Beneath the blackened sky, surrounded by endless screams and raging flames, Commander Sirvan stood firmly in place, his spear stained with the blood of monsters.
He raised one hand and gave a commanding order:
"Open the gate! We need to evacuate the civilians immediately!"
Several soldiers began combining their magic to create a transportation portal.
A swirling blue vortex opened between the ancient rocks, glowing like their only chance of salvation.
Mark approached Sirvan, his face stained with blood.
His voice carried a bitter hint of sarcasm.
"Wonderful timing, as always."
Sirvan smiled without turning around.
"You know me... I never miss an opportunity for a dramatic entrance. Besides, your house is practically in the middle of nowhere."
The two laughed for a brief moment.
But the humor immediately vanished when a voice came from behind them.
Nero emerged from the ruins, carrying Kartithia in his arms while holding Aether's hand with his other.
Mark's expression hardened.
"Take them and leave immediately. Protect them."
Nero hesitated.
But then he looked into Mark's eyes...
And understood.
He nodded.
Then he ran toward the portal.
But before he could reach it...
A tremendous scream tore through the sky.
New monsters poured from the surrounding portals.
Claws.
Wings.
Screeches.
Twisted bodies unlike anything they had ever seen before.
Sirvan shouted sharply:
"Don't let them get near the portal! Form the first defensive line!"
Mark stepped forward despite his wounds.
The flames surrounding his body had begun to fade.
Sirvan stood beside him.
The soldiers formed up behind them.
Then—
The battle began.
Every swing of Sirvan's sword brought down three monsters.
Every thrust of his water-forged spear tore through enemy ranks as if they were made of paper.
And Mark...
With only one arm and barely any fire remaining...
Was still a knight who refused to break.
At one point, Sirvan struck down a massive creature and shouted:
"You need to leave! This is going to get worse!"
Mark smiled.
"I don't run from pathetic monsters."
Sirvan burst into laughter.
"That's the Mark I remember."
The two charged forward together once again.
The soldiers followed them like a shadow.
At the front line, fifty soldiers fought like madmen, desperately buying time for the children of the village to escape.
Suddenly...
The sky trembled.
A sound unlike anything they had ever heard before echoed across the battlefield.
It was terrifying.
Heavy.
So overwhelming that, for a single second, it seemed to stop every heart on the battlefield.
It was not human.
It wasn't even truly monstrous.
It sounded as though it had come from beneath the earth... or from beyond time itself.
Everyone slowly raised their heads toward the sky.
And from the gigantic portal...
Two creatures emerged.
The first was enormous.
A colossal, horrifying beast that crawled through the sky like a living mountain.
The second was humanoid.
It floated effortlessly in the air, its appearance far more intelligent...
And far more sinister.
It wore dark armor.
Its eyes glowed with a deep, blood-red light.
It was...
Dark King III.
The colossal beast advanced toward Mark and Sirvan.
The soldiers screamed in fear.
But Sirvan remained calm.
He tightened his grip around his spear.
"This one's ours."
Mark stood beside him.
Together, they faced the monster.
Mark unleashed the last of his remaining flames.
Sirvan summoned his water and radiant spear.
Fire and water collided with the darkness.
The battle shook the earth.
And eventually...
The colossal beast fell.
Its body was burned, torn apart, and lifeless.
Silence followed.
But...
Dark King III remained in the sky.
He had not moved.
He simply watched.
His crimson eyes slowly passed over the soldiers...
The corpses...
Mark...
And finally...
Commander Sirvan.
He wasn't merely looking.
He was judging them.