"Sir," said the knight in green armor urgently, "it's best you return to the castle and protect the king. We'll handle this."
"Yes, sir!" another knight added. "Go on, these are nothing to us. Besides, you're the leader of the knights and the king's right hand. We can't let your nephew take all the glory," joked the white-armored knight with suppressed laughter.
William hesitated for a moment, but under the insistence of his companions, he finally nodded. "Alright, but be careful, boys. Don't let your guard down," he warned before departing.
All the knights gave a thumbs-up in approval, displaying unwavering confidence. However, William knew something wasn't right. The air vibrated with unusual tension, as if the night itself were holding its breath.
Upon returning to the castle, William stopped atop a tower to observe the battlefield. His heart froze at the sight of a devastating scene: the green knight, one of his most loyal companions, had been impaled with his own lance. His lifeless body was hurled upward with such force that it crashed through a palace window, landing just a few meters from where William stood.
Horrified, he looked down and saw that the other knights had been annihilated within seconds. Their bodies lay scattered across the ground like dry leaves blown by the wind.
"But who are they?" William whispered to himself, his mind struggling to comprehend what he had just witnessed. Beside him, Aragon trembled with fear as he beheld the massacre. The knights, who had always seemed invincible in his mind, had been mercilessly defeated.
At that moment, a thunderous crash shook the castle. The main door was torn down by the most muscular and gigantic of the five intruders. With superhuman strength, he lifted the heavy door as if it were a feather, and the other four climbed onto it. Then, the colossus hurled the door—with his companions on top—toward the window where William and Aragon stood.
"Quickly, go, Aragon!" William ordered urgently. "Take the king and get out of here. Go to the United States, to the Nevada desert. There, you'll find someone who can train you in the art of 'AURA.' But, Uncle, I can't leave you with those four," protested Aragon, his voice trembling yet firm.
"You must leave now!" William exclaimed, his tone unyielding. "I don't know if I can hold them off, but I'll buy you time to escape."
The king, who had remained silent until now, intervened with calm authority. "Listen to him, boy. This isn't up for debate."
Aragon had no choice but to obey. He took the king by the arm and guided him through the castle's secret passageways, dark labyrinths illuminated only by flickering torches. He knew they had to reach the princess's chambers—she was next in the line of command.
Meanwhile, the four intruders stormed into the royal hall, their footsteps echoing like thunder in the deathly silence. One of them, the apparent leader, spoke in a cold, sharp voice: "Where is he?"
"It doesn't matter where he is, and I won't tell you," William replied, facing them with unwavering determination. "You'll fight me."
A halo of energy began to emanate from his body, enveloping him in a golden light that shone brightly against the darkness of the hall. It was the power of "AURA," unleashed to its fullest expression. William prepared to face the invaders, knowing this battle might be his last.
On the other hand, Aragon and the king arrived at the princess's chambers. "Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" the king called urgently.
The door opened slowly, revealing a young woman the same age as Aragon. Her sapphire eyes sparkled like gemstones under the dim light, and her golden hair cascaded in soft waves over her shoulders. Elizabeth looked at them with curiosity. "What are you doing here so late?" she asked in a gentle voice.
"Haven't you heard all the commotion outside?" the king asked, his tone heavy with concern.
"No, Father. I was asleep. Classes and chores exhaust me," she replied, rubbing her eyes innocently.
The king took a deep breath, knowing there was no time for explanations. "Elizabeth, we have to leave. Now."
"My daughter, there's no time for explanations. It's time to go," the king said, his voice tinged with anguish, deeper than usual.
"Run, sir!" Aragon shouted when he saw a massive arm tear through the walls as if they were paper.
The monster that emerged from the rubble was imposing, standing nearly two and a half meters tall, with colossal muscles and a fierce expression that seemed to mock fear itself. It emitted guttural sounds, like contained roars, as it advanced toward them with heavy steps that shook the ground beneath their feet.
"Get behind me, Your Highness. I'll protect you," Aragon instructed, unsheathing his sword with determination. The steel gleamed under the dim light of the torches as he positioned himself in front of the king and the princess, ready to face the colossus.
With a defiant cry, Aragon launched a precise strike at the intruder's chest. However, his sword rebounded as if it had struck a mountain of steel. Before he could react, a giant hand struck him with devastating force, sending him crashing to the ground unconscious.
When he awoke, the world slowly came back into focus. He blinked several times until he could make out the king and the princess by his side, both looking at him with concern. In front of them, one of the intruders spoke with disdain: "Well, well, so there was one foolish royal knight left." He smiled cruelly. "No matter, you'll die too."
At that moment, they threw someone onto the floor beside Aragon. It was William, barely conscious, his body battered and covered in wounds.
"Uncle, no! How could you have been defeated?" Aragon shouted, crawling toward him.
William coughed weakly, his voice barely a whisper. "I had good control of AURA... but they were stronger. Besides, they're in a hurry..."
"Hold on, Uncle," Aragon murmured, trying to hold back his tears.
The leader of the intruders approached the king with a sinister smile. "Well, foolish king, and your ancient foolish laws. This ends here and now."
