In the kingdom of Milty, Darius stood at the frontline, leading the troops alongside Ray.
Soon, from the horizon, a vast army appeared.
Ray: Here they come.
Ray's gaze sharpened, piercing through the countless enemy soldiers.
The troops marched forward, then halted briefly. From their ranks emerged King Hakao.
King Hakao stood before his soldiers, his eyes coldly fixed on Ray and Darius.
Ray smiled faintly, returning the icy stare.
Ray: It's rare to see a King Hakao leading his army from the front lines.
King Hakao smirked subtly.
King Hakao: I will truly end this war.
Ray: Yes, the war whose victor has already been decided.
King Hakao looked hard at Ray.
King Hakao: Indeed, the outcome is clear.
Darius: Troops, prepare yourselves!
King Hakao scanned his entire army with a piercing gaze.
King Hakao: Hm, you seem very eager, despite the outcome being already known.
Ray: Yes, the victory is definitely ours.
King Hakao: Dream on!
Darius: Forward!!
King Hakao: Plan A!
The Hakao forces split into three groups, the first and third flanking left and right.
Darius watched and smiled slightly.
The Milty troops quickly divided into three as well, with their first and third units chasing after the flanking enemies.
King Hakao: Hmph, looks like my plan is already read.
Ray dashed forward toward King Hakao, lightning sword in his right hand, fire sword in his left.
King Hakao's eyes widened as he saw Ray approach, a wicked smile creeping across his lips.
King Hakao: Seems you've grown stronger these past two years.
Ray: Of course!
Ray raised both swords, ready to strike.
King Hakao immediately summoned earth magic to block the twin slashes.
Ray's attacks were easily stopped, so he unleashed an aura around both blades, hoping to shatter the earth magic.
But Hakao's earth magic was layered with aura as well, preventing Ray from breaking through.
While Ray and Hakao clashed, Darius charged at Hakao wielding his aura-clad sword.
Hakao drew a lightning sword, blocking Darius's strike.
The earth magic weakened as Hakao released it, allowing Ray to shatter the remaining barrier.
Ray wasted no time, launching a slash at Hakao.
But Ruze suddenly appeared, blocking Ray's attack.
Ruze held the fiery twin swords glowing with aura, stopping Ray's blade.
King Hakao: Hmph, you're truly troublesome.
Hakao empowered his slash, sending Darius flying back.
Freed, Hakao activated his eye power.
He spun and slashed sideways, releasing a storm of wind and lightning.
A violent thunderstorm erupted—so fierce that Ray, Darius, and even Ruze struggled to keep standing.
The storm knocked many soldiers unconscious.
Ray struggled to open his eyes, barely managing to peer out as Hakao calmly advanced toward him.
Hakao approached with a piercing, icy gaze.
Darius noticed too. Hakao drew a fiery sword in his right hand.
He lunged at Ray with the blazing blade.
Seeing this, Ray activated his eye power; it shattered the magic within Hakao's fire sword.
Hakao's strike missed Ray's neck by a hair.
Hakao then cloaked his right arm in lightning magic and punched Ray's back.
But Feds arrived just in time, slicing Hakao's legs with his sword.
The attack toppled Hakao, extinguishing the lightning magic before it could hit Ray.
King Hakao: Argh!
Suddenly, a massive slash appeared, halting the storm instantly.
Hakao and Ruze stared, stunned, as the tempest vanished.
It was the king himself—landing beside Ray, a wind sword in his right hand.
The king fixed a sharp gaze on Hakao and Ruze, but Hakao met it with a faint smile.
The wounds on Hakao's legs closed instantly as he stood with a cold, slight grin.
King Hakao: Hm, bold of you all to gather here to stop me.
King: I will end this war by killing you first.
King Hakao: Kill me? Hahaha, funny. You don't even know my forces are already surrounding your kingdom.
The king smiled confidently.
King: Heh, I've dealt with the ants trying to bite a dragon.
King Hakao: Oh? Looks like you're not so bad yourself.
Hakao activated his eye power again, drawing lightning and ice swords in his right and left hands.
He dashed at the king with wind magic accelerating him.
But the king also activated his eye power, drawing an aura-covered lightning sword to block Hakao's strike.
The massive clash sparked small lightning waves all around.
King and Hakao exchanged fierce blows, every slash blocked, sending lightning ripples through the air.
Hakao's strikes grew faster and stronger; the king began to struggle under the relentless assault.
King Hakao: Huaaa!
Like a madman, Hakao slashed wildly and powerfully.
Finally, the king was thrown far back.
Hakao ran to strike him down, but Ray, Feds, and Darius intercepted.
Hakao's blocked attack sent lightning waves surging outward.
His strikes grew heavier; Ray, Feds, and Darius struggled to hold him back, eventually being thrown aside.
Ray, exhausted, stared at Hakao in disbelief.
Ray: Impossible. He shouldn't be this strong in such a short time.
Darius: What has he learned? Huh.
King Hakao: Hahaha, you think you can defeat me? Seems you're dreaming too big.
The king, Feds, Darius, and Ray lay battered on the ground.
Hakao aimed his lightning and ice swords at the king.
King Hakao: King of Milty, this is how it ends.
King Hakao: After this, I will lead the rest of my army to conquer Milty.
King Hakao: Milty will become a vassal of Hakao.
The king's face burned with fury.
King: Don't even dream it!!
King Hakao: Oh, look at yourself—pathetic.
Hakao's gaze was cold and merciless.
King Hakao: This is the fate of the weak—to b
ecome slaves to the strong.
King Hakao: Farewell.
Hakao dashed at the king with both swords.
Ray, Darius, and Feds, shocked, struggled to move but could not rise.
Feds: Stop!!