Entrance of the Capital of the Iron Blood Empire:
A black sandstorm had made everything impossible to see. Lightning bolts burst from the heart of the storm like dragons. The eyes of the two soldiers standing guard widened at the image revealed by the lightning.
One of the soldiers said with a tremble, "What was that? Did you see it?!"
"Yeah… it looked like a dragon!"
But the other soldier kept his composure and calmly said, "Maybe we were just imagining things?"
They both took a deep breath and stood still again. But with another flash of lightning, they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Steel Palace of the Iron Blood Empire:
"How is the king?!"
"For now, I've given him a sedative, so he's fine. But once it wears off, it'll start again."
"Thank you, doctor."
"Call me again whenever His Majesty's condition worsens… for now."
The Steel Emperor was furious because of his defeat against the United Shamrock Empire. His son-in-law, Valk, was the only member of his family who survived that war. His two sons, one grandson, and his brother were killed by the Emperor of Shamrock. Only one granddaughter and his daughter remained alive from his family.
Thanks to his son-in-law's quick retreat from that empire, the Emperor himself had survived.
Several days earlier – The Iron Blood Empire's attack on the United Shamrock Empire:
Inside the war tent, everyone was present, planning how to kill Emperor Graim.
Zarak Bloodbreaker, commander of the right army and the Steel Emperor's second son, said, "If the third commander can properly cut off the left flank, we can seize the right side of the capital and surround and capture all of them!"
But the Emperor's third son, Kern, disagreed.
"That won't work. The Crystal Sword Hero controls the left side, and he never advances or shows himself. Defeating him won't be easy! If we break through the center, we'll have a better chance!"
Malkaar, Minister of War and the Emperor's first son, stood with his arms crossed and head lowered, saying nothing.
Zarak looked at him seriously. "What about you, brother? Don't you have an opinion?! … Aren't you going to say something?!"
Malkaar remained silent.
Zarak angrily slammed his fist on the table. "Say something! Why are you silent?!"
The Emperor glared at Zarak. "Know your place! He is your elder brother and the Minister of War!"
Zarak lowered his head. "Forgive me, Your Majesty."
The Emperor then turned to Malkaar and calmly asked, "What about you, my son? Do you have an idea?"
Malkaar slowly raised his head with a sinister smile. Everyone stared at him in surprise as he presented his strategy.
Their eyes widened.
The Emperor smiled. "Excellent, my son. That's a brilliant plan!"
Battlefield – Entrance of the United Shamrock Capital:
The Iron Blood soldiers were terribly exhausted, but they were forced to fight to save their families. The soldiers brought to war had been threatened—if they refused, their families would be killed or enslaved.
The Steel Emperor had declared:
"If you die in battle, your family becomes slaves. If you refuse to fight, you and your sons will be sent to the mines, and your wives to the royal harem. The choice is yours!"
Some soldiers had their third arm cut off but held their swords in their mouths and kept fighting. Some had their legs severed but lifted themselves with one hand and struck with the other—only to save their families.
The Emperor stood proudly beside Malkaar on a hill, his cloak floating in the wind.
Malkaar asked, "How did you convince them to come to war?"
The Emperor smiled arrogantly.
"If a dog doesn't obey its master, that's when you put a collar around its neck… otherwise one day it'll bite you. So, what about the dragons? Are they ready?"
Malkaar smiled and raised his hand.
Suddenly, two massive shadows appeared over the battlefield. Everyone froze at the sight. Two enormous dragons manifested above the war zone.
BOOOOOOM!
A white light shone brightly in the sky.
One man shouted with joy, "The Crystal Sword Hero is there! We're saved!"
The Hero, hand on his sword, moved toward the dragons.
He stood directly beneath both of them.
TIIIIING!
With one swift draw of his blade, both dragons were split cleanly in half.
But instead of falling, they turned into tiny particles of light and vanished into the air.
From within those dragons, Zarak and Kern emerged, each aiming an arrow at the Hero from left and right.
The Hero clenched his teeth.
"Toy magic… damn you tricksters!"
He looked at the arrows and laughed.
"You think two ordinary arrows can take me down?!"
The arrows were released—but suddenly each one multiplied into forty.
Even so, the Hero, with incredible speed, deflected every single arrow.
But then—
SHKKKKK!
An arrow pierced his lower back.
He gasped in pain and turned, seeing Malkaar in the distance, still holding his bow.
"Damn you tricksters! Even so, I won't fall to something so trivial—!"
Blood burst from the Hero's eyes and mouth.
He pulled the arrow from his back. Its tip glowed purple—it was poisoned.
The Hero's heart stopped.
He fell from the sky.
When his people saw him fall, their bodies began to tremble. Sweat covered them completely.
"The Hero is dead?… The Hero is dead!!!!!!!!"