After leaving the lunar base, Kai and his one hundred and seventeen wives traveled in a convoy toward a set of hot springs in the Empire of Cathay, accompanied by Aliarda, Voraghun, Soriel, and Lyris. After destroying a star, Kai's body felt unstable. He had kept his Essential Multiplication—his one hundred and seventeen clones—active all that time, but a growing sense of unease led him to unify back into a single being.
Upon arriving at the springs, Kai sought isolation. He told his wives he needed to be alone for a couple of days to understand the strange instability within his body. Though consumed by worry, they remained respectful and chose to enjoy the springs separately, wishing to give him a reprieve after the immense suffering of the battle.
Kai entered the Japanese-style springs. Immediately, he felt his body boil; his vision clouded with golden flashes, as if a sun were burning permanently inside him. Confused by what was happening, he tried to multiply, but his power failed to respond. In that moment, he lost consciousness. While his wives bathed, trying to silence their anxiety for a husband who had never appeared so pale or unstable, Aliarda appeared.
The Black Hole
Aliarda approached her unconscious rival and placed her small hand on Kai's forehead. Her palm began to glow with a pure, almost cosmic gold, and her eyes ignited with the same brilliance. What the girl was doing at that moment was absorbing the energy Kai emitted: radiation, gamma rays, and everything that flows from a star.
In his desperation over being unable to destroy the stellar energy, Kai had evolved into a cosmic being similar to a star—a living sun walking among mortals. In the past, Kai believed his wives did not burn when touching him because of a "gift" from his God. The truth was that Aliarda, even from the lunar base, had been absorbing that radiation. She had contained the heat of the atmospheric entry and the 1,000-ton weight of his unified self, which was distributed at approximately 8.5 tons for each of his 117 clones, to prevent them from destroying the planet.
The Reunion
With Kai unconscious, Aliarda absorbed a monstrous amount of energy—about a thousand kilotons per hour—for three consecutive hours to prevent his radiation from annihilating the entire resort. Realizing he would not wake up, she understood she needed help. She opened a portal and stepped through, leaving Kai prostrate in the thermal waters.
On the other side, Aliarda appeared in a forest near a cabin. There stood her parents, a man and a woman of mortal appearance: Horacio and Celeste Killerman. In reality, they were Legion, the King of the Abyss, and Celeste, the Queen of the Abyss. Aliarda ran and embraced her father, who lifted her up.
"My beautiful daughter. What have you come for? Were you not with your Kai?" "Yes, Daddy," Aliarda replied, "but my brother has fainted. I need you to help me move him. I can't do it alone."
Her mother, Celeste, embraced her, her face filled with worry, and urged her husband to go at once. It had been twenty-eight years since they last saw Kai. The three of them stepped through the portal and found Kai unconscious. Legion approached him and, without effort, lifted Kai's body—one thousand tons of condensed mass—as if he were a simple man of eighty-five kilograms. The power that moved the cosmos did not feel the burden of the star.
As he laid him down, the floor began to sink. Celeste immediately hardened the rock with the power of the Abyss. She embraced her Kai, worried, pleading with Horacio (Legion) to do something. "I cannot heal him," Legion said. "This is his nature. He must go through this." He explained that Kai was fighting within himself, evolving into a practically immortal and cosmic being. However, the absolute power of the star forced him to expel energy, much like solar flares.
Celeste told Legion that from now on, they must stay with Kai and Aliarda. The exile was over. Aliarda placed her small hands on Kai's forehead and closed her eyes, entering his mind. What she saw was a gigantic star, more massive than the one he had destroyed. With resolve, she aimed her mental hands toward that star and absorbed enormous amounts of energy. The star did not shrink, but its flames calmed. Kai's mind stabilized.
Aliarda was the Black Hole and Kai the Supermassive Star. She slowly consumed Kai's energy, feeding herself, as the girl (who was actually the same age as Kai) could not grow without that unlimited source. Aliarda possessed Absolute Absorption and Essential Multiplication, while Kai possessed Absolute Evolution and Essential Multiplication. Aliarda's absorption was not a skill to be used against others, but the very condition for Kai's existence. She was the balance to his strength.
Awakening and Confusion
In the midst of the steaming water, Kai awoke with a gasp. He saw two faces, unknown yet strangely familiar, leaning over him. Instinctively, surprise and mistrust triggered his defense mechanism: he multiplied. In an instant, one hundred and seventeen clones of Kai appeared throughout the courtyard of fountains and hot springs.
One of the clones spoke for him, directing a piercing gaze toward the strangers: "Who are you?"
Aliarda, still by his side, embraced her mother and smiled with relief. "Mom and Dad came to help me with you because you were in bad shape. I've already healed you!"
Upon hearing her, Kai unified into a single body. He felt a pang of nostalgia he hadn't experienced in twenty-eight years of solitude. The woman embraced him with tears in her eyes, while the man gave him a firm, meaningful hug. Kai understood nothing of what was happening, yet he accepted the protective gesture.
