In Kortan — specifically in the royal palace, specifically in Klaise's chamber — the Dark Sorcerer sits meditating, reflecting on his old life and the decision he made. Klaise was an extremely talented sorcerer. In truth, he was Magic Land's hero. He had protected it from all dangers for a time. He was a role model. Students entering the Academy of Magic wished to be like him. He had a loving family and good friends. Everything was fine — until Klaise's greed for power grew and he wanted more. This is something in human nature: they are never satisfied. They always set a level in their minds they want to reach, and when they reach it they are not content and crave more. Klaise was at the top, but he wanted more. He found a book he had to read. He learned spells he had to learn. He betrayed his people and family and caused a massacre. Then he fled the kingdom.
Now Klaise thinks: was it worth it? Was it worth betraying his people and family just to gain power? He got what he wanted, but he lost what he had... Klaise feels a little remorse about his decisions and tries to find a justification for them.
But while Klaise is meditating, Alvarez suddenly enters the room.
Klaise: "For the thousandth time I told you not to interrupt my meditation—"
Klaise is shocked by what he sees. Alvarez is exhausted. Worn out. Weak. His skin has turned green. He looks ill. Klaise puts him on the bed and begins to examine his condition. He discovers that Alvarez was poisoned by a deadly illness — not just any disease. It is the poison of the Carmilla flower, whose only cure is a concoction made from several ingredients. It seems the person who poisoned Alvarez chose this specific toxin so no one could treat it. It is impossible for anyone to injure a dragon and survive. But Klaise is not anyone — he is the strongest sorcerer in the world. So he decides to go to the dragon.
But first he calls Thordak and Sam and speaks to them.
Klaise: "Alvarez is currently sick. I will go seek a cure. Thordak, stay with Alvarez and guard him. Sam, I want you to investigate who poisoned Alvarez. And remember, only the three of us know Alvarez is ill. No one else must know this information, because the stability of the Vikings depends on it greatly."
Sam: "Yes, my lord. You can rely on me."
Thordak: "This isn't fair. Why does this loser get the fun task? I'm Alvarez's best warrior. I should be the one to find the person who poisoned him and kill them."
Klaise: "That's because you're stupid, Thordak, and you can't complete a task that requires intelligence like an investigation."
Thordak becomes furious, grabs Klaise by the throat with his fist and says: "Listen, I don't care about your magic and spells. If you insult me again I will crush you like I crush wrestlers in Kortan."
Klaise uses a dark spell, enters Thordak's mind and makes him see terrible and frightening things, torturing him psychologically.
Thordak screams in pain: "Make it stop, please!"
Klaise ends the spell and asks: "Will you carry out the task I ordered you to do?"
Thordak replies submissively: "Yes, I will do it."
Klaise: "Now I will depart."
Klaise transforms into a bird and flies toward the mountain where the dragon lives. Now some of you might wonder: why is Klaise trying to save Alvarez's life? Does he love him? Well, no. He only sees Alvarez's presence as important to the Vikings' army and to ruling the world. In other words, their relationship is one of mutual interest.
On the other hand, Sam begins his investigation into the poisoning case.
Sam was one of the Vikings whom everyone underestimated and looked down on because he is not as strong as the others. Until Alvarez came and saw that he had some potential. Alvarez gave Sam the mission to go to Kortan and deceive the Knights of Light so they would fall into a trap. Sam succeeded in that mission, and because of him the occupation succeeded. In other words, Alvarez gave Sam value and importance. He made him achieve something he would be proud of for the rest of his life. For that reason, Sam has full loyalty and devotion to Alvarez and will do his utmost to catch and kill the person who poisoned him. Currently, he is watching camera footage to see who the cook was that put the poison in the food Alvarez ate. He sees the recording: the cook preparing the food, then the cook goes out to get something, then someone enters and places the poison in the food and leaves. Then the cook returns and takes the food to Alvarez.
