(The Border – Aftermath of Victory)
The dust of battle had settled upon the battlefield,
littered with the remnants of the Ethereal Kingdom's retreat. General Erlic,
his armor scarred and face smeared with soot, did not allow his troops to rest.
They stood watch for a full day, securing the perimeter and tending to their
wounded. The air, once filled with the cacophony of war, was now shrouded in an
eerie silence and the metallic scent of blood.
Inside his command tent, illuminated by the flickering light
of an oil lamp, Erlic drafted three identical, crucial messages. His quill
scratched against the parchment, each stroke filled with grim determination.
The message read:
"The blood of Valoria has been spilled and has answered the
call. In two weeks, I will lead a demonstration before the palace gates,
demanding justice for Mordred's wasteful war strategy and the needless
sacrifice of our youth. The true King has returned. I will aid him in
reclaiming his rightful throne and leading this kingdom back to its former
glory."
These messages were dispatched by his most trusted riders to
three key nobles:
· Viscount Toroso (His ally)
· Viscount Edward (A loyal supporter)
· Viscount Reynard (The influential neutral party)
(A Web of Reactions – Across Valoria)
Their responses came swiftly, each reflecting the sender's
nature.
· Viscount Toroso's reply was short and fiery: "Finally. My
men and resources are at your disposal."
· Viscount Edward's message was equally direct, smelling of
revolution: "The time for talk is over. We overthrow the tyrant."
· Viscount Reynard's response was measured, heavy with the
weight of history and caution: "Chaos returns to Valoria after years of bitter
peace. I pray this Arthur is not as foolish as his father, Mario Valoria, whose
weak and indecisive rule created the very vacuum Mordred filled with his
rebellion. I want no more kin-slaying coups." Remembering the poor decisions of
King Mario that led to Mordred's rise, Reynard took a practical step. He
dispatched his most trusted Knight-Captain and a contingent of his personal
guard to reinforce the kingdom's external borders, ensuring no foreign power
would exploit the coming internal strife.
(One Week Later – Erlic's Territory)
A week after the costly victory, General Erlic returned to
his territory. He was greeted not as a soldier, but as a hero and a beacon of
hope. The streets were lined with cheering citizens, their faces filled with
admiration and relief. They showered his procession with flowers and blessings.
But Erlic had no time for prolonged celebration. After
acknowledging the crowd, he immediately convened an emergency war council with
his most trusted knights. "We must create controlled chaos," he said, his eyes
blazing. "We need momentum to create an opening for Arthur to enter this
conflict. This demonstration must be massive, fiery, and must show that the
people have had enough!"
(Infiltration – Arthur Enters Valoria)
Meanwhile, Arthur and his team had infiltrated the capital
of Valoria with near-perfect disguises. Not a single suspicious eye fell upon
them. They settled in a secluded, old inn in a rarely visited district.
There, Arthur did not waste a moment. Through deep
meditation, he entered the Mind Realm—a mental training dimension that allowed
him to practice and hone his swordsmanship without moving a muscle, much like
Murim warriors training in the world of thought. In this realm, he trained
incessantly, facing hundreds of simulated enemies, perfecting every technique,
and preparing himself for the battle to come.
(D-Day – Riots at the Palace Gates)
Time passed unnoticed. The awaited day finally arrived.
Thousands of Erlic's supporters crowded the vast square before the palace,
backed by Erlic's knights standing in orderly ranks behind them, both
protecting and applying pressure.
Erlic gave the people of Valoria a chance to voice their
pent-up frustrations. Long-suppressed anger finally erupted. "Lower
taxes!"shouted a man. "Restore our rights!Education! Healthcare!" joined
another. "Fight corruption!Mordred step down!" Under Mordred's rule,the poor
struggled to access schools and medical services. Public facilities lay in
ruins while taxes strangled them. Corruption was rampant.
Soon enough, Mordred appeared on the palace balcony, visible
to all. Using a rune-inscribed voice amplification device, his voice echoed,
cold and full of contempt. "You ungrateful wretches!Is this kingdom not safe
from monsters thanks to my leadership? And yet you rebel!"
His words were like spraying oil on a fire. The crowd's rage
peaked. The sturdy palace gates began to buckle under the onslaught of a sea of
angry people.
CRASH!
Instantly, a massive Fireball shot from atop the palace
walls, aimed directly at the dense crowd. Mordred screamed, "Rebels! Death to
all rebels!"
Suddenly, from within the crowd, a large and sharp Ice Spear
shot out at high speed, striking and neutralizing the Fireball precisely 15
meters from the crowd, saving hundreds of lives.
All eyes turned to its source. A disguised man threw off his
cloak, holding a similar amplification device. His voice echoed, clear and
authoritative. "I am Arthur Valoria.You may have taken the throne, Mordred, but
I will not tolerate your oppression of Valoria's people!"
