The Wall King advanced, delivering a vertical strike toward Cobel.
Cobel stepped aside and countered with a kick that forced the Wall King backward.
He fell into the lake, but quickly stood again and charged forward without hesitation.
The Giant King glanced to the side.
His daughter was approaching, calling him to eat.
"Leave, Eli! Tell your mother and everyone in the village to get out of here!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned back—
Only to be struck again, forced to refocus.
Eli trembled as she ran, her steps uneven, while her father faced an unfamiliar enemy.
The Wall King pressed forward, his blade aimed at Cobel's chest.
Cobel let out a faint smile.
"…So the new generation has arrived."
He looked down briefly, feeling the impact settle across his chest.
"I suppose I can't hold back anymore."
The Wall King rushed in again.
Cobel, still low, grabbed a stone and threw it, disrupting the attack just enough.
A small opening appeared.
In an instant, he moved behind him.
"You know… I could end this now."
When did he—
Before the thought could finish—
A heavy strike forced the Wall King deeper into the forest.
Darkness surrounded them as they moved between the trees.
Each step echoed.
His heartbeat grew louder.
Even so, a faint smile formed on his face.
A blade cut through the air.
He avoided it, grabbed Cobel by the neck, and forced him down.
But before he could follow—
A sudden force pushed him back.
Cobel stood again.
The Wall King did the same.
They stepped forward at the same time—
The ground cracked slightly beneath them.
Their weapons collided, the sound echoing through the forest.
Cobel struck downward.
The Wall King avoided it and drove his blade into Cobel's shoulder.
The resistance was clear—
But so was the opening.
Cobel pushed forward, breaking the momentum and forcing distance.
He pulled the blade out and looked at his opponent, who was still trying to recover.
Even with the chance to finish it—
He didn't.
Instead, he pushed him back again.
"Pathetic."
Grabbing him by the collar, Cobel began striking repeatedly.
Each blow carried weight.
The Wall King's movements slowed.
His breathing grew heavier.
His stance became unstable.
As another strike came—
It stopped.
His wrist had been caught.
Firm.
Unmoving.
Cobel paused for a moment.
Then stepped back.
The Wall King stood again.
Still fighting.
Cobel picked up his weapon.
The Wall King did the same and charged forward.
The ground reacted beneath his steps.
His attacks came faster now.
More desperate.
Cobel blocked, calm and precise.
The wind moved through the trees, carrying leaves with it.
Then—
A full-force strike.
The Wall King's blade shattered.
Fragments scattered across the ground.
His expression hardened.
He understood.
The end was near.
Cobel moved again.
The Wall King lowered his stance, sweeping his leg and breaking Cobel's balance—
Then followed with a strike that sent him into the lake once more.
Water rippled as Cobel stood again.
His body felt heavier now.
Then—
A sudden pull from behind.
A hand gripping his hair.
A voice, close and low:
"Maybe I shouldn't call myself the Wall King anymore…"
A pause.
"…King Slayer sounds better."
A sharp impact struck his chest.
Cobel stepped back.
His expression darkened.
I've never been pushed this far…
He moved again, avoiding another attack.
Even slightly unbalanced, the Wall King kept advancing.
Cobel blocked—but with more effort now.
They stepped apart.
Silence filled the forest.
Leaves drifted slowly through the air.
Both understood.
They moved at the same time.
The Wall King planted his foot, gathering everything into one strike.
Cobel mirrored him, feeling the strain across his body.
I underestimated him…
The impact came.
His vision shook.
I should have taken this more seriously…
Cobel pushed forward again.
The Wall King waited—
Then struck.
Their fists collided.
A powerful force spread outward.
The ground cracked beneath them.
A sharp sound came from the Wall King's arm.
Both were thrown back.
Cobel stood with difficulty.
His arm no longer responded properly.
Nearby, the Wall King leaned against a tree, breathing heavily.
"…One of us won't walk away from this the same," Cobel said.
The Wall King said nothing.
He moved forward again.
Cobel let out a quiet laugh.
Raising his arms slightly, he spoke:
"A new king rises… and his name is—"
The strike came.
He caught it.
"…The Nameless King."
The force pushed him down.
His strength gave out.
The Nameless King, exhausted, let himself fall as well.
Jay opened his eyes.
Darkness.
Night.
He slowly sat up and looked around.
His father wasn't there.
He exhaled quietly.
I can't stay still… not now.
If I stop… I'll think too much.
He stood up.
I'll look for him.
Walking across the ship, he noticed a girl crying in a corner.
He hesitated for a moment—
Then approached.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
She looked up, wiping her tears.
"I… I lost my mom…"
Jay paused.
For a brief moment, his expression shifted—
Then returned to normal.
"…Let's find her."
(At least I can help someone.)
"…Okay."
They walked together through the ship.
She stayed close.
Jay slowed his pace slightly.
The noise around him felt distant.
Elsewhere—
The Wall King opened his eyes again.
He heard uneven breathing.
Cobel.
Still alive.
He approached.
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"I was like you once… empty… just like you."
He coughed lightly.
"You won't understand now… but someday, you will."
The Nameless King raised his arm.
Even now.
"I hope… you find what I did…"
His gaze drifted toward the dark sky.
"…something worth holding onto."
Silence.
The Wall King turned away.
Even exhausted—
He kept walking.
Time passed.
Jay eventually found his father.
He was talking to a man with black hair and blue eyes.
Their conversation felt natural.
Easy.
Even in my past life… I never had something like that…
Jay watched quietly.
Something about it felt distant.
The girl suddenly ran.
"Dad!"
She hugged the man tightly.
He froze—then hugged her back.
"What happened? Weren't you with your mother?"
"I got separated…"
"…Let's find her."
She turned back to Jay.
"Thank you… for helping me."
Jay nodded.
"…It's fine."
Poul approached and placed his hand on Jay's head.
"You did well," he said.
"I'm proud of you."
"Dad…"
"Yes?"
"…Do academies exist in real life?"
"They do," Poul replied.
Jay's eyes showed a faint spark.
"But not the way you think," Poul continued.
"They are places meant to train soldiers… to create the strongest ones."
He looked at the sky.
"Every man goes through it. I did too."
So I'll end up there anyway…
Jay thought.
That's where I'll find my limits.
"At what age can you join?"
"…Around ten."
Jay's expression fell slightly.
"…That long…"
Days passed.
They reached their destination.
A refugee area.
Simple.
Crowded.
Jay spent most of his time near a tree, reading quietly.
Poul trained nearby.
Relentless.
The other children watched Jay from a distance.
He ignored them.
Until—
Someone approached.
Jay looked up.
Purple hair.
He recognized her.
"…You're the lost girl."
She smiled.
"What? Don't tell me you got lost again?"
"…Do I look that helpless to you?"
"…I wouldn't be surprised."
She frowned.
"Idiot."
She crouched beside him.
"What are you reading?"
Jay frowned slightly.
This girl…
She started laughing.
Jay flicked her forehead lightly.
She froze.
Then grabbed her head.
"Hey! That hurt!"
Jay sighed.
But before he could react—
She pushed him.
Then started hitting him.
Jay blinked, surprised.
Even her small hits had force behind them.
Still—
He flicked her forehead again.
They started arguing.
Neither backing down.
Not far from there—
Poul continued training.
Focused.
Steady.
Then—
Someone called him.
He stepped out of the tent.
A letter was handed to him.
"…Thank you."
The messenger nodded and left.
Poul opened the letter.
Read it.
He had been accepted.
A member of the army.
He smiled.
But only for a moment.
Something else followed.
A feeling he couldn't fully understand.
A tear slipped down his face.
He didn't wipe it away.