The person who poisoned the food has a very clear face. Sam zooms the camera to see the criminal's face in more detail and is shocked by what he sees... The person who poisoned Alvarez is a Viking — meaning Alvarez was betrayed.
Sam begins to wonder: why would one of the Vikings decide to betray Alvarez? Alvarez gave the Vikings and the people of Denmark greater value and made them live in the best kingdom in the world. Why betray him? In any case, Sam must find him and kill him.
Meanwhile, Klaise reaches the dragon's tower. Klaise feels some worry and fear because he has heard terrifying stories about this dragon and its frightening power. But despite the dragon's great strength, Klaise has a spell that allows him to face and kill the dragon: a spell that transforms Klaise into a massive dark dragon. But Klaise does not want to use it because he fears losing control and turning into a raging, mindless dragon. So Klaise will try to confront the dragon with his usual powers. I mean, in the end he doesn't need to kill it — just wound it and take some of its blood.
Klaise enters and finds the dragon asleep. He attempts to scratch it with his magic, but the dragon's hide is very hard and unaffected. Then something awful happens.
The dragon awakens from the noise Klaise made. Klaise uses all his dark spells: savage wolves, purple spheres that control a person's will, varied attacks. But none of them cause any damage to the dragon. Then the dragon breathes fire at Klaise. Klaise conjures a magical shield to repel the flames.
But the flames are so powerful they break the shield. Klaise tries to dodge but some of his body is burned. Klaise casts an invisibility spell, but the dragon can see heat signatures, so it knows Klaise's location and strikes him with a powerful blow that breaks Klaise's bones.
Now Klaise's body is half-burned and his bones are broken, and the dragon is above him ready to eat him. But Klaise's staff is still in his hand and there is still a chance to perform the final spell.
Back to Sam: he began searching for the traitor's location and after questioning some people he was able to learn the coordinates of his house. Sam enters the house armed and ready for any surprises. The place is quiet. There is no one. Sam inspects the rooms: the bathroom, the kitchen. He finds nothing. Then he goes to the reception room and finds a couch. He decides to lift it — who knows, maybe there's a secret hideout beneath it. He lifts the couch and finds a bomb ready to explode. Sam flees the house as fast as he can and manages to escape the explosion.
From a distance, Sam sees the traitor with a remote control. Now Sam understands the traitor's plan.
The traitor knew they would identify him and come to his house. So he decided to put a bomb there and blow them up. But unfortunately for him, Sam managed to survive the bomb.
The traitor flees, and Sam chases him. A pursuit ensues between the two. The traitor tries to set obstacles in Sam's path, like knocking over objects or people, but Sam avoids these obstacles. The traitor reaches a dead end and has no choice but to confront Sam.
The traitor raises his pistol and Sam raises his pistol as well.
Traitor: "Okay, listen. Let's talk first. Maybe you'll understand the reasons that made me poison Alvarez."
Sam: "There's nothing you can say that will change my opinion of you. You're a traitor and ungrateful. Alvarez gave you the chance to live in the most advanced kingdom. And in return you poisoned him. You filthy scum."
Traitor: "Yes, I know. I used to respect Alvarez like you. But he's gone too far lately. He started killing anyone who refused to praise his father or study his history. Many of those he killed were ordinary people with their own opinions; he even started killing children. I know we Vikings are supposed to be violent and cruel, but killing an unarmed person just because they have a different opinion is something I cannot accept. I'm sure there are other Vikings who feel the same, but they're just afraid to act. Everyone is scared except me."
Sam is slightly affected by his words but remains firm and says: "The only person who will die today is you."
Both of them are holding pistols, meaning whoever fires first will win.
Sam fires faster than the traitor and kills him.
Back to Klaise: he has no choice but to use the spell that turns him into a dark dragon. He utters the magical words and begins to transform.
Klaise turns into a huge dark dragon, and the battle between the two dragons begins, destroying the mountain. The fight is fierce — a battle of titans.