Horacio spoke to him with solemnity: "We will explain everything, son, but we need your entire family gathered. What we have to say affects everyone."
Kai nodded. His clones immediately dispersed through the complex to summon his wives, who had retired to their own private springs.
The Family Council
Shortly after, in a private room of the hotel, the unusual family gathered. Kai unified himself, his weapons—the shield Voraghun, the sword Solarael, and the ring Lyris—by his side. He was joined by his one hundred and seventeen wives, Aliarda, Horacio, and Celeste.
"My name is Horacio Killerman, and this is my wife, Celeste," he introduced. "We are Aliarda's parents. She came looking for us because your collapse, Kai, alarmed her deeply."
The queens looked at each other, utterly stunned; the news that their parents-in-law were alive was a bombshell. Horacio solemnly called for silence. "What I am about to say is vital for the future of everyone and this world. This is about Kai and Aliarda. Kai is my adopted son, but we left him in an orphanage at the age of two for safety reasons. A very powerful being was searching for a child with my last name. To prevent that being from discovering the ruse, I had to abandon the boy. It is a decision I regret, but the safety of my daughter and wife came first."
A chilling murmur filled the room. Horacio continued: "I found Kai right at the doorstep of my home. At that time, Aliarda was only six months old and very ill. He had been abandoned in the middle of a snowstorm, right on the threshold of our cabin in the woods. We have no idea who left him there. What we do know is that despite the cold that would have killed any other baby, he wasn't even shivering. We bathed him, my lady nursed him, and we laid him down next to our daughter. The next day, miraculously, Aliarda was cured."
"Aliarda is my pure-blooded daughter, a creature of the Abyss. We consume vast sources of power, primarily dark matter, but Aliarda was born 'semi-Legio.' This means she is half-human, and that duality prevents her from processing dark matter, which stops her from growing. Although she has the stature of a four-year-old, she is twenty-seven; she is a grown woman, just like all of you."
Aliarda looked at him tenderly, replying, "Well, Father, there's no need to mention that."
Horacio proceeded: "The truth is, you need Aliarda. Inside Kai's chest burns a giant star, a sun that emits radiation and energy capable of annihilating any living being on this planet. If it weren't for my daughter, all of you would already be dead. I am the King of the Abyss, the Legionnaire; my lady Celeste is the Queen, and Aliarda is our offspring. Kai is, by right, an heir to that throne as well. My advice is that you allow Aliarda to consume that energy until Kai's body stabilizes. That way, he can live in peace with you, and she will regain her normal height."
Moved, Kai responded: "Do not worry, Horacio. Aliarda is part of my family. We will take care of each other. If she helps me survive so that my strength doesn't hurt those I love, that is how it shall be."
After a proud farewell and the promise of a return to attend to throne matters, Horacio and Celeste vanished through a portal. Once they left, Kai, Aliarda, and the queens decided to end their vacation. On the journey back, the queens finally understood the gravity of their husband's condition and pleaded for him to rest. However, upon arriving, Kai headed straight for the throne. He knew he had urgent business, but he also knew he could not wander far from Aliarda; the radiation his body emitted could kill any ordinary being.
The Status of the Abyss
During the journey, a question arose regarding Aliarda's status. Kai was asked if, as his sister, he intended to name her a princess of his nation. Kai responded firmly that she could not be named a princess of this realm, as she already held that title elsewhere.
"And what kingdom is that?" the vampire Alequei asked, intrigued. "The Abyss," Kai replied serenely. "The Abyss?" the vampire repeated, stunned. "Yes," Kai affirmed. "And believe it or not, I am also a prince of that realm."
Alequei stared at him, realizing in that moment that he had never truly understood who he had been dealing with all this time. Kai added, "For now, we will take no action. But since Aliarda is a princess of another kingdom, we cannot recognize her as a princess of this nation. Furthermore, due to my current condition, I will not be attending the throne for the next few months, and the queens will not either. We will communicate through letters to govern the kingdom. Does that suit you, Alequei?" "Yes, my King," the vampire replied.
The Solitude of the Sun
However, the queens were deeply troubled. The revelation that Kai had absorbed a star and become a radiation threat—the Killermans being a cosmic menace—had altered their peace of mind.
Three months passed. Kai stayed at his beach house, practically in quarantine, surrounded by his women and Aliarda. By the final night of his isolation, his body felt much better. Aliarda told him his energy was stable and he was no longer emitting radiation. He wanted to go to bed with his wives, but...
The first few days were uncomfortable. Although Aliarda assured them there was no problem as long as she remained within fifty meters of Kai, fear had taken root in his wives' hearts. Kai went to sleep with them that night, but upon waking the next morning, he found himself isolated and alone in the bed. The fear of tumors and internal hemorrhaging caused by radiation had driven the queens away. Kai said nothing; he simply got up and dressed.
As he left the room, Aliarda was waiting for him in the hallway. By absorbing his energy, she now shared his sleep and wake patterns. "What will you do, Kai?" Aliarda asked with a smile. "We must name the heroes," Kai explained. "The appointments and other matters have been postponed for the five months it took to return."
