The King's voice cracked, breaking apart with every word.
"Please… I beg you… let them go… they have nothing to do with this. I beg you… Iru…"
Smoke curled through the air, thick and choking. Screams echoed from afar.
The weight of duty and conscience crushed Iru's chest—but his face showed nothing.
Suddenly, his walkie-talkie erupted.
> "The civilians are attacking us. The Celestial Being ship has arrived. What are the orders?"
The King fell to his knees.
"I beg you, Iru… please. Those are innocent lives."
Iru didn't hesitate.
His voice turned ice-cold.
"Burn them."
The order echoed louder than the screams.
Iru turned his back on the King, leaving him alone—drowning in regret, staring at a future he never wanted.
Nothing happened the way the King had hoped it would.
---
Ashryn hid inside a broken barrel.
Tears streamed down his face as flames swallowed his village. Houses collapsed. People ran. Screams tore through the night.
"Uncle Iru… aren't you supposed to protect us…?"
His voice shattered.
His heart cracked as everything he loved burned.
"Uncle Iru, please help us… You're like my uncle… you can't do this… You can't let us die…"
---
Ruling Dominion – Chamber of the Five Gods
A voice spoke through the communicator.
"Did you burn everything down?"
Iru replied quietly.
"…Yeah."
His voice was empty—trying to hide what remained of his soul.
The line disconnected.
One of the Five spoke calmly.
"It was necessary."
Another added,
"The King possessed knowledge of the Forbidden History. This outcome was inevitable."
Back to Ashryn
Ashryn saw his father step in front of the barrel.
The King stared at his burning kingdom, tears spilling freely.
"Is this all…? Did I really fail…?"
His voice trembled.
Ashryn burst out, running toward him.
"I'm scared, father… I'm so scared… It's scary… I wanna go…"
The King hugged him tightly, patting his head.
Then—Iru stood before them.
Ashryn clung harder.
The King looked up.
"Is this it… friend?"
Iru clenched his teeth.
His fist ignited—molten lava forming around it.
The King held Ashryn closer, smiling softly.
"Dominion won," he said gently.
"I lost."
The lava punch pierced straight through his chest.
Blood spilled onto Ashryn's head.
"Dad…?" Ashryn whispered, trembling.
"…Is this blood?"
Iru watched, his gaze frozen—merciless.
The King collapsed to his knees.
Ashryn hugged him, screaming.
"I'm ashamed… I promised my people we'd never lose to the Dominion… Look at me… pathetic…"
He coughed blood.
"Don't leave me!" Ashryn screamed.
The King smiled weakly.
"There's another promise I'll keep… Ashryn… I will always love you."
In the castle, the Queen screamed in despair.
"I'm so sorry… I should've died too… I don't want to live anymore…"
The King fell lifeless in Ashryn's arms.
Something inside the boy shattered.
His eyes burned red.
He turned toward Iru, rage overflowing.
"I will kill you!" he screamed.
Iru answered with a single kick—sending Ashryn crashing into the wall.
His eyes were colder than death itself.