They unleash fire and the dark dragon responds with its own flames, and the fires collide.
The dark dragon's flames are stronger: they burn the other dragon's face, completely destroying it, and it dies.
Then the dark dragon screams and thrashes about wildly. Klaise, inside, tries to control the dark dragon and resist its animal instincts. It is difficult and requires strong will. But Klaise ultimately manages to fully control the dark dragon and then returns to his human form. From then on Klaise is no longer afraid to use this spell again because he proved he can control the dark dragon's power.
Also, the other dragon began to bleed. Klaise extracts a portion of its blood and returns to Kortan. He creates the medicine, treats Alvarez, and everything returns to the way it was.
Alvarez wakes up and says: "Please tell me none of Kortan's people learned about my condition?"
Klaise: "No one knows."
Alvarez: "Good. The weakness I felt was terrible. Yesterday I gave a speech about how I am the strongest being in the world, and the next day I find myself sick and near death. If the people of Kortan knew I was ill, it would give them hope to resist me... Anyway, what happened to the person who poisoned me?"
Klaise: "Sam killed him."
Alvarez: "Really? This man impresses me more and more. You know what? I will reward him with a wonderful gift."
Klaise: "Where is he? I want you to leave my room now so I can continue my meditation."
Alvarez: "Seriously, isn't there anything more enjoyable you do besides meditating? You're really boring."
Alvarez leaves Klaise's room and heads to Sam.
Sam is sitting, thinking about the traitor's words. Part of him feels that killing the traitor was wrong and that he should have joined him; another part sees that his action was right and that he should serve Alvarez. There is a conflict of thoughts.
Then Alvarez appears and cuts off Sam's train of thought.
Alvarez: "Klaise told me you killed the criminal who poisoned me. I must admit I'm impressed and I think I should give you a reward. Do you remember the metal warrior suit Clinton wore when he faced me?"
Sam: "Yes."
Alvarez: "Well, after you killed Clinton, his suit was damaged. But I had one of the mechanics here repair it. Once he finishes repairing it, I will give it to you. You will train to use it and fight our enemies and kill them all. What do you think?"
Sam smiles and says: "Really? That's wonderful, my lord. Thank you very much."
Alvarez: "You're welcome. Now I'll go."
After Alvarez leaves, the smile fades from Sam's face and he returns to his confusion and questions. Sam feels unstable.
On the other hand, Klaise is the opposite. The question he originally asked himself has found an answer.
Was betraying my family, friends, and homeland only to gain power worth it?
Yes — it was worth it. If Klaise could go back, he would betray them again.
When Klaise was able to control the dark dragon and impose his will on it, he felt a great sensation — a feeling of being at the pinnacle. A feeling unlike any other. For anyone who betrays, Klaise felt this magnificent and astonishing sensation.
Friends. Family. Homeland. All were things that limited Klaise and prevented him from reaching his true potential. Klaise became more confident than ever before.
He is excited and ready to practice his dark magic more and more...
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On the other hand, Alvarez visits the laboratory where Barfoot works.
Alvarez: "So how is the work on the bomb progressing?"
Barfoot: "Excellent. But there are some resources I want you to bring me."
Barfoot hands Alvarez a list containing the resources he needs to complete work on the bomb.
Alvarez reads the list and is surprised.
Alvarez: "Do you really need these things?"
Barfoot: "With respect, my lord — are you a scientist? Do you understand anything about making bombs? Of course not, this is not your work. These resources are very necessary for my work, so please do not doubt my credibility."
Alvarez: "Uh… alright."
Then Alvarez leaves the laboratory and speaks with one of the people assisting Barfoot in making the bomb (named William) and says to him:
"I want you to closely monitor Barfoot's work. I want you to make sure what he's actually making is a nuclear bomb. If he's making something else, stop him, understood?"
William: "Yes, understood, my lord."