Appointments and Strategy
Kai sought out the Governor. "Alequei, I need you to prepare the ceremony. I also need to return to the Empire of Cathay very soon. I received word of a warrior, the Emperor's son, who has been exiled. I want to see if he can serve as the General of the North for our army. If he accepts, I will return to the Empire with my queens. But today, I must speak with the Emperor in person."
"Do not worry," Alequei said. "I will handle it."
The following day, Kai proceeded with the appointments. The son of the Hero King received the title of National Hero and Knight of the Court. This was a heavy blow to the Human Kingdom, which had rejected the Hero King's illegitimate son. By naming him a National Hero, Kai declared him a citizen of The Magical Lands, preventing him from returning to the Human Kingdom without permission.
The Black Witch was granted a noble's mansion, where she would live with the Semi-Wolf and the National Hero as the "Sword Hero Group." Because they had protected Aliarda, the group gained immense fame and prestige, becoming beloved figures in The Magical Lands.
The Paladin's Confrontation
The Paladin of the Human Kingdom returned to The Magical Lands in search of the Hero King's son. Upon his arrival, he was met with startling news: the young man had been named a National Hero and was now a military force under the command of King Kai.
Furious at the perceived slight, the Paladin marched to the court, intending to confront the King directly. However, he could only secure an audience with Governor Alequei, Kai's right hand. The Paladin explained that his mission was to bring back the Hero of the Sword, as he had explicit orders that the boy must return to the Human Kingdom.
Alequei delivered the King's refusal with calm resolve: "The King has forbidden the Hero from leaving the country. He now belongs to the army of the Order of the Black Knight. I cannot change that."
Seeing the Paladin's frustration, Alequei added: "If the Hero wishes to leave, he must provide me with a written request. I will present it to the King, and we shall see what he decides. But for now, he is an active military asset. The King is very serious when it comes to matters of the militia."
The Paladin listened, realizing he had no leverage. He offered a stiff bow of thanks and withdrew from the court.
Confrontation in the Garden
The Paladin then headed to the palace and requested an audience with Queen Sara, the legitimate daughter of the Human King, whom he had known since childhood. Sara received him in a garden pavilion, accompanied by another of Kai's queens: the daughter of a General from the Mercenary Kingdom, known as one of the most dangerous women in the harem.
The Paladin explained his need to take the Hero of the Sword, claiming his father wished to see him. Sara, knowing perfectly well that her father had never recognized her brother—the result of an affair with a captain of the royal guard—responded coldly:
"You are speaking to the wrong person. I value our old friendship, but I am the one who asked the King to prevent the Hero of the Sword from leaving the country." "Why would you do that?" the Paladin asked, bewildered. "I understand that someone like you might not have an issue with discrimination," Sara stated, "but my brother has suffered greatly at the hands of our people. That is why I left to study at the Academy, where I later met my husband. Let me tell you one thing: my brother will not leave these lands, even if he wanted to. I will send a letter to my father explaining my decision. Now, if you'll excuse me, the King is calling for me."
As Sara rose to leave, the Paladin, in a gesture of old familiarity, reached out to take her hand. The reaction was instantaneous. The Mercenary Queen launched a high kick toward the Paladin's temple, which he barely managed to dodge.
"Get back!" the mercenary hissed, her eyes blazing. "Keep your filthy hands off my wife."
The Paladin stood in shock; he never expected a queen to launch a physical attack against him. Just then, the General of the South entered the garden. "My apologies, my Queens. The King is looking for you. Is something wrong?" "No, nothing is wrong. Let's go," Sara told her companion, withdrawing after a brief, formal apology to the Paladin.
The General of the South approached with a malevolent smirk. "Do you realize that if I told the Witch King you tried to touch one of his queens, you would die today?" he mocked. "You are so stupid. How do you dare touch a queen, whether she's your childhood friend or not? Has fame gone to your head?" "Stay out of this," the Paladin growled. "I have orders to fulfill, no matter what." "If you keep this up, you won't make it to the end of the day," the General laughed, walking away.
The King's Summons
The Paladin remained in shock, not because of the kick, but because of the words used by the Mercenary Queen: "my wife." In that moment, he understood the truth: the queens were not only married to the Witch King, but they were married to each other in a collective union. It was a truth that the Paladin, with his traditional morality, had failed to grasp until then.
The General of the South, however, did not hold back and immediately took the news to the Witch King. Upon hearing it, Kai ordered Alequei to gather the one hundred and seventeen queens in the private hall. Aliarda and the others retired to the adjacent room under Alequei's care, while the General of the South waited with a malevolent grin, hoping the King would execute the Paladin.
The Paladin was summoned. He entered the hall to see two perfectly aligned rows of women: fifty-eight on the right and fifty-nine on the left. In the center, Kai sat on his throne, his intense blue eyes fixed on him.
"I am told you wished to see me regarding the Hero," Kai said.
