After most of the Altherion soldiers moved to the battle near the Mountain of a Hundred Paths, Arkanthia had no real choice—especially after the mutated humans reverted back to their original human forms.
To prevent the capital from being besieged from both west and east, confronting the eastern army, which included Reinhard and the twins as its main force, was the wiser choice. After all, the march of the main enemy army hadn't even begun yet… however—
No one in that battlefield expected what descended from the fractured sky. Hundreds—no, thousands of tentacles began to fall, bringing wrath upon Arcanthia.
"We have returned. ]
Along with those tentacles, two figures descended. The first spread its wings wide, while the second merely gathered wind beneath his feet to soften his landing.
"...The Hero?!"
"Am I late?"
"And what's that thing you brought with you?" Reinhard's mocking voice came from behind me. Libby replied with the same mocking tone, "Just a pet."
I watched Azathoth's tentacles as they evolved, their ends turning into elephant-like trunks, sucking in everything like monstrous vacuum cleaners.
Those ravenous tentacles carried only the sounds of flesh and bone being torn apart—mixed with the screams of soldiers.
And from among them, a man dashed forward, ripping through several tentacles with sheer speed.
"Huh? Who's that? Wasn't Arcanthia supposed to have no strong fighters, since they rely on technology?"
"That's the exception—the strongest man in Arcanthia… their King, Wulfgar."
"I was expecting Alexander, but this… losing our strongest fortress, our greatest men… I hope you're ready for what's coming." His eyes were clear—rage, desire, and ambition.
Reinhard stood between me and Wulfgar.
"Stand back, Hero. Even I can't guarantee my survival here."
"You won't fight without us, right?" Two men appeared behind me.
"Karl? Harold?"
"Greetings, Hero. We hope we're not burdening you, but can you and Libby cover us from behind?"
I bowed slightly and placed my hand on my chest.
"With pleasure, Commander Harold."
A muffled chuckle came from Reinhard's throat.
"Prepare the music."
The air trembled as an ominous orchestra played from nowhere.
"And now—the stage."
At his words, massive flocks of carrion crows appeared, blotting out the sky, allowing no ray of light to pass.
"Let the actors step forth, and may the audience enjoy the show."
From amidst the crows, thousands of hanged corpses descended, ropes stretching from nowhere, dancing wherever they swayed.
"The stage is ready. Time to shine."
Reinhard charged, the twins flanking him, targeting Wulfgar's head from multiple angles.
But the King raised only a finger. From the earth emerged a black whale that swallowed Karl whole and deflected Reinhard's blade with its massive sword.
Harold tried to seize the opening, but a kick to his gut sent him flying.
Karl split the whale apart in a single swing, clashing blades with Wulfgar again and again.
Suddenly, a massive claw came crashing down where the King stood—Harold's monstrous form revealed. His body had swollen, fangs protruding, fur consuming his flesh.
The two clashed with Wulfgar, forcing him back. The King then summoned new nightmares—black elephants charging forth.
Karl shaped blades of metal from the mud, tearing the elephants apart.
"Is that all you've got… King of Arcanthia?" Karl mocked, forcing Wulfgar to retreat.
"Oh, I almost forgot—the lights."
Reinhard's fist ignited with crimson flames, slamming into Wulfgar's stomach and hurling him an enormous distance.
That distance—no matter how much speed I had, even bending time, it would have taken me seven years of running nonstop to cross it.
Yet Reinhard and the twins closed it in mere steps, as if it were only a few meters.
The battle escalated. Reinhard unleashed countless blades, while Harold slaughtered nightmares. Wulfgar, now enraged, stopped holding back.
From sky and earth alike, beasts of all forms surged against Karl and Harold.
Reinhard struggled under the King's strikes, his wounds already exposing bone.
Then, in one flash—Wulfgar moved. He struck Harold from a blind spot.
The sound of flesh tearing, bones breaking—then silence.
Wulfgar held the upper jaw of Harold's beastly form, ripping it off along with his head before our eyes.
Harold's dead eyes were wide with shock. The stench of blood drowned the battlefield.
"Brother!" Karl's scream tore through the chaos. His brother's head dangled in Wulfgar's hand, the massive body collapsing lifelessly.
Driven by grief or rage—or both—Karl charged recklessly. Spears erupted from the ground in all directions, aiming at Wulfgar along with Karl's strike.
But with a sweeping slash, the King cut them all down—nearly taking Karl's head as well.
Reinhard pulled Karl back just in time.
"You shouldn't have lost your head… You'll only be a burden now."
Karl raised his trembling hands toward his eyes, trying to touch them… but all he found was shredded flesh.
"My eyes…? Brother!"
He staggered forward, blindly, instinctively seeking Harold's corpse.
Meanwhile, Reinhard stepped toward Wulfgar slowly.
"Aren't you afraid… after what I did to your friends?" the King asked.
Reinhard chuckled.
"Afraid?"
His body ignited in crimson fire. From the earth, four colossal centipedes erupted, forming a barrier that cut off Wulfgar's nightmares.
The two clashed in the ruined mountains—their strikes leveling the terrain.
Again and again their blows landed.
"Still not giving up, Reinhard? You cannot defeat me."
Wulfgar slipped behind him, landing a kick that shattered Reinhard's arm.
"Even if you break every bone in my body…" Reinhard grabbed the King's face, slamming it into the ground.
"Even if you tear off my arms—I'll fight with my legs." He slashed Wulfgar's chest, driving his blade into the King's left arm.
"Even if my legs are gone—I'll fight with my teeth… That's what fear means to me."
He headbutted the King once, twice, thrice—until Wulfgar's face began to deform.
The King tried to rise, but his arm remained pinned by the sword. The beast before him wouldn't budge, no matter how many punches he threw.
In desperation, Wulfgar grabbed the blade and tore his own arm off. His gaze locked on Reinhard.
"Farewell… Reinhard."
With Reinhard's own sword, he stabbed him through the gut.
And yet—Reinhard laughed. Not a laugh of pain, but sheer hysteria.
"You think you've won? No… we've won."
A voice crackled in Wulfgar's ear—the communicator.
< "Your Majesty, we're surrounded!" >
"...S-surrounded?"
< "The Valderon army attacks from the west, while Arcanthia's forces strike from the east!" >
Reinhard's burning fist plunged into the King's chest, ripping out his heart.
"All thanks to Khalid and his silver tongue. Don't worry—we're already preparing Alexander… for your so-called secret weapon."
The heart burned in Reinhard's grip, unleashing a blinding light. Heat consumed everything in its path. Within seconds, the explosion reached us.
"Retreat!" I ordered, and the soldiers fled at full speed.
I released lightning into the air, letting Libby's sword absorb it. Together we turned into lightning itself, but even so—the blast was faster. Heat seared our skin.
And then—the fireball stopped.
No, it began to retract, revealing Reinhard, gathering the explosion into a single fingertip. With a casual flick, he sent it skyward like fireworks.
Bowing like a stage magician, Reinhard whispered:
"Ladies and gentlemen… this is the end of the show."
And with that final line, he collapsed—caught between life and death.