The king was seen flying in the air, continuously casting fire magic to assist Milty's soldiers.
Slowly, the enemy forces began to retreat.
Enemy: Team A, fall back!
Enemy: Team C, fall back!
Enemy: Team B, fall back!
The scene shifted to Hifung's location.
Hifung's parents and three Milty soldiers were being held hostage by the enemy.
Enemy: We need to retreat immediately. Let's head back to the kingdom.
Hifung: Wait! Release your hostages.
Enemy: Hah? Don't even dream about it!
Hifung readied himself to attack.
Enemy: Move another step and I won't hesitate.
The enemy threatened Hifung by placing his sword against the hostage's neck.
Ray: Hifung, calm down.
Hifung was confused.
Hifung (in his thoughts): "What should I do?"
Enemy: Retreat!
Hifung: Wait!
The enemies ignored Hifung and quickly turned around.
Hifung tried to chase after them but was held back by Ray and Micyl.
Hifung: Stop!!
He kept shouting loudly.
The surviving enemy troops retreated.
The king landed beside Feds and Darius.
King: How is it?
Darius: They're retreating.
King: What about the casualties?
Darius: Our soldiers didn't suffer heavy losses, but unfortunately, we couldn't hold them fully, so some civilians became victims.
King: Damn it.
The king looked very upset.
Darius: We managed to capture five enemy soldiers as hostages, but they immediately committed suicide.
King: What!
Darius and Feds lowered their heads.
King: Huh, how many of our people were taken hostage?
Darius: The enemy managed to capture five soldiers.
King: Five, huh.
The king furrowed his brows.
King: Outrageous. How dare they.
Suddenly, Ray and Micyl approached the king, carrying an unconscious Hifung.
Ray: Your Majesty.
The king panicked at the sight.
King: What happened?
Feds and Darius also came to check on Hifung.
The king examined him.
King: He's just unconscious?
Ray: Not just unconscious, but—
Feds: But?
Ray: He's also in shock because his parents are held hostage by the enemy.
Ray and Micyl looked saddened.
King: What!?
Feds and Darius looked saddened as well.
A moment later, as the king started to calm down.
King: For now, let's take him to the hospital first.
King: Feds.
Feds: Yes.
King: You guard the troops, bring the wounded back to the kingdom for treatment.
Feds: Understood.
King: Also, prepare a proper tomb for the fallen soldiers.
Feds: Yes (in a low voice).
King: Let me carry him.
The king offered to carry Hifung.
Ray: O-okay.
The king lifted Hifung and placed him on his shoulders.
King: Let's go.
Ray: Right.
Micyl looked worried.
The king, Ray, Hifung, Darius, and Micyl headed to the hospital in the kingdom's center.
Feds went to take care of the troops with other generals.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the king laid Hifung on a bed.
A while later, the king and Micyl sat inside the room keeping watch over Hifung, while Ray and Darius guarded outside.
Darius: Your name is Ray, right?
Ray: Eh, yes. What is it?
Darius wanted to speak but hesitated.
Darius: How do I say this...
He looked saddened.
Ray: What is it?
Darius: Actually—
Ray: Actually?
Darius: Commander Wei Tha, your father—
Darius clenched his teeth in distress.
Darius: Fell in battle.
Ray felt the world stop for a moment, as if thrown into an empty void.
Ray: What?
He was shocked and couldn't believe it.
Ray: That can't be.
Darius: Commander Wei Tha died holding back an enemy attack that could have killed fifty soldiers at once.
Ray fell silent, lost in thought.
Darius watched Ray, sharing his sorrow.
Darius: My condolences. I'm sorry I couldn't save your father.
Ray recalled when he was a child, after training with his father in swordsmanship.
He and his father sat on the porch of their home.
Ray: Father, what was your dream?
Ray's father: One day, I want to see you standing in front of me, taller than me, grown up, stronger than me. That's all I wish for.
Then his father stroked Ray's head.
Back to the present.
Micyl was waiting for Hifung to wake up.
Darius was leaving.
The king looked out the window.
Ray continued to sit lost in thought on the bench outside Hifung's room.
Hifung: Father, Mother.
Hifung spoke while sleeping.
Micyl felt sad seeing Hifung in this state.
Darius returned to the hospital carrying four lunchboxes.
He walked into Hifung's room, looking at Ray who was still deep in thought.
Darius entered the room.
The king and Micyl looked on.
Darius: Here's some food for us.
He lifted the four lunchboxes, showing them to Micyl and the king.
King: Oh, thank you.
The king approached Darius.
He took the lunchboxes and placed them on the table next to Hifung's bed.
On the table was a tray of food from the hospital for Hifung.
The king sat on the chair next to the bed.
Darius, Micyl, and the king all looked toward Hifung, their faces filled with worry.
Darius: Your Majesty.
King: Yes?
Darius: I don't know... was it wrong for me to tell Ray that his father died in battle?
Darius bowed his head, feeling guilty.
Micyl was shocked to hear this.
King: So his father died in battle.
The king felt guilty, upset, worried, and angry all at once.
Micyl felt sad and worried for both Hifung and Ray.
King: Why must there be war? Taking lives just for personal interests.
The king was frustrated and felt responsible.
King: This is all my fault.
Darius: Eh?
King: If it weren't for me making an agreement to hold a children's tournament representing each kingdom, this war wouldn't have escalated like this.
Darius: That's not entirely the king's fault.
Darius: They refused to accept defeat, so they attacked us.
Micyl: That's true.
King: They couldn't accept losing, so they chose war. If that tournament hadn't happened, they wouldn't have felt defeated.
The king blamed himself.
Darius: But—
Hifung: This is not the king's fault.
The king, Micyl, and Darius were surprised.
Hifung had woken up; he sat up.
Micyl: Hifung, you're awake?
Hifung: Yes.
Darius: How do you feel?
A brief silence followed.
Hifung: It feels like I still can't accept that my parents are hostages.
The king looked remorseful.
Hifung: Where's Ray?
Micyl: Ray is outside.
Suddenly, Ray entered Hifung's room, looking weak.
Hifung: Ray, what's wrong?
Micyl whispered to Hifung.
Micyl: Ray's father fell in battle.
Hifung was shocked upon hearing this.
Ray: You're awake, Hifung?
Hifung: Y-yes. Are you okay?
Ray: I already know what it's like to lose a mother, and now losing my father feels like my heart is empty.
Ray: It feels like there's no point to keep living. I don't even know my purpose anymore, not even fulfilling my father's last dream.
Ray began sobbing.
Darius approached Ray to comfort him and led him out of the room.
The king felt deeply guilty.
Hifung looked at the king.
Hifung: Your Majesty.
King: Y-yes?
Hifung: You mustn't keep blaming yourself, because if you keep sinking into guilt, we won't be able to win against the Hakao kingdom.
The king pondered for a moment.
King: You're right.
Hifung: Return to the kingdom, lead the troops, motivate them, and plan a strateg
y.
The king smiled.
King: I know that's what I should do.
King: I'll go now. You mustn't keep sinking either.
Hifung smiled.
Hifung: Of course.
The king took one lunchbox and left the room.
Micyl: Hifung, are you okay?
Hifung: I'm fine. I know my parents are still alive. I'm more worried about Ray.
Micyl: Yeah.