The Paladin began to kneel. "Yes, my King..." "No one kneels here," Kai interrupted. "If you wish to offer a bow or a sign of respect, do so. But I do not allow anyone to kneel in this hall."
The Paladin straightened his back and began to speak with the rigidity of a man following impossible orders. "Listen to me, Witch King. I understand your concern and appreciate the care you have shown the prince. But even as a member of your militia, he is still a prince. I have orders to bring him back to the Human Kingdom, no matter what. I cannot return without him. I hope you understand my request. I do not wish to contradict you, but I need the boy to return with me."
Kai nodded slowly. "I understand your concern, Hero, but I will say this with great respect: I have just sent ambassadors and letters. One from your King's daughter—one of my queens—and a personal letter from me, stating that the boy will not leave these lands."
"Furthermore," Kai continued, his voice hardening, "you speak to me of a prince. I have not heard that the Hero King has more than one male son, and that is the heir to the throne. You yourself are married to the King's daughter, Queen Sara's older sister. The other son has no standing. Am I wrong?"
Kai leaned back, his gaze piercing. "Let me tell you something else: the boy has not been named or recognized as a prince of any nation. He is now under my protection. Tell your King that if he wishes to discuss this personally, I can visit his castle at any moment."
"Do not misunderstand me," Kai added. "I wish for our diplomatic relations to evolve into an alliance, as my country is the only one without them. But understand this: if you ever approach any of my women again, you will not return home. Do you understand me? I have had to hold back my queens and my governor from executing you. These queens are not ornaments; they are icons to my army of one million soldiers who love them as their heroines. If anything happens to them, I am the one responsible. They are people, they are queens, and they hold great power in this nation. Do you have anything else to say, Paladin?"
"I deeply regret the situation, my King, and I thank you for your benevolence," the Paladin replied, his voice barely audible. "You are welcome. I hope this does not happen again. I advise you to return to your kingdom soon."
The Paladin withdrew, his face pale. Kai had laid everything bare.
Contained Fury
Outside, the General of the South intercepted the Paladin with a loud, mocking laugh. "You made it out alive! Some people have all the luck!" The Paladin understood then that he had to leave the nation immediately; the Queens wanted him dead, and the air was thick with hostility.
Back at the palace, Kai held a meeting with Alequei, who was fuming. "My King! This was a massive failure in protocol!" Alequei exclaimed. "I am in charge of the security for the one hundred and seventeen Queens and Princess Aliarda, and no one notified me that the Paladin had an audience with Queen Sara!" "It's fine now, Alequei. Don't worry about it," Kai said. "No, it is not fine!" Alequei protested. "It was a breakdown in protocol. We cannot forbid them from having connections with others, but we must establish rules! Everyone needs to know they are not to be touched. They hate being touched by strangers, especially men."
Alequei looked defeated. "And now they are all angry with me, saying this is my fault. I don't know if I'll just sleep here in the office. I don't want to go home and face them." "I'm sorry... Kai," Alequei corrected himself. "Don't call me 'My King,' Alequei. It feels awkward. Just call me Kai," the Witch King corrected him. "Alright... Kai. I am truly sorry." "Don't worry, I'll handle it," Kai said, rising to leave.
"One question, Kai," Alequei stopped him, his frustration palpable. "Why is the girl always with you?" "My head hurts too much to explain that to you right now. I'm leaving. Let's go," Kai replied. "Yes, Kai!" Aliarda's voice echoed from the next room.
Kai and Aliarda headed home, where the "Swarm of Killer Bees"—his wives—awaited them. They were furious that the King had not executed the Paladin, and Kai knew he was walking into a storm.
Confrontation in the Main Hall
Upon entering, Kai spoke to the queens and announced that he was taking Aliarda to rest. He escorted Aliarda to her room, tucked her in, and stayed with her for a moment, ensuring the "Black Hole" was settled. Meanwhile, all the queens waited for him in the main hall of the beach house; the tension in the air was palpable.
Kai returned and multiplied into several clones, approaching each of his wives. However, none of them wanted to touch him. They were deeply angry. Gretel, the daughter of the Demon King and one of the coldest and most fearless queens, broke the silence with a sharp voice: "Do you know something? My father once cut off a man's hand just because he dared to touch my mother's cloak."
Kai looked at her with astonishment. "Your father is the Demon King himself, Gretel," he replied. "It is obvious he does those kinds of things. But I am the White Witch; I am a magical king, and I do not kill out of impulse. I am not going to execute a man just because he is caught in the desperation of following one king's orders while I give him mine. I will not punish him for that. And now, I want to speak with Sara."
While his clones stood like sentinels against the wall behind each queen, the original Kai sat on a sofa in the center of the room. "Sit down, please," he asked Sara, looking her directly in the eyes.
"I want to ask all of you something," Kai began. "I don't want to forbid you from having connections. You can have relationships with soldiers, heroes, or ordinary people if you wish. But I have a question for you, Sara: If you were angry with your father, why didn't you go speak to him? Why did you have to meet with a man who, through his own stupidity, almost lost his life today?"
