CHAPTER 38: DAWN CONFRONTATION
Night had enveloped the Ashura Kingdom's capital like a cold nightmare. Even the stone walls of the palace seemed to bear the weight of the approaching storm. King Arthur sat upon his sand throne, but he wasn't sitting; he was more like a leopard poised to strike. His fingers were tense on the arms of the throne, his nails digging into the wood as if ready to pierce it.
The door suddenly opened. Dragon rushed in, the pieces of his armor lightly clinking from his rapid movement. His breath was quick, not from physical fatigue but from the sense of urgency within him.
Dragon: "My King! All preparations are now complete. I conducted the final check personally. The soldiers are ready and can't stay still. Their eyes are bloodshot with impatience. Each of them is burning to settle the score for their brothers who died at the excavation site."
Arthur slowly raised his head. His eyes held a new fury layered over the pain from Fizz's death. This fury was cold, icy, as sharp as sandstorms.
Arthur: "Good." His voice held no satisfaction, only a tone accepting the inevitable. "And the commanders? Their morale is more important than the soldiers'. If there is any hesitation within them, it could collapse the entire army's spirit."
Dragon: "My King, they are also fully prepared. Have no worries. Commander Ramp is begging to be on the front line. Commander Poirer's voice has been hoarse since his final speech to the soldiers, he shouted so much. They carry the same anger. Not just the soldiers, everyone wants the price of this betrayal to be paid."
Arthur thought for a moment. What Dragon said was logical, but as a king, he had to think one last time. This decision would cost the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Ashura citizens.
Arthur: "Very well then, Dragon. We move at dawn. The moment the sun shows its first redness on the horizon, the order to move will be given. Tell all commanders and soldiers this. They are all to stand by, ready. And they must be vigilant!" Arthur's voice suddenly sharpened, each word slicing through the air like a blade. "Not even a bird shall fly across that border! The slightest movement, the smallest shadow coming from the Ice Kingdom will not go unnoticed. Understood?"
Dragon: "As you command, My King!" Dragon bowed deeply, as if feeling the heavy responsibility on his shoulders. He turned and exited the room; the sounds of commotion in the corridor were heard for a moment before the door closed.
Ice Kingdom Capital - The Glacial Palace
The corridors of the Glacial Palace were colder than usual, as if the ice in the walls had hardened further, sensing the approaching bloodshed. Flower pushed open the heavy, ice-carved door and entered. Her steps were silent, gliding over the ice as if skating.
The room was vast, and in the center, upon a magnificent throne carved from a single massive ice crystal, sat King Task. His hands were spread on the arms of the throne, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the ice. His eyes were closed, but Flower knew he wasn't sleeping. He was just thinking.
Flower: "My King." She kept her voice soft but clear.
Task's eyes opened instantly. His pupils glittered like crystals in the pale blue ice light filling the room.
Task: "Speak, Flower. Time is running short."
Flower: "My King, all soldiers and commanders are ready. The catapults, the ice siege towers, the ice bridges to cross frozen rivers... Everything is ready. We are one hundred percent prepared. The soldiers are filled with rage after learning of Ashura's betrayal." Flower added the last sentence deliberately. She knew the soldiers had been told the incident was Ashura's betrayal, not the Ice Kingdom's.
A thin, calculated smile appeared on King Task's lips. He slowly stood up. The ice armor beneath his cloak clinked softly.
Task: "HAHAHAHHA! Hey, Flower, all this preparation wasn't actually necessary." He descended from his throne and began pacing the room. "After all, there won't be a real war. This is theater, Flower. A show. The only thing lost will be a few insignificant lives. Names lost in statistics. That's all."
Flower's face remained expressionless, but something stirred inside her. The word "insignificant" rang in her ears.
Task: "But what we will gain..." He stopped and looked at Flower, his eyes gleaming with victory. "...at the end of this plan, will be 1 kingdom. Maybe more. Ashura's fall, the World Government's authority shaken... and our rise. Be sure of that."
Flower: "No doubt, you know best, My King." Flower's voice was robotic, an automatic response from years of training.
Task walked to the window. Outside, the glaciers stretched into an endless whiteness. "Flower, have the army stand ready at dawn. There's a ninety percent chance Arthur will move at dawn. He's proud, impatient. He doesn't like to wait. We will also move at that hour and secure the high ground." He traced an imaginary map on the glass. "If we control the high points in the mountain pass, the Ashura army will have to look up at us. That way, we will be the ones with the advantage. Do you understand me?"
Flower: "As you command, My King." Flower nodded.
Task turned to her, lowered his voice to almost a whisper. "You may leave."
Flower waited a second longer, as if there was something else to say, then bowed silently and left the room. When the door closed, Task sat back on his throne. He stared ahead, rested his head on his hand, and began to think deeply. The plan was perfect. But plans were always perfect, until the human factor came into play.
Nexan Palace - Strategy Room
Kai had left his room. The only sound echoing in the corridors was his own footsteps. The palace had fallen silent under the shadow of war. He soon reached Swain's main room. The two guards at the door saluted him respectfully upon seeing him and opened the door.
