After the Hero died, the soldiers of the United Shamrock lost their confidence. Those who still had a little hope resisted, but in the end they were killed. Those who had fallen into despair and said, "It's over for us…" were captured.
The Emperor entered the battlefield with his three sons and his sixteen-year-old grandson. They walked straight toward the corpse of the Crystal Hero.
The Emperor's grandson kicked the Hero's body.
"See? You were nothing, bastard! Tch! … Now I'll kill all your people! …"
All the soldiers stood with bowed heads, crying.
The grandson continued,
"I'll kill them all—except your pretty sister. She'll become one of the wives in my royal harem… hahahaha!"
At that very moment, the Hero—whose heart had stopped—opened his eyes, now completely white.
The Steel Emperor and his three sons saw that the Hero had awakened and instantly activated their powers.
"Emperor Dragon—Full Power! Death Sword—Blade of Death…!"
A massive storm formed above the United Shamrock Empire's capital, created by the combined power of the Steel Emperor and his sons.
But suddenly, a terrifying pressure descended upon the four of them. Their powers were nullified. Their bodies froze—they couldn't even move a single muscle.
"Why… is… this… happening…?!"
The Hero suddenly stood up, head tilted, white bloodshot eyes and a blood-covered face, staring directly at the Emperor's grandson with sword in hand.
Under the crushing pressure, Malkaar barely managed to speak, blood dripping from his ear.
"Son… r… r… run…!"
But the boy was frozen in place.
"Why won't my legs move?!"
The Hero raised his sword, blood dripping, his muscles nearly bursting from the overwhelming force. In a horrifying voice, he said:
"But I didn't even use my magic on you… Why are you so afraid?"
The grandson clenched his teeth, drew his sword, and repeatedly stabbed the Hero's body without hesitation.
The Hero didn't even flinch. His sword remained raised.
With a final scream, the grandson thrust his blade deep into the Hero's stomach—up to the hilt.
The Hero showed no reaction.
In a terrifying voice, he said:
"Now it's my turn."
The Steel Emperor, his jaw locked and voice trembling, forced out:
"R… r… ru… n!!"
But it was already too late…
"Zettai Messatsu!!!!! (Absolute Annihilation)"
The Hero brought his sword down—
—but it stopped inches away from the grandson.
The crushing pressure suddenly vanished. The Emperor and his sons were freed.
The Steel Emperor quickly pulled his grandson back and, trembling, pointed his sword at the Hero.
The Hero stood there, head lowered and shaking—
Then suddenly collapsed face-first onto the ground.
The Emperor stared with wide eyes.
Malkaar muttered, "His own power… killed him."
The grandson stepped forward again to kick the Hero—
SHKKKKK!!!
The grandson's severed head, eyes and mouth still open, rolled and landed at the feet of his father—Malkaar.
After his lifeless body fell, the figure who had cut off his head was revealed.
A man with short black hair, black eyes, a handsome face with sharp features, wearing a black cloak marked with a red lion emblem, heavy gray armor, and holding a sword with a golden hilt adorned with precious gems and a shining blade stood there.
"You've really pissed me off, you spoiled brat!!"
One of the Shamrock commanders widened his eyes and shouted joyfully,
"That's Emperor Kais of our United Shamrock Empire!!!!"
The captured Shamrock soldiers, upon hearing that Kais Shamrock had arrived, felt their hearts fill with hope. Even with bound hands, they rose and began fighting. One soldier headbutted an enemy, knocked him unconscious, grabbed his sword, cut his bonds and those of the others, and shouted with renewed courage as they defended their empire.
On the other side, Malkaar stared in shock at his son's severed head lying before him.
"My… son?"
He clenched his teeth, gripped his sword tighter, a dark aura rising from it, and charged at Kais.
Kais stood proudly, completely fearless. He casually raised his sword and made a simple swing.
But that simple swing unleashed an immense wave of power.
Malkaar was split clean in half.
"So this was the strength of their Minister of War? … How boring."
The two remaining brothers, Zarak and Kern, also charged at Kais with their swords drawn.
They died even more easily than Malkaar.
Kais then looked at the Steel Emperor, smiled slightly, and said,
"You… I sense a powerful aura within you. Do you want to fight?"
The Steel Emperor clenched his teeth and prepared to attack, but his son-in-law Valk stepped in front of him.
Sweating and trembling, Valk said,
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself. Don't let your emotions control you. We must—"
But rage blinded the Steel Emperor.
"Move aside! I must avenge my sons!"
With a heavy blow to the back of the Emperor's head, Valk knocked him unconscious and shouted:
"All soldiers—retreat!!"