"I understand it's annoying," Sara replied, "but I wanted to tell him to his face." "And why him? What does he have to do with your brother? He is a simple soldier."
Sara sighed and lowered her guard. "I'll tell you the truth, Kai. I was in love with the Paladin until I turned fourteen. He is older, your age, and at that time he was about twenty. He was my eldest sister's boyfriend. He never noticed me because I was just a child and my sister was a woman. But it was my reality. Then I went away to study at the Academy... We've had past lives, Kai. Each of us has a past."
"I know," he responded. "And what did you feel when you stood before him today?" "I felt an immense joy," Sara said. "Why?" Kai asked. "I felt immense joy because I realized I no longer felt that pressure. I needed to see him in person to see if I still felt anything for him."
Kai narrowed his eyes. "So, you settled your doubts? I'm not treating you like a fool, but you met secretly with another man." "I wasn't alone," she countered. "I see. You were with my other 'sun,' right?" Kai said, looking at Mairenn. Mairenn wouldn't even look at him or speak. The Kai clone beside her tried to embrace her with a smile, but she was proud and refused to acknowledge him.
"Do you think I'm the one who doesn't want you to have ties with others?" Kai continued. "As I said at the start, I have no problem with you having more connections, but you are a unit. I've analyzed you all this time, and you are a unit. You practically have secrets among yourselves that I don't even know. So, were you alone? Sara, you all cover for each other. So the next time you meet with someone, at least let Alequei know, even if you don't want to tell me. The Governor is at his wit's end because of your 'dear friend.' Let's try to keep diplomatic matters from crossing into our personal lives. That's all I wanted to say."
Sara saw that her husband was a bit angry and said, "Fine... but we are still mad at you."
Kai gave a half-smile, looking for a truce. "What if I do this so you aren't angry anymore? What if I give you money so you can buy whatever you want?"
The three queens from the Lizard Empire were the fastest to react. "I do! I want to!" they exclaimed in unison.
The lists began to pour in. Some queens asked for funds for magic experiments, others for new weapons or rare materials. They decided to take advantage of the fact that the "Sun" King was in a generous mood to empty the royal coffers a bit.
The King's Duties
After those conversations, the queens stopped Kai; they wanted to address a lingering issue.
"And what is it you want to talk to me about?" Kai asked wearily. "I need to get some sleep." "We need to know when you are going to fulfill your duties as a husband." "My duties as a husband?" Kai countered. "I give you money, you live in my house, you share my food... what other duty are you expecting?" "Don't play the fool," one of the queens said firmly. "You know exactly what we are talking about."
Kai sighed and looked at them gravely. "We cannot do anything until we find a way for Aliarda not to be so close to me. You must understand: we are adults, and we've lived alone all this time, but now there is a small, beautiful girl in this house. For the time being, that kind of relationship between us is suspended. Furthermore, remember that I am sick; we don't know what other chemical contaminants, besides radiation, might be affecting me right now."
Upon hearing the mention of contaminants, the queens instinctively stepped back. "Let's wait until I am healed," Kai concluded.
Kai headed to his room, located next to Aliarda's. That night, the immense master bed remained empty. No one slept in it. Each of the queens retreated to a separate room in that vast house of over a hundred bedrooms, letting silence and distance mark the end of the day.
The Transformation and the King's Coma
The night passed warm and quiet, accompanied by the sound of crickets and the murmur of the waves. However, in one of the many occupied rooms, a brilliant light began to radiate. The light came from the door of Aliarda's room—the young girl who was consuming vast amounts of energy from her male counterpart, Kai. For many hours, no one realized that Aliarda was undergoing a transformation that would either hinder or benefit her by the next morning.
The Awakening and the Grown Child
When everyone rose, one of the queens went to find Aliarda. It was the Queen from the Jungle Kingdom, whose turn it was to care for her that day. Kai remained asleep; in fact, the King was sleeping so deeply that the other queens had already departed for work at the palace.
Upon opening the door, the queen noticed that Aliarda was glowing slightly. Worried, she tried to wake her. Due to the radiance, she didn't realize it immediately, but as she drew closer, she saw it: Aliarda had grown. From a four-year-old child, she had become a young girl of about twelve.
Terrified, the queen went to find the King, but she could not wake him. Kai had fallen into a very deep coma. Immediately, the queen summoned her sisters, and they all rushed back to the beach house.
At that moment, Aliarda stood up. She was taller, with the stature of a twelve-year-old. All the queens were frightened—some worried, others moved. They remembered what Aliarda's father, Horacio, had said: that Aliarda would regain her height and adulthood by consuming energy. She would grow incredibly fast. In that moment, they all understood that this process was natural and that Aliarda was destined to grow into an adult once more.