The room was filled with maps and old books. The air smelled of old parchment and oil lamps. Three people were inside: Swain standing at the head of the table, Po by the window, and Terex leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
Seeing Kai enter, Swain slightly raised his head. His face bore its usual thoughtful expression.
Swain: "Hey Kai, welcome. We were just discussing possibilities regarding the potential war. Terex arrived with his ship, bringing news from the sea. Come, share your thoughts as well."
Kai walked forward slowly but confidently. His heart was beating fast, but his voice came out calm. He approached Swain and looked into his eyes.
Kai: "Swain, I am going to the battlefield. And I will stop this war."
It was as if lightning had struck the room. Terex's eyebrows shot up. Po stood motionless. The expression on Swain's face changed. His eyebrows furrowed, his pupils dilated. For a moment, he seemed breathless.
Swain: "WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?" He didn't raise his voice, but each syllable exploded in the room like a punch. For the first time in years, his voice held pure astonishment.
Kai: "Swain, calm down." Kai's voice was soft but firm. "I need to go there. This isn't a request, it's a necessity."
Swain moved away from the table, taking another step closer to Kai. "But why? Is this madness? Two kingdoms' armies are about to clash, and you, alone, say you will stop them?"
Kai: "I am an independent, but I am wanted by the World Government. First and foremost, I need to secure allies like you. Arthur is at a weak point right now. He is suffering. Maybe in this state, he can be reasoned with. Even if I can't draw him to my side, I can at least see him as a potential ally against the World Government." Kai took a deep breath. "And I need to learn the power of the World Government. I need to see the Hunters. How they operate, how they fight. Experiencing it firsthand is much better than reading from books."
Po took a step forward after these words. His face was serious.
Po: "Kai is right, Swain. Don't stop him." Po's voice was unusually soft. "Let him go, he's not a child anymore. He must make his own decisions. Let him gain experience. After all..." Po gave Swain a meaningful look, "...this world has already passed us by. There's nothing left for us to teach him. Now he must learn his own lessons through experience. Make his own mistakes, win his own victories."
Swain looked at Po, then back at Kai. A war raged in his eyes: protective instinct versus fatalistic belief. Not a sound could be heard in the room. Finally, he took a deep, long breath. His shoulders slumped slightly.
Swain: "So that's how it is... Alright then, Kai." His voice was tired. "Go. Embark on your journey. Try to make Arthur your ally. Who knows, maybe in the future, you'll stand by his side too. Maybe then, in this chaos, you'll help us see our real enemy."
Kai: "Thank you, Swain." He bowed his head with genuine gratitude. He turned and left the room, leaving behind a heavy silence.
After the door closed, Swain looked out the window at the horizon. The sky was beginning to redden.
Swain: "Fate... playing its game once again." His voice was almost a whisper, as if talking to himself. "We place all the pieces, but it always makes the final move."
Behind him, Po and Terex turned toward him. Both stood at attention, the same serious expression on their faces.
Po & Terex: "Exactly, Swain."
Sacred Lands - Rion Castle
The messenger sent by Swain halted his horse at the massive entrance gate of Rion Castle. The horse was sweaty from the long journey, steam rising from its nostrils. Clutching a scroll bearing Swain's seal tightly, the messenger entered the castle with heavy steps. The torches on the walls cast flickering lights. The corridors were empty, but there was a sense of invisible surveillance at every corner.
After walking for a while, he arrived before the meeting chamber of the Five Elders. At the door, he saw Argus, his face pale, waiting. Argus's eyes widened upon seeing the messenger.
The messenger approached and relayed Swain's message. Upon hearing it, Argus's face turned ashen. He swallowed, his throat dry.
Argus: "W-Wait... wait here." His voice trembled.
He immediately knocked on the door. A voice as cold as ice came from within: "Enter."
Argus entered and knelt, bowing his head as soon as he stepped in. His breath was rapid.
Mars's Voice (from the shadows): "Speak."
Argus: "F-Five Elders..."
Mars's Voice (sharper): "What is it, Argus? Speak now!" The voice echoed off the chamber walls.
Argus: "Five Elders... Swain has sent a messenger. The messenger... the messenger said this." Argus pulled out the paper he received from the messenger with trembling hands. The paper was quality parchment, edged with gold leaf. He began to read, his voice shaky at first, then gradually strengthening:
"I, King Swain. The absolute sovereign of Nexan and the Ultimate Ruler of the Lands. What I have to tell you is this; since King Reacherd is now dead, the treaty you made with him is void. NEXAN IS NO LONGER SUBORDINATE TO THE WORLD GOVERNMENT. Henceforth, none of you shall interfere with Nexan's lands, nor meddle in Nexan's internal affairs. Otherwise, the one you will face will be me. And my wrath will be far colder than Reacherd's."
When he finished reading the paper, Argus's hands were damp with sweat. A deathly silence fell over the room.
The silhouettes of the Five Elders became slightly visible in the candlelight. They were all seated in luxurious, dark-colored chairs. But only Mars's form was distinct; an aged face with high cheekbones and gleaming ice-blue eyes.
Upon hearing this message, the air in the room suddenly became electrified. The muscles on Mars's face tensed.
