What is the exact power of the Star?
No one knows. Even Yujin, the wielder of the power, couldn't fully grasp it.
Even Netsalem, versed in all manner of Arts, described it as something mixing sorcery and Arts—an undefined power.
At best, it could be understood that drawing upon a Star enhanced physical abilities and overflowed with strength, a kind of empowered state.
But.
The moment the third star blossomed, Yujin understood a fragment of its power.
Each star holds a different meaning and trigger. Now, with the third star awakened, he knew its meaning instantly.
To overcome the hardship and darkness before him.
Indomitability (不屈) that yields to no trial, and Breakthrough (突破) that shatters and passes through any obstacle.
Senses returned, and his blurry vision cleared. Gripping his sword and spear, Yujin looked at Tola.
Tola shuddered, though he didn't know why. In the endless darkness where nothing could be seen, three stars shone blindingly. They possessed a radiance that seemed capable of blinding anyone who looked.
Crunch.
He gripped his swords as if to crush them. Slung his spear on his back and took a stance.
Now, he was certain he could reach the wall.
The sword raised high to pierce the sky shone. Unlike before when it merely held the star, the star at the tip of the blade shone more vividly than anything.
Tola raised his twin swords in the darkness. Building a wall with darkness. A banner rose high in the sky as the wall was erected in the darkness, looking like a national flag.
However.
It was just a single swing.
Invisible. The light gathering at the sword tip, the sword falling in an arc—as if only the beginning and end could be seen, only the aftermath of the swing was visible.
A strike defying laws, purely physical, shook the world. Platinum-infused Arts cleaved the earth and cut the darkness.
To an ordinary eye, it would look like nothing.
Just a simple downward slash. But the power contained within was different. As if mediocrity couldn't even perceive it, the arena split along the sword's trajectory.
The ground cracked, the scenery split in two. Yujin swung his sword standing on the ground, yet the strike seemed to drive away even the darkness devouring the sky above.
CRACK, GRIIIIND—!
And it advanced. Crushing everything in its path. Cutting through the wall of darkness and the earth, it moved forward. Carving its own path to reach the enemy.
First Sword (一劍). The strike that split the wall of darkness slashed Tola's shoulder. If he hadn't raised his twin swords to deflect the blow at the last second, he would have been cleaved in two.
The darkness swept away by the aftermath shattered, reclaiming the sky. With the stadium lights devoured by Tola's darkness, only the sky was visible to the audience.
"Beautiful..."
Theresa murmured, looking at Yujin standing with his back to the sky.
The lights of Kazimierz hadn't returned yet. Because the city lights weren't fully restored, the Milky Way and stars were visible in the sky. A knight stood on the arena, back against the darkness, bathed in moonlight and starlight.
Tola, shoulder slashed, rolled on the ground and looked ahead. Blood flowed, and his left arm, which took the direct hit of the shockwave, was broken, but his eyes couldn't leave Yujin.
"Heh, ha. Hahaha!!!"
He laughed. Covered in darkness, Tola laughed madly. The path of the Kheshig, meaning, ideal. The honorable death he had been waiting for was right there.
Standing up and forcibly setting his broken arm, he gripped his sword again. It wouldn't end with just one. This time, the beasts rising from the darkness multiplied, filling the earth like a tide. Fanged beasts roared ferociously, rushing at Yujin, oblivious to their bodies burning in the light.
Wild dogs, wolves. Tigers, bears. Beasts capable of killing humans all rose. Seeing the wave of beasts sweeping together, Yujin drew his sword back.
One foot forward, sword back. Like the sword that cut the enemy just now, Yujin, preparing a horizontal slash, glared.
Veins burst in his arms. Blood flowed from his eyes due to excessive Arts use. Even with the third star, the damage accumulating on his body was unbearable. But Yujin didn't care.
To leave no regrets, to pour everything into the duel.
This time, he saw it. The image of Yujin swinging his sword played slowly in his mind. When the beast's fangs came right in front of his face to bite, Yujin swung his sword without hesitation.
Second Sword (二劍).
The light at the tip of the sword flashed. The beam of light, shining brilliantly as if no one could see it, turned into an explosion and roared.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Light gathered along the path of the swing. The gathered light held a flash and shone brilliantly, shattering the earth and burning all enemies in front with an explosion.
An explosion massive enough to shake the entire stadium. Now, they had to worry about the aftermath reaching the audience, but no one in the stadium took their eyes off the two knights.