The Ice Coffin
However, a new and alarming problem kept the queens on edge: the King would not wake up. In fact, Kai's body was undergoing a terrifying visual metamorphosis: it was crystallizing. A layer of frost began to slowly cover him until he was buried under a thick crust of ice, as if he had been frozen in time. The wives could not understand the origin of this sudden, biting cold.
The most learned queens sought out Aliarda, demanding an explanation for the Witch King's state. Aliarda, with the serenity of her new appearance, explained that it was a logical consequence: she had consumed so much of Kai's energy that his core had drastically cooled. She clarified that Kai had not lost his power, but rather his energy was now in a state of absolute stillness—so deep that it had frozen the very air around him.
"For now, you must let him rest," Aliarda instructed. "He will wake up soon. The ice is simply the result of his internal temperature dropping; it's best if you don't stay near him for now."
Aliarda sat beside her brother and male counterpart, assuming her role as protector. "I will stay here all day. Those of you who wish to can go to work at the palace in peace."
Although the queen in charge of her care insisted on staying, Aliarda remained firm: "Don't worry, we will be fine. Today, it's best if no one else is near Kai."
Kai and Aliarda were left alone. The Witch King was pure magic, but also pure physics. His body multiplied, boiled, or froze—not through spells, but through extreme physical reactions to the alteration of his energy. When he could not bear the load, his body reacted. Now, faced with the void left by Aliarda's suction, he had plunged into a biological winter.
While Kai remained in his ice coffin, Aliarda continued to consume his energy. Her body never stopped changing; not even three months had passed since they reunited, and she had already surpassed the appearance of a twelve-year-old girl, moving irrepressibly toward her maturity.
The Awakening of the Sun
Night fell, and Kai awoke. The layers of ice shattered and fell away around him. He felt stable, as if he had returned to the self he was a long time ago. He multiplied, and his clones felt a deep sense of rest. His mind was no longer "boiling."
Aliarda told Kai that she would continue to consume energy until he stabilized. Once his power center—the star within him—was steady, he would no longer emit radiation or energies harmful to humans. He would effectively be a sun within a body, and his physical form would be able to retain all radiation. However, there was still a long way to go. The treatment Aliarda was performing, consuming the energy he could not bear, would take time. Kai was amazed to see Aliarda now transformed into a young lady of twelve or thirteen.
Lyris's Solution and the Rise of the Queens
The next morning, Kai woke up unified. He could not maintain his multiplication. This was a serious problem; without dividing himself, he could not lead a normal life. He told his queens that he planned to go to the Cathay Empire, but in his current state, it was impossible, so he would send them instead.
"I cannot multiply," Kai explained. "My power refuses to divide. I can't get on a boat, or a carriage, or even sit in a chair. I am too heavy."
The Vampire Queen intervened with an idea, having consulted with Lyris, the suit's AI. Lyris spoke directly to Kai: "I can generate a gravitational field using the one you already possess. You will practically not touch the floor. I will control it through the armor, which has evolved since the fight against the Star. I can now regulate all your abilities."
Kai summoned the ring, and the armor enveloped him from head to toe before turning invisible. Kai could feel his body becoming stable. He sat in a chair and realized he was floating; Lyris was controlling his gravitational pull.
"Now, multiply," Lyris requested. Kai multiplied with ease. The armor was no longer just a weapon, but a stabilizer for his power. "Aliarda," Lyris asked, "can you consume Kai's energy while he wears the armor?" Aliarda touched Kai. "Yes, I can consume it perfectly."
"In this way," Lyris said, "Kai will not emit any radiation, and Aliarda will consume the radiation that accumulates within the armor. There is no risk of affecting anyone else."
The Evolution of the Queens
"In fact," Lyris added, "I have analyzed the bodies of each of the one hundred and seventeen queens and Aliarda's as well. The only one showing radiation is Aliarda. The other queens are completely healthy. Furthermore, their bodies have changed."
"In what way?" Kai asked. "They are much heavier. In fact, each of the queens now weighs nearly fifteen tons, Kai."
"How can that be?" Kai asked, stunned. "Do you remember they took your evolved blood? The rings you gave them introduce your blood into their bodies daily, little by little. Over time, they will become similar to you. They will not age, and they will be as strong as your clones. Their skills, powers, and intelligence have also increased."
"What exactly are you saying, Lyris?" Kai asked. "What I mean is that the one hundred and seventeen queens have become much stronger. They now have the level of a 'Champion' from the most powerful countries, such as the Human Kingdom or the Demon King's Territory."
"Do you mean, for example, that Ania, the Queen of Engineers, has the level of a Paladin?" "Yes. Her strength and speed have increased. Your bond with them has caused their bodies to change. This makes them much more resistant."
"And does it make them resistant to my radiation?" "It makes them more resistant, yes, but not immune for the time being. I suggest you spend as little time as possible near them or in physical contact."
"I can't even give them a kiss?" Kai asked. "No, not even a kiss until your core stabilizes," Aliarda confirmed. "I don't know if this is a kingdom or a punishment," Kai joked, making some of the queens laugh.
