The moment Magnus's colossal sword swung down, black energy swirled into a deadly arc!
*BOOM!!!!*
A giant figure lunged in like a meteor.
A collision that blasted the air, strong enough to deflect the killing blade aimed straight at Alwen.
The sword blade carved into the ground, dragging a long trench as if a moat had been torn open.
The dust cleared, Alwen opened his eyes.
Standing before him, shielding him completely, was the mysterious warrior.
But he no longer wore the dazzling armor from before.
The thick plates were blown to pieces, with only a few scraps of metal clinging to his shoulders and hips.
The rest…
Revealed a body like mountain rock carved by the hammer of the thunder god.
Muscles coiled with explosive electrical strands under the skin.
The cuts from Magnus etched onto his shoulders and back like gashes carved into a stone pillar.
He still stood tall, and Alwen could only stare as if seeing a living mountain.
Magnus also froze for half a second.
The black wind around him involuntarily wavered.
"…"
"Star Knight?"
His voice lowered, carrying a wariness not seen since the battle began.
"You… didn't you die ten years ago?"
The warrior did not answer.
He merely rotated his neck slightly, the sound of bones cracking like thunder echoing in the listener's chest.
Then he exhaled a breath as hot as smelting iron smoke.
His voice was deep and hoarse, but strong enough to make the ground beneath his feet tremble with each word:
"I once fell."
"But dead… I am not."
Magnus narrowed his eyes, dark spiritual energy gathering around him.
"Impossible…"
"A creature like you…"
"No one could survive after that."
The Star Knight, whom the people once viewed as a lost legend, stood blocking the path between Magnus and Alwen, shouldering the thunder staff as if never knocked down.
The warrior looked back at Alwen, then offered his heavily calloused hand.
The moment that massive hand stretched out before Alwen, time seemed to freeze.
Though his armor was torn, though his body looked no different from a frontline warrior who had fallen dozens of times…
that face…
Was a face Alwen thought was impossible.
Quiet eyes, thick brows, and an unmistakable, steady calmness.
Alwen panted heavily.
The wounds on his body seemed to no longer exist.
He couldn't tear his eyes away from that giant man.
"Elias…??"
His voice choked.
"How… but how…?"
"How is it you??"
Before Elias could answer, a fierce *CLANGGGG!!!!* rang out.
Elias had just unleashed a staff swing as powerful as a storm descending upon Magnus.
Magnus struggled, but the dozens of arrows still embedded in his body prevented him from moving through smoke.
He could only raise the greatsword to block.
The collision created a shockwave so violent that earth and rock were hurled up as if smashed by a monster.
Both were pushed back.
Elias stood shielding Alwen, still planting his staff on the ground, breathing heavily but his gaze unwavering.
Then he bent down slightly, his voice deep, hoarse, yet strangely gentle:
"…Your highness…"
He stretched his large hand closer.
"Let's stand up."
Dozens of times stronger.
Larger, surrounded by thunder, armor in tatters but his bearing like a guardian deity resurrected from legend.
Alwen gripped his sword tightly, his hand trembling with emotion and shock.
He seemed unable to believe it, images from the past flashing in his mind...
Elias's kind smile as he brought firewood for the village.
Elias teaching children how to string a bow.
Elias helping him fix the roof, never taking credit.
Elias always evading when he asked about the past.
A commoner like any other.
A man who seemed ordinary to the point of being trustworthy.
Even seeming incapable of facing a three-eyed wolf.
And yet now...
He was like a legendary war god, clad in shards of glorious armor.
Alwen's hand trembled violently.
"..What.. what is all this??!!"
Alwen's question tore from his chest.
Elias did not answer his question.
He merely stood there… silent as stone.
"WATCH OUT!!"
A voice shouted.
Without thinking, Alwen grabbed Elias's wrist, pulling him down. At that very moment..
*WHOOSH!!!!!*
The blade of Magnus's greatsword tore horizontally through space, slashing cleanly through the spot where Elias had just stood.
