Flashback.
Before the war drums thundered and the meteors fell, King Drako had stood atop the highest tower of the royal palace, gazing down at the thousands of royal troops and the ranks of Hunters assembled below. The morning wind carried the scent of iron and blood, heralding the battle to come.
Drako's face, bearing a small cut near his mouth, looked resolute but unmistakably held a trace of unease. His golden eyes burned, reflecting the thousands of gazes awaiting his command.
He took a long breath, then spoke loudly, his voice shaking the fortress walls:
"Listen to me, all soldiers of Emerald Kingdom!
Today, we face hell.
Today, we will meet death in the face of our enemies, in Fenrir's jaws, in Azog's axe, and in Skull's dark sorcery!"
He looked over the soldiers, each one holding their breath.
"I… beg you, do not fear.
Because the royal mages and the Hunter mages — including Kaela among them —
will call upon high-level magic: the ancient Elf meteor spell!
This magic… does not know friend or foe.
Those heavenly stones will strike everything,
including you, my soldiers…
including us…"
A sudden silence fell over the thousands gathered there. Fear, doubt, and nervousness were clear on the faces of many Hunters and royal knights. Some whispered to each other, hands trembling as they gripped their spears or swords, as if questioning whether they could die for their homeland.
Seeing that, King Drako suddenly bowed low, then slowly knelt, even pressing his forehead to the stone floor of the tower.
"I BOW TO YOU ALL!
For our children, for the future of this kingdom, for the unarmed people behind Emerald's walls,
please… please fight for today!
If you are struck by those meteors, if you must die…
know that your king will remember every one of your names until my last breath!"
A strong gust of wind whipped his cloak. The silence was piercing, until some soldiers began to shed tears. A Hunter squeezed the hilt of his sword tightly, trembling as he held back sobs. Another nodded, tears streaming but a smile on his lips.
"Your Majesty…
it's fine if we die,
as long as our families live on in Emerald,"
whispered one knight, bowing with emotion.
Another answered loudly,
"We will not retreat, Your Majesty!
We will stand with you to the end!"
Drako was deeply moved hearing all this. Slowly, he lifted his head, looking at the soldiers who smiled through their tears, his heart torn yet filled with pride.
He stood once more, voice shaking but full of resolve,
"I… thank you.
You are the greatest honor of my life!"
---
Drako then turned to Kaela, who stood beside him, struggling to hold back the ache in her chest at seeing all these sacrifices.
"Kaela," Drako said, his tone almost a whisper, "please… use the Elf meteor spell. Destroy their army. It is… our only way."
Kaela lowered her head, her beautiful face trembling, tears nearly falling.
"Your Majesty, it is too dangerous… our own troops could burn…"
Drako gently grasped her shoulder, looking straight into her with blazing golden eyes,
"I know. But… we have no other choice.
I beg you, for those willing to die today —
please, Kaela."
Kaela clenched her fingers, her breathing shaky, then finally nodded slowly, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"All right… I will do it."
---
At that very moment, the war drums sounded again. The royal soldiers shouted with determination even though their faces were still wet with tears. The sounds of crying mixed with bitter laughter. They knew: this might be their last morning, but they would die to protect their children, their people, and the Emerald Kingdom they loved.
Present time.
The once-gray sky began to split with blinding light. Hundreds of magic circles opened in the air, marking the ritual of the royal mages and Hunter mages. Kaela stood at the front line of the tower, looking up as her white hair billowed in the hot wind. Both her hands were outstretched, channeling a swirl of blue mana toward the rumbling sky.
The ancient Elven spell left her lips in a trembling voice:
"Zyra Delamuna Asthuriel…"
In an instant, from behind the dark clouds, a searing red glow emerged. Massive meteor stones, as large as grown elephants, crashed through the sky with long tails of flame and a deafening roar that shook every human heart.
The first meteor struck the left flank of the orc army, creating a burning explosion that hurled dozens of orcs into the air, destroyed in searing flames.
The second meteor landed on a hastily built orc fortification, flattening it along with dozens of orc cavalry that had yet to advance.
The impacts kept ringing out, hundreds of meteors dancing across the sky like an apocalypse rain. Cries of despair erupted across the battlefield — even from some Hunters and royal soldiers who were caught in the heatwaves. This meteor spell was truly indiscriminate, sparing neither friend nor foe.
Kaela closed her eyes, praying in her heart, tears flowing endlessly.
"Gods of magic, protect Lucifer… protect Arthur… protect every sacred life here…"
---
Amid the inferno and crashing heavenly stones, Azog stood atop Fenrir's back, watching the meteors fall without even a hint of fear. His powerful body clad in bone armor seemed to challenge the sky itself.
Azog grinned savagely, then shouted toward Drako who stood ahead:
"HAHA! You're so desperate you'd slaughter your own troops, Human King?! Is this how you defend your kingdom?!"
Drako did not flinch. He stepped forward, locking eyes with Azog, full of courage.
"If that is the only way to save my people, then I accept it, Azog."
Azog laughed loudly as he climbed down from Fenrir, his massive axe on his shoulder gleaming with fresh blood.
"Fine, Coward King. Let's see your courage!"
Azog advanced, challenging him to a one-on-one duel. The blazing meteor fires around them made it look as if hell itself had descended upon the earth. Drako drew his sword, staring at Azog with fury and determination.
CLANG!!
Their weapons clashed hard, shaking the ground beneath them. Drako stabbed toward Azog's stomach, but the orc warlord parried and countered with a heavy axe blow that forced Drako back several steps. Fresh blood dripped from Drako's breastplate.
---
Meanwhile, Fenrir — the giant red-eyed wolf, as tall as a house — roared loudly, leading the orc army to charge at the royal soldiers. Its teeth dripped with poisonous foam, its claws tore through the royal cavalry in a single swipe.
Lucifer, leading his elite squad with Arthur, charged forward with incredible bravery. The dagger gifted by Arthur glinted in his left hand, while the black ring on his finger pulsed faintly.
"Don't fall back!!" Arthur shouted, even though his left arm was only half remaining, wrapped in rough bandages.
GRRAAAAWWRR!!
Fenrir swung its claw toward Lucifer. Lucifer rolled aside, then stabbed into the giant wolf's leg, making Fenrir limp slightly. The elite squad behind him also fired magic arrows and long spears, though many were blown back by Fenrir's toxic breath.
The meteors continued to fall, destroying both sides mercilessly. One meteor even exploded barely ten steps from Lucifer's squad, throwing the Hunters so hard their bones snapped. Blood mixed with dust, staining the soil of Emerald Kingdom.
---
Kaela, from the magic tower, clasped her hands over her chest, whispering through her tears,
"Lucifer… Arthur… please be safe… please come home…"
Her heart felt torn apart seeing the blazing fires swallow their troops. She knew this meteor spell was a double-edged sword, but without it, the kingdom would fall. Her tears streamed on, though her face stayed firm as she finished the spell.
---
In the distance, Drako and Azog kept trading blows. Azog's axe smashed part of Drako's shield, sending up sparks and making the king stagger, but he stood his ground.
Azog sneered cruelly,
"You're a king? This is all you've got?!"
Drako answered, even with labored breath,
"I am a king… and a father to the thousands you're trying to kill!"
Their duel became the center of attention on the battlefield, like two gods waging war in a sea of fire and heavenly stones raining from the sky.