With his invisible armor on and stabilized, Kai felt ready. He went to the Palace to speak with Alequei, the governor, telling him he was heading directly to the Cathay Empire and leaving him in charge of the Realm.
"Are you going to look for the General?" Alequei asked. "Yes, that is my intention." "But why are you strengthening the army like this if we are not at war?" Alequei asked.
Kai replied:
—Mira, amigo —respondió Kay a Alequei, preparándose para contar una historia fundamental—, quiero contarte una historia. Una historia que pasó antes de que conociera a mis esposas, antes de que este país se formara con tantas personas. Antes, incluso, de conocerte a ti.
Yo me encontraba saliendo de las fronteras del Reino de las Amazonas. Habían cerrado sus límites y no podía pasar al Reino de los Mercaderes. Necesitaba ir urgentemente a hacer los papeles de comercio internacional del Reino, para poder vender por mar y por tierra; para exportar e importar.
Pero había un problema. Un ejército de cien mil hombres se acercaba al Reino de las Amazonas.
La Reina Amazona no permite que ningún ejército extranjero la defienda ni entre en su nación. El problema era que el campamento de los refugiados aún existía, y si ese ejército atacaba el reino amazónico, habría miles de nuevos refugiados. Esto, además, sería un problema de comercio enorme para iniciar mi nuevo reino.
No podía dejar que eso sucediera. Una guerra tan cerca podía perjudicar mis negocios. Así que te contaré qué pasó, pero te pido que no me juzgues.
⚔️ El Ejército del Tigre
Esa mañana, Kay escuchó la noticia: un ejército invasor, liderado por un hombre llamado El Tigre, estaba por invadir el Reino Amazónico. Como ya se había dicho, la Reina no permitía que ningún ejército la defendiera. Su fuerza principal estaba compuesta por mujeres y hombres, pero las mujeres eran las que gobernaban. Los amazonas eran grandes guerreros, pero su ejército principal estaba muy lejos.
En la frontera, había muchos pueblos, constituidos mayormente por mujeres. Había muy pocos hombres en esas aldeas, ya que las estrictas leyes de la Reina Amazona habían provocado que muchos hombres emigraran a otros reinos. Era un país con un ochenta por ciento de población femenina.
Una guerra tan cerca, y con Kay a punto de iniciar un nuevo reino, sería un problema de refugiados y de transporte económico. Las fronteras se cerrarían, y lo peor: esos hombres atacarían aldeas, matando a muchas mujeres, niñas, niños y a los pocos ancianos que aún quedaban.
Entonces, Kay tomó la decisión de enfrentar a ese ejército él solo. Eran cien mil hombres.
The Origin of a Legend: The Tiger
"Look, my friend," Kai replied to Alequei, his gaze fixed on the memory, "I want to tell you a story. Something that happened before I met my wives, before this country was formed, and long before I met you."
"I was leaving the borders of the Amazon Kingdom. They had sealed their limits, and I couldn't cross into the Merchants' Kingdom. I urgently needed to process the international trade papers for my nation; I wanted to secure the sea and land routes for importing and exporting goods. However, there was an obstacle: an army of one hundred thousand men was marching toward the Amazon territory."
"The Amazon Queen is proud; she does not allow any foreign army to defend her or set foot in her nation. But the refugee camp was still there. If that army attacked, thousands more would be homeless, and my commercial plans would sink before they even started. I couldn't let that happen. A war on that scale would ruin my business, so I made a decision... I only ask that you do not judge me for what happened next."
⚔️ The Army of the Tiger
That morning, Kai received the final word: the invasion was imminent. The invading army was led by a man known as 'The Tiger.' Since the Amazon Queen refused external help and her main troops were too far away, the border villages were defenseless.
These were vulnerable towns, where 80% of the population were women due to the Queen's strict migration laws. With no men to protect them, these women, children, and the elderly were at the mercy of the invaders' brutality.
Kai analyzed the situation coldly: if the conflict broke out, the borders would close and the transport of goods would stop completely. Above all, the massacre of innocents would be inevitable. It was then that Kai, alone and with no support other than his own strength, decided to intercept the one hundred thousand men.
The Black Knight on the Hill
The invaders had already landed and taken the eastern beach of the Amazon Kingdom. They were barbarians, mostly men over thirty-five, whose sole objective was to exploit and enslave women to sell them in countries where slavery was common, such as the Mercenary Kingdom or the Demon King's Territory. To them, people were mere currency.
Kai watched the camp of ruffians all night. He realized that not a single man there was worth saving. He donned his armor and waited for them at dawn.
At six in the morning, as the army marched toward the first village, they saw a figure on a hill. It was a Black Knight, with a shield displaying a beast's face and a sword that glowed like golden fire. The leader of the Tiger Empire laughed. "Are you the defense for this village? You must be a crazy local!" he mocked, ordering his men to look at the "madman."
The Massacre at Dawn
The massive leader approached Kai, who remained in absolute silence. The man pressed his axe against Kai's neck. "I'll give you a chance, crazy boy. Leave now or I'll decapitate you," he spat.
