When King Jalen saw the powerful explosion erupt from where Kallistus Kal had been standing, he had thought that it was over. That the [Hero King] had won.
Even still, Jalen had held out hope that soone had survived. Whether it was the SS-ranked elf adventurer, the Elder Dragon, or the Greater Elentals. It didn’t matter who. The King of the Astrad Kingdom hoped that soone would erge from the blast with enough strength to defeat Kallistus Kal.
And soone did.
But that soone turned out to be soone who Jalen didn’t even know. The strange man who had appeared first out of that portal to face the [Hero King].
He looked like any ordinary man. He had blond hair, and a rough visage. Like he was a priest of sorts, even if he was dressed like he worked at a tavern. And yet, despite his appearance, he proved to be the strongest of them all.
Even stronger than the SS-ranked elf, even stronger than the Elder Dragon, and even stronger than all the Greater Elentals combined. Because that ordinary-looking man took on the [Hero King] alone and won.
And now…
“It’s… over?” King Jalen whispered as he stared at the collapsed body of Kallistus Kal.
For a mont, Jalen held his breath, uncertain whether it was truly over. But there was no regeneration. No return for the [Hero King].
Kallistus Kal lay there, broken. And the ordinary-looking man stood triumphantly next to the [Hero King].
This was a sight that was seen all throughout Astral. Their gazes had all been drawn towards the fighting— realizing that the battle was reaching its climax. Now, they all stared at the outco in disbelief. In silence. At least, for a long mont.
And then King Jalen snapped out of his stupor. He took a step forward as he stood atop the tallest tower in his palace and raised the flag of his country, bellowing with [A King’s Voice].
“PEOPLE OF THE ASTRAD KINGDOM, WE HAVE WON! THE [HERO KING] IS DEAD!”
His words swept across the city. Then all at once, the citizens of Astral broke out into cheers as the soldiers of the Kingdom of Kal began to throw down their weapons.
—--
“Seriously?” Wyn whispered as he eyed Arthur from afar. “That bartender really did it. I can’t believe this.”
Rowland stepped up next to the [Knight]-lieutenant, nodding approvingly. “I told you, Sir Wyn. What matters most is to have faith.”
Wyn didn’t want to believe it, but he couldn’t deny reality. The [Hero King] was truly defeated. So the [Knight]-lieutenant began to chuckle as he felt a sense of relief wash over him. Only for the echoes of a heavy set of footfalls to rush their way.
The two [Knights] looked up in alarm as a group of soldiers from the Kingdom of Kal made their way up to the palace steps.
Wyn scrambled for his weapon, but Rowland stepped forward and pointed down at the approaching soldiers.
“Give it up!” the [Knight]-Captain bellowed, and the approaching soldiers hesitated. “Surrender now! Your [Hero King] is dead! There is no point in throwing away your life any longer!”
Blinking, Wyn looked towards Rowland. Even though Rowland was unard, he still stood fearlessly against the dozen or so soldiers from the Kingdom of Kal. And it seed like his confidence paid off.
The soldiers paused as a few of them exchanged apprehensive glances. Their leader tried to urge them forward.
“What are you idiots doing?” their leader shouted as he pointed his spear at Rowland. “This is our victory!”
But the soldiers that were with him backed away and shook their heads.
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“With all due respect, sir, this is not our victory.”
“I never wanted to join this war in the first place.”
“I was only doing this for the [Hero King], and he’s dead…”
“You damn traitors!” their leader exclaid, before shaking his head. He turned around to face Rowland again. “I will—”
And Rowland stepped forward, punching their leader with enough force to send him flying. The [Knight]-Captain grinned as he faced the other soldiers.
“Throw down your arms,” Rowland said simply.
Slowly, the soldiers began to raise their hands and drop their weapons as Wyn just watched.
—--
“No…” lissa whispered as she made her way through the streets of Astral. “My liege— you cannot be dead!”
She shoved aside a group of her surrendering soldiers, before casting a spell that sent a group of celebrating Astrad Kingdom soldiers flying. But she didn’t finish them off. Instead, she continued on her mad dash to where she had last seen Kallistus Kal.
“You’re still alive, right? Please—” she started.
But when the Archmage and the most loyal servant of the [Hero King] turned the corner, she could only freeze at what she saw. Kallistus Kal lay on the ground, his body bleeding, and his figure slowly fading away.