Mars: "AUDACITY..." A single word, but as heavy as a curse. "SUCH AUDACITY... I WANT TO GO AND DEMOLISH HIS PALACE RIGHT NOW."
The other shadows in the room stirred but made no sound. Only Mars spoke.
Mars: "This insolence... Once these wars are completely over, we will release him. We have waited that long, we will delay no further." Mars turned to Argus, his eyes piercing. "Argus! Begin preparing him now. Initiate all procedures. Start the awakening process. They have begun to underestimate our power far too much. It is time to remind them of something they have forgotten."
Argus was drenched in cold sweat. He was talking about Him. That... thing. Argus didn't even know exactly what it was, only that it was the Five Elders' weapon of last resort.
Argus: "Y-Yes, my lord! Immediately... I will begin preparations at once!" He tried to rise from the floor, his legs unsteady. He nearly fell. Finally, he straightened up and almost crawled out of the room.
Dawn - Ice Kingdom Border
There was one hour left until sunrise. The sky was shifting from deep navy to purple, then toward pink. The Ice Kingdom soldiers stood ready on the massive ice plain before the capital's main gate. Thousands of men, their breath forming vapor clouds, their armor emitting a dull gleam in the pale dawn light.
And atop the ramparts, King Task appeared.
All soldiers turned toward him almost simultaneously. Thousands of pairs of eyes focused on him. The silence was so profound that the cracking of a distant glacier could be heard.
Task: "My soldiers!" He didn't raise his voice, but it echoed clearly on the ice. "The time to march has come."
His sentence hung in the air.
Task: "You represent the entire Ice Kingdom. On your shoulders rests the honor of this kingdom, carved from glaciers by our ancestors. Therefore, let none of you fear! Your hearts of steel are stronger than their castles of sand!"
A rumble rose among the soldiers.
Task raised his voice for the first time, like a war cry: "Show everyone on the battlefield today the power of the Ice Kingdom!"
This was the awaited signal. The entire army roared at once. The sound bounced off the glaciers and returned, as if shaking the mountains:
"LONG LIVE KING TASK! LONG LIVE KING TASK! LONG LIVE KING TASK!"
King Task drew the ice sword from his waist. The sword blazed like a blue flame in the first light of dawn. He raised it to the sky and shouted with all his might, as if tearing his lungs:
"FORWARRRRD!!!!"
It was an order, a release. The entire army moved like a beast. Shouting with battle joy, rage, and fear, they fell into formation and began to advance. The sound of footsteps created rumbles on the ice. The breathing of thousands, the clinking of moving armor... The death machine had been set in motion.
From a high window in the palace, Morde watched everything happening. His face held no expression, only his eyes followed the receding forms of the army. He spoke to himself, his voice a faint whisper only he could hear:
Morde: "So it begins... The time for the world to change has come. Petty kings, petty wars... all a prelude. After this war..." A dark light gleamed in his eyes. "...everyone will learn who I am and how powerful I am. Task sees me as a weapon. But weapons can also turn against their masters."
On the Road - Toward the Battlefield
Meanwhile, Kai was speeding along a mountain path. Beneath his feet was a bright platform resembling a skateboard, created from pure spirit energy. The platform hovered a hand's breadth above the ground, gliding without losing speed even on rough terrain. Concentration was etched on Kai's face. Swain's words were in his ears: "Be an observer."
But he didn't plan to be just an observer.
Mountain Pass - The Battlefield
Nearly four hours had passed since the Ice Kingdom army had set out. Dawn had long since broken, and the sun was rising in the sky. They were almost at the battlefield, the mountain pass.
But something was wrong.
There was no sign of the Ashura army. No trace. The pass was calm, dead silent. Task, on his horse, frowned slightly. He thought to himself that something was wrong. Arthur couldn't be this passive.
Task: "Halt!" The order rippled through the ranks to the front lines. The army stopped. "Scout units, forward! Check the pass!"
But scouts weren't needed. As they advanced a little further and rounded the mountain's final bend, they were all shocked and froze.
The pass was not empty as they had thought.
The Ashura army had already arrived. And not only had they arrived, they had seized the mountain tops, the high points, every strategic inch. Thousands of Ashura soldiers looked down from above. Archers stood with bows drawn, aimed, and ready. The glint of cold steel was on the tip of every arrow.
And on the highest peak, upon a natural rock platform where a sand throne had been placed, sat King Arthur. His arms were crossed, his face looking down at the Ice army below. Only a few hundred meters separated them.
Task couldn't believe his eyes. His gaze instantly met Arthur's. The distance was great, but the two kings' stares collided in the air, as if they had struck the first blows with invisible swords.
Arthur slowly stood up. He looked down at Task. And he spoke. He didn't raise his voice, but his words, along with the mountain's echo, reached down clearly to the ear of every Ice soldier:
Arthur: "You're late, Task."
A moment of silence. Then he continued, his voice calm as an ice cutter:
Arthur: "We finished digging your grave long ago."
Two giant armies stood motionless in a mountain pass at dawn. Above, vengeance illuminated by the sun. Below, icy astonishment. And between them, a silence ready to explode.
The war was no longer on paper. It was real. And it was about to begin.