Kai didn't move. His lack of fear made the man lose his temper. "You're mocking me! Die, you bastard!" he screamed, swinging his axe. But in that moment, the world began to spin for the leader. His head had been severed from his body and hit the ground before he even realized it. Kai had moved so fast it was invisible.
The army of one hundred thousand men watched their leader die without seeing Kai move. It was as if his head had simply fallen off. Immediately, another man tried to take command. "I am the new leader! Follow me!" As he spoke, his head also fell, and a spray of blood erupted with terrifying pressure. Kai still appeared to be standing still five hundred meters away.
Terror seized the army. "Demon!" they cried. But they knew that if they retreated, they would be the laughingstock of every empire. They had crushed armies before; they couldn't flee from one man.
Kai raised his sword and spoke for the first time: "I give you one hour to board your ships and leave these lands. Do not set foot on this continent again. I will not repeat myself." "We won't leave! We'll kill you!" the horde roared back.
Kai raised his sword a second time: "This is my final word. Leave, or you all die here." "Death to the bastard!" the entire horde screamed in unison. Hundreds of spears and arrows darkened the sky.
⏳ Frozen Time
In that instant, time stopped.
The arrows remained suspended in mid-air. Butterflies nearby froze mid-flap. Hummingbirds stayed still before the flowers. Kai placed his hands on his waist, driving his sword into the ground.
"Forgive me, Father, for what I am about to do," he thought in the eternal silence. "But they do not understand." Time remained frozen as Kai looked upon the army, preparing for the slaughter.
The Bloodbath
Kai issued the command through his mental link: "Lyris, tell Voraghun and Solarael: 'Firm and upright. Firm and dignified.'" The three entities replied in unison: "Yes, sir."
The shield Voraghun seethed with rage, the sword Solarael glowed with blinding intensity, and the invisible armor was shrouded in crimson energy. Kai's eyes ignited with a fiery blue light. In a blur of motion, he leaned in and drew his sword for the third time.
Time snapped back into motion. For the soldiers, the disaster was instantaneous. Arrows and spears vanished mid-air, disintegrated by the sheer friction of Kai's movement. Men watched their comrades being sliced in half without anyone appearing to touch them. Kai moved at a speed the human eye could not process; by the time a soldier turned to find the enemy, the head of the man next to him was already rolling on the ground.
Kai deployed a hidden function of his armor: two small shields linked by a chain lined with razors, similar to gaucho boleadoras. He spun them with terrifying centrifugal force and hurled them into the horde. The discs decapitated hundreds with every pass, returning to his hands only to be thrown again.
It wasn't a battle; it was a biological shredder. The shield Voraghun spat flames that disintegrated bodies, while Solarael cut through armor and bone as if they were air. In less than an hour, the valley was nothing but a river of blood. Not a single invader was left alive.
Consequences and Secrets Revealed
The sole witness was an Amazon spy sent by her queen. Hidden, she witnessed the nightmare: the Black Knight was more dangerous than any demonic horde. She recorded every second of the horror in a magic orb before Kai, without looking back, climbed into his carriage and departed.
Hours later, the main Amazon army arrived at the valley. They found their spy in a state of absolute shock; the young woman would not speak, only trembling as she handed over the magic orb before kneeling and covering her head. She was drenched in the blood of others. She had seen bodies disintegrate under the pressure of Kai's strikes—a detail that shattered her mind.
Even for the Amazons, expert warriors in their own right, the scene was unbearable. The valley was a lake of blood with scattered entrails and skulls crushed as if trampled by a giant. The smell of waste and death was so thick that many veterans vomited. With no other way to clean such a slaughter, they set the entire valley on fire to erase the traces of the massacre.
The Truth Behind the Legend
"That is the reality, Alequei," Kai continued, his voice somber. "In the Mercenary Kingdom and in the songs of the bards, they say the Black Knight killed a hundred thousand men without moving a single inch, as if he were a god or a ghost. But the truth is, I used my armor. I used Lyris, Voraghun, and Solarael. It wasn't magic that killed them; it was a speed that human perception cannot register. I was there, among them, drenched in their blood, but I moved so fast that to the Amazon spy and to those who died, I appeared to have never left the hill."
Alequei's Reaction
Alequei remained silent for a long minute. His hands, which were usually steady when handling the kingdom's paperwork, trembled slightly on the desk. The image of a lake of blood and a hundred thousand men disintegrated by a single invisible warrior was something his logical mind could barely process.
"So... it wasn't a miracle," Alequei whispered. "It was an execution."
Kai nodded, adjusting the invisible armor that now, thanks to Lyris, kept him stable. "It was a necessity, Alequei. That is why I am building this army. I don't want to have to be that Black Knight again. I don't want the world to depend on a single man who has to stain his hands like that. I want a nation that can defend itself."
Alequei looked at him with a new kind of respect, one mixed with deep dread. "I understand, Kai. Go find the General. I will see to it that this kingdom becomes the fortress you desire."