The atmosphere exploded. It was the signal Erlic waited for.
"For Valoria! For our true King!" he roared, raising his sword. The rebel army,
led by Arthur and Erlic, stormed the palace.
(The Palace Battle – The Viscounts' Duel)
A fierce battle immediately erupted across the palace
grounds.
· Viscount Andreas (Pro-Mordred) vs Viscount Edward
(Pro-Arthur): Andreas, nicknamed "The Iron Wall," was a defense expert. His
signature skill, "Fortress Stance," made him nearly immovable, able to
withstand relentless assaults. Edward, a pure offensive fighter, used "Furious
Charge" to crash into enemies with immense strength and speed. Their battle was
a stubborn clash between the strongest defense and the fiercest offense. Edward
finally found an opening, distracting Andreas with a quick thrust before slamming
his hammer into a weak point in his armor with a "Mountain Breaker" punch,
felling the Viscount.
· Viscount Zuki (Pro-Mordred) vs Viscount Toroso
(Pro-Arthur): Zuki was a swift sword master with the skill "Thousand Cuts,"
creating illusions of attacks from all directions. Toroso, more experienced and
calm, used the defensive technique "Willow Dance," flowing like water to evade
and deflect every strike. Their fight was an elegant, deadly dance. Toroso
waited patiently, and when Zuki overextended after a flurry of attacks, he
countered with a precise thrust—"Viper's Kiss"—that pierced his defenses and ended
Zuki's life.
· Viscount Andrea (Pro-Mordred) vs General Erlic: Andrea was
a hulking bull of a man with a double-edged axe. His main skill, "Earth
Shatter," ruptured the ground and created shockwaves to knock opponents down.
Erlic, a trained and disciplined warrior, used "Phalanx Advance" to remain
stable and find an opening. This was a battle of pure strength versus strategy.
Erlic used his speed to avoid Andrea's brutal attacks, and when Andrea swung
his axe with a "Wild Swing," Erlic thrust his sword into his unprotected armpit
with "Precision Thrust," disabling and then defeating him.
· Viscount Barbara (Pro-Mordred) vs Arthur: Barbara, with
her fire-tipped whip, was an expert in long-range and area attacks. Her skills,
"Dragon's Tail Lash" could hit multiple targets, and "Ember Whip" left burning
wounds. Arthur used Gale Step to dodge and close the distance. Barbara was
slippery and cruel. After a difficult fight, Arthur used an illusion from Gale
Step to feint her out and pierced Barbara's heart with the "Needle Point"
technique.
(Other Battles – Ren and Reyna)
· Ren vs Shadow Mordred: As the battle raged, a shadowy
figure emerged from the darkness—Shadow Mordred, the King's personal assassin.
Ren, without a word, intercepted him. Their fight was silent yet deadly. Shadow
Mordred used "Umbral Daggers" and the stealth skill "Vanishing Step." Ren,
faster and more experienced, anticipated every move. Using "Blink," he appeared
behind Shadow Mordred and ended his life with a clean "Silent Mercy" strike.
· Reyna vs Mordred's Guard Captain: Mordred's Guard Captain,
a large man with a halberd, blocked the path. Reyna, with her elusive speed,
used "Shadow Weave" to entangle him and "Venomous Strike" with her small
dagger. The Captain was strong but slow. Reyna whittled down his defenses with
rapid attacks and finally brought him down with a precise stab between the
seams of his neck armor.
(Arthur vs 10 Elite Knights)
After defeating Barbara, Arthur was immediately surrounded
by 10 of Mordred's Elite Knights. They formed a formation and attacked
simultaneously. Arthur, already exhausted, was forced to use all his abilities.
He used Gale Step to evade, River's Guard to parry attacks, and Gale Cutter to
strike from a distance. One by one, the knights fell, but Arthur acquired new
wounds on his thigh and arm. Through immense effort, he finally defeated them
all, standing swaying amongst the lifeless bodies, his breath coming in ragged
gasps.
(The Final Duel – Arthur vs Mordred)
Gasping for breath and covered in wounds, Arthur looked up
at the balcony. Mordred had descended, unsheathing his legendary sword,
"Oathkeeper." His face was contorted with terrifying rage.
"You rat! You've ruined everything!" Mordred screamed,
attacking.
Arthur, exhausted and wounded, could barely stand. Every
step was agony; blood flowed from wounds on his arm and waist. Mordred was far
stronger, each of his sword strokes containing destructive dark energy. Arthur
was forced on the defensive, only able to parry with River's Guard, deflecting
blows that could kill him instantly.
He was on the verge of surrender. His body could hardly move
anymore. But then, he saw the faces of the oppressed people, Cici, Erlic, and
everyone who had sacrificed for him. A fire reignited in his eyes.
