The battlefield, once drowned in noise, explosions, and clashing energies, suddenly fell into an almost unreal silence.
The fighting stopped instantly.
As if driven by the same instinct, soldiers from Mekira and Nexus froze in place. Weapons lowered. Breaths were held. Every gaze turned toward the sky… toward them.
Three monsters of power.
Three beings capable of deciding the fate of this island, perhaps even that of the world.
Zeno and Myu halted their advance, both watching carefully. They knew that a single misstep could plunge everything back into absolute chaos.
"What is the King of Danafort doing here…?" Myu muttered, confusion etched across his face.
Zeno narrowed his eye.
"To be honest… I can't even tell which side he's on. Or what his true intentions are."
With a deep rumble, Sorento dispelled his technique. The overwhelming aura surrounding his body receded, and he descended slowly to the ground.
Facing him stood Ryu… and Gabriel.
The three champions now stood opposite one another.
The air itself felt heavy.
The sheer presence they radiated crushed everything around them, pinning the soldiers in place. No one dared move. Even breathing felt like an act of defiance.
"Why are you here, King Gabriel?" Sorento demanded coldly.
Gabriel remained calm.
"Isn't it obvious, Sorento? Your clash is throwing the entire world into panic. In just a few hours, global economic activity has ground to a halt."
Ryu frowned.
"I didn't realize our battle would have consequences on such a scale…"
Sorento clenched his fists.
"Stay out of this, Gabriel! This fight concerns only Ryu and me."
"You're mistaken," Gabriel replied evenly. "I followed the reasons behind this conflict. And you should know this, you have no right to claim that jewel."
Sorento slowly turned toward him.
"What are you implying?"
"I was informed of several crucial facts. First of all, the underground kingdom was completely unknown to you. To you… and to King Riku."
"Meaningless!" Sorento snapped. "Everything within Mekira's territory belongs to Mekira. Underground, sky, or sea it makes no difference."
Gabriel exhaled softly.
"While I disagree with you, I have no authority to interfere in matters strictly related to your country. Those are your rules."
Sorento smirked.
"Exactly. So by what right do you interfere?"
Gabriel's gaze sharpened.
"Because the situation changes when those matters do not concern your territory."
"What?" Sorento growled.
"As I was coming here," Gabriel continued, "I encountered certain individuals. You might recognize them."
Several figures appeared behind him.
Sorento's expression stiffened.
He knew those faces all too well.
The people of Saymar.
More precisely… the youths of the LVD.
"You… here?!" Sorento shouted.
"It's been a while, Sorento," Momo said with a mocking grin. "How's good old Myu doing?"
"This island is incredible!" Beber exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
"I wonder if Ikku's around," Missak added thoughtfully.
Sorento's anger flared.
"What are these punks doing here?!"
Gabriel answered calmly.
"One of them has the ability to control the earth… and sense vibrations through it."
Missak stepped forward.
"That's correct. Thanks to my abilities, I discovered two things.
First: the entrance to the underground kingdom does indeed lie in Mekira."
"Exactly what I said," Sorento scoffed.
"However," Missak interrupted, "the underground kingdom itself is located beneath the province of Saymar.
One path leads through Mekira, but another passes through Saymar."
He paused.
"In conclusion, the underground kingdom does not lie within Mekira's lands. It belongs to Saymar.
Therefore, the province of Saymar claims the jewel… and in agreement with the underground kingdom, has decided to entrust it to Ikku."
The ground trembled.
Sorento released his spiritual energy once more.
"How dare you…!"
"Sorento!" Gabriel thundered.
Gabriel unleashed his prana as well.
The island shook violently, struck by a pressure that felt almost divine. It was now undeniable, he stood on the same level as the two champions.
"If you insist on claiming a jewel you are not entitled to," Gabriel declared, "you will open the door to global chaos.
The law of the strongest will prevail. And our already fragile peace will collapse."
His voice hardened.
"You are not a king. You cannot understand the weight of your actions.
But I am. And as a king, in the name of my people, I am ready to fight you.
Even to kill you, if that is what it takes to preserve balance."
Sorento scanned his surroundings.
He was cornered.
Facing one champion was possible.
Facing two… while already exhausted from his battle with Ryu… was suicide.
Myu rushed to his side.
"What do we do, Sorento?"
Sorento took a deep breath.
Then he released all of his energy.
The island shook like never before.
Gabriel and Ryu responded in kind.
Their combined prana shook the land so violently that more than half the soldiers struggled to remain standing.
Then....
Sorento dispersed his energy.
"That's enough. We no longer have the right to claim the jewel.
We're leaving. Myu, can you repair the ships?"
"Yes."
Myu extended his arms toward the shore.
The overturned ships righted themselves.
The airships damaged earlier repaired themselves in an instant.
Within seconds, Mekira's entire fleet was restored.
"Let's go. Retrieve the soldiers who can't stand."
The troops obeyed. Bodies were carried back. The ranks reformed.
"Wait!" Ryu shouted.
Sorento stopped.
"You think I'll let you leave just like that? Look at my island. Every soldier, every civilian here is like my child.
And you dared to attack them."
Ryu stepped forward, but Gabriel raised his hand.
"That's enough, Ryu. You are a king. You know better than anyone that diplomacy must come first."
Ryu froze.
"…Very well. But don't think this is over. Heavy sanctions will follow."
Sorento said nothing.
He boarded his airship.
The fleet departed.
A cry of victory erupted from the soldiers.
Ryu turned to Gabriel.
"Without your intervention, things could have ended far worse. Thank you."
Gabriel bowed.
"It was the least I could do, King Ryu."
"I am the one in your debt."
"I must return now. My people are waiting."
He then turned to the youths of Saymar.
"And what about you?"
"We wanted to see Ikku," Missak replied. "But if you're leaving, we'd better return with you. Give Ikku our regards."
Ryu nodded.
Gabriel departed with them.
Zeno soon joined Ryu.
"How are you feeling, old man?" he teased.
"I'm fine," Ryu replied. "That brat Sorento was far stronger than I expected."
"True. Aside from you, no one else could've held him back."
Zeno looked toward the city.
"Since everything seems under control, I'll check the city to make sure there's no remaining threat."
"More like you want to make sure your precious students are safe," Ryu said with a smirk.
Zeno vanished without answering.
"He even left a mark on one of them…" Ryu muttered with a chuckle.
"It seems our Angel of Death has truly changed."
Ryu collapsed onto the ground, completely exhausted.
"Hypsen! Take care of the wounded!"
"I'm on it," a voice replied through the speakers.
Hundreds of cybernetic flying insects swarmed in from every direction, administering first aid and stitching open wounds.
Kul-Elna was already beginning to recover on its own.
It was a victory for Nexus.