Long ago, before demonic invasions disturbed the peace of human lands, war was an unending specter. Human nature—greed and thirst for power—drove them to conflict, battling over territory, wealth, and resources.
Amidst the chaos, one kingdom nearly crumbled under ceaseless warfare. In its final moments, the king, accompanied by his last warriors, held his ground in the treasure vault. As enemy forces closed in, the king activated his sole artifact. Instantly, his kingdom and all pursuing enemy armies sank, buried beneath the earth. Until his dying breath, he fought desperately to protect the treasure most precious to him.
Millennia passed until tectonic shifts slowly raised the buried kingdom to the surface. Erosion from rain and wind gradually revealed traces of the past. Now, the entire complex had become ancient ruins—a silent witness to glory entombed below.
The forgotten kingdom's name was... 'Agmar'.
---
DING!
[Warning! Danger detected]
[Monster Boss. Treasure Vault Guardian Has Appeared]
[The Fallen King Agmar]
"That..." Erica froze, her breath catching. She saw the figure guarding the treasure.
Before her, at the end of a partially crumbled yet still majestic hall, sat a man in black armor—stained with blood crust and unhealed battle scars.
He sat upright on a stone throne like a statue, but his eyes burned crimson—red as freshly spilled blood.
He stared directly at them. Silent. Judging.
A dark aura enveloped his form, like creeping black mist poisoning the air, intensifying the room's pressure. As if the entire chamber were a tomb... and the guardian king, a spirit forbidden to die.
Ding!
[System]
Name: The Fallen King Agmar
Age: ???
Gender: Male
Lv: ???
Tier: ???
> <｜place▁holder▁no▁797｜> Knight
> <｜place▁holder▁no▁1｜> Corrupted
...Shit.
Erica held her breath. Incomplete data meant his level exceeded her basic system's analysis. And "Corrupted"... that was abnormal.
—
DOOM… DOOM… DOOM…
Heavy footsteps echoed as The Fallen King rose from his throne.
The grating clang of damaged armor, the screech of a greatsword drawn from his back—
SHHHKRRRR—KLANG!
Without a word, Agmar raised his colossal sword and...
BRAAAK!
Slammed it into the floor, creating a shockwave that shattered tiles and forced adventurers back.
ZHING!
As the blade embedded into earth, dark aura instantly spread across the floor.
GRRAAKK!
From the ground emerged obsidian-armored soldiers—answering the King's call to defend the treasury.
"This'll be fun," Alvarez murmured beside her.
"Everyone, ready yourselves! The true battle begins now!" Daniel commanded.
"Mages from the Tower of Magic, time to shine!"
"Flame Burst!" Pyra slammed her staff down.
SWOOSH!
A magic circle appeared, spewing waves of fire.
SHSSHHH!
Newly risen soldiers melted under the blaze.
We'll be fine... Come on, Ignis.
Erica gripped a mid-tier magic stone.
"Arise, Ignis!"
FWOOSH!
A cluster of flames formed a phoenix with azure wings.
"Go, Ignis! Fire Bolt!"
KIEEEEK!
Ignis shrieked in response.
Fire arrows materialized from its wings.
BOOM! BOOM!
They shot forth, striking enemy ranks.
"We can't lag behind! Let's go, Clay!" Haluti cheered.
"Hmph, no need to order me. I'm ready."
"Fire Arrow!"
"Fire Ball!"
FWUMP! FWASH!
They cast simultaneously—Multi Casting.
Magic circles expanded their attack range.
Explosions tore through the area with near-Expert-tier force.
BRAAAK!
Half the enemy forces vanished.
Adventurer and mercenary mages gaped at the display.
"...They pulled off Multi Casting—a skill only late Tier 3 Mages should achieve," a mercenary muttered in awe.
"Tower Mages truly operate on another level," another adventurer breathed.
"Convinced now?" Daniel said proudly.
"Even that black- and red-haired Mage fought alongside us against a Minotaur and a Black Mage Archbishop!" He rubbed his nose, bragging.
Ragnar watched, captivated. As an experienced mercenary, he'd seen many mages—but Erica, the youngest Summoner in kingdom history, intrigued him.
---
Swos!
The inferno waned. Yet from ashes and embers, aura-clad soldiers resurrected.
One by one, they stood—death itself defied.
Alvarez, calm until now, drew his greatsword.
Zhing!
The blade's metallic ring echoed. He stepped forward.
"Seems we must eliminate their master first."
His voice was level—calm yet threatening.
"Great idea!" Daniel agreed.
"Hold the enemy forces! We advance to defeat the Boss!" he ordered.
Zhhhhh...
The King rose.
Dark aura thickened around him, oppressive and chilling. He stood tall, answering the challenge with a fallen monarch's pride.
