Humanity's most feared day had arrived.
The conflicts between the two kingdoms had finally erupted into war. Enemy forces launched sudden attacks, villages and fortresses were reduced to ash, and nobles fled with their guards in cowardice. Countless soldiers and civilians perished—victims of their ruler's incompetence.
On the battlefield, commanders barked orders while soldiers fought desperately, defending their homeland with their lives. The clash of steel rang endlessly, echoing across the fields drenched in blood.
Amidst the chaos stood a swordsman, blade in hand, fighting with every ounce of strength he had. Together with his companions, he struggled to hold the line, clinging to their last hopes of survival.
But time was cruel. The enemy's numbers swelled with every passing moment, and their defenses began to collapse. At the chief's command, they were forced into retreat.
That was when he appeared.
A knight from the enemy's side stood before them, blocking their escape. His presence alone was suffocating. The aura that radiated from his body was overwhelming—comparable, they thought, to a quarter of an entire army.
Fear gripped every warrior's heart. Their blades trembled. Step by step, they retreated, unable to hide their dread.
The swordsman shouted, "Everyone, run!"
And they did—scattering like mice fleeing a cat.
The knight laughed, the air shifting with his mirth. He raised his massive blade and swung it down, releasing a slash infused with raw energy. The strike split the ground apart, nearly tearing their formation in half.
But one man stepped forward.
The swordsman unsheathed his blade, pointing it at the knight. His voice was steady despite the terror around him.
The knight grinned.
"That's the spirit. Let me teach you a lesson before you die in vain—weakness is a crime on the battlefield."
With a roar, the swordsman charged, unleashing every technique he had trained and mastered over the past year. His strikes were relentless, desperate, filled with everything he had left.
Yet the knight parried each one with ease. His blade moved with mocking precision, waiting for an opening. And when it came, he slid his foot forward, knocking the swordsman off balance.
The swordsman fell.
"That," the knight said coldly, "is how you weaken your enemy."
Struggling back to his feet, the swordsman fixed his stance and attacked again.
"You're stubborn," the knight chuckled, deflecting blow after blow. Then, with a swift counter, his blade flashed.
The swordsman froze. Blood poured from a deep wound across his chest. He felt the warmth spreading, the unbearable pain searing through his body. His legs buckled, and he fell to one knee.
"Help… me…" he gasped toward his companions.
But none came. They had already abandoned him, fleeing in terror.
The knight sneered.
"That's the way of the world. The weak are left behind."
He tilted his head, almost amused.
"What is your name, young one? That was a good match."
The swordsman ignored him, his mind spiraling inward.
Was this truly the extent of my power? Even after giving it everything, victory never once slipped from his grasp. Is this my limit?
Expressionless, he stared at the knight—a man so powerful that Qen realized he had only been scratching at the surface of his own potential. To fall here, unfinished, was bitter.
Blood dripped into his mouth, the metallic taste chilling him. His vision blurred, his life slipping away with every heartbeat. Yet, with trembling lips, he managed to speak.
"I am… Q—Q—Qen Tavious. And I am truly…"
He raised his gaze skyward, where grey clouds scattered across the horizon. With his final breath, he whispered:
"…honored."
The world around him froze. Colors drained away. And then, darkness consumed him.
The knight turned and departed, leaving silence in his wake.
Moments later, rescuers combed the battlefield for survivors. Among the broken, they found him—a swordsman still clinging to life.
A young woman gasped, rushing to his side.
"He's still breathing!"
With urgency, they administered first aid and carried him away, his body broken, yet not lost.
...