Hifung stared at the King of Hakao with blazing intensity.
His crimson aura swelled slightly, red lightning crackling faster around his body.
The King of Hakao shrank back a little, fear flickering in his eyes. He tried to negotiate with Hifung.
King of Hakao: H-hey, what if... we made a deal?
King of Hakao: My kingdom will never attack Milty again, I swear.
Hifung's fury flared.
He seized the king's collar and lifted him into the air.
Hifung: DON'T MOCK ME!
Hifung: After you killed my parents, you offer me a deal!?
The king trembled, unable to meet Hifung's piercing gaze.
Hifung began to steady his breathing. Slowly, the aura around him faded.
Hifung: Enough. I'll make you long for death.
Hifung's eyes glinted ominously as he looked deep into the king's soul. Suddenly, his left eye glowed golden.
In an instant, the King of Hakao felt himself transported to a different realm — endless white stretched in all directions. Confused and disoriented, he spun around.
Then pain struck from within.
It was as if something inside him exploded — yet there was no blood, no wounds.
He fell to the ground, clutching his abdomen in agony, bewildered by what was happening.
Then it happened again. Another burst of torment.
King of Hakao: ARGH!!
One after another, the internal detonations tore through him. He screamed with every blast, unable to die, unable to bleed — only to suffer.
Far away in the real world, Ray watched as Hifung held the unconscious king aloft. His eyes widened at the golden shimmer in Hifung's eye.
Ray: Hifung...
King: He's using his eye power!?
Hifung remained focused.
Hifung: My eye has the power to pull a soul into the Soul Realm... and torment it under a time acceleration of a hundred to one compared to this world.
Ray, Feds, Darius, and the King were stunned.
The King began to tremble.
King: S-so that means... right now, King Hakao is...?
Hifung merely smiled in response.
Meanwhile, within the Soul Realm, the torment continued. The king writhed as more internal explosions racked his body, his screams echoing in the void.
King of Hakao: AAARGHH!!
Hifung sustained the power for nearly three minutes.
Blood began to drip from his left eye. He was visibly strained, his breathing heavy.
Ray noticed the toll it was taking.
Ray: Hifung, stop! You could go blind!
Even the King could see the pain in Hifung's expression — but said nothing, only watching silently.
Finally, Hifung released the king, and his eyes returned to normal.
The King of Hakao regained consciousness — only to be hurled backward, blood gushing from his ears, mouth, nose, and eyes.
His eyes glowed red, and his body convulsed violently.
Hifung wiped the blood from his left eye.
His breathing was ragged, his gaze unwavering.
In contrast, the king couldn't even lift his head to meet Hifung's eyes. His body trembled uncontrollably.
Hifung staggered toward him.
He stood before the crumpled king and looked down at his pitiful state.
King of Hakao: Please... forgive me.
Hifung: My parents were good people. They never harmed anyone.
Hifung: They served this kingdom with their hearts and souls.
Tears welled in Hifung's eyes. His voice cracked.
Hifung: They always greeted me with warm smiles... They never disappointed me...
Ray, the King, Feds, and Darius could no longer hold back their tears.
Hifung: My parents were the kind who ate plain rice... so I could have nutritious meals.
Hifung: They never complained. They worked tirelessly for their son.
The tears came in waves now, and Hifung sobbed as he spoke of his parents.
After a moment, he wiped his tears and steadied himself.
Then he looked at the King of Hakao.
Hifung: I won't let the one who murdered my parents continue to live in this world.
He summoned his flame sword into his right hand.
The King of Hakao recoiled in horror, then collapsed to his knees before Hifung.
King of Hakao: Please... I beg you, spare me!
Ray, the King, Feds, and Darius all looked on with heavy hearts.
Hifung raised his sword — and drove it into the king's heart.
The King of Hakao died on the spot.
Hifung released the sword, letting it fall and dissolve into flame.
The fire consumed the king's corpse completely.
Ruze: Your Majesty!!
Ruze ran to the king's smoldering body, falling to his knees in disbelief.
Moments later, one of Milty's generals arrived with reinforcements.
Feds and Darius pushed themselves up.
Darius: Arrest him. We return to the kingdom. The war is over.
He pointed directly at Ruze.
The soldiers looked at each other, stunned by the scene.
Feds: Do it!
Soldiers: Yes, sir!
They rushed forward and bound Ruze, escorting him away.
The general approached the King.
General: Your Majesty.
King: Return to the kingdom. The war is finished.
He looked down at the burnt corpse of the former King of Hakao. The general followed his gaze.
Suddenly, Hifung collapsed beside the body. Panic surged through the King and Ray.
They rushed to him.
King: He's just unconscious.
He lifted Hifung over his shoulder.
King: We need to get him to the royal hospital — now.
Ray: Right!
The group set off for the Kingdom of Milty, with Feds and Darius following behind.
Once they arrived, the King and Ray took Hifung straight to the hospital. Meanwhile, Feds, Darius, the general, his troops, and Ruze continued on to the castle.
King: This is where we part ways. Feds, Darius — go ahead to the castle. I'll take Hifung to the hospital.
Feds: Got it.
At the hospital, they laid Hifung gently onto a bed.
King: I'll head back now. Will you be okay here?
Ray: I'll be fine.
King: Good. When he wakes up, bring him to the castle to see me.
Ray: Understood.
King: I'm off, then.
He stepped out of the room.
Ray sat beside Hifung, watching over him quietly.
---
The Next Morning
Hifung stirred awake. He looked around the room, noticing Ray asleep on the bed beside him.
Hifung (in heart): "I'm in the Milty hospital... Looks like the war is over."
Suddenly, Ray yawned and sat up.
Ray: Huaaah...
Ray: Oh! You're a
wake, Hifung?
Hifung: Yeah...
Hifung: By the way... where's Micyl?
Ray stiffened slightly at the question.
Ray: M-Micyl... she vanished yesterday.
Hifung's eyes widened in shock.
Hifung: Vanished!?