With the last remnants of his strength, Arthur entered the
OVERDRIVE state for the final time. His eyes blazed with a golden light. He
ignored all pain, gathering every last bit of Qi remaining in his body.
Mordred swung for the kill. "BURN!"
But Arthur did not dodge. Using Gale Step, he surged forward
instead, twisting his body to avoid the fatal thrust, and with all his might,
he brought his Ancient Valorian Sword down—the Moon Splitter technique
perfected in the Mind Realm—right onto Mordred's neck.
SCHLING!
A clean slicing sound echoed. Mordred's head separated from
his body. An expression of shock and disbelief was still etched on his face as
his head hit the floor and rolled.
Arthur collapsed beside the lifeless body, his breath
ragged, his vision blurring. He could no longer move, but his task was
complete. The Tyrant King had fallen.
(End of the Battle and Recognition)
Erlic was the first to break the silence. In a hoarse voice
filled with relief and victory, he raised his sword to the sky and shouted with
all his might, "MORDRED HAS FALLEN!"
The shout was like a burst of new energy for the rebel
troops. Their spirits ignited, and they began ruthlessly hunting down the
remaining loyalist knights and soldiers of Mordred. Anger held back for years
finally exploded.
Arthur, nearly unconscious, still managed to hear the cries
for vengeance. With the last of his strength, he weakly yet authoritatively
yelled, "Stop! Do not kill those who have surrendered!" Those words were his
first command as the prospective King. After uttering them, his strength
completely failed, and darkness enveloped his vision. He passed out.
Erlic, hearing Arthur's order, immediately continued with a
loud command, "You heard his order! Kill only those who still resist! Capture
and spare those who have surrendered!"
Ren, who had been watching all along, instantly used his
Gale Step and appeared beside the helpless Arthur. He knelt, his sword drawn,
his eyes scanning every corner with maximum vigilance, ready to kill anyone who
approached the vulnerable Arthur. Cici and Reyna quickly followed, forming a
protective formation around them.
Not long after, roughly half an hour later, the situation
began to stabilize. The fighting subsided. Mordred's lackeys who had
surrendered could only submit, squatting with their hands on their heads,
surrounded by still-wary rebel soldiers. Cheers of victory began to be heard,
slowly but surely turning into euphoria. In the sky, dozens of messenger
pigeons took flight, carrying reports of the upheaval in Valoria to all corners
of neighboring kingdoms. Foreign spies had certainly witnessed everything.
Ten minutes later, with the help of Qi from Ren and basic
first aid from Reyna, Arthur finally regained consciousness. His eyes opened,
still heavy, but the determination within them was undimmed. Supported by Erlic
and Ren, he stood unsteadily. Everyone watched him.
In a voice weak yet clear enough to carry to every corner
through the hopeful silence, Arthur began his speech.
"I... am Arthur Valoria. Son of Mario Valoria. From this
moment on, I will lead this kingdom, bringing it out of darkness and back to
its glory!"
However, before cheers could erupt, Viscount Toroso stepped
forward. His face was wrinkled with doubt. "Wait a moment, young man. A claim
like that cannot be made so lightly. I do not simply believe you are the flesh
and blood of Mario Valoria. This world is full of ambitious frauds."
Arthur nodded slowly. He seemed to have anticipated this. In
his heart, he thought, "It was not a mistake to prepare for all this in the
'white room' (chapter 2), accounting for every variable."
With slow, confident movements, he removed his tattered
upper garment, revealing his back. Between his shoulder blades was a birthmark
in the shape of a sun surrounded by nine stars—the authentic mark of the
Valoria family, something nearly impossible to forge.
Instantly, a man around 55 years old among the demonstrators
cried out emotionally. "That... that's true! That is the King's mark! I,
Marcel, was once head steward to the late King Mario! Everyone knows me! The
generals here must still remember! That mark is genuine!"
The respected Marcel's confirmation convinced all who still
doubted. Uncertainty melted away, replaced by conviction.
Erlic, releasing the tension that had burdened him,
exclaimed in a thundering voice, "LONG LIVE KING ARTHUR! LONG LIVE VALORIA!"
Cheers from the people and soldiers erupted, echoing
throughout the palace grounds.
With the remaining authority he could muster, Arthur issued
his first official command, his voice still weak but firm, "For now... imprison
all of Mordred's lackeys who have surrendered. Treat them decently. A fair
trial will determine their fate."
After giving the order, his body swayed. Erlic, standing
beside him, quickly grabbed him to steady Arthur's nearly collapsing body.
"Your Majesty..." Erlic whispered, full of concern.
Arthur only nodded faintly, his eyes beginning to close
again from utter exhaustion. The chapter of the bloody rebellion had ended, but
a new chapter as King had begun. His challenges were still immense.