The Legend Awakens.
Deep beneath the palace, in the sealed ancestral grounds, the earth began to tremble.
A blade that had laid dormant for an unknown era suddenly shook, shedding centuries of dust.
Above ground, in the arena, the collision of Sword Intent between Siam and the Third Prince sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
"It shouldn't be happening, Your Highness," the Prime Minister whispered, his face pale.
"This energy... The Third Prince? Judging by the corruption, he must have become a monster long ago."
"The legend is repeating itself," the King said, his voice heavy. "We cannot reverse it."
"But when legends repeat, they also rewrite themselves," the Prime Minister countered, pointing at the arena.
"Siam didn't run away from the coronation this time. That says a lot."
The King didn't answer. His gaze remained fixated on his grandsons.
BOOM!
In the arena, the Third Prince lost all semblance of control.
With a roar, he threw Siam back.
The impact was terrifying, flinging Siam across the vast arena until he smashed into the perimeter wall, cratering the stone.
The Third Prince didn't stop. He went on a rampage, moving at unprecedented speed, shedding corrupted Sword Intent like a plague.
Everywhere the energy touched, the stone burned to ash.
"Activate the barriers! Now!"
The crowd panicked. Protection shields shimmered into existence as the Royal Guards scrambled to obey commands.
But the Third Prince was unstoppable. His sword tore through the barriers as if they were made of paper.
Siam struggled to stand, wiping blood from his lip. He closed his eyes. His body felt heavy, but suddenly, something called to him.
Beneath the earth, the blade that had stirred shot upward.
It tore through the rock, through the arena floor, and flew straight toward him.
Just as the Third Prince was about to breach the final barrier and slaughter the crowd, the blade slammed into Siam's open hand.
"You can't escape now," Sam's voice echoed, sharp and commanding.
A beam of light shot from Siam's forehead into the rusty blade. It flared to life, glowing with a chaotic mix of Crimson, Gold, and deep Azure Blue.
The blade shook violently in Siam's grip.
Siam glanced up at the high platform.
He locked eyes with his Grandfather. Despite the terrifying circumstances, the King gave a single, solemn nod.
Go ahead.
Siam clenched the blade hard.
Blood from his palm soaked into the hilt, mixing with his Sword Intent and Sam's very essence.
He didn't scream. He didn't say sorry.
Siam vanished from his spot.
He reappeared instantly in front of the monster, mid-air.
Slash. Slash. Slash.
Three strikes. That was all it took.
Siam landed softly on the ground behind his brother.
Behind him, the Third Prince—the monster who had terrorized the arena—froze. Cracks of golden light appeared on his skin.
He collapsed to his knees, and then... disintegrated.
He turned to ash. The wind blew, and the ash scattered into the air, leaving no trace that a Prince had ever stood there.
Siam stood still.
No blood on his blade.
No brother left to fight.
He remained silent.
The arena was deathly quiet.
Then, a trembling voice from a girl in the crowd broke the silence.
"That blade... one look and I know it..." she whispered, her eyes wide with awe.
"That is the legendary Hell's Slayer."
The Viper Returns.
"Brother Siam... are you unharmed?"
The voice was soft, laced with concern. It cut through the silence of the arena like a gentle breeze after a storm.
Hearing it, Siam looked up slowly. His grip on the blade tightened imperceptibly.
"Brother... Leo?"
Leo stepped forward, his armor dusty from travel. He offered a relieved, albeit weary, smile.
"Yes. Yes, it is me. I just returned from the border. I almost thought I was going to miss your coronation entirely. But..."
Leo paused. His eyes swept over the destruction in the arena.
They lingered for a fraction of a second on the glowing blade in Siam's hand, a flicker of unreadable emotion passing through his gaze, before he looked at the Grandfather whose face still had no trace of surprise, and the silent crowd.
He was the first to break the heavy atmosphere.
"It is okay, Brother Siam," Leo said, raising his voice so the crowd could hear.
He walked closer, his hands raised in a placating gesture.
"If you hadn't slain him, he would have killed everyone present.
He... he was no longer our brother.
Judging by the corruption, he must have been lost to the darkness for a long time. We all know what it is from the legends."
Leo stopped just a few feet away, looking every bit the tragic, supportive elder brother.
"Wow," Sam's voice echoed in Siam's head, dripping with sarcasm.
"If not for the fact that he poisoned you in the first timeline, If I were you, I would have totally believed him as the kindest brother in the world. He's good. Really good."
As Sam spoke, the glowing energy from the blade began to recede.
She flowed like energy then flowed into Siam's arm, invisible to others, and settled into his skin.
A sensation of burning ice touched Siam's face.
Slowly, a vertical crimson mark materialized between his brows, glowing faintly before fading into a dormant state.
The Anointed King.
"Composure, everyone,"
Leo's voice rang out, steady and commanding.
"We all know how unpredictable this world has become. Our Siam has just proven to us that he is capable of leading this nation to the skies.
He has done what no Crown Prince—no King—has ever had to do. He purged the corruption with his own hands."
Leo turned to Siam, his face beaming with pride.
"Let the coronation continue. I am just glad I did not miss my beloved brother's ascension."
Leo reached out and took his brother's hand. His grip was firm, warm, and seemingly brotherly.
He guided Siam forward, stepping over the charred remnants of the arena floor.
The crowd settled. Shoulders dropped, breaths were released.
The sheer charisma of the Second Prince, combined with the terrifying power Siam had just displayed, forced them into submission.
As if the massacre hadn't happened, all eyes turned toward the throne.
Minutes passed in heavy silence.
Finally, the King spoke from his high seat.
"Any objections?"
The question hung in the air.
The ministers looked at one another.
Their eyes looked direction of the disaster that just ended.
They looked at the glowing red mark fading on Siam's forehead.
They shook their heads vigorously. Who would dare object to a man who slaughtered a monster in three strikes?
"Start the coronation," the King commanded.
Dong. Dong.
Ceremonial bells rang out.
A rhythmic, ethereal flute melody began to play, washing away the lingering scent of death.
Siam looked around, his senses heightened.
"Your mother..." Leo whispered, leaning in close as they approached the steps.
"She is still at the border, Siam. She insisted I come here to witness this, while she holds the line to keep you safe."
Siam's expression didn't change. He nodded and knelt before the King.
The King stood. He extended his hand, and a drop of viscous, glowing Royal Blue liquid emerged from his fingertip.
He pressed it against Siam's forehead.
The blue liquid touched the skin and flared.
It didn't cover the Crimson Mark left by Sam; instead, it merged with it.
The Blue and the Crimson swirled together, creating a breathtaking, violet-gold seal that pulsed with an ancient power.
It was elegant. Terrifying. Beautiful.
As the crown was lowered onto his head, Siam spoke internally.
"Sam. Scan him. Is there anything wrong with Brother Leo? Is he like the Third Prince?"
There was a pause. A long silence in his mind.
"...No," Sam finally replied. "He is clean. No black energy. No corruption."
Siam nodded internally. "He hides it well."
"Siam," Sam's voice turned serious, almost cold. "Are you sure it was your Brother Leo who killed you in the future?"
"I lived it. He poisoned me. He stabbed me. You have seen my memories."
"Memories can be altered," Sam said sharply.
"Especially since I sense a specific energy signature on him... it conflicts with what you showed me. I am skeptical. Your Brother Leo needs an investigation, not an execution."