KLANG!
With a sudden leap, the King charged!
ZHAK!!
His sword swing smashed into mercenaries.
"GUAAKH!!"
Bodies flew, crashing hard.
Enemy forces surged—mercenaries fell, screams rising.
"EVERYONE! Defensive positions with the Mages!" Daniel shouted, gripping his sword.
"We engage the Boss!"
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
Faint white aura enveloped him—flowing from shoulders to arms, legs, and blade.
The light intensified—his combat skill activating.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Daniel sprinted.
"Quick Step!"
Swos!
He vanished, reappearing instantly before the Boss.
ZUPP!—
"Take this—Power Strike!"
CLAAANG!!
Their greatswords collided, shockwaves vibrating the air.
"Fiuuh... not bad," Alvarez remarked calmly.
Swos!
From behind the Boss, Ragnar struck horizontally at its neck.
BRAKK!!
The hit left only a scratch—the dark armor impossibly dense.
GROAAA!!
The Boss roared, shoving Daniel back.
Daniel skidded, boots scraping earth.
CRECK!
The monster grabbed Ragnar's blade bare-handed!
BRAAK!!
It hurled Ragnar and his sword toward Daniel!
Both crashed down hard.
BOOM!!
The Boss leapt skyward—shadow eclipsing light.
Its sword poised to cleave them!
CLAAANG!!
A massive shield intercepted the blow.
Hansel, the shield knight, stood firm.
"Ughh... He's strong!" he strained, knees trembling.
"Pyra, we need to help!" Erica urged, eyes scanning the chaos.
"I'll hold the undead," Pyra stated.
"You assist against the Boss. Be careful."
"Got it!" Erica, Haluti, and Clay chorused.
"Take this!"
CLANG!!
Gretel thrust her spear from the right!
CRAAK!
The Boss caught the shaft mid-air like stone.
SWOOSH—CLANG!!
It spun, sword swinging horizontally.
Hansel and Gretel were hurled aside—conscious but down.
"Fire Bolt!"
"Fire Arrow!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Spells bombarded the Boss, scorching its armor as it staggered back.
"Now, Ragnar!"
"Power Strike!" Daniel lunged.
"Slash!" Ragnar flanked.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!!
Combined assaults forced the Boss back step by step.
Yet it stood unbroken.
GROAAA!!!
The Boss raged.
Dark aura exploded outward—a massive shockwave!
Daniel and Ragnar were blasted down.
DING!
[Warning: Danger detected. Retreat immediately!]
Huh? What...
Erica stared at the sudden alert.
"Danger! EVERYONE FALL BACK!!"
Her panicked cry pierced the battlefield.
BOOOM!!
The Boss plunged its sword down.
A dark energy wave erupted—shattering ground, creating tremors.
An AoE blast engulfed the arena!
TAP!
Gretel yanked Ragnar and Daniel back.
Hansel raised his shield.
"Ignis, Flame Wall!"
Erica conjured a firewall to shield Haluti and Clay.
SWOOSH!!
The shockwave passed, leaving total devastation.
Ground sundered, stones split—but Erica's warning prevented casualties.
ZHING...
Darkness coalesced around the Boss's sword.
The air vibrated—power compressed beyond containment.
"Damn... Double Skill," Erica muttered.
"Everyone! BRACE FOR THE NEXT ATTACK!!"
WHUUSSH!!
The Boss pivoted.
Its horizontal swing unleashed a crescent wave of annihilation—
—darkness devouring all in its path!
"Clay! Haluti!!"
Pyra shouted from afar, staff held high.
Other Mages joined.
"Flame Wall!!"
Multiple firewalls erupted.
BOOOOOOOM!!!
Spells and dark energy collided mid-air.
The catastrophic blast hurled back all nearby!**
"GYAAAH!!"
Mercenaries were flung like ragdolls.
SWOOSH!!
Dust and wind swept the ravaged field.
Craters smoldered; dozens lay incapacitated.
Yet amid the ruin...
One figure remained standing.
A Knight in white armor, crimson cloak billowing through smoke and wind.
He pulled his sword from the earth and strode forward—toward the epicenter, facing the Dark King.
ZHING!
"Your Majesty..."
"It seems... you've suffered too long in torment."
His voice was calm—respectful yet resolute.
Sir Alvarez approached.
His gaze held no fear.
Only pity, and unbreakable resolve.
For though this Boss guarded a treasure vault...
It was once a King.
A Grand Knight who stood firm as his kingdom fell.
Trapped in darkness and time... yet his honor not wholly extinguished.
Now, the final clash would begin.
A battle between a king consumed by shadows
—and a Knight who walked the path of light.