were healing slowly, but consciousness slipped away instantly.
"I won…" Caius whispered, his voice quivering as well, before collapsing into unconsciousness.
All eyes turned to General Drezan.
His judgment at this moment carried unfathomable weight — for it would not only determine the winner, but also decide who would become king. For a brief moment, his authority surpassed even that of a Kingmaker. After all, they existed for this exact purpose — to crown the next ruler.