Tola, rushing with the beasts, was slammed into the ground again. While the accompanying beasts burned away in the light, only Tola barely withstood the aftermath and was pushed back roughly.
Pity, sympathy. It wasn't the time for that. No one knew whether one would give up or grow in the face of trials.
That knight chose to cross the wall.
Armor melted by the heat of the explosion was visible. Having taken a direct hit at close range, it was unavoidable, and Yujin's Arts were anathema to Tola.
So, will you give up? If asked.
No. The duel wasn't over yet. Tola threw off his cumbersome helmet and gripped his sword.
With just two exchanges, Yujin had caught up to Tola. But Yujin wasn't unscathed either. Having used two major techniques in an already battered state, the trembling of his hands and arms was clear enough for Tola to see.
"…Mother."
He recalled the past. His mother wanted Tola to live an ordinary life. He couldn't understand why, but it must have been out of concern for her child.
"Heh, heh. Am I just chasing after a ghost in the end..."
Kheshig and Khagan. Names passed down through history for thousands of years.
Now names buried in the earth, sought by no one.
'Where is your Khagan?'
The words of an old kin he met long ago resurfaced. He was not a Kheshig, and he had no Khagan to serve. Just an ordinary Nightzmora who survived the fire.
"…Then, what is the meaning I tried to find in this city?"
It was time to abandon the ideal. Wake up from the dream and face reality. Not looking at the darkness, but looking properly at the enemy in front.
Nostalgic homeland. Our meadow.
Only now did he realize. With death approaching, he knew. What Tola truly wanted wasn't the Khagan or Kheshig, but his mother and father. Memories of playing in the meadow with friends and singing songs.
So, he hid it with the word Kheshig and sought death.
Because that nostalgic meadow was a place he could no longer return to.
The bow was fired from the lighthouse ♪ The bonfire and dawn became arrows ♪
The urn poured out death ♪ And father is still watering the white cocoon ♪
Reciting the last verse of the song, Tola stood up. There, beyond his gaze, he saw the noble knight waiting for him to rise.
"Is the prayer finished?"
Yujin asked. Tola nodded. Then, raising his sword to the sky, he said.
"Yes."
But it is a surviving life. Because we existed, we have the right to survive. If even he died, there would be no one to remember those who had already passed.
It cannot end yet.
"My family all died in the meadow, and now all my kin are gone."
He wasn't speaking to Yujin. To face reality and look straight ahead, Tola raised his twin swords again.
A Nightzmora stands on the earth. Darkness spread again, black mist dyeing the land.
If there is no Khagan, if there are no Kheshig.
But if that is the only meaning left.
I will make the land.
I will make a place for the Nightzmora to live again.
Because we existed, we have the right to survive.
"…Now, it is time to wake up from the dream."
Footsteps were heard in the darkness. Until now, Tola had only created beasts with shadows. It was his shackle, a chain he hadn't unfastened himself.
"I myself will become the Khagan."
So that everyone living in this world can remember the name of the Nightzmora again.
"Come! Knight of Starlight!"
Tola roared. The sound of a horn signaling the start of war, and a banner rising in the mist. From the pitch-black darkness, an army walked out.
He looked at Yujin, covered in blood but standing upright without collapsing. He was wounded, but shining brighter than anyone else.
The army ran across the earth. This time, not beasts rushing blindly, but human forms in formation, cooperating as they charged.
"I will be your trial!"
Tola charged without stepping back from the vanguard. The forms following him ran just like Tola. Seeing the army rushing with rough snorting, Yujin drew his spear.
Fear neither hardship nor darkness.
Then, he must show proper courtesy to his adversary.
Yujin gripped the spear with both hands. Just as his Master had spread his wings and thrust his spear at the world, Yujin held the spear with the same posture and will.
Golden wings unfolded behind his back. Pegasus wings. A gold different from before lingered at the tip of the spear. The third star fell and shone at the spearhead.
Breakthrough, and Indomitability.
Spreading his wings, Yujin charged.
The spear shaft rotated as the spear thrust forward. Tola stood at the front, swinging his twin swords without dodging. Tola threw his body into the visibly crashing storm.
With two legs supporting the ground, and dozens of spears thrusting behind his back.
Yes.
Hundreds of years have passed.
But now, on this earth, the legend of the Pegasus and the Khagan is reenacted once more.