A massive explosion shook the palace suddenly; the walls trembled and the windows shattered.
The queen turned to the window and saw the sky split by a violet light, and from it a swirling gate through which men in black garments bearing strange marks on their foreheads emerged.
The queen, her voice hoarse: "The invaders… they found us!"
Elena sprang up quickly, looked at Kim who still sat on the bed—half of him light and half of him shadow—and her heart churned between fear and hope. She placed her hand on his shoulder and said urgently, "Kim… don't move now! You aren't healed yet… rest. For my sake, and for my daughter."
Then she looked at the little girl asleep beside the bed, lifted her with trembling hands, then paused, staring at Kim again with tearful eyes: "Please… protect her. Whatever happens out there… don't let them touch her."
Kim raised his head slowly; his eyes flashed with black and silver light, and he said quietly, "No one will come near her… I promise."
Elena placed the child in his arms, then hurried to the door with the queen. From afar the guards shouted that the invaders had breached the palace walls.
In the courtyard the scene was true hell: the kingdom's soldiers fell one after another beneath the swords of those who came from the other dimension. The sky was dark, the ground shook, and horns blared as if the end of the world had come.
The queen raised her hand, a wave of icy energy launched from it to repel the first wave of invaders, but it lasted only a moment before the ruler himself stepped out of the vortex — a tall figure cloaked in darkness, eyes burning the color of blood, his voice like thunder: "At last… the White Kingdom."
The queen and Elena faced him; both knew this was no ordinary foe.
Inside… Kim sat with the child in his arms, hearing the distant sounds of battle, soldiers' screams, and bursts of energy. A faint voice echoed in his head — Amon's voice: "It's him… the Ruler… he was one of my followers… he's one who sealed me. Kill him, Kim, before he returns to erase everything… kill him!!"
Kim closed his eyes and said coldly within himself, "Do not tell me what to do, Amon… I will decide when and how. But be sure… I won't let him touch anyone near me again. This time I will save someone."
Then a black-and-silver flash exploded around his body, the child still sleeping in his arms.