After a week of waiting and planning, the moment arrived for Arthur to enter the palace disguised as a gardener. He entered with the servants and spoke about his work and his skill in handling the soil and its crops. Once inside, they were introduced to the palace grounds, but Arthur was immersed in another world of planning.
A few days later, work began. Julius stood by the palace window, watching the garden and saw Arthur working hard. Arthur's hair was long and tied back, and he had a strong build.
"Have you changed the gardener?" Julius asked.
"Yes, sir," the palace servant replied. "The previous one was lazy because of his age."
Julius nodded. "Good. Tomorrow we will fight a new battle. It will be the greatest victory. The witch has done her part; now it is the king's turn."
The new king of the Iron Kingdom and King Julius had never met face to face; their only communication had been through official letters bearing the signatures of both kings.
Through these messages, they agreed to fight a new battle on the same battlefield near the Great River, using the same fighting method as before.
But this battle was not merely a visual conflict; it was a complex strategic game with secrets and gains known only to Julius.
This battle would determine the fate of everyone on the continent and would go down in history as a turning point for the kingdoms.
King Julius and his army prepared for the upcoming battle, which he dubbed the Battle of the Lonely King. The reserve forces gathered before him, showing clear signs of fear and misgiving. These soldiers were to be pawns in Julius's ambitious plan.
As he faced them, he noticed their pale faces—faces that seemed resigned to death.
He said firmly, "I know you are afraid after the last battle, but that was just a bait. I promise you, in this battle, none of you will die."
Despite his words, nothing changed. The soldiers remained with their heads held high, as if they were no longer in control of their own destiny but merely puppets.
That day, they marched through the cheering crowds. The people were joyful, but the soldiers' eyes remained fixed on the ground, their souls burdened by invisible chains.
After a full day of travel, Julius and his forces arrived at the battlefield—the same arena where the fates of so many had been decided before.
Meanwhile, Daemon remained imprisoned in his dungeon, far removed from the raging conflict.
Upon arriving at the battlefield, everything was ready—armies ready to sacrifice, crowds gathered to watch, and the Sorceress ready to manipulate events. But the Iron King was delayed, as if trying to humiliate Julius.
An hour later, he arrived on his horse, wearing a cloak that concealed his face.
Suddenly, he said, "Sorry, I was in the shower, Prince of the Sun."
Julius was shocked as never before. The only person who had ever defeated him in that game was now standing before him as king.
Fox removed the hood from his head—his red hair glowing as usual, with his signature wry smile. The only thing that had changed was his age and beard. He sat down on the throne and said,
"Ready? Let's begin."