If Alwen had been half a second slower…
that giant man would have lost another part of his body.
Both turned around.
And Magnus. The one everyone thought was locked down, was now standing there with a grin cracked by fury.
His armor blazed, black smoke coiling as if about to combust.
Each breath exhaled like darkness itself screaming.
He had pretended to be still. Deliberately created an opening. For a fatal strike.
Elias and Alwen stood up facing him.
A light metallic sound rang out.
When had it happened? In Elias's hand was now a long, straight sword, bearing ancient patterns, shining as if just drawn from the sky itself.
Alwen was startled.
Elias didn't look at him.
But his voice lowered, stronger and more resolute than any tone Alwen had ever heard from him!
"Your highness… I will explain everything. All of it."
The wind stilled. Lightning flashed behind him.
"But not now."
He gripped the sword, his gaze fixed on Magnus like a meteor fallen right in the center of the battlefield.
"The enemy still stands right there."
The gravity in his voice.
Was not that of an old farmer,
Nor of a silent woodsman living among the villagers...
But of the Star Knight, the legendary warrior who once made the world tremble!
For a moment, both fell silent.
Elias handed the sword to Alwen.
The moment his fingers touched the hilt, Alwen felt a pulse within it, like a slumbering soul suddenly opening its eyes.
The soul of a warrior who would never yield, ready to fight to the last breath.
In the distance, Magnus raised the black sword.
But he did not slash towards them.
Instead, he slashed straight at the position where the archers had fired the volley of arrows.
Alwen wanted to scream a warning, but–?
"Don't!"
Elias held his shoulder back, his voice deep and sharp as steel.
"That is the best opportunity. They will be fine."
Suddenly Elias fell silent for a moment, his hand gripping Alwen's shoulder tighter, his eyes suddenly flashing with determination, as if about to say something important...
"Your highness..."
"That sword is merely a tool…"
"The true power...."
"..is you, Alwen!"
Alwen was briefly stunned.
But without waiting for Alwen to say more, Elias pulled him forcefully forward.
Alwen suddenly realized?
His body felt weightless, his reactions faster than his body had ever allowed.
As if the sword in his hand was granting him strength.
Magnus turned back.
He tensed his whole body, both hands clenched the black sword, then stomped the ground!!
*THUMMP!!*
Both Elias and Alwen also swung their staff and sword back, launching themselves to counter the speed.
Both sides charged straight at each other!!
Suddenly a massive amount of black smoke exploded from Magnus's body, swallowing him like a black hole opening its maw.
Elias shouted loudly, echoing like thunder!!!
"YOUR HIGHNESS, DODGE NOW!!!"
Alwen didn't ask why.
Instinctively, he shifted his center of gravity to the side.
*RRRUMMMBBBLLLE!!!*
From within the smoke, a gigantic maw lunged out, biting the air with such force it distorted.
Magnus had transformed back into the colossal dark dragon. He lunged out of the smoke like some abyssal demonic creature.
Both Elias and Alwen's bodies slammed down onto the ground, their legs skidding hard on the rocky ground, but they managed to keep their balance.
Elias shouted loudly again!!!!
"YOUR HIGHNESS, CHARGE!!!"
Alwen was startled by the shout and turned to look at Elias.
"DON'T WORRY, JUST CHARGE FORWARD!!!"
Elias's shout was like a cannon blast, Alwen jolted awake.
He looked towards Magnus and immediately put one foot back, without hesitation he pushed off hard with his leg forward, his entire body leaping forward with terrifying speed.
Magnus on the other side also charged down powerfully on his four colossal legs, plowing heavily across the ground, his wings flapping hard creating a gale-like wind.
He stretched his neck high. From within his maw, a purple light suddenly pierced through the gaps in his teeth, clearly the same ability he had used to blast away an elite squad of soldiers.
"DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT!!! CHARGE!!!"
Elias roared again powerfully, as if even a moment of hesitation from Alwen would be enough to lose the precious opportunity.
Alwen seemed infused with strength, he charged straight at Magnus.
Magnus paid no mind, from the light in his mouth, energy swirled, rumbled, just waiting to be released as a beam of destruction.
But a bolt of lightning from nowhere struck his head.
*BANGG!!!*
For just a moment, the blast path veered away from Alwen's direction, slamming straight into the ground.
Alwen did not stop. He just kept charging straight towards Magnus's neck.
"AARGHHHHHH!!!!"
He roared mightily!!
The sword like a powerful lightning bolt tore through the air, heading straight for Magnus's neck!
But suddenly?
In that moment, Magnus's neck moved like a dancing serpent, it gently curved and dodged to the side.
Alwen's sword blade thus, it simply slid past...
No impact.
No contact.
Completely missing the attack point.
"ALWENNNNN!!!"
Elias's fierce shout rang out, tearing the air.
Only then did Alwen realize!
Magnus was at his flank, the dark dragon raising one front leg.
The giant claws closed, then the foot heavy as an entire mountain swung fiercely towards him.
Alwen jolted, he tried to dodge... but couldn't!
A direct hit was certain... no room for error.
It seemed everything was over....
*WHOOSHHHHH—!!!*
Another shining arrow unexpectedly shot in, with speed that could tear the very sky!
*THWIPP!!!*
The arrow embedded firmly into the lunging foot of Magnus. Immediately!!!
"GRAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!"
A roar of pain reverberated.
The entire giant foot was flung back, Magnus's body swaying violently.
Alwen stood frozen for a heartbeat.
He hung in mid-air, with a realization.
Then—
A voice rang out in his memory.
' "That sword is merely a tool…" '
' "The true power.... is you, Alwen!" '
Elias.
And then, another voice, deeper, calmer...
' "But I realized that.. strength only has meaning when used to protect, not to trample. I kept my promise, to someone who gave me shelter.." '
Ronan.
Alwen gripped the sword hilt tightly.
No more hatred.
No more empty honor.
No more desire for victory for himself.
Only one thing remained.
To prove. To prove that this sword did not fight for resentment.
But...
For the will of its wielder.
To prove that Alwen's strength
was not born for destruction.
But to..
Protect.
In that moment, the sword in his hand
was no longer a weapon.
It became an answer!
The sword began to glow.
Not the dazzling light of deities,
but a sharp, steady, and resolute light,
like an oath carved deep into the steel blade.
Alwen took a deep breath.
Then he roared, pouring all his will, soul, and strength into a single slash!!
"THE FATED SWORD!"
"ULTIMATE STRIKE!!!!!"
All the power from his legs, hips, shoulders, arms, they merged into a single slash.
The sword tore through the air, leaving behind a streak of light like the boundary between life and death.
Magnus roared, tried to raise his armor, tried to block.
But completely useless.
The slash plunged straight into his body.
"GRAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!"
*BOOMMM!!*
Magnus's roar of pain was accompanied by a terrifying explosion!
Light, shockwaves, the blast
all swallowed the battlefield in an instant.
Everything happened too fast.
The people on the other side didn't even realize what had just happened.
Before their eyes was only dense smoke and dust.
No one spoke a word.
No one dared breathe heavily.
Then... suddenly?
From within the smoke,
a figure stepped out. Making everyone hold their breath.
The smoke cleared.
That figure was fully revealed.
Alwen.
At that moment...
Cheers erupted.
The people shouted his name.
"ALWENNN!!"
"YOUR HIGHNESS!"
"HE'S WON!!!"
"PRINCE ALWEN!!!"
The warriors knelt.
Even the King wore a rare, faint smile.
When the dust fully cleared,
the colossal dark dragon had vanished.
Only ruins and cracked ground remained,
the mark of an irreversible slash.
Alwen turned his head to look back.
He looked towards the cheering people behind him.
His face held no expression.
No pride.
No smugness.
Only the silence of one who had just crossed a boundary.
Suddenly a strange sound rang out?
Amidst the ruins,
a figure slowly stood up.
Magnus.
His dragon armor was shattered, scorched, cracked, black blood flowing like a stream.
His body almost falling apart, breathing rapidly like a cornered beast.
The entire battlefield fell silent.
Many thought.
He would reveal a final trump card.
But Magnus said nothing, he looked around, his hand touching his wounds, then lightly raised his other hand.
Trembling.
Then pointed straight at Alwen.
Though breathing raggedly,
his voice still rang out clearly, forcefully, full of malice!
"One day…"
"When you can..."
"Come face me directly."
"By then… everything will end."
Finished speaking, he straightened his back.
"Farewell for now!"
Elias's expression changed.
"Something's wrong–!"
He swung his staff powerfully, lightning bolts descended again.
The shining arrows from the distance were also fired once more!
*BOOMMMM!!!*
A great explosion rang out.
When the light faded..
Magnus had disappeared.
Only the aftershocks of dark energy quietly dissolving into the air remained.
Everyone was silent, then began to murmur.
Some cheered as if escaping death's scythe.
Some still stood quietly, eyes still carrying lingering worry.
Others had pale faces, trembling from the residual fear still clinging.
Amidst all this
Alwen said nothing, he still stood there.
Still looking towards where Magnus had just vanished.
His gaze no longer held the tension of battle,
but it also didn't carry the relief of victory.
Suddenly from afar, a figure descended from a hillside dozens of meters high, landing as lightly as a leaf.
In her hand was a bow.
It was the person who had spoken to the King earlier.
Now, everyone could finally see her appearance clearly.
A petite figure, bearing the look of a girl still growing.
She wore a tight-fitting leather outfit, convenient for movement.
Over it was a blue cloak, the hood pulled low.
Completely concealing her face.
Under everyone's astonished gazes,
she walked straight towards Alwen.
At the same time Elias, upon seeing her, also said not a word.
He only silently strode forward, heading towards the prince's back.
Alwen turned around.
His face was somber, his eyes carrying doubt.
The two stopped, only a few steps away from him.
Suddenly–?
Both knelt down simultaneously.
Heads bowed low, touching the ground.
"WE…"
"ARE TRULY SORRY, YOUR HIGHNESS!!"
The sound rang out, heavy like a confession suppressed for many years.
The entire square fell silent.
Then whispers began to rise among the crowd.
Alwen was startled. He hurriedly reached out, trying to help them stand up...
But couldn't?
"The two of us… arrived too late, your highness!"
Elias's voice rang out, thick with hoarseness.
In every word was self-blame, heavy enough to crush oneself.
Suddenly the girl's voice rang out, trembling, broken by sobs.
"For… for five whole years… I did my utmost…"
"…just to become strong as before."
"Just to… repay the kindness of you both."
The girl kneeling beside him gripped her bow tightly.
Her shoulders shook with each wave.
"Throughout those years… the figures of you two never left my mind."
"The two youths… who risked everything, charging into danger to save everyone including me…"
Her voice choked. Elias suddenly cut in and continued.
"As for me…"
"…I could only stand and watch."
"Could only try to lead everyone away…"
"…and desperately cry out, when I could no longer return to save anyone."
Tears silently flowed from beneath the edge of the girl's hood, falling onto the cold ground.
Elias continued.
"I trained."
"Without rest."
"Only hoping… that one day… I could repay you both."
He took a deep breath, as if gathering the last of his courage.
"When we heard news of your coronation…"
"…we immediately set out."
"But when we just arrived.."
"everything was in chaos."
"My daughter and I… could not get inside."
His voice cracked.
"By the time we could enter…"
"…before our eyes…"
"…was only ruin."
Finished speaking, Elias fell silent for a moment..
The girl suddenly reached up, pulling down her hood.
A brilliant cascade of golden hair poured out, catching the sunlight like strands of blazing silk.
A moment of dead silence enveloped the entire square.
A face that Alwen subconsciously could not help but recognize.
None other...
Alice.
That little girl…
the child Ronan had risked his life to save.
Now grown, much, much older.
Her facial features had matured somewhat,
but those eyes…
still held the youthful, fragile quality of years past.
Tears still flowed uncontrollably, streaming down her cheeks.
Her voice was shattered.
"I… I truly arrived too late…"
Alice's throat tightened, each word uttered seemed to tear her heart apart.
"I… couldn't save Sir Ronan…"
Alice bent her body even lower, her forehead almost touching the ground.
"I… I tried…"
"I ran as fast as I could…"
Her voice choked, reduced to only fragments of broken sound.
"But in the end…"
"…I still wasn't in time."
Her hands clenched until white, trembling as they grasped the ground.
"I truly had..."
Her voice broke completely.
Alice could speak no further.
She sobbed, like a child who could finally no longer contain the pain buried for years.
No longer an archer.
No longer a warrior.
Only...
a little girl carrying within her a regret she never had time to voice.
Elias bowed his head even lower, his shoulders trembling slightly.
Alwen stood there.
Said nothing.
But his hands…
had clenched into fists sometime ago.
The name Ronan...
Was not a distant memory.
But a wound.
And now, that wound…
had just been torn open once more.
Suddenly Alwen placed Elias's sword down right in front of the two.
Then suddenly—?
Alwen also knelt down.
Not a shallow kneel, nor a ceremonial kneel.
But a deep kneel...
knees touching the ground, back straight, head bowed low.
The entire square suddenly…
fell dead silent.
Elias was startled, his eyes wide.
Alice was stunned, tears still caught in the corners of her eyes.
Even the King, who had stood firm before Magnus's scythe.
also trembled slightly.
No one dared make a sound.
Alwen did not cry.
Did not tremble.
Did not complain.
Did not seek anyone to blame.
Amidst the sea of people holding their breath, his voice rang out...
Low…
But clear…
And heavy as stone falling to the bottom of an abyss.
"The ones who arrived late…"
"were not you two."
He bowed his head even more.
"The one who arrived late..."
"..is me."
The air seemed choked.
"Ronan…"
"Stood up when I was not yet strong enough."
"He protected everyone…"
"while I was still a shielded prince."
Alwen clenched his hands placed on the ground.
"That Ronan did not die because you arrived late."
"He died… because I had not yet grown up in time."
A few gasps came from the crowd.
Alice trembled violently.
Elias wanted to say something...
but his throat could not produce sound.
Alwen continued quietly.
"Therefore…"
He raised his head a little, his eyes no longer those of a youth.
But of someone who had taken on the weight of another's life.
"Do not apologize to me."
"Do not kneel before me."
"And do not carry that pain… alone."
He bowed his head once more.
"Ronan's life..."
"I will remember."
"Not as a debt."
"But as an oath..."
Silence.
No cheering.
No noisy tears.
Only...
A prince kneeling, and a moment…
When a true king was born.
Alwen reached out, took both their hands, and pulled them to their feet.
Elias and Alice were still unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Alwen only smiled very faintly, a strangely calm smile.
Then he asked...
"Ronan… is surely fine, right?"
The air froze.
Alice froze first.
She frowned, her voice carrying doubt and confusion?
"What do you mean, your highness…?"
She turned to look at her father.
Elias also stood frozen, he didn't quite understand that statement either.
Suddenly Alwen nodded slightly, as if answering himself.
"If he's still okay, that would be great."
The moment those words ended.
Elias suddenly remembered something.
"Your highness—!!"
Alice was startled, she had just turned to look at Alwen when.
his entire body collapsed.
"Ah!!"
Alice lunged forward, catching the unconscious body before it fully hit the ground.
Time seemed to stop for a breath.
"YOUR HIGHNESS!!!!!!"
A scream tore through space.
The people shouted.
Soldiers rushed forward.
Even the King lost his balance, hurriedly stepped forward then collapsed to his knees, forcing several soldiers to support him.
Sounds piled on.
Chaos, shouts.
But the scene, suddenly...
Began to recede.
Farther away.
As if the world was being pulled away from sight.
Wind blew.
On the peak of a distant mountain, a figure stood silently.
Hair fluttering in the wind.
Was it Ronan?
…No.
Impossible.
Ronan was dead. The author said so.
Then?
Who was standing there?
A mechanical sound rang out.
"Squad MH-01123581321 mission complete at 16:00."
That person turned his head.
Behind him, a massive technological machine lay silently.
The one operating it.
was precisely the person resembling the Overseer but with a cold silver stripe on his helmet.
He stood straight, his gaze unrippled.
Suddenly a device was placed on Uzuki's head.
He glanced to the side.
An agent in AtomGuard Nova armor with a blue stripe was standing close by, reaching towards the device.
On the small screen, text appeared.
*CHIP CHECK SUCCESSFUL: NO ISSUES DETECTED*
The space behind the two suddenly distorted.
Two areas of reality were twisted, then self-corrected.
Two other agents stepped out, similarly equipped.
"Report. No further anomalies."
The silver-striped one nodded very slightly.
He pressed an invisible interface.
"COMMENCE REALM RETRIEVAL."
The mechanical sound rang out again.
Immediately!
The surrounding space contracted.
Looking closely, one could see it was a giant sphere, transparent, able to pass through everything, gradually shrinking.
The focal point was that machine.
The sphere passed through Ronan's body.
And then?
That body began to change.
The facial features were redrawn, like data being overwritten.
Skin, eyes, appearance, movement, redefining itself.
Ronan's face dissolved.
Instead..
another face appeared.
Familiar, cold, calm.
Uzuki?
The wind still blew on the mountaintop.
But from that moment.
The Ronan… we saw, was completely not Ronan...
Suddenly from behind everyone.
A spatial gate opened, its surface twisting like a bent mirror.
The silver-striped one stepped through first.
Following were the agents in technological armor with softly glowing blue stripes.
Uzuki also walked over, he glanced back at the surroundings one last time, then also quickly stepped through the gate.
The moment he passed through the gate, the surroundings changed completely.
The battlefield world vanished...
Replaced by a cold, smooth, white metal technological room, identical to the original place.
At the same time, a thin layer of energy enveloped Uzuki's body.
The AtomGuard Nova armor restructured, covering his person in an instant.
The sound of metallic footsteps rang out.
Suddenly an agent behind Uzuki ran up ahead, falling into step with the agent who had reported earlier.
"Hey,"
he asked quietly..
"Have you found the cause of his death yet?"
The other agent shook his head, answering reluctantly.
"Not yet. But according to preliminary analysis, spatial fluctuations are still the most likely cause."
The other sighed.
"Haizzz… then we'll have to transfer it to the in-depth analysis team for verification."
"Anyway… at least the timeline this time was adjusted back to the correct orbit, quite smoothly."
They spoke as they turned their heads.
Looking straight towards Uzuki.
One agent chuckled lightly, his tone carrying a bit of admiration.
"We owe you for a lot of this mission's success."
"You must have done many missions like this to be able to immerse yourself in the role and handle situations so well, right?"
The agent behind immediately added.
"Exactly."
"Senior really surprised us."
"It really felt like senior and that person merged into one!"
"When senior was attacked by Magnus, umm even though I knew the realm could save senior, I was really extremely worried!"
"But I never expected senior to remain so calm!"
"If possible, please teach us some experience when you have the chance?!"
Uzuki froze.
He stood still in the armor, appearing genuinely a bit bewildered.
Suddenly a voice full of doubt rang out.
"Senior..?"
The silver-striped agent stopped walking.
He looked back at everyone with clear confusion.
All three people turned to look at him.
"Is something wrong?"
Faced with this question from the agents, the silver-striped one tilted his head slightly, his voice slowing.
"He… is a new agent, isn't he?"
"This is his first mission."
Suddenly the atmosphere seemed to freeze.
No sound.
No movement.
Then....
Three voices rang out simultaneously, almost unable to believe their ears!
"HUHHHH???????!!!!"