"Who are you? Why are you attacking us?" the king asked, his voice firm despite the despair in his eyes.
"We are mere deer to the new cause," the leader replied, and his companions burst into mocking laughter. Then, pointing at Aragon, he added, "Look what you made me do, Father."
"Oh no! Charles! Son, why?" William exclaimed, horrified as he recognized the voice.
The leader removed his mask, revealing Charles's face. His eyes gleamed with a mixture of arrogance and hatred.
"Father, do you remember those ancient texts you used to mention? Well, some friends taught me very well. Perhaps I'm weaker than my dear cousin in appearance, but I only pretended to be so to gather information and strengthen myself in secret. Along with some allies, I planned all of this for three years. It was enough to overpower your precious Royal Guard... and you, Father."
Charles paused, savoring the pain he saw in William's eyes. "I let you live so you can witness how I destroy your foolish beliefs."
Before anyone could react, Charles grabbed the king by the neck and coldly declared: "NUBIA DRAGON RAGE."
Immediately, the king's body began to burn in intense flames, as if consumed by an infernal fire. Within seconds, his figure disintegrated completely, leaving only ashes floating in the air.
"Hmph, how pathetic. I thought he'd put up more of a fight," Charles remarked with disdain. Then, turning toward the princess, he added, "Now it's your turn, Your Majesty. Though you are beautiful, I can't leave anything from the past alive. That includes you, Aragon, and finally, you, Father."
"Alright, Your Majesty, it's time to die," Charles said, slowly approaching Elizabeth.
"Son, what has happened to you? Why are you doing this? Haven't I given you everything?" William asked, gasping for breath as he struggled to speak.
"Everything? You've given me nothing! You stole my legacy, my birthright. You always favored that fool, Aragon." Charles clenched his fists, his voice dripping with venom.
"I never thought you'd be jealous of your own family," William replied, sadness heavy in his tone.
"You know, you're a fool, Father. Just like all of you. I'll kill the little princess first, then Aragon right before your eyes, and when you see everything you've lost, I'll finish you off." Charles let out a demonic laugh that echoed through the deathly silence of the castle.
"Don't do it, cousin!" Aragon shouted desperately, drawing his sword in one swift motion. With a precise strike, he managed to leave a deep gash on Charles's cheek, which began to bleed profusely.
Charles took a step back, touching the wound in astonishment. Then, his eyes darkened with fury. "You impressed me, cousin. I thought you were too scared to move," he hissed, his voice laced with hatred. "I see I let my guard down. But patience… First, I'll deal with the princess, and then it'll be your turn."
William, despite being gravely injured, managed to stand with great effort. His body trembled, but his gaze was resolute. "Listen to me, Aragon," he said urgently, each word costing him immense effort. "You must go where I told you. Stay alive and keep our history and culture alive. Take the princess and protect her."
"What do you plan to do, Father?" Charles asked, his mocking tone mixed with curiosity.
"You leave me no choice, spoiled boy. I didn't raise a madman or a sick man," William responded with sadness but also determination. "If you think Aragon is like a son to me, then yes, he is. He has always been by my side, while you distanced yourself, apparently out of jealousy towards him—I failed to notice that. This is my final card."
With a blood-curdling cry, William unleashed a technique he had never shown before: a superhuman speed that made him appear as a fleeting shadow. In the blink of an eye, he rescued the princess and placed her beside Aragon.
"How fast he is!" exclaimed one of the intruders, astonished.
"Yes, he is, even in his last moments," another added, watching the scene with admiration and concern.
"Go, Aragon!" William commanded, activating a sort of energy field that propelled them toward the coast. "Good luck, boy!"
"No, Uncle!" Aragon cried out, holding the unconscious princess in his arms as the cold sea wind whipped against his face.
"Fine, if I have to take all of you down in the name of my honor, so be it," Charles muttered, his body beginning to glow with a crimson radiance. With his final words, William declared: "INMEN EXPLOSION."
"What is that, sir?" the men asked Charles, alarmed.
"Let's get out of here! The damn fool plans to destroy this entire place!" Charles shouted, trying to flee.
But it was already too late. The explosion was devastating, illuminating the night sky like a second sun. The entire castle was consumed by a rain of fire and debris, leaving only ashes in its wake.
Aragon wanted to go back, to run toward his uncle, but he knew William had given his life to save them. He looked at the unconscious princess beside him, and with a broken heart, he carried her to a boat he found on the shore.
As he rowed toward the horizon, his mind was filled with questions. Why had Charles changed so much? How could his cousin, someone he once considered family, become a monster? The boat rocked gently on the dark waters as the salty breeze caressed his face.
Eventually, he arrived in Nevada. There, he found the master William had mentioned—an elderly sage whose eyes reflected centuries of knowledge. Under his guidance, Aragon learned to master the art of AURA, surpassing even his own expectations. He traveled to other places, facing challenges and strengthening his spirit.
Before he could continue his story, the world around him suddenly froze. Everything came to a halt, as if time itself had been suspended. Only he could move. Confused, he slowly turned, searching for an explanation.
Suddenly, he heard a feminine voice behind him. It was soft, almost ethereal, but charged with urgency.
"I've finally found you," the voice said.