When lissa saw this, she dropped to her knees as tears poured out of her eyes.
It was impossible. It was a scene straight from a nightmare. And yet, it was true.
Her king was dead.
So lissa could only weep at the scene.
—--
“I’m sorry it had to co to this,” Arthur whispered as he stood over the dying body of the [Hero King].
Kallistus Kal didn’t move. His eyes were barely open. The Void Essence that was holding him together faded away, and so did his body. Slowly, his skin flaked into tiny purple motes that blew with the wind and vanished.
Behind Arthur, Grat-ra’zun and Jax picked themselves up. The elf and the dragon could barely walk. But they hobbled over next to the forr Lich King.
“Is he dead?” Grat-ra’zun asked.
“I haven’t received a notification for the kill,” Jax said as he shook his head. “I don’t think the [Hero King] is dead yet.
“Because he’s almost dead,” Arthur replied. He stepped to the side as he looked down at the unmoving body of Kallistus Kal. “But he will die.”
Both the Elder Dragon and the SS-ranked adventurer exchanged a glance, then they sighed in relief. But Arthur didn’t feel the sa way as them. He pursed his lips as he continued talking, all the while the [Hero King] listened.
“I truly wanted to save you, Kallistus. I know the world was unfair towards you. I know you deserve happiness. But I had to do this— to save the world.” Arthur shook his head as he gritted his teeth.
Inside the forr Lich King, an overbearing sense of guild weighed down on him. Especially when he looked down at the dying [Hero King]. It was almost a pitiful sight.
The expression on Kallistus Kal’s face didn’t change. All he displayed was exhaustion— lancholy. He couldn’t even move. He didn’t even blink. But it was evident he wanted to speak.
His lower half of his body disappeared into the wind as his lips twitched. It was like he was mustering up all the strength he had left just to be able to speak. Like he had sothing he wanted to say. And so, Arthur leaned closer, giving Kallistus Kal a chance to speak his last words.
Only for the [Hero King] broke out into a maniacal laughter.
“You fools,” his voice echoed, twisting the world around him.
“What?” Arthur leapt back, but the [Hero King] didn’t move.
Jax and Grat-ra’zun tensed, readying themselves for battle once again. However, Arthur’s eyes didn’t lie. He knew Kallistus Kal was dying here.
And even the [Hero King] knew that himself. Even still, he continued to cackle.
“Do you truly think you have won here? Even if I die, it matters not. My goals shall be achieved— nay, they are on the precipice of being reached. For you see, I am but a clone of my true self.”
“A clone?” Arthur blinked a few tis.
And Jax cursed. “Seriously? We struggled this much against a clone?!”
“So that was how he ambushed back then…” Grat-ra’zun breathed.
Kallistus Kal continued to laugh as his voice bood for all to hear. Whether it were the nearby passersby who ca to see his death, or those like lissa who ca to mourn him. Even high up in his palace, King Jalen trembled as he listened to the dying voice of the [Hero King] being broadcasted.
“My true self is far away, hidden even from the gaze of the Fal-Deus itself!” Slowly, the wisping flakes of Void Essence that flitted off the dying body of the clone began to twist the sky itself, forming a rift. At the sa ti, Kallistus Kal’s voice distorted as he finished. “And I shAlL seIzE tHe pOWeR oF ThE VoID TO TAKE BACK WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE!”
And with those dying words, Kallistus Kal’s body was pulled into the rift, before the rift closed shut.
Then there was silence. At least for a second. Before a susurration washed the city of Astral. Everyone— whether it was a follower of the Kingdom of Kal or a citizen of the Astrad Kingdom— began to discuss what they heard and what they saw.
Jax and Grat-ra’zun both began to frantically discuss what to do next— trying to locate where the true body of the [Hero King] was hiding.
But Arthur didn’t say a word. Instead, he dropped to his knees as his eyes fluttered shut. He heard the echoing voice of the Fal-Deus in the distance.
He recalled the scene of the closing rift— peering into it and sensing what was within.
And the forr Lich King knew…
Now, it was all up to Alia.
—--
And in Wolfwater, far from the battlefield where the clone of Kallistus Kal perished…
I sighed as I sat right outside of my restaurant, staring into distant horizon. I sensed what was going on. I knew the battle was far from over.
And I closed my eyes as I muttered under